Upper Pleistocene Deposits and Karst Features in the Littoral Landscape of Mallorca Island (Western Mediterranean): a Field Trip
Upper Pleistocene deposits and karst features in the littoral landscape of Mallorca Island (Western Mediterranean): a field trip Joan J. Fornós1, Angel Ginés1, 2, Joaquín Ginés1, 2, Lluís Gómez-Pujol1, 3, Francesc Gràcia1, 2, Antoni Merino2, Bogdan P. Onac4, Paola Tuccimei5 & Damià Vicens1 1 Karst and Littoral Geomorphology Research Group, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma, Spain. 2 Federació Balear d'Espeleologia, Palma, Spain. 3 SOCIB, Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System, Palma, Spain. 4 Department of Geology, University of South Florida, Tampa, USA. 5 Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, “Roma Tre” University, Roma, Italy. 1. Introduction The two-day fieldtrip –Figure 1– will visit the littoral landscapes of Mallorca Island with its prominent Pleistocene deposits and karst features. The presence of the MIS 5 marine terrace sequences, represented by eolianites, paleosoils, and beach deposits will be examined at the following two locations: Palma Bay (Es Carnatge) and NE Alcúdia Bay (Es Caló-Caloscamps). The Upper Pleistocene aeolianite cliffs shape most of the present-day littoral landscapes. Their complex depositional architecture along with the imprints of the extinct ruminant goat Myotragus, will also be observed (Estret des Temps). The tour of the most remarkable Pleistocene outcrops will be complemented with visits of several cave sites in the Migjorn area (Cova des Pas de Vallgornera) and along the eastern coast of the island (Portocristo caves and Coves d'Artà). At these locations, the Pleistocene sea level oscillations are recorded inside the littoral caves in the form of phreatic overgrowths on speleothems. The topic of low- and high-sea stand will be discussed in the light of the present knowledge of paleoclimate and Pleistocene sea level oscillations in the Western Mediterranean basin.
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