Aspectos tectónicos del estudio gravimétrico de la Cuenca de Málaga

Abstract

This work shows the results o f a gravimetric survey carried out in the Malaga Basin (sited on the Internal Zone o f the Western Betic Chain, southern Spain). Three anomalies maps are exposed and interpreted, focusing on neotectonic aspects. In order to avoid the influence of peridotitic bodies which outcrop in the studied area, and the southward thinning of the crust, a regional anomaly map has been processed and subtracted to the Bouguer anomaly. So, a residual anomaly map has been reached, where neotectonic interpretation has been done. The main tectonic feature evidenced by gravimetric data is the Albornoque Fault. It represents the southern boundary o f the Malaga Basin with a noticeable vertical component, according to its high gradient. By other hand, the fold o f Sierra de Cartama is marked by a maximum axis. This axis continues westward giving a duplicated depocenter of the basin. It is interpreted as a reverse fault, related in depth with the folding o f Sierra de Cartama, and which affects the basement o f the basin. According with the current stress field in the zone (NNW-SSE), the proposed structures imply the existence o f a compressive neotectonic activity, where
the Albornoque fault is interpreted as a high angle reverse fault o f a reverse fault