Marine Geology, 95 (1990) 157-163 Elsevier Science Publishers B.V.

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The Ebro margin study, northwestern Mediterranean S e a an introduction

AndrOs M a l d o n a d o a a n d C. H a n s N e l s o n b alnstituto de Ciencias del Mar, C.S.LC., Paseo Nacional s/n, 08039 Barcelona, Spain bU.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, U.S.A. (Received by publisher August 20, 1990) ABSTRACT Maldonado, A. and Nelson, C.H., 1990. The Ebro margin study, northwestern Mediterranean Sea - - an introduction. In: C.H. Nelson and A. Maldonado (Editors), The Ebro Continental Margin, Northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Mar. Geol., 95: 157-163. The Ebro continental margin from the coast to the deep sea off northeastern Spain was selected for a multidisciplinary project because of the abundant Ebro River sediment supply, Pliocene and Quaternary progradation, and margin development in a restricted basin where a variety of controlling factors could be evaluated. The nature of this young passive margin for the last 5 m.y. was investigated with particular emphasis on marine circulation, sediment dynamics, sediment geochemistry, depositional facies, seismic stratigraphy, geotechnical properties, geological hazards and human influences. These studies show the importance of marine circulation, variation in sediment supply, sea-level oscillation and tectonic setting for the understanding of modern and ancient margin depositional processes and growth patterns.

Importance of the study

Most studies of modern margins have concentrated on specific environments, such as the coast and shelf (Nittrouer and DeMaster, 1986; Powell and Elverhoi, 1989; M o r t o n and Nummedal, 1989), slope (Doyle and Pilkey, 1979; Stanley and Moore, 1983) or deep sea (Stow and Piper, 1984; Bouma et al., 1985). Current research topics in marine geology show, however, the importance of understanding the processes and resulting depositional products of entire continental margin sedimentary systems from shoreline to basin floor. For example, it has recently been emphasized that Pleistocene shelf depositional systems should be correlated with coeval turbidite systems (Piper et al., 1989), similar to the seismic stratigraphic analysis of shelf and deep-sea systems tracts in ancient continental margins (Wilgus et al., 1988). It is also important from the practical point of view to understand integrated continental margin sedimentary systems because recent continental margins are extensively exploited for resources and

thus are increasingly subject to environmental stress by man. As a consequence, an integrated view of the past 5 m.y. in the Ebro continental margin is the goal of our study. The Ebro margin (Fig.l) is a young passive margin, where extensive progradation has occurred since the late Miocene (Stanley, 1977; Soler et al., 1983). Located in a restricted basin between two continental blocks - - the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic platform (Fig.2) - - the Ebro margin appears to be an analog for many ancient systems of Alpine-type basins (Nelson and Maldonado, 1988). Our objectives included answering questions such as the following: What can we learn from present-day processes to interpret ancient deposits? To what extent is human activity altering the natural environment? Can precise correlations between shallow and deep environments be established? Under what circumstances do active growth and margin progradation take place? What are important controlling factors for the development of different episodes of margin evolution? We

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Fig.l. Setting of the Ebro continental margin. A. Simplifiedmap showing the main Quaternary river-derived deep-sea depositional systems of the Mediterranean Sea and the location of the Ebro margin study area. EC= Ebro channel-levee complexes; VF= Valencia Fan; RF= Rh6ne Fan; NC= Nile Cone; PS= Po deep-sea system; MF=Menorca Fan; AB=Alboran Basin. (Modified from Stanley, 1977.) B. The main physiographic elements and bathymetry of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea showing the location of the Ebro margin. Bathymetric contours in meters. Dashed lines with arrows indicate main canyon axes. believe that correct answers to these questions have implications for the basic aspects o f the evolution o f present a n d past c o n t i n e n t a l margins, a n d that they will also help in predicting future e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m s a n d provide i n f o r m a t i o n for m a n a g e m e n t a n d preservation of m a r i n e environments. The project began with an analysis of the present

INTRODUCTION marine circulation patterns and resultant sediment dynamics. We then attempted to define sedimentary facies, depositional processes and factors controlling margin growth. We tried to integrate the sedimentary history of the entire margin and show relationships between river/shelf sediment source systems and turbidite depositional systems (Bouma et al., 1985). The oldest feature we studied is the unique basin-wide Messinian unconformity, which was formed when most of the margin was exposed to subaerial erosion during the Mediterranean Sea desiccation (Ryan and Cita, 1978). Our main research, however, was concentrated on the most recent evolution of the margin, and included the study of present environments and modifications of the system by man's activities. Outline of studies in this issue

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This issue is organized into three topical groups of papers that discuss: (a) marine circulation, sediment dynamics and geochemistry, (b) stratigraphy, facies and sedimentary processes, and (c) a summary of the evolution of the margin. Marine circulation, sediment dynamics and geochemistry Font et al.* show that marine circulation on the Ebro margin is linked to the water-mass structure in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea on a basin scale. A permanent barotropic flow to the southwest is stable under all seasonal conditions. In spite of short current reversals, this southward flow, which is modified by the topography and the location of the shelf edge, controls the main depositional processes at present, and it appears to have done so throughout the history of the margin (Diaz et al.; Farrfin and Maldonado; Nelson and Maldonado). Cacchione et al. made continuous measurements of sediment transport near the seafloor, coupled with a theoretical bottom-boundary-layer model to confirm a predominantly southward shelf-parallel sediment transport. An offshore belt of Holocene fine-grained sediment that trends southward from the present Ebro prodelta is attributed by this study to southward, near-bottom flow during non-storm periods and to resuspension of the finegrained, shallow, non-cohesive bottom sediment during storms. Palanques and Drake analyzed the dynamics of suspended particulate matter with a variety of field experiments. During fair weather, the southward flow controls fine-grained sediment transport and no resuspension occurs; most of the sediment is trapped on the shelf. During storms, in contrast, bimodal dispersion may occur. Then the distribution of suspended matter in surface water is controlled by the action of winds and the bottom nepheloid layer is influenced by the distribution of the mid-shelf Holocene mud belt from which fine *Readersare requestedto consultthe contentslist for references to papers in this issue.

Past and present support This volume summarizes the contributions obtained largely during a 5-year joint research project between the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (C.S.I.C.) in Barcelona and the Branch of Pacific Marine Geology of the United States Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) in Menlo Park, California. Several other institutes have also participated in the project, including Instituto Jaime Almera ( C.S.L C. ) , Instituto de Investigaci6n y Desarrollo (C.S.LC.) and the University of Santander in Spain. During this project, seven research cruises with a variety of objectives were carried out. Additional Ebro margin data have been gathered over the past 10 years, including data from more than fifteen oceanographic cruises using a variety of research vessels and techniques within international co-operative research projects. In chronological order of participation, these projects were mostly between the Instituto de Ciencias del Mar and the following organizations: University of Barcelona, University of Perpignan, University of Naples, University of North Carolina and Lamont Doherty Geological Observatory. Without the background information obtained during these projects, the data base for this issue would have been incomplete.

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Fig.2. Main drainage systems and structural domains of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands. Bathymetric contours in meters. A. Three main drainage systems are the sediment sources for the Valencia Trough. The Tesr-Besos-Llobregat Francoli Rivers to the north, the Ebro River in the center, which provides two-thirds of the sediment supply (Nelson), and the

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sediment is resuspended. Because dams trap up to 95% of the normal river sediment discharge, the amount of suspended sediment may at present be considerably reduced (Palanques et al.), although the depositional patterns appear to be consistent with the older Holocene mud belt (Diaz et al.). Two papers describe the organic and inorganic geochemistry of the Ebro margin. Grimalt and Albaig6s find that the depositional environments of the Ebro delta and inner shelf exhibit organic matter patterns related to algal productivity and the diagenetic processes of the allochthonous organic matter; these define a carbon cycle in the area. The inorganic geochemistry of the shelf and slope surface sediment also may be correlated with depositional environments, sediment sources and organic carbon input according to the studies of Gardner et al. The different geochemical factors observed in the sediments are associated with depositional processes and the Holocene evolution of the shelf. Palanques et al. outline the recent modifications introduced by man. On the basis of heavy-metal depocenters they examine changes in the sediment dynamics, pollutant distribution patterns and modern sediment dispersion. The construction of dams and reservoirs and the increase in irrigation have reduced sediment supply to less than 5% of that which prevailed about four decades ago. Most heavy metals are trapped behind dams, and their offshore distribution indicates that modern deposition is restricted mainly to the proximal prodelta. A significant input of pollutants from northern sources, however, has been detected in the suspended sediments near the shelf break.

Stratigraphy, facies and sedimentary processes

The geological framework of the Ebro margin and northwestern Mediterranean Sea is summarized by Dafiobeitia et al. from previous geophysi-

cal and geological studies. The Ebro margin is a prograding, passive-type margin. This margin develops in the western branch of Valencia Trough, which is the deep depression between the Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Platform. The trough is an aborted rift basin which was influenced by extensional tectonics during the early Miocene, although some faulting and subsidence were active until recent times. The Valencia Trough shows a thinned continental crust intruded by andesitic basalts which outcrop in the Columbretes Islands and on basin-floor seamounts. The Pliocene and Quaternary seismic stratigraphy is discussed in two contributions. Farrfin and Maldonado show that the shelf and upper slope have a stack of depositional units bounded by unconformities. These units are deltaic and nearshore deposits developed during eustatic sea-level oscillations at different locations on the shelf. The southward progradation of most of these units seems to be influenced by subsidence and a permanent barotropic flow to the southwest similar to the present-day flow. Alonso et al. demonstrate that the slope, base-of-slope, and basin-floor environments exhibit a progradational facies architecture. The margin has an early Pliocene hemipelagic drape covering most of the irregularities of the subaerial Messinian erosional surface. This drape is overlain by late Pliocene and Pleistocene slope deposits with a variety of turbidite and massgravity sediments on the base-of-slope. The late Pleistocene and Holocene facies are also discussed. Diaz et al. studied near-surface deposits of the Ebro shelf that contain two main facies associations. Basal coarse-grained deposits of the latest Pleistocene low stand and transgression cover the middle and outer shelf, whereas Holocene Ebro delta and southward prograding prodelta facies are restricted to the inner and middle shelf. Alonso and Maldonado find that most of the margin beyond the current-swept upper

Mijares-Turia-Jucar Rivers to the south. No established drainage systems to provide sediment to Valencia Trough are present on the western margin of the Balearic Islands. The various dashed lines show the boundaries of the main drainage systems. B. The main orogenic belts (ornamented areas) and post-orogenic basins (white areas) associated with drainage systems for the Valencia Trough. Heavy dashed lines indicate boundaries of main drainage systems. White areas are intermontane Tertiary basin depressions occupied by various rivers. The Cenozoic basins of the Catalan chains and eastern Spain are shown with the hatched ornament. (Modified from Julivert et al., 1972.)

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slope is covered by thin ( < 2 m) hemipelagic deposits, except in the axis of the latest channellevee complex. Underlying turbidite deposits were developed within active periods of margin progradation during lowstands. Paralleling the change from turbiditic to hemipelagic facies, a climatic trend from cold to warm is observed between the Pleistocene and Holocene in the clay mineral associations. Two styles of deposition are observed in the base-of-slope environments: migrating channellevee complexes over most of the margin and baseof-slope aprons restricted to the north-central study area (Alonso et al.; Alonso and Maldonado). Baraza et al. study slope stability under different loading conditions in order to analyze the differences in style of deposition between the northern and southern sectors of the Ebro margin and the development of sediment instability. These studies show that the slope is generally stable and constructional under normal loading, although local cyclic loading from waves or earthquakes may produce submarine slides. Margin evolution Rates of sediment supply and deposition over the entire Ebro sedimentary system are calculated by Nelson for several time slices from the Messinian unconformity to the present. The basis for this analysis is the age correlation of key older stratigraphic horizons and radioisotopic dating on the younger deposits. Recent Holocene sedimentation rates are compared with Pliocene and Quaternary rates in order to assess the influence of man on sediment supply and differences arising from climatic and sea-level fluctuations. This study shows that man has had an important impact, first by deforestation which increased river loads to as much as the maximum levels of the Pleistocene, and then by the building of dams in the Ebro drainage system which caused sediment starvation over the last 50 years. The final paper, by Nelson and Maldonado, discusses factors controlling the growth of the Ebro margin since the development of the Messinian subaerial unconformity. Major differences in the evolution of the margin are explained by the influence of the Messinian paleodrainage, and the

interplay between sea level, sediment supply and climate during highstands, regressions, transgressions and lowstands. A bidirectional margin growth pattern is related to shelf highstand sediment dispersal controlled by the southward geostrophic flow and to deep-sea lowstand dispersal when high-density sediment gravity flows are transported northeastward downslope.

Final remarks
This study shows that present environmental conditions are important in the interpretation of ancient growth patterns. The research demonstrates that margin evolution varies with time in a cyclic manner because sediment dispersal occurs in one direction at high sea level and in the opposite direction at low sea level. The incomplete development of the Ebro turbidite systems and the coexistence of a detached distal deep-sea fan at lowstand, however, make the Ebro margin different from other modern and ancient continental margins (Fig.l). The significant influence of man in recent margin evolution is one unexpected result of this interdisciplinary study, and it has important implications for future environmental studies. Time will show whether the Ebro margin is unique or if this volume contributes new generalities to the understanding of young passive margins. We believe, however, that the interdisciplinary approach of this study and the level of resolution and detailed correlation of the wide spectrum of depositional environments is not available from most previous studies. Certainly not all topics have been equally investigated and much work remains to be done. However, we do hope that this special issue on the Ebro margin will provoke new thoughts and guide future research.

