Main faults of the Betic Cordillera

Abstract

In the Betic Cordillera the faults correspond to thrusts forming tectonic units and to three important sets of vertical or quasi-vertical faults. In the Internal Zone the thrusts formed mainly during the Oligocene, under an approximately N-S compression. Later, in the Burdigalian, the Internal Zone collided with the External Zone, which underwent major deformations. Then N60ºE-S60ºW to E-W dextral strike-slip faults formed. These faults formed under nearly E-W compression. From the end of the middle Miocene, the near N-S compression was reestablished and then formed two conjugated sets of faults whose directions are: NNE-SSW (with sinistral character) and NNW-SSE to NW-SE (with dextral character). Not only are the aforementioned major faults, but the rocks also have many other small faults and joints that formed under the same stresses.