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Discussion of ‘Tectonic subsidence v. erosional lowering in a controversial intramontane depression: the Jiloca basin (Iberian Chain, Spain)’

Key Words: polje • neotectonics • Iberian Range • Spain

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	Introduction

 
F. J. Gracia, F. Gutiérrez & M. Gutiérrez comment: In a recent paper, Rubio & Simón (2007) propose that the origin of the Jiloca Depression (Iberian Range, NE Spain) is primarily due to extensional neotectonics and estimate a Plio-Quaternary vertical offset of 350–400 m on the basin-bounding master fault. However, these authors omit crucial evidence presented in previous papers that contradict their model and derive interpretations from ambiguous or erroneous data. This discussion presents the main objections to their model and supports the mixed erosional (karstic) and tectonic origin proposed in previous research articles.

The Jiloca Depression is located in the central sector of the Iberian Chain (NE Spain). This intraplate orogen resulted from the tectonic inversion of Mesozoic sedimentary basins in Palaeogene and early Neogene times. Neogene and Plio-Quaternary grabens superimposed on the previous compressional structures record two main phases of postorogenic rifting (Capote et al. 2002, Gutiérrez et al. 2007). The Jiloca Depression has been traditionally interpreted as a Plio-Quaternary graben developed during the second extensional phase (e.g. Moissenet, 1985; Simón, 1989). This NNW–SSE- striking topographic basin, 70 km long and around 10 km in width, is controlled on its eastern margin by three major NW–SE-trending normal faults with a right-stepping en echelon arrangement: the Calamocha, Palomera and Concud faults (Fig. 1). The central sector of the depression, from Monreal del Campo to Cella, is mostly developed on Jurassic carbonate bedrock and has behaved as an endorheic area until its recent artificial drainage (Gracia, Gutierrez & Gutiérrez, 2003; Rubio & Simón, 2007). In this portion of the basin, the eastern margin is dominated by the steep Palomera Fault mountain front, with a local relief of more than 400 m. The bedrock of the upthrown block consists of carbonate Jurassic . . . [Full Text of this Article]