Geodynamics of the Emile Baudot Escarpment and the Balearic Promontory, western Mediterranean

The 348 km long, 105-155 km wide and 1000-2000 m high northeast trending Balearic Promontory separates the Valencia Trough to the northwest from the South Balearic-Algerian Basin to the southeast. It consists of three blocks, Ibiza at the southwest end, Mallorca in the center and Menorca at the northeast end of the Promontory. The Ibiza and Mallorca blocks were thrust faulted and folded in the Miocene. The Menorca block appears to be undisturbed, but strata within the transform separating the Mallorca and Menorca blocks are folded and faulted. Miocene and younger volcanic pinnacles also are extensive along the transform separating the Ibiza and Mallorca blocks. We infer that the tectonic features on the Balearic Promontory are the creations of the late Oligocene-Miocene southeast migration of the blocks making up the Promontory way from the Spanish margin leading to the opening of the Valencia Trough behind them, the westward displacement of the Alboran microplate along the Emile Baudot Escarpment on the southeast side of the Promontory and the opening of the South Baleric-Algeria Basin behind it, and the clockwise rotation of the Ibiza and Mallorca blocks produced by the passing Alboran microplate. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.