Overview of Iberian Geologic History
Vendian
Cadomian orogeny, part of Pan-African orogeny;
metamorphic/granitic basement now exposed primarily in the
Iberian massif.
Paleozoic: Marine sedimentation on passive margin of the north edge of Gondwana
Cambrian
High-latitude carbonates sandwiched between siliciclastic
sediments; one of the most complete biostratigraphic records in
Europe
Ordovician
Primarily siliciclastic sediments with abundant trilobites,
ostracodes, graptolites, brachiopods, etc.
Silurian
Primarily graptolite-rich black shales with associated sandstones
and siltstones
Devonian
Thick limestones developed on shallow carbonate platform with
abundant reef structures
Carboniferous
Onset of Variscan orogeny, part of larger Hercynian orogeny
related to suturing of Pangea. Coeval flysch and molasse
sequences, extensive thin-skinned folding/thrusting and granite
emplacement.
Permo-Triassic
Extension related to gravitational collapse of Variscan thickened
crust; plentiful complexly related basins with fluvial and riverine
deposits.
Mesozoic: Extension and rotation as Atlantic Ocean opens
Jurassic
Emergent Iberian massif surrounded by shallow continental seas
with siliciclastic and carbonate deposites; transgression of Tethys
Sea from the east.
Cretaceous
Siliciclastic sediments in a variety of environments from alluvial
fans to pelagic, high sea-level transgression left only Iberian
massif above water.
Mid-Cretaceous
Subduction of Bay of Biscay oceanic crust under Iberia
Late-Cretaceous
Thrusting of Iberian plate under Eurasia, continuing to midMiocene; activation of intraplate stresses to uplift Iberian and
Central Ranges, development of foreland basins
Cenozoic: Alpine orogeny
Mid-Tertiary
Onset of Alpine collison in Betic Cordillera; thrusting and
metmophism, nappes, Guadilquavir foreland basin formed
Neogene
Wholesale gravitational collapse produces Neogene basins,
includes gypsum beds from Messinian salinity crisis c. 5.5 Ma
Neogene
Recent volcanism related to Canary Island hotspot, and minor
alkaline volcanics related to extensional collapse of Betic
Cordillera
Compiled by Maribeth Price from: Gibbons, W. and T. Moreno, Introduction and Overview, in The
Geology of Spain, W. Gibbons and T. Moreno, eds, The Geologic Society of London, London, 2002, p. 2.