Sedimentary mechanism in Spanish Devonian Carbonates

Abstract

In the Middle-Late Devonian Santa Lucía and Portilla Formations in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain), a series of facies belts parallels the palaeo-coastline. They represent from N to S a backbarrier, barrier and fore-barrier setting. Mild sea-level changes and epeirogenetic movements governed the rate and mode of carbonate production and controlled movements of these facies belts basinwards and marginwards. Carbonate masses in which such sedimentary movements are reflected can be correctly mapped regionally only if the interval is subdivided into units, each representing one movement. On a more local scale, carbonate masses reflect the same sedimentary mechanisms in the internal organization of carbonate build-ups.