Unraveling the sediment routing systems evolution of the south Pyrenean foreland basin during the lower to middle Paleogene period

In this paper we aim at contributing to the paleogeographic, sedimentologic and tectono-sedimentary evolution of the South-Pyrenean foreland basin by reviewing the chronostratigraphic framework of the basin infill in its south-central sector (the Ager sub-basin in the Serres Marginals thrust sheet). We built five new magnetostratigraphic sections, which together encompass most of the Paleogene record, aimed to best reconcile magnetostratigraphic data with the defined biostratigraphic framework of the region including marine Shallow Benthic Zones (SBZ biozones) and continental mammalian localities (MP levels). Detailed trends in subsidence show the development and evolution of the foreland depozones, from forebulge to foredeep and wedge-top setting, relative to the successive emplacement

of the Montsec and Serres Marginals thrust sheets.

A correlation with the eastern portion of the foreland basin (Lower-Middle Pedraforca and Cadí Thrust Sheets) and adjacent northern Graus-Tremp basin (Montsec Thrust Sheet) was feasible and seeks to contribute to the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the South-Pyrenean foreland in the light of a source to sink approach. Our proposal includes a new paleogeographic evolution of the area in a series of paleogeographic maps from Late Thanetian to Late Cuisian times.