Acknowledgements
Financial support for the papers in this volume was provided by a 5-year grant from the Joint Committee of Science and Technology of the USA-Spain Treaty of Friendship (project CA 83/047). Previous support for this research came from the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (3678/79) and the Instituto Tecnol6gico

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Geo-Minero de Espa~a (1982/1983). In addition to the authors of the papers many colleagues have participated in the cruises during which the data in this volume were gathered, in particular Henri Got, Andr6 Monaco, Lorenzo Mirabile, Alex Verdaguer, Isabel Zamarrefio, Luis Sol6-Sugrafies, Antonio V~izquez, William B.F. Ryan, Suzanne O'Connell, Kim A. Kastens and Charles Nittrouer. The success of these cruises was only possible because of the dedication of participants whose enthusiasm and hard work overcame technical difficulties and differences in background and experience. We thank these scientists for their great help and friendship. The oceanographic vessels used during the cruises for this study include B.O. Garcia del Cid, B.O. Cornide de Saavedra, N.O. Catherine Laurence and R.V. Robert D. Conrad. We thank the captains, crews and technicians who participated in the gathering of data at sea. Technical support for this volume was provided by M. Teresa Solans, John H. Barber, Jr., Marta Ezpeleta and Jos6 M. Anguita. Many reviewers have also made a significant contribution to the volume. This paper has benefited from critical reviews by James L. Bischoff and John H. Barber, Jr.

References
Bouma, A.H., Normark, W.R. and Barnes, M.E., 1985. Submarine Fans and Related Turbidite Systems. Springer, New York, 351 pp. Doyle, L.J. and Pilkey, O.H. (Editors), 1979. Geology of

Continental Slopes. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral. Spec. Publ., 27:374 pp. Julivert, M., Fontbot6, J.M., Ribeiro, A. and Conde, L.M., 1972. Memoria del Mapa Tect6nico de la Peninsula Ib6rica y Baleares. Inst. Geol. Mineral. Esp., Madrid, 113 pp. Morton, R.A. and Nummedal, D. (Editors), 1989. Shelf Sedimentation, Shelf Sequences and Related Hydrocarbon Accumulation. Proc. Annu. Res. Conf. Gulf Coast Sect., 7th. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., Austin, Tex., 211 pp. Nelson, C.H. and Maldonado, A., 1988. Factors controlling depositional pattern of Ebro turbidite systems, Mediterranean Sea. Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Bull., 72: 698-716. Nittrouer, Ch. A. and DeMaster, D.J., 1986. Sedimentary processes on the Amazon continental shelf: past, present and future research. Cont. Shelf Res., 6 (1/2): 5-30. Piper, D.J.W., Nelson, C.H. and Richards, M., 1989. Group discusses fans and turbidites. Geotimes, 34:I0 11. Powell, R.D. and Elverhoi, A. (Editors), 1989. Modern Glacimarine Environments: Glacial and Marine Controls of Modern Lithofacies and Biofacies. Mar. Geol., 85:391 pp. Ryan, W.B.F. and Cita, M.B., 1978. The nature and distribution of Messinian erosional surface-indicators of a severalkilometer-deep Mediterranean in the Miocene. Mar. Geol., 27: 193-230. Soler, R., Martinez, W., Megias, A.G. and Abeger, J.A., 1983. Rasgos b~isicos del Ne6geno del Mediterr~ineo espafiol. Mediterr. Ser. Geol., 1:71 82. Stanley, D.J., 1977. Post-Miocene depositional patterns and structural displacement in the Mediterranean. In: A.E.M. Nairn, W.H. Kanes and F.G. Stehli (Editors), The Ocean Basins and Margins. Plenum, New York, Vol. 4A, pp. 77 150. Stanley, D.J. and Moore, G.T., 1983. The Shelfbreak: Critical Interface on Continental Margins. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral. Spec. Publ., 33:467 pp. Stow, D.A.V. and Piper, D.J.W. (Editors), 1984. Fine-Grained Sediments: Deep-Water Processes and Facies. Geol. Soc. London Spec. Publ., 15:659 pp. Wilgus, C.K., Hastings, B.S., Kendal, C.B. St. C., Posamentier, H.W., Ross, C.A. and Van Wagoner, J.C., 1988. Sea Level Changes: An Integrated Approach. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral. Spec. Publ., 42:407 pp.