Geomorphology and Plio-Pleistocene of the Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean)

Abstract

[eng] The coastal geomorphology and Pleistocene-Holocene of the various national parks in Spain have not been thoroughly addressed. Cabrera boasts nearly 60 km of coastline. In the case of the Cabrera archipelago, two monographs have been published on its natural history. The first, shortly after its designation as a National Park. This volume includes an article on the Quaternary of the Island, but also detailing a list of sites from the lower Pleistocene to upper Pleistocene, identifying fossil fauna found in four sites locations (Mollet de sa Madona, Platgeta des Pagès, S’Espalmador and Cala Santa Maria). This latter work is undoubtedly the reference regarding the Pleistocene of the Park. Previously, there were some brief references from travelers who described the geology of Cabrera in general terms, such as General de la Marmora, Engineer Bouvy, and especially H. Hermite, although with little or no precision regarding Cabrera’s Pleistocene. Some other authors indicate briefly notes the presence of the Quaternary in the southern area of the port, at low altitude, indicating the presence of clayey material with continental species Cyclostoma ferrugineum and Helis companyonii (currently Tudorella ferruginea and Iberellus companyonii, respectively, two terrestrial mollusks endemics present in Cