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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database

CSPG Special Publications

Abstract


Intl. Symposium of the Devonian system: Papers, Volume II, 1967
Pages 37-45
Stratigraphy of Special Areas

Devonian of the Cantabrian Mountains, northwestern Spain

Aart Brouwer

Abstract

Two main facies can be distinguished in the Devonian of the Cantabrian Mountains: (1) the Asturo-Leonese facies, and (2) the Palencian facies. The Asturo-Leonese facies is characterized by an alternation of clastic (sandstones to shales) and carbonate rocks, with a predominantly benthonic fauna. Most of the carbonate formations or members show a strong biostromal development. This facies occurs in a belt of about 250 km along the south and west side of the Asturian Carboniferous. On the whole its features suggest a warm, shallow and well-aerated sea.

The Palencian facies is characterized by a more irregular alternation of fine-grained carbonates, siltstones and shales; sandstones occur only in the lowermost and uppermost part of the succession. The sparse fauna, rather poor both in number and variety, is dominated by pelagic elements. This facies is known to occur only in the northern part of Palencia, bounded on the south by the Asturo-Leonese facies. The overall picture suggests deposition in a quiet, more or less restricted basin, perhaps slightly deeper than the sea of the Asturo-Leonese facies.

The two facies are separated by a more stable ridge, although its effectiveness in separating the two adjoining areas changed more than once in the course of the Devonian.

Tectonic movements during the Devonian were of little importance. Tilting, however, occurred over a large area towards the end of the Devonian, and consequently the uppermost, strongly transgressive Devonian sandstone, rests on a variety of older deposits.


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