Tectonic evolution of the Malaga Basin (Alboran Sea)insights from its sedimentary infill

Resumen

The Malaga Basin is a subbasin of the Alboran Sea Basin, which in turn represents the backarc of the Gibraltar Arc System. It is a half-graben which shows a very complete Miocene to Holocene sedimentary sequence. In order to determine the 3D tectonic framework of this half-graben, we interpreted a grid of multichannel seismic commercial profiles, to constrain its geodynamic evolution. A map of the lower to middle Miocene structures that occurred during the rifting events as well as structures generated or reactivated in compression during Tortonian times shows striking differences regarding the structural style from the northern to the southern flank of the Malaga Basin and also along strike of this half-graben. Moreover, our results point that the tectonic inversion and compressional deformation within the sedimentary infill ceased by end of the Messinian, which contrast with the southern and eastern areas of the Alboran Basin.