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Basal suevite breccia

The name “basal breccia”, originally introduced for rocks in the Azuara impact structure (see http://www.impact-structures.com/spain/impact/breccias.htm ), refers to the fact that this peculiar breccia is regularly found at the base of the post-impact (and post-Alpidic), tectonically undisturbed Upper Tertiary. The up to 20 m thick horizontally bedded breccia layer is always unconformably overlying the folded rocks and at the contacts more or less meshed with them without any re-working or soil formation. Palaeozoic and Mesozoic rocks contribute to the sharp-edged (sometimes subrounded) clasts and minute splinters in an extremely hard and exceptionally cemented carbonate matrix that often displays distinct flow texture.

Clasts that are themselves breccias (breccias-within-breccias) are abundant. Frequently, limestone and dolomite clasts show a skeletal and vesicular texture, sometimes to the extent that only the rim of a clast remains and the hollow may contain a residual white powder. High-temperature decarbonization, the formation of carbonate melt and subsequent recombination are the probable causes. From X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction analyses and thin-section inspection, Mayer (1991) infers an SiO2 amorphous phase (up to about 10%) contributing to the matrix. This phase is assumed to be finely dispersed glass. In a few cases, glass particles in the basal breccia can be observed by the optical microscope. Shock-metamorphic effects are frequently observed in minerals from silicate fragments. Most significant is the abundant occurrence of diaplectic quartz in the basal breccia (Mayer, 1991). The formation of diaplectic quartz requires shock pressures in excess of 15 GPa (= 150 kbar) (Bunch et al., 1968). Planar deformation features (PDFs) are rare, but multiple sets of planar fractures (PFs, cleavage) in quartz, microtwinning in calcite and strong kinkbanding in mica indicate moderate shock metamorphism. According to the current classification and nomenclature of impact rocks (IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Metamorphic Rocks, Study Group for Impactites), this polymictic basal breccia containing shocked clasts and melt, is termed a suevite or suevite breccia.

As in most cases the matrix of the basal breccia has a dominantly carbonate composition, a crystallization from a carbonate melt must be taken into consideration. In this case, and according to the IUGS nomenclature, the basal breccia would better be termed an impact melt rock. A clear distinction, however, is difficult, and a coexistence of matrix derived from a melt and from an accumulation of clastic material cannot be excluded.

Basal breccia unconformably overlying Jurassic limestones. Rubielos de la Cérida central-uplift chain, Sierra Palomera.

Rubielos de la Cérida

A breccia having a comparable facies and the same stratigraphic position is very abundant also in the Rubielos de Cérida impact basin. It is found in the central-uplift chain, in the rim regions, and in between where Mesozoic rocks emerge from the Cenozoic and Quaternary. The ubiquitous occurence of this basal suevite breccia stratigraphically uniformly exposed from the northern part of the Azuara structure to the southern part of the Rubielos de la Cérida elongated impact basin over a distance of roughly 120 km, are strong clues to establishing a multiple impact by a disrupted asteroid or comet (see http://www.impact-structures.com/Archiv/archiv.html ).

Regional geologists refusing the impact origin of Azuara and Rubielos de la Cérida (M. Aurell, E. Díaz-Martínez, A. L. Cortés, and others) consider the basal breccia to be either a conglomerate, lacustrine sediments, or calcrete (caliche). With respect to the images shown below, the shock effects, and the stratigraphically uniform deposition over 120 km length, the reader may decide whether he/she agrees to their interpretation.

Basal breccia unconformably overlying strongly fractured Muschelkalk limestones. Southeastern rim region, between El Pobo and Corbalán.

Basal breccia (reddish color) overlying mega-brecciated Muschelkalk limestones. Central-uplift chain, northeast of Caudé.

The basal breccia in close-up. Central-uplift chain, northeast of Caudé.

Breccia generations in the basal breccia; see below hammer. Central-uplift chain, northeast of Caudé.

Breccia pocket in the basal breccia. Central-uplift chain, northeast of Caudé.

Basal breccia from the southern central-uplift chain near Celadas.

Basal breccia from the eastern central-uplift chain near Camañas. Note flow texture and the larger clasts adjusted to the flow. The reddish color of many limestone fragments probably results from enhanced temperatures.

Basal breccia from the central-uplift chain southwest of Aguatón. Note the dikelets of matrix material cutting up several clasts.

Basal breccia from the central-uplift chain near Celadas. The white material is assumed to be relics of carbonate melt.

Basal breccia from the western basin north-northwest of Villafranca del Campo. Note the flow texture and the multiple breccia generations. With regard to the term "breccia", the well-rounded clasts must not confuse. Rounded clasts is a well-known phenomenon in impact breccias. Internal rotations under high pressure (impact "conglomeratization, see http://www.impact-structures.com/france/rouchechouart1.htm ) and marginal decarbonization/melting of carbonate fragments may be considered to be the cause.

More basal breccias from the western basin north-northwest of Villafranca del Campo: a multicolored mixture of Buntsandstein, Muschelkalk, Keuper (and ?Jurassic) fragments and a significant contribution of red Buntsandstein material to the matrix.

Basal breccia from the eastern basin between Visiedo and Perales de Alfambra.

Basal breccia from the southwestern central-uplift chain between Villarquemado and Celadas.

Basal breccia from the southeastern rim region, southwest of El Pobo. Breccia-within-breccia, to the right of the coin.

More basal breccia from the southeastern rim region, southwest of El Pobo. Few Buntsandstein and Muschelkalk clasts in a matrix with a high contribution of Buntsandstein material.

More basal breccia from the southeastern rim region, southwest of El Pobo exhibiting predominantly Buntsandstein components. Note the dikelets of (?) former carbonate melt cutting up the larger sandstone clast (in close-up below).

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