Autor(es):
Antunes, M. T.
; Pais, João
Data: 2010
Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/10362/3285
Origem: Repositório Institucional da UNL
Assunto(s): Neogene; Portugal
Descrição
After a briefhistorical introduction, this paper deals with the main concerned geotectonic units: the Lower Tagus and Alvalade basins,
the Western and Southern borders, and their infillings. Most of the Neogene events and record concern areas South of the Iberian
Central Chain, a nearly inverse situation as that of Paleogene times.
In the most important of these units, the Lower Tagus basin, there are quite thick detrital series, mostly marine in its distal part near
Lisboa (albeit with several continental intercalations), and mainly continental in its inner part. Sedimentological record is almost
complete since Lowermost to Upper Miocene. The richness ofdata (paleontology, isotope chronology, paleoclimate, etc.) it gives and
the possibility of direct marine-continental correlations render this basin one of the more interesting ones in Western Europe.
Alvalade basin is separated from the previous one by a barrier ofPaleozoic rocks. Two transgressions events (Upper Tortonian and
Messinian in age) are recorded. Active sedimentation may be correlated to Late Miocene tectonics events.
In Algarve, chiefly marine units from Lower to Upper Miocene are well developped. The Lower unit (Lagos-Portimao Formation)
is best exposed in Western Algarve, but desappears eastwards. Middle Miocene is not as well known, whereas Upper Miocene main
outcrops are in Eastern Algarve. Cacela Formation is remarquable for its beautiful fossils. Sedimentation as a whole refletcts the
tectonic activity and in special the evolution of the Algarve flexures. There is scant evidence of post-Lower Miocene volcanism, the
latest known in Portugal. Pliocene has not been recognized there beyond doubt. .
Miocene sediments are much less important to the North of the Central Iberian Chain. Continental beds near Leiria that yielded the
well-known "Hisp anotherium fauna" are lower Middle Miocene.
Pliocene corresponds to dramatic changes in paleogeography. At Setiibal Peninsula there is some evidence of a minor Lower
Pliocene transgression. Continental detrital sediments, often coarse, occupy rather large areas. In Western Portugal between the
Seta hal Peninsula and Pombal there is good evidence of a marine Upper Pliocene transgression, followed up by dune sands overlain
by marsh clays, diatomites, lignites and boghead levels that can be partly Pleistocene in age.