SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GEOMORPHOLOGY

BADLANDS AND TALUS FLATIRONS IN THE

BARDENAS REALES REGION

G. Desir; C. Marn and J. Guerrero

FIELD TRIP GUIDE - B3

 SIXTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON GEOMORPHOLOGY

BADLANDS AND TALUS FLATIRONS IN THE BARDENAS REALES REGION

Gloria Desir, Cinta Marn and Jess Guerrero

Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra; Universidad de Zaragoza; C/ Pedro Cerbuna, 12; 50.009 Zaragoza, Spain. E-mail:
gdesir@unizar.es Phone: +34 976 762781; Fax: +34 976 761106

1. Introduction
The Bardenas Reales are located in the south-eastern margin of Navarra Province, in the middle-
western sector of the Ebro depression (Fig. 1). They conform a big erosional depression with steep
slopes at the margins and deeply dissected valleys, where the landscape is a consequence of the
climatology and geological framework. The geology is made up of Tertiary and Quaternary
sediments.

The word Bardenas means low land where the sheeps graze. They are called Reales because they
were Royal property in the past (Leranoz, 1993). In the Bardenas Reales it doesn't exist any human
settling, and human presence is restricted to the use of the natural resources. Historically cattle have
been the main use, and the recorded highest sheep concentration is 300.000 sheeps. At the present
time, its number has been reduced to less than 90.000 and it is the agriculture the main activity of the
zone. The cattle use, become fulfilled mainly with ovine, besides cows and goats. The agriculture did
not acquire importance until the second half of the 19th century. Nowadays the total cultivated
surface is 21.986 has. that represents the 52% of the surface. The main crop of the zone is the cereal,
although in the last years the cultivation of rice has increased. This crop helps to combat the present
salinity in the soils of Bardenas.

FRANCE
RIVER
N
GO
A
AR

EB
RO ZARAGOZA
FRANCE RIV
E R
PORTUGAL

SPAIN

Figure 1. General situation map of the Bardenas Reales area.

The Bardenas Reales are included in the semi-arid Mediterranean environment, with scarce and
torrential showers and high temperatures which cause the vegetation cover is scarce enough, what
enhances erosion processes. Secular overfarming and overgrazing together with stormy rains, strong
winds and soft clayed soils have given place to high erosion rates. Also it is necessary to add a
substrate highly erodible, topography with steep slopes and the incorrect use of the territory many
times, which has caused the existence of zones specially vulnerable to erosion.
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Due to their singular landscapes the Bardenas Reales became Natural Park by Law 10/1999 of the
Navarra Goverment. In November 9th of 2000 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO) declare the Bardenas Reales World Biosphere Reserve. The Bardenas
Reales are an area of agricultural and cattle use, whose economic exploitation is shared by 22
municipalities of Navarra and Aragn. The centre of the erosive depression is at present a Militar
Exclusion Zone of 2,244 ha. belonging to the Defense Ministry (Fig. 1), being FORBIDDEN the
access. This area does not belong to the Biosphere Reserve, but its restricted use has permitted a
natural development of the vegetation and of the steppe fauna.

The so called Bardena Reales are composed of three parts or regions well differentiated:
- The Bardena Blanca or Erosive Depression
It is the northern zone. It is with an erosive depression excavated in the clay-marl-silty materials of
the Uju facies of Miocene age. The most typical features of this area include an almost complete
lack of relief and the presence of many shallow and narrow gullies, whose slopes are affected by
piping and incision processes. Nevertheless, a few and small hills still remain in the depression.
These hills correspond, on one hand, to small and low sandstone mesas related with the Paleochannel
Facies, and on the other hand, with several remains of cover pediments, some of them poorly
preserved, where detritic cover protects the tertiary materials from erosion. These hills show steep
slopes without vegetation so that slope retreat and evolution is very active.

- The Bardena Negra or Southern Relief.

It is located in the most southern sector and it displays more prominent relief than the previous zone.
It is constituted by the calcareous materials of the Tudela Formation. The lower materials, more
marly, are deeply incised, giving place to sharp badlands. The stratigraphical sequence is slightly
tilted towards the south and thus gently dipping cuestas, with low continuity have formed. These hills
display a NNE-SSO jointing direction.

- The Transition Zone

It is located between the erosive depression and the calcareous relief. In this area, strongly dissected,
subhorizontal cuestas, formed over the Monteagudo and Tudela Formation materials. Hillslopes have
been strongly incised and show knife-edged badlands.

Geologically, the Bardenas Reales are constituted by Tertiary and Quaternary materials. The Tertiary
materials, Miocene in age, correspond to 3 different types of lithologies ( Fig. 2 ):

- Lern Gypsums: (Castiella et al., 1978) They are Aquitanian in age (Early Miocene) and have
thickness ranging from 80 to 250 m. They are interpreted as deposits of open playa-lake.
These gypsums crop out in the vicinity of Arguedas and Valtierr villages, 5 km. away from the
erosive depression. As long as it is a lithology of low consistency, by end of the 19th Century
almost 150 troglodytic housings were excavated in this substratum. At the present time, some
of these caves are used as tourist lodgings.
Gypsums of the Lern Formation change laterally to the clays of the Tudela Formation

- Tudela Formation: (Castiella et al., 1978) It is composed by a 320 m thick sequence of clays
of different tonalities (red, gray, beige ), interbedded with lacustrine limestones, sandstones
and gypsums (Lernoz, 1993; Murelaga, 2000). They are Burdigalian-Vindobonian in age
(Lower -Middle Miocene) (Sol, 1977) and are interpreted as distal facies of alluvial fans of
Pyrenean origin. The Tudela Formation is located in the margins of the erosive depression.

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 G. Desir et al.

The absence of vegetation and the steep slopes have favoured the formation of a spectacular
Badland landscape.

- Limestones of Sancho Abarca: Age Vindobonian-Pontian (Middle -Upper Miocene) (Gracia,

1985). It is made up of a thick package of lacustrine limestones, slightly marly, that crown the
Gypsum of Lern and Tudela formations. They are localized in the southern part of the
depression and give rise to cuestas or stepped landscape depending on the slope angle. In the
upper zone of La Plana Negra, a limestone structural platform, it is possible to find a
calcrete or calcareous crust (Gracia, 1985).

Figure 2. Geological map of the Bardenas Reales Area. Source: Confederacin Hidrogrfica del Ebro.

The quaternary deposits can be found principally in the erosive depression. They are Holocene clays
and silts that come from the washing of the surrounding tertiary clays, of the Tudela Formation. Since
this material is poorly lithified it can be easily incised. Over these deposits, deep gullies have
developed (Fig. 3) that mobilize large quantities of materials in every important rainfall event. For
example, the Barranco Grande, which is 42 km long, is able to mobilize 12 hm3 of sediments per
year to the Ebro river (http://www.bardenasreales.es). The erosive processes act with great celerity on
this fill. Quaternary deposits that filled in the endorheic basin during the Early Holocene are
undergoing strong erosion and deep gullies have developed. The landscape of the recent quaternary
accumulations is characterized by a dense network of flat bottomed valleys that build up a badland
landscape, with rounded watersheds, affected by piping processes (Hernndez -Pacheco, 1949;
Gracia, 1985; Elosegui and Ursa, 1990; Del Valle and Del Val, 1990; Del Valle et al., 1991;
Lernoz, 1993).

