The biostratigraphy and structure of the Pulo do Lobo Domain and Iberian Pyrite Belt Domain within Huelva Province, southwest Spain

Lake, Philip Adrian (1991) The biostratigraphy and structure of the Pulo do Lobo Domain and Iberian Pyrite Belt Domain within Huelva Province, southwest Spain. University of Southampton, Doctoral Thesis.

Abstract

The Pulo do Lobo and Iberian Pyrite Belt Domains form two of the five tectonostratigraphic domains which form the South Portuguese Zone. The Pulo Domain is found in the immediate footwall of a collision zone between the South Portuguese Zone and the Ossa Morena Zone and consists of a series of oceanic melanges with an associated Devonian flyschoid cover. To the south of the Pulo Domain lies the Iberian Pyrite Belt Domain which consists of a sequence of argillaceous shelf sediments followed by a period of bimodal volcanics (with associate polymetallic mineral deposits) and finally by a sequence of Carboniferous flysch. Palynological analysis of these domains has revealed a limited number of relatively diverse although highly carbonized palynomorphy assemblages of Mid to Late Devonian and Early carboniferous age. Results from palynological analyses provide new biostratigraphic data for both the Pulo and Iberian Pyrite Belt domains which both corroborates previous work and places new constraints on local stratigraphies. The main flyschoid successions of the Pulo Domain are dated as Late Givetian to Late Famennian. Early to mid Frasnian ages are determined for the successions below the Horta de Torre and Represa Formations. This is the first biostratigraphic evidence from these deposits. In the Pyrite Belt PQ Group samples yield a Late Givetian to early Famennian age range. The bulk of these samples are probably Late Givetian to early Frasnian although one sample contains a characteristic Late Frasnian assemblage. Palynological material has been recovered from the Culm Group for the first time which corroborates the Late Visén ages determined using conodonts. A detailed taxonomic study of the palynological material has been undertaken which highlights many anomalies and deficiencies in current Devonian spore taxonomy.

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