Cenozoic right-lateral wrench tectonics in the Western Pyrenees (Spain): The Ubierna Fault System

A study of macro and mesostructural deformation patterns of the southern margin of the Cantabrian area (Western Pyrenees, Spain) has revealed a complex Cenozoic tectonic framework. Right-lateral tectonics reactivated inherited WNW–ESE striking faults, which developed during Late Paleozoic and Early Triassic events, and Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous main rifting stage. The Ubierna Fault represents the southern boundary of the Mesozoic basin. During the Oligocene (even Eocene) to present day deformation, this fault and the Ventaniella Fault located to the south in the study area acted as right-lateral slightly transpressive elements forming a 120 km long and 15 km wide overstep area, here named Ubierna Fault System, where the cumulative right-lateral displacement exceeds 15 km.The Cenozoic tectonic framework of the Ubierna Fault System includes reactivation along the WNW–ESE faults, development of negative and, mostly, positive flower structures, branch faults, strike-slip duplexes, and releasing and restraining bends. NE–SW to ENE–WSW striking reverse faults and contractional horsetail terminations, and NNW–SSE striking normal faults and joints are produced by the WNW–ESE right-lateral strike-slip motion. The extensional elements are well developed and deformation progression implied their incorporation in the strike-slip system as right-lateral faults (forming part of strike-slip duplexes). The abundance of flower structures striking WNW–ESE and paralleling the main strike-slip faults, together with the overall uplift of the overstep area, testifies for a slight compressional component.At a regional scale, the Ubierna Fault System represents the most prominent element of a Cenozoic transpressional belt, which incorporates the western portion of the Basque-Cantabrian Basin and the Asturian Massif area. Lateral transition between this transpressive belt and the dip-slip belt located to the east, occurs across an area experiencing along strike-shortening, which developed to accommodate the eastward extrusion of the transpressional belt.

Research highlights
► Structural features in the Western Pyrenees reveal a transpressive Cenozoic framework.
► A large range of structures associated with wrench tectonics are present in the area.
► The Ubierna Fault System is the most prominent element of a transpressive belt.
► Right-lateral displacement along the Ubierna Fault System is at least 15 km.