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Figure 3 . Geomorphological map of the Erosive Depresion or Bardena Blanca Zone.

4
 G. Desir et al.

Geomorphologically, the alternation of materials with different resistance to erosion (clay with
limestone, sandstone or gypsum) where soft materials clearly dominates (clay and silt), and their
horizontal disposition, have allowed erosion acting intensively, giving rise to a great erosive
depression, La Blanca, surrounded by tabular reliefs as El Plan in the North, and a number of
stepped plateaus in the south, where outstands La Plana Negra.

The erosive depression or Bardena Blanca is surrounded by structural reliefs of different origin. In
some cases they are made up of tertiary formations with horizontal stratums, like in La Plana Negra
or Alfarillo. In other cases the structural reliefs are crown by quaternary sediments like terraces or
pediments (El Plano, Ralla-Ralln, Pisquerra, Cortinar, Castildetierra, etc.) (Fig.3). In these
depression, erosion is very accentuated due to the scarcity of hard stratums that protects the clays
from erosion.

Soils of the Bardenas Reales are clearly tied with landscape and lithology. So in the upper part of
structural platforms soils are calcisols with a great development of the petrocalcid horizon. In the
slopes of the platforms and in the flat areas, over tertiary clays, regosol and xerosol soils, develop. On
the Holocene fill, soils are of fluvisol type.

Lernoz (1993) indicates that soils in the Bardenas Reales belong to the D Class whose main features
are: low use capacity, limited crops, high erosion risk, salinity and sodicity from high to moderate
and water deficit along the main part of the year. On the steep slopes with intense erosion processes
soils belong to E Class (high erosion risk, very steep slopes, reduced thickness and high water
deficit).

Climatically, it is a semi-arid zone with a mean annual precipitation of 350 mm distributed unequally
along the year. Rainfall events are of stormy character with two annual maximum, one to the end of
spring and another at the beginning of autumn. The values of the mean monthly temperature indicate
a clear annual thermal contrast, with temperatures of 10 C in January and 24 C in July, being the
mean annual temperature 13 C.

TO REMIND: IT IS FORBIDDEN TO GO ACROSS THE MILITAR ZONE.

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Stop 1. Road from Arguedas to the military zone. Alto de Aguilas.

From Alto the Aguilas" view point we can have a general perspective of the erosive depression, its
landscape, its materials and cuestas, outlets, terraces, pediments, fill up deposits, etc. Also we can see
the northern reliefs of the Bardena Negra, like El Rincn del B ot El Balcn de Pilatos. As
already mentioned, Bardenas Reales have been traditionally divided in two zones: Bardena Blanca
and Bardena Negra. The Bardena Blanca, occupies the center of the erosive depression, and is
constituted by silty-clay materials with scarce vegetation (Fig. 4). The existence of saline
efflorescences contributes to give its typical whitish coloration. The Bardena Negra, in the south of
the erosive depression, is formed by the limestone reliefs (Fig.4). This zone of Bardenas is settled of
extensively pine and oak trees, which gave origin to the Bardena Negra name.
.

6
 G. Desir et al.

Figure 4. Geomorphological map of the Erosive Depresin or Bardena Blanca.

The Bardenas Reales are surrounded in their south and west margins by two rivers, Ebro and Aragon
respectively. The Aragon river, of Pyrenean origin, is one of the main Ebro River tributaries. The
geographical situation of the Bardenas, between both rivers, has conditioned the presence of deposits
of terrace and pediments belonging to both rivers in the margins of the depression. The hermitage of
La Virgen del Yugo, to the Southwest of the depression, is situated on a terrace level correlative to
the T10 level of the Aragon River (Fig.3). It has been assumed that it belongs to this river due to the
high percentage of limestones with foraminifer boulders, higher than in the terraces of the Ebro River
(Lernoz, 1993). Close to this terrace surface, it is located the T9 terrace surface of the Ebro River.
The deposits of both terrace levels display anomalously high thickness, increased due to the
subsidence phenomenon, caused by the dissolution of the underlying Tertiary evaporites (Fm.
Gypsums of Lern). It is also possible to recognize some U-shaped dolines (pan-shaped dolines) on
their surfaces.

The most typical features of the erosive depression is the lack of relief and the presence of many
shallow and narrow gullies, whose sidewalls are affected by piping and incision processes (Leranoz,
1993). Nevertheless, a few and small hills can be identified over the depression. In some cases they
correspond to sandstone mesas or more frequently, to remains of cover pediments with a thin detritic
cover. These cover pediments converge to the centre of the depression.

In the North of the depression, on the Tudela Formation wide plioquaternary pediments are
developed (Fig.4). One of them, the G9 pediment level, starts from an inferred T10 terrace of the
Aragon River, which has been subsequently eroded (Bomer, 1978). The only remain of this terrace
surface would be the terrace level where the Virgen del Yugo hermitage is placed. The best
preserved pediments in the erosive depression (Ralln and Piskerra) are younger than the G9 level.
Their slopes dip in opposite senses, what indicates the existence of a palaeorelief among them
(Fig.5). This palaeorelief seems to be an ancient pediment level (Lernoz, 1993) whose origin is the
same of the T10 level of the Aragon River, because it also presents boulders of Pyrenean origin
(Gracia, 1985 ).

Figure 5. General view of the Ralln and Piskerra pediments. Both show an opposite slope angle. Hypothetically, in the central
part was placed the level from which they started.

Stop 2. Analysis of the Holocene fill up materials.

Within the Holocene filling materials, 3 levels can be differentiated: the upper laminated unit (C1),
the intermediate massive unit (C2) and the lower laminated unit (C3) (Marn and Desir, 2004)
(Fig.6):

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

- Upper laminated level: clays with silty-loamy texture. There is an alternance of laminated
levels with other thick massive ones. It shows scarce piping processes, popcorn morphologies and
rills.
- Intermediate massive level: clays, severely affected by piping processes and popcorn
morphologies.
- Lower laminated level: alternation of laminar and massive levels. This level is covered by
biocrust. There is also a charcoal level at the upper part of this level, crowning the sequence.
It presents little development of piping processes and popcorn morphologies.

The resultant morphologies developed over each level varies widely depending on their structure
and their physico-chemical properties. These variations can be observed not only on the rilling
processes but also on crust development, interrill morphologies development and piping processes.

Figure 6. General view of the three different levels identified in the Holocene filling deposits.

