Geomorphological and Geochronological Analysis Applied to the Quaternary Landscape Evolution of the Yeltes River (Salamanca, Spain)

Iván Martín-Martín, Pablo-Gabriel Silva, Antonio Martínez-Graña and Javier Elez
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Iván Martín-Martín: Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, Plaza de la Merced s/n., 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Pablo-Gabriel Silva: Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, Plaza de la Merced s/n., 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Antonio Martínez-Graña: Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, Plaza de la Merced s/n., 37008 Salamanca, Spain
Javier Elez: Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Salamanca, Plaza de la Merced s/n., 37008 Salamanca, Spain

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-19

Abstract: This paper aims to study the Quaternary geomorphological evolution of the Yeltes river-valley (Duero Basin, Central Spain) primarily based on the study of the Late Neogene piedmont dissected by the river and its Quaternary terrace sequence, since fluvial terraces are excellent archives to study the landscape and climate evolution during this period. Detailed geomorphological mapping implemented in GIS-based digital elevation models was used to the further applications of existing fluvial chronofunctions (relative terrace height-age transfer functions) to establish a numerical geochronology to the sequence of fluvial terraces in the zone. The obtained theoretical ages points to an onset of fluvial incision in the zone after 2.0–2.5 Myr ago, with the dissection of the “ Raña surface ” (a Gelasian alluvial piedmont widely developed in Central Spain). The obtained terrace ages coincide, in most cases, with warm isotopic stages (MIS) or mainly with the transit of cold to warm MIS. Additionally, this study suggests that the full connectivity of the Yeltes drainage (Ciudad Rodrigo Basin) with the Atlantic drainage was not completely effective until MIS 9 (c. 0.29 Myr). The new reported data allows for the exploration of the timing and processes involved in the capture of inland sedimentary basins (Ciudad Rodrigo, Duero basins) by the Atlantic drainage during the early Quaternary.

Keywords: fluvial terraces; chronology; quaternary landscape; Yeltes river; Duero basin (Spain) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:19:p:7869-:d:417998

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