Table 1 Lithofacies associations distinguished for the Pliocene-Pleistocene record in the northern sector of the Teruel Basin

Conglomerate (C)

Conglomerate (90%–100%)

Clast or matrix supported textures and subangular to subrounded carbonate and siliceous cobbles to boulders. Local outsized clasts. Fine sandy or muddy matrix, the later in matrix-supported, coarsening-upwards, bodies.

Tabular bodies and rare channelled bases. Clast supported deposits with internal irregular surfaces, horizontal- bedding, and rare trough cross-bedding.

Alluvial fan-proximal sector dominated by flash floods and debris flows. During waning discharges some channels with longitudinal bars developed; overbank areas poorly preserved.

Sandstone (0–10%)

Coarse-grained with polygenic pebbles and cobbles.

Decimetric tabular or irregular bodies with trough cross-bedding and cross lamination.

Mudstone (0–10%)

Massive with disperse polygenic pebbles and cobbles.

Decimetric tabular or irregular bodies.

Conglomerate and Sandstone (CS)

Conglomerate (50%–60%)

Clast-supported subangular to rounded carbonate and siliceous pebbles and cobbles with fine to medium-grained sandy matrix.

Tabular or channelled bodies with horizontal and trough cross-bedding. Common fining-upwards cycles.

Alluvial fan-middle sector with channelled, sometimes unconfined flows and gravel bars. Sandstones represent deposition during waning water discharges and root traces non-sedimentation episodes.

Sandstone (40%–50%)

Coarse to medium-grained sandstone with disperse pebbles and cobbles.

Decimetric-metric tabular or channelled bodies with trough cross-bedding and rare root traces and carbonate nodules.

Conglomerate and Mudstone (CM)

Conglomerate (70%–90%)

Clast-supported subrounded to rounded carbonate and siliceous pebbles and cobbles with fine to medium-grained sandy matrix.

Channels with gently channelled internal surfaces and trough, and less common, planar cross-bedding. Some tabular beds.

Alluvial fan-middle sector with straight multiepisodic channels commonly overflooded. Well-developed overbank areas that prevented channel migration.

Mudstone (10%–30%)

Massive with rare dispersed pebbles and cobbles.

Decimetric tabular bodies with common root traces.

Sandstone (0–10%)

Medium-grained sandstones with disperse pebbles and cobbles.

Mainly decimetriic tabular bodies.

Mudstone (M)

Mudstone (70%–100%)

Massive or bioturbated.

Metric tabular bodies.

Alluvial fan-distal sector mudflat areas fed by unconfined water flows and episodically reached by isolated shallow channels. Near-surface water level favoured pedogenic processes and soils but local freshwater ponds also existed.

Palaeosol (0–30%)

Carbonate palaeosols with prismatic and rare nodular structure. Disperse carbonate or siliceous pebbles.

Decimetric-metric tabular bodies.

Limestone (0–10%)

Massive, bioturbated or brecciated mudstone-wackestone with common gastropods.

Decimetric tabular bodies.

Conglomerate (0–5%)

Clast-supported rounded polygenic pebbles with very fine sandy matrix.

Decimetric poorly channelled or tabular bodies with occasional irregular internal surfaces.

Limestone and Marl (LM)

Limestone (30%–60%)

Massive, bioturbated or brecciated mudstone-packstone with gastropods, ostracods, charophytes and vegetal remains. Rare coal layers.

Decimetric-metric tabular, irregular or slightly lenticular bodies with occasional symmetric ripples.

Shallow lacustrine-palustrine areas with alternating episodes of carbonate precipitation and detrital deposition. Marginal exposed areas with rooted vegetation. Frequent water-level oscillations.

Marl (40%–70%)

Massive or laminated with common gastropods and spherical carbonate nodules.

Decimetric-metric tabular or irregular bodies.

Mudstone (0–10%)

Massive.

Decimetric tabular bodies.