Results of the Physico-chemical and mineralogical analysis of the three units appear in tables 1
and 2.
Table 1 : Results of the Physico-chemical and mineralogical analysis.

pH Ec O.M. Clay Calcite( % Quartz Other Dispersion Real

( 1:2.5 ) (MS) (%) Minerals ) ( % ) ( % ) Index density
C1 8.3 6.7 0.4 32 40 21 7 0.67 1.98
C2 8.3 7.2 0.4 44 35 16 5 0.65 1.83
C3 9.1 3.5 0.3 18 45 32 5 0.93 2.22

The C1 unit is composed of clays of silty-loamy texture, with very fine laminar structure. The
present forms are rills of scarce development and low penetration, and interills with tooth-shape
forms with rounded or flat pinnacles and wide scouring surfaces covered by crusts (Fig.7).

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 G. Desir et al.

Figure 7: C1. Lower laminated level

C2 unit is loamy with a masive structure. Its main feature is the presence of a high density of
pipes and popcorn morphologies. Cracking polygons are of centimetric to decametric scale with
irregular margins and convex profiles (Fig.8). Moreover, it shows a high density of rills with
tributaries that can reach order 4. The rills have steep slopes with smooth and rounded interrills.
Some of the minor order rill disappear in the pipe conduct (inlet) to reappear in the lower part of the
slope (outlet). These pipes are centimetric in size and they are always related with the rill network.

Figure 8: General aspect of the intermediate massive level, C2, overlaying it the upper laminated level, C3.

C3 level are clays with a silty-loamy texture and laminar structure (Fig.9), where fine laminated
levels alternate with more thick massive levels. These levels can host popcorn morphologies with
cracking cells of minor scale than those of C2 level. Rills on this level are less deep that in the
previous one. Interrill areas are wide and flat.

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Figure 9: Typical morphologies developed over the upper laminated level, C3, overlaying the intermediate massive level, C2.

From the textural viewpoint clear differences between the three levels can be observed. C2 Level,
is composed mainly by clays, constituted up to 44% of clay minerals (basically illite). The other
levels show lower clay contents and their texture may be silty-clay. On the other hand, clays from C2
level show an important cracking and are more highly erodible than the laminated levels.
Table 2: Chemical analysis from the samples.

SO42- HCO3- Cl- Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+ SAR ESP

(meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l)
C1 12.7 32.5 739.6 117.5 365.7 509.4 0.3 32.7 31.4
C2 13.7 55.8 643.1 92.5 325.0 477.4 0.6 33.0 31.6
C3 16.6 17.3 442.1 16.6 125.8 392.2 0.3 46.4 39.6

In the three levels the chemical analyses show that all are sediments with moderate dispersion
indexes and high SAR and ESP values (Table.2). However, only C2 level, is prone to piping
processes (Fig.10).

Figure 10. Piping processes developed over the C2 or masive intermediate level.

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

As already mentioned, one of the main conditioning factors of the resultant morphologies is the
mineralogical composition. An important factor favouring the genesis of piping is the presence of
swelling clays. If no swelling clays are present, as it happens in the Bardenas Reales, the clay
dispersion plays also an important role, since dispersion is the cause of the cracking that generates the
loss of cohesion of the clays (Arulanandan and Heinzen, 1977). This loss of cohesion favours the
appearance of piping. C3 level shows higher dispersion index, SAR and ESP values than C2 level,
however no piping processes have developed on it. This could be due to its smaller sodium content,
and its higher silt content.
Finally, crust are one of the present morphologies in this area with greater superficial
distribution. These crust types appear fundamentally tied to the C1 and C3 levels (Fig.11). It can be
differentiated three crust types developed on the Holocene substratum and its genesis is sue to the
biological activity of lichens, funguses and algae. The first one, has rough texture, it is being shading
coloured and located in zones with southern exposure. In some cases it can be accompanied of
lichens (Fig.11A). A second type, with rounded morphologies and internal lamination, whose origin
is due to the activity of lichens and algae (Fig. 11B). Finally, the third type exist on the zones where
sheetwash (Fig.11C). It has a very fine internal lamination, with structure similar to that of
stromatolith. As already said, crusts are resistant to erosion, decrease soil infiltration capacity and
increase runoff, so that in the crust margins retreat could form pedestals. (Fig.11).

A B

C D

Figure 11: Different crust types developed over the Holocene infill deposits.

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Stop 3. Experimental Site Bardenas-1.

The experimental plot of Bardenas-1 (BD1) is placed on the Holocene filling deposits, C1, C2 and C3
levels. It is 300 m above sea level, has a surface of 415 m2, and it is on a slope oriented to the NE.
The slope profile is convex with a mean slope of 9. It is characterized by the presence of deep rills
with arched interrill areas and piping processes.

The plot occupies part of a small natural amphitheatre dissected by slightly meandering rills (Fig.13),
that drain into a flat bottomed valley placed few meters southwards of the plot. The network is quite
ramified reaching some of the rills a Horton order of 4. Many rills of lower order disappear in
subsuperficial pipes (inlet) and reappear at the base of the slope (outlet). Pipe scale is centimetric and
they are always related to the rill network.

Figure 12: General view of the experimental plot Bardenas-1. BD1.

The plot is surrounded by a metallic fence in order to avoid disturbances. 242 erosion pins have been
installed following a square metre grid. Erosion pins have also been placed on fixed points to obtain
microtopographic profiles. Alls these profiles, 26 in total, are perpendicular to the rills. On the other
hand, outside of the plot, 25 sections have been installed, but in this case parallel to the maximum
slope direction, in order to evaluate slope retreat.

The erosion studies have been carried out over a 54.4 m2 and 9 slope microbasin. This microbasin
has been fitted with a collector device with two Geib type divisors. In order to determine the climatic
conditions controlling the erosion processes a weather station was installed on the top of the plot. It is
fitted with a pluviograph and a data logger where data were collected every two minutes.

The mineralogical composition indicates that clays are the main soil constituent (18-44 % of the fresh
rock and 16-39% of regolith). There is a loss of clay constituents in the transformation from fresh
rock to regolith. Quartz fluctuates between 16 and 32% and calcite between 35 and 48%. These
minerals go together with dolomite, potassic feldspar and gypsum in very low or nonexistent

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 G. Desir et al.

quantities. Gypsum in the regolith samples have been almost lixiviated. Difratograms of the clay
fraction carried out on orientated aggregates show a clear predominance of the illite (81-85 %),
chlorite (11-17 %) and traces of kaolinite.

Figure 13. Sketch of the Experimental Plot BD1.

The runoff and sediment production are measured and stored in a collector device. This consits on a
first tank, 400 l. in volume connected to a second one with two Geib Type divisors (Albaladejo,
1990; Sirvent et al., 1997; Desir, 2001, 2002). Only a quarter part of the collected runoff rises the
second tank wit a capacity of 380 l.

The plot ground lowering was obtained by erosion pin measurements and microtopographic profile
gauge techniques (Sancho et al., 1991; Benito et al., 1992; Sirvent et al., 1997). The erosion pins are
made of steel rods covered by a coat of zinc to avoid oxidation. Pins must be wide and long enough
to guarantee a good anchorage without causing any disturbance in soil surface. Two kinds of pins
have been installed, one of them is 30 cm long and 4 mm wide, and has been used to take
measurements of ground lowering. The other ones are 40 cm long and 6 mm wide. They have been
placed at fixed points over which stand the microtopographic profile gauge and let to know the
evolution of a slope profile along the time when the measurement is made in the same point over
different time periods. Erosion pins must be perpendicular to soil surface. The recordings were made
every six months setting a metal washer on the ground, in order to avoid or minimize soil
irregularities, and taking measurements with a depth gauge. The erosion pin record was analysed by
computer, generating ground lowering contour lines.

The microtopographic profile gauge used (Sancho et al., 1991) was based on Curtis and Cole (1972),
Mosley (1975) and Benito et al. (1992) profilometers. The device has a 110 cm wide and 90 cm high

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

aluminum panel which has black horizontal lines 2 cm apart painted on its front face (Fig.14). Along its
lower horizontal edge, a 114 cm long hollow aluminium bar, with holes drilled every 2 cm, is fixed.
Through these holes, 51 rods, 4 mm in diameter, can move freely up and down in response to
microtopographic variations. The movement of these rods is helped by another drilled horizontal bar
located within the frame. In order to obtain absolute values of ground lowering, the profilometer was
maintained in a horizontal position by two adjustable vertical tubes mounted on fixed erosion pins.
The results were recorded every six months by means of photographs. Data analysis was carried out
by computer, giving (x, y) values for each rod (Sancho et al., 1991; Benito et al., 1992).

BA RDENA S REALES
Profile BD 18
50

Lowering (cm)
40
30
20
10
0
1 7 13 19 25 31 37 43 49

.
Figure 14. Microtopographic profile gauge and rill cross-section taken by profilometer for Bardenas 1 plot

Erosion rates registered in BD1 plot by the collector device and its temporal evolution show how
these rates, always depending on annual rainfall amount, are growing up from year to year (Fig. 15).
The explanation can be related to rill evolution inside the plot and its position regarding the different
Holocene fill up levels. So the exposed surface of the intermediate level, C2, has been growing up as
consequence of rill incision and headcut retreat (Fig.16). This is the level that shows higher
dispersion indexes and also higher SAR values (Table.3)
Collector Device
3000

2500 Erosion Pins

EROSION RATES (Tm/Ha/year)

2000

1500

1000

500

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30

TIME PERIOD

Figure 15. The accumulative graph shows the increasing tendency of the erosion rates with time.

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 G. Desir et al.

Figure 16. Sketch of the experimental plot BD1 where the actual contact between C2 and C3 has been overdrawn.

Table 3. Measured annual erosion rates in the experimental Plot BD1.

1993 136,918
1994 73,74
1995 78,598
1996 83,905
1997 10,69
1998 13,465
1999 147,955
2000 144,425
2001 8,278
2002 73,138
2003 31,138
Mean 81,126

Erosion pin techniques and microtopographic profiles furnish very valuable data regarding to particle
mobilization inside the plots and, in turn, they complement the erosion rates data obtained from the
collector technique. By means of these techniques data of accretion as well as ground lowering can be
obtained (Sirvent et al., 1996), and thus it is possible to know which is the erosion distribution
through the monitored zone. The obtained data of lowering and superficial accretion is given in mm.
These data can be turned into Tm/Ha/year knowing the regolith density. Density measurement is
carried out every 6 month, at the same time that pins are measured. Periodic measurements are taken
because density is a dynamic characteristic of soils and is subject to seasonal and temporal variations.

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 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

The mean values of denudation calculated by means of the microtopographic profile gauge are 7.9
mm and 5.4 mm by means of the erosion pins. When converting it in erosion rates these are 118.5
Tm/Ha/year with microtopographic profile gauge and of 81 Tm/Ha/year with the erosion pins.

The comparison between volumetric and dynamic methods, keeping in mind the values of apparent
density, shows that the technique of the microtopographic profiles furnishes higher values of erosion
rates to those supplied by means of erosion pins and collector devices. The microtopographic profiles
were used to measure erosion in rill areas. Since erosion concentrate in these areas the so calculated
erosion rates are overestimated. It is important to remark the existence of an intrinsic error of this
methodology, of 0.5 cm. Assuming a mean bulk density of 2.65 gr/cm3 for all soils (Marshall and
Holmes, 1988), the calculated error is 130 Tm/Ha (Marn and Desir, 2003). In the erosion pins case,
lowering is measured together with accretion, so the obtained data are underestimated. Moreover, the
depth gauge used has an error of 0.5 mm, which implies a measuring error of 13.2 Tm/Ha.

The total events with production of sediments recorded with the collector devices and their temporal
evolution indicates that there is only significant erosion during the pluviometric maximums, the end
of the spring and the beginning of autumn (Fig.17). There is a clear report between precipitation and
runoff and sediment production. In the accumulative curves two clear steps appear related to events
of high magnitude that took place at end of spring and beginnings of autumn (Fig.17). The sediment
yield recorded in these events was more than the double of the rest. This indicates that the erosion is
controlled fundamentally for stormy rains. Between these steps there are stages of scarce runoff and
sediment production. These events are localized during the summer, final of autumn, winter and the
majority of the spring. Rains during these periods whether have no erosion or correspond to cyclonal
rains of low amount and intensity in which erosion is small.

Figure 17. Cumulative sediment yield versus total annual rainfall for one year in the Bardenas Reales experimental plots.

Data obtained from the collector devices show a clear relationship between precipitation and runoff.
Nevertheless, below 6 mm there is no significant runoff (Fig.18). Runoff is considered significant
when surpasses 1 l/m2. Runoff increase considerably when precipitation reaches this 6 mm threshold.
This threshold may correspond to the soil saturation capacity. The maximum runoff generated was
43.6 l/m2 for a precipitation event of 50 mm and with a maximum intensity of 5.8 mm/h. But,
however there is no clear relationship between maximum intensities and runoff (Fig. 19). Whereas
runoff and mean intensity show a trend between runoff and precipitation, except events of low

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 G. Desir et al.

magnitude and high maximum intensity.

60
1993
50 1994
1995
40
Runoff (l/m2)

1996

30 1997
1998
20 1999
2000
10
2001
2002
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 2003

Rainfall (mm)
Figure 18. Relationship between rainfall and runoff. Note that runoff increases above 6 mm of precipitation.

80 1993

70 1994

60 1995

1996
50
Runoff (l/m2)

1997
40
1998
30 1999

20 2000

10 2001

2002
0
0 20 40 60 80 100 2003

Maximum Intensity (mm/h)

Figure 19. Graph showing the relationship between maximum intensity and runoff.

This direct relationship also appears between precipitation and sediment yield (Fig.20). A threshold is
observed about the 6 mm of precipitation that corresponds with the runoff threshold. With values
above it, soil loss increases. In general, sediment yield increases with mean intensity (Fig.21), except
for events of high intensity and of low precipitation.

17
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

8000 1993

7000 1994

Sediment yield(g/m2)
1995
6000
1996
5000
1997
4000 1998

3000 1999
2000
2000
2001
1000 2002

0 2003
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Precipitation (mm)
Figure 20. Rainfall and sediment yield relationship. The sediment yield increased above 6 mm of precipitation.

8000
1993
7000 1994
1995
Sediment yield (g/m2)

6000
1996
5000
1997

4000 1998
1999
3000
2000
2000 2001

1000 2002
2003
0
0 20 40 60 80 100

Maximum Intensity (mm/h)

Figure 21. Maximun intensity and sediment yield relationship.

Stop 4. Gully erosion processes and Gully evolution.

The Miocene gypsums and clays host a system of infilled valleys that at present are affected by
incision processes (Fig.4). Incision also affects the tertiary clays of the Tudela Formation. Gullies
generated during the present erosion stage reach more than 10 km long and 10-12 m depth. The most
typical features of the erosive depression is the lack of relief and the presence of many low and
narrow gullies, on which the sidewalls are affected by piping and incision processes (Leranoz, 1993).
The main gullies have a U-shaped section and are only one or two meters deep. The network has a
dendritic pattern and the gullies have high sinuosity (Fig.4). The erosive depression is crossed by
three main gullies: Grande, Andarraguria and Limos. The two first drain the last one which joints the
Ebro River in the Bardena Negra zone.

18
 G. Desir et al.

Gullies are erosive forms that show steep walls and depths higher than 0.5 m and are only occupied
by water under storm conditions. At the Bardenas Reales site, gullies are developed over Holocene
silts and are wide spread. It is possible to recognise two filling up stages (Soriano, 1986; Lernoz,
1993; Marn y Desir, 2004). The first one is characterised by a thick silt sequence where alternate
levels with ripples and decantation levels (Fig.22). The second one is also composed by silt deposits
with cross-stratified gravel deposits at the top of the sequence (Fig.23). The gullies evolution
responds to different processes like headcut retreat, scouring, undermining and piping. The extent and
evolution of the gullies at the Bardenas Reales site, shows clearly that they are the main paths of
sediment loss and exportation.

Figure 22.. Fill up stage composed by a thick silt sequence where alternate levels of ripples and decantation levels (see photo
on the right) .

Figure 23. Fill up stage composed by silt deposits with cross-stratified gravel deposits at the top of the sequence.

19
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

The FAO (1978) indicates that gullies evolution takes place by means of several processes, which can
act together or separately. These are: bottom deepening and wall and headcut retreat due to
undermining and scouring. Schnabel (1997) points out that the evaluation processes of the gullies are
the collapse and headcut retreat, channel deepening, undermining and incision of the base of the scarp
and walls, and finally the wash out of the walls. All these processes have been recognized in the area
of study, varying the magnitude and intensity in function of the gully order. Thus, in the tributaries of
minor order the headcut retreat and the channel widening are caused by topples, piping and
undermining (Fig.24). In the major order gullies dominates channel deepening (Fig.25).

Figure 24. Gully erosion processes in minor order gully. Headcut retret is caused by undermining, scourring and toples.

Figure 25. Evolution of major gullies in the Bardenas is mainly due to channel deepening. There are also piping processes and
topples.

One conspicuous example of the erosion processes celerity over the minor order gullies of these area
is given by the evolution of one gully placed approximately 100 m away from the erosion plot
BD1.This gully drains the plot. Originally it was a man made ditch which acted as drain pipe for the
plot. The ditch was dug in April, 1997. During the first years morphological changes, in the plot and
the channel, were subtle. The process which triggered its downcutting was the wash out of the
accumulated sediments that filled up the plot base and the collector device. Afterwards, wash
increased and the surface lowering provoked the concrete base on which the collector device is fixed,
to crop out. Up to this moment there were a great increase of erosion, mainly due to the decrease of
runoff load. Subsequent increase of the runoff gave place to bottom incision. On the other hand,
erosion retreats from the main gully outlet point, which was placed 1.5 m above the bottom level,
deepened and widened the ditch.

20
 G. Desir et al.

As a result of the undermining and piping, the ditch shows an enlargement and headcut retreat that
evolve in an unusual speed in comparison with the environment. The sequence of images show the
gully evolution (Figs.26, 27, 28). Nowadays, it is 20 to 25 m behind its original head, and the incision
of the ditch channel in the final part is 1 to 2 m below the original level.

Figure 26. Dictch on spring 1999, when erosion began to incise the channel and the head of the main gully began its retreat.

Figure 27. Dictch on january 2004, it is clear the channell deepening and the piping processes and topples.

Figure 28. Dictch on March 2005, there is an intense erosion on the gully sides.

21
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Stop 5. Quaternary evolution of the Bardenas erosive Depression.

Gully deposits in these area show two accumulation stages (Soriano, 1986; Lernoz, 1993; Marn and
Desir, 2004). Gracia (1985) recognizes the existence of two accumulation stages in the Tudela Gully.
Although the presence of a pediment (G3) hung on this gully, suggests that at least there are three
accumulative stages in this valley. First the tertiary materials were incised. Afterwards, during the
general fill of the depression the gully deposits were uncomformably sedimented. This first stage is
constituted by a thick deposit of silts where there is an alternation between ripple-bearing levels and
decanted sediments (Figs.22). Locally, in the base of these silts, in contact with the tertiary
substratum, a 40 cm thick level of slightly cemented gravels, outcrops.

In these stop it can be seen one palaeorelief of tertiary materials. It is covered with a pediment 1 or 2
cm thick which is overlayed by the C2 or intermediate massive level, showing an erosive contact
(Fig.29). It is important to remark the lack of the C1 or lower laminated level in these area. It can be
assumed that the tertiary remaining relief act as a topographic high which avoid the sedimentation of
level C1 in this point. In this area, bellow the C2 level, a sandstone level belonging to the
palaeochannel Facies also crops out.

After this first accumulation stage, there was a second one, when fine deposits alternating with cross
stratified gravels were deposited (Fig.23). At the present, the dominant dynamics in the area is
erosive and deep incisions that affects both the tertiary materials and the filling deposits can be
recognized. Some gullies in this area are more than 5 km long, and up to 10 m deep. They form part
of a well hierarchically arranged network that goes over the whole Bardenas Reales depression,
cutting the prominent reliefs towards the base level: the Ebro River in the proximities of Tudela
(Navarra).

Figure 29. Palaeorelief of tertiary materials covered overlayed by the C2 or intermediate massive level, showing an erosive
contact

22
 G. Desir et al.

The basin evolution can be described as follows:

1. erosion of the terraces and pediments levels (G9 and T10)
2. accumulation of the basal level of gravels and formation of cover pediments with a thin
detritic cover over the eroded tertiary materials.
3. deposition of the C1, C2 and C3 levels
4. development and hierarchization of the valleys and gullies network.
5. 2nd and 3th filling stages of the flat bottomed valleys
6. actual stage of gullies erosion when channel deepening predominates

Stop6 .The Bardenas Reales Symbol or Castildetierra and Talus Flatirons.

In the Bardenas Reales there are some factors that make this area very sensitive to erosion. On one
hand, a climate with large drought periods together with storms of high intensity, which gives place
to an intense water erosion. On the other hand, the high fragility and erodibility of the substrate
mainly formed by marls, gypsum, silts and clays. It must to be added a high human pressure on a
highly unstable environment that has given place to an irreversible loss of the vegetation cover in
wide zones where desertification problems are reaching alarming degrees.

Valle de Lersundi (1991) affirms that the magnitude of the erosive phenomenon in the Bardenas
Reales is due to the human activity, favoured by a great vulnerability to erosion of soils and rocks as
well as to the adverse climatology of the zone. Lernoz (1993) indicates that the Bardenas landscape
is a typical erosive one, nearly desert, where badlands and piping are the dominant forms on the
filling deposits. On the tertiary materials there are also intense rilling processes that indicate the
celerity of the erosive processes. At the same time slope retreat causes caprock undermining that
generate block falls and topples and the development of outliers and talus flatirons. An example of it
is the Castildetierra (Fig.30) that has been consigned as symbol of the Bardenas Reales. This
represents a beautiful example of Damm Coife that result of the differential erosion of the clays
and the remains of glacis and sandstones that from the depression. In some particular case we can
also find situations where talus flatirons are the only remains of the ancient relief that originated them
(Fig.31).

Figure 30. Castildetierra that has been consigned as symbol of the Bardenas Reales is a beautiful example of Damm Coife t
resulting from the differential erosion.

23
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Talus Flatirons:
When a sequence of labile sediments is covered by a caprock of resistant material, the slope profile
commonly displays an upper segment with a free face and a debris slope in the lower segment.
Weathering and erosion of the caprock cause its retreat and provide the detrital deposits that
accumulate on the debris slope. Generally, the debris slope has a basal concavity, which may grade to
a pediment.

Figure 31. Talus flatarions preserved as only remainder of the ancient relief that originated it.

The incision processes acting on the debris slopes, together with the retreat of the caprock, may give
place to relict slopes detached from the source area, known as talus flatirons (Koons, 1955), tripartite
slopes (Everard, 1963) and triangular slope facets (Bdel, 1982). Talus flatirons are generated when
there is a significant alteration in the morphogenesis of the slope involving the change from a
domination of accumulation processes to a prevalence of incision processes. These landforms usually
have a triangular shape in plan view and are separated form the scarp (Fig.32). The alternation of
incision and accumulation periods through time gives place to talus flatirons sequences. The
chronological order of the flatiron generations is given by their relative position, being the oldest
facets the ones located further away from the scarp.

The important role that lithology and structure play in the genesis of talus flatirons is well known
(Schumm and Chorley, 1966; Nicholas and Dixon, 1986; Schmidt, 1987, 1989a; Gutirrez et al.,
1998a, b). The generation of triangular slope facets is influenced by numerous factors like the
caprock-free face thickness, the presence of massive sequences of labile materials, joint density of the
caprock, cryogenic weathering or limestone dissolution. Besides, small mass movements like rock-
falls, rock-topples and rock-slumps, frequently favoured by sapping at the base of the scarp,
contribute to talus flatiron formation. On the other hand, rilling and gullying processes affect the soft
material underlying the scarp (Schippull, 1980; Gerson and Grossman, 1987).

24
 G. Desir et al.

Figure 32. Traditional scheme of talus flatiron genesis by

Talus flatirons genesis requires the alternation of aggradation and incision periods. These changes in
the morphogenetic regime seem to be related to climatic changes (Everard, 1963; Gerson and
Grossman, 1987; Sancho et al., 1988; Schmidt, 1989b, 1994; Arauzo et al, 1996; Gutirrez and Pea,
1989, 1998; Gutirrez et al., 1998a, b; Gutirrez and Ses, 2001). It is also important to take into
account human activity that may have influenced or controlled the generation of flatirons in recent
times (Everard, 1963; Gutirrez and Pea, 1989, 1992, 1998). Overgrazing and overfarming may
trigger downcutting processes as a consequence of vegetation cover reduction. Since vegetation cover
in arid regions is scarce and vulnerable, low magnitude climatic variations may cause significant
variations in the vegetation density and important changes in the morphogenesis of the slopes. A
decrease in the vegetation cover due to climatic or human modifications leads to an increase in
sediment yield. When rainfall diminishes vegetation cover also decreases. A rise in temperature also
implies an increase in evapotranspiration leading to a decrease in soil moisture availability and
vegetation cover. Slight changes in the vegetation cover may give place to variations in the
morphogenetic processes acting in the slopes (e.g. accumulation/incision). Although talus flatiron
formation needs a time response to reach new equilibrium conditions (Bull, 1991), a great number of
talus flatirons from different stages could remain preserved in landscape, whereas other ones could be
destroyed by erosion.

In these areas due to the slight thickness of the slope deposits it has no been possible to recover
datable charcoal in order to establish the absolute chronology of flatirons. In other areas from the
Ebro, Duero, Tajo Basin, Gutirrez et al. (2005) have recognized five stages of flatirons related with
cold periods. In the three mentioned Tertiary basins talus flatirons have been found in numerous
places and up to five stages of slope evolution have been recognised in some locations. The second
youngest stage (S2) has been dated in several places in the Ebro and Duero Basins by means of 14C.
The age of this stage ranges from 2,529 52 to 3,590 40 radiocarbon yBP. The third youngest stage
(S3) has yielded dates of 27,862 444 radiocarbon years BP in the Ebro Basin, and 28,550 130
14C yBP in the Duero Basin. S4 has been dated in the Ebro Basin as old as 35,570 490 radiocarbon
yBP. The S2 slope facets correspond to the Iron and Bronze Age Cold Stages. The S3 and S4
flatirons may be correlated with the Heinrich events H3 and H4. These dates may indicate that the
accumulation periods on the slopes correspond to cold global events. The dates obtained for the
stages S3 and S4 in the central and north-eastern sectors of Spain and their good correlation with
Heinrich events suggest that flatirons could be related to climatic sequences in the Upper Pleistocene
and Holocene.

25
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

Stop 7. Erosion processes on Tertiary materials.

The area is constituted by tertiary clays crowned by quaternary fluvial deposits corresponding to
different pediment levels that are deeply dissected. The most ancient pediment bears a calcic crust in
its upper part. Bellow these quaternary pediments there is a wide depression developed on
quaternary-fill deposits with an intricate network of rills and gullies. Therefore, badlands are
principally located on the slopes of the Miocene clays where they generate spectacular morphologies
of knife-edged interrill areas, separated by a dense rill network and some monoliths of high altitude.

The higher reliefs of the depression are constituted by pediments like Ralln (470 ms) and Pisquerra
(460 ms). These pediments show opposed slope direction (Fig.5) and in spite of their relative altitude
from the bottom of the depression they correspond to recent accumulative levels. The rock fragments
from the pediment deposit show a Pyrenean origin, however, nobody knows the source area. A
supposition is that it was a terrace from the Aragon River. However, nowadays, the river flows very
far to the NW. Other hypothesis is that the source area was one more ancient pediment that at the
present time is dismantled, whose source area would have been a terrace of the Aragon River.

Five stratigraphic levels have been differentiated within the Tertiary sequence (Gutirrez et al, 1995).
The results of the physico-chemical and mineralogical analyses carried out are shown in tables 3 and
4.

Table 3: the Physico-chemical and mineralogical analyses

pH CE O.M. Clay Calcite Quartz Other Dispersion Real

( 1:2.5 ) (MS) (%) Mineral| (%) (%) (%) index density
R1 9.2 3.7 0.2 27 42 24 7 0.76 2.27
R2 8.9 4.1 0.2 38 39 20 3 0.35 2.26
R3 8.7 2.9 0.2 13 48 36 3 0.60 1.99
R4 8.4 5.0 0.3 31 38 18 13 0.51 2.27
R5 8.7 3.8 0.2 36 37 20 7 0.61 2.17

Tertiary sediments display massive structure, alkaline pH, high electric conductivity and an almost
total absence of organic matter (Table 3). Mineralogical analyses by means of X ray diffraction show
a high content in calcite, with quartz and clay minerals in smaller proportion. The clay minerals
analyzed on orientated aggregates indicate a high content of illite, 82-86%, chlorite, 9-16%, and
traces of kaolinite.

Table 4: Result of the chemical analysis of the saturated extract.

SO42- HCO3- Cl- Ca2+ Mg2+ Na+ K+ SAR ESP

(meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l) (meq/l)
R1 15.6 13.9 398.2 11.8 88.1 315.4 0.6 44.6 38.6
R2 11.7 62.3 637.7 34.9 161.3 509.4 0.9 51.4 42.1
R3 17.6 78.5 209.0 26.9 127.5 211.4 0.8 24.0 25.0
R4 17.6 89.6 466.2 37.9 165.6 392.2 0.9 38.8 35.3
R5 101.9 9.7 224.5 23.9 99.2 264.3 0.6 33.6 32.0

In absence of swelling minerals, the presence of high sodium contents can give place to swellings
(Jones, 1981; Imeson et al., 1982) and piping processes (Benito et al., 1993; Gutirrez et al., 1995).

26
 G. Desir et al.

The main factor that controls the development of piping is the amount of dissolved sodium in the
water of the pores, related with Ca2+ and Mg2+ (Shepard and Decker, 1977). All the analyzed samples
show high SAR and ESP values (Table 4). Clays with ESP values above 15 (McIntyre, 1979) or SAR
values above 5 (Aitcheson and Word, 1965) are very susceptible to piping. However, in this area, the
stratigraphical levels are not affected by piping processes despite the values of SAR and ESP. This is
due to the high slope (34o), and the slight development of the regolith thickness, (2-5 cm) that avoid
infiltration to go deeper than this level of alteration. The infiltration takes place mainly through
cracks, which display a good spacing and high density. The development of the cracking is uniform
and regulate. On the other hand, the soils swelling capacity is evidenced by the presence of popcorn
morphologies with polygons of centimetric size (Fig.33), irregular sides and non orthogonal
orientation.

Figure 33. Popcorn structures developed on the tertiary clays of the Tudela Formation.

One of the main characteristics of this sector is the intense rill development that individualize small
drainage basin with knife-edged watersheds and little fans at their outlet (Fig.34). The rills of minor
order present slopes about 60 starting close to the watershed divisor. Rills have narrow and flat
bottoms. As explained before, piping does not reach a good development, but some pipes can be
recognised in the middle and upper part of the slopes.

Figure 34. A typical small drainage basin with knife-edged watersheds where little fans develop on it foot.

27
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

The presence of mud flows is quite common due to the steep slopes of these badlands, the scarce
regolith thickness and the high cracking density (Fig.35). They form mainly during the months of
winter, when the rains are of low intensity and runoff infiltration is higher. On the other hand,
evapotraspiration is smaller in winter times so that higher soil humidity rates can be reached. This
causes regolith flow as mud flows, once the plastic limit is reached and the friction angle surpassed.
Most of the mudflows identified in the area are found channelled along the main rills (Fig.35) and
some of them are also located in the interrill areas, especially in those which display northern
exposure.

These forms are no perennial; in general they disappear with the firsts spring rainfall events. These
rains are of stormy character with high intensity and erosivity. Runoff is concentrated along rills
increasing it erosion capacity and shear strength so rill bottom became incised and the mud flow
washed up. So, in this area they are temporary forms that sometimes, if rainfall trough the year is
scarce, can be preserve. An example are those of the lateral gully in the base of the Piskerra
pediment. It can be appreciated the mud flow covering the rill and the formed lobe in the rill outlet. It
is curious to see the different response of both materials (mud flow and substrate) to erosion and
desiccation (Fig.35).

Figure 35. An old Mud flow covering the rill and the formed lobe in the rill outlet. Actually rilling processes are eroding and
inciding it.

From the morphological viewpoint on the tertiary materials a very homogeneous landscape
develops with continuity through all the differentiated levels (Fig.36). This tendency seems to be
interrupted for the presence of milimetric levels of secondary fibrous gypsum and some small
palaeochannels of sandstones, which give place to the presence of small steps that truncate the slope

28
 G. Desir et al.

profile. On these more or less horizontal surfaces develop small pedestals of crystals of secondary
gypsum and sandstone. Also it is possible to observe gnammas, tafonis, alveolos and honey combs
over the palaeochannel sandstones (Fig.)

Figure 36. General aspect of badlands develop over the tertiary clays of the Tudela Formation.

When studding the forms developed on Tertiary substratum, two ideas must be kept in mind:
- the forms develop homogeneously over all the tertiary levels, and the only appreciable
differences are due to the presence of fine levels of secondary gypsum and of sandstone, and
- the unquestionable paper of the slopes when they are high, controlling the magnitude of the
processes independently of the physico-chemical properties of the material.

The active processes on the badlands of the tertiary materials of the Tudela Formation are principally
rilling processes and mud flows. In the experimental plot of Bardenas-2 situated over Miocene clays,
in the occidental extreme of the Military zone, there have been measured erosion rates of
33,08Tm/Ha/year (Table5).

The plot is placed on Miocene clays affected by rilling processes and minor mud flow processes. The
plot is 400 m2 in surface and has a mean slope of 34 but erosion rates were only measured in a 42 m2
microcatchment. The chemical analyses show SAR values above 15 and clay minerals as illite (70%)
and Chlorite (30%). Measured swelling values were 10.3%.

Stop 8. Badlands, Slope evolution and Talus Flatirons.

Slope evolution in the Bardenas Reales is strongly dependent on lithology and climate. Due to
the high erodibility of the Tudela and Monteagudo Formations, erosion processes act very fast and
strongly on them, so the main features of this area are steep slopes with knife-edged watershed

29
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

badlands and composite slopes in the northern limit. Alberto et al. (1984) indicate that slopes in the
Ebro River valley show a complex evolution along the Quaternary. Some steps of this evolution have
been recorded by the slope debris deposits. These changes are due to lithologic, climatic and human
factors.

Table 5. Erosion rates measured by collector devices in Bardenas-2 experimental plot.

1993 89,50
1994 55,68
1995 25,20
1996 35,57
1997 21,89
1998 6,52
1999 32,63
2000 41,35
2001 1,70
2002 38,63
2003 15,49
Mean 33,08

In the Bardena Blanca, appear in the northern part, over the scarps of the high quaternaries
pediments, and in general in the scarps of the terraces and pediments overlaying tertiary lithologies.
The detrital cover, when is hard cemented acts as resistant level and gives rise to this kind of slopes.
In the Bardena Negra, uncovered slopes developed over limestones and marls are very large, as the
ones of La Plana Negra, Balcn de Pilatos, Plana de la Bandera, etc.

Composite slopes are constituted by a rocky cliff in the upper part overlying easily erodible layers.
The components of those slopes coincide with the ones defined by Wood (1942) and Fair (1947,
1948) in their studies in South Africa, that were deeply analysed and renamed by King (1957). The
parts that he differentiated in the slopes were: (1) the crest, which is the upper part, sometimes
displaying a convex profile, as a consequence of weathering and creep. (2) The scarp, that constitutes
the outcrop of the hardest rock, whose retreat is due to erosive processes. The materials resulting
from the destruction of the scarp form the (3) debris slope, which are basically mobilized by water
erosion. Finally, (4) the pediments constitute an important concave element that connects with the
alluvial plain.

In the Bardenas Reales the most spectacular composite slopes are those developed on pediments, like
Piskerra o Ralln (Fig.37). The thickness of the layer that constitutes the scarp is an important factor
because it controls the cliff height and the length of the debris slope. Average thickness of the
pediment deposits are up to 2 m, and they are made up of cemented gravels (Fig.38). Debris of the
slopes come from the breakage of the resistant rock that constitutes the scarp. The hard caprock
supplies most of the cover of a debris slope, although some fractions can come from the underlaying
substratum. These debris can cover total or partially the slope and, at the same time, be affected by
rilling and gullyging that gradually provokes the outcrop of the rock substratum. The extreme case
results when the slope cover disappears. If the exhumed slope is made up of clays, like in the
Bardenas area, a badland landscape is generated. The fragments of the debris slope show a poor

30
 G. Desir et al.

classification. They are affected by sheet erosion, which exports the fine particles to the lower part of
the slope, standing out the larger fragments. These boulders can also suffer an important weathering,
with development of alveoles and tafonis in their walls. In the Bardenas Reales, scarp retreat of the
pediment composite slopes is affected by water erosion, rilling, gullying but also by piping. This last
process can generate natural bridges and pipeoutlets of big dimension (Fig.37).

Figure 37. Scarp retreat of the pediment composite slopes is affected by water erosion, rilling, gullying but moreover by piping
that generate natural bridges and pipeoutlets of big dimension.

But even more interesting and spectacular than the composite slopes are badlands. They occur in
areas of very intense water erosion, high density of drainage (125-350 Km/km2 ), lack of vegetation,
and steep slopes. In this area they develop on the Miocene clays of the Tudela Formation and usually
show knife-edged watershed, sometimes rounded when the slope degree is low.

Figure 38. Detail of the upper part of the composite slope ann the scarp formed by a thick pediment deposits in the Ralln area.

31
 Badlands and Talus Flatirons in the Bardenas Reales region

At the foot of these reliefs, a large number of talus flatirons are developed on recent pediments. In
some cases more than one talus stage can be observed (Fig.39).

Figure 39. Multiple Talus flatirons developed over the tertiary clays of the Tudela Formation. It can be observed three stages.

32
 G. Desir et al.
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Atchinson, G.D. y Wood, C.C. (1965). Some
interactions of compaction, permeability, and
post-construction deflocculation affecting the
probability of piping failure in small earth dams.
Proceedings 6th International Conference on Soil
Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, 2, 442-
446.
Albaladejo, J. (1990). Metodologas para la
evaluacin experimental de prdida de suelo.
Erosin del Suelo en Condiciones Ambientales
Mediterrneas. Seminarios y Encuentros. Univ.
Menndez Pelayo, Valencia. 22 pp.
Alberto, F.; Gutirrez, M.; Ibez, M.J.; Machn,
J.; Pea, J.L.; Pocov, A. y Rodrguez, J. (1984).
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Conocimientos Existentes. Universidad de
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Arauzo, T., Gutirrez, M. and Sancho, C. (1996a).-
Facetas triangulares de ladera como indicadores
paleoclimticos en ambientes semiridos
(Depresin del Ebro). Geogaceta, 20, 1093-
1095.
Arulanandan, K. y Heinzen, R.T. (1977). Factors
influencing erosion in dispersive clays and
methods of identification. Erosion and solid
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Benito, G.; Gutirrez. M. and Sancho, C. (1992)
Erosion rates in badlands areas of the central
Ebro Basin (NE-Spain). Catena, 19, 269-286.
Benito, G.; Gutirrez, M. and Sancho, C. (1993)
Bomer, B. (1978) Le Bassin de LEbre et ses
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Bdel, J. (1982).- Climatic Geomorphology.
Princeton Univ. Press, 443p. Princeton.
Bull, W.B., 1991. Geomorphic response to climatic
changes. Oxford University Press. Oxford, 326
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Castiella, J.; Sol, J. y del Valle, J. (1978) Mapa
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ROAD LOG:
Departure from the Conference Hall at 8:00.
Starting from Zaragoza we continue 70 km following the N-232 to Tudela.
In Tudela we take the Road NA-134 to Arguedas. About 1 km before the village and 200 crossing the
petrol there is a small road that will take us to the Military Base after 10.8 km.
Stop.1.- About 3 km before the military base, in the Alto de Aguileras.
Stops. 2, 3 and 4.- Continuing to the Military Base. There we will turn right and take the perimetral
road about 2.5 km.
Stop. 5.- Return to the Military base and 500 m before arriving, we will stop in the Las Hermanas
Gully.
Return to Arguedas to have lunch.
Stop.6. After 10.8 km from Arguedas to the Military base, turn left and take the perimetral road 2.5
km we will reach the Castildetierra or Bardenas Simbol.
Stop 7. Continuing on the perimetral road 13.3 km we will reach the car park of Barranco de
Cambrones. From this point we have to walk about 700 m to reach the badlands of the
Piskerra.
Stop 8. About 2 km away from the last stop we arrive to the Rincn de las Rallas
Return to Arguedas, Tudela and Zaragoza.
Expected arrival time to the Conference Hall: 19:30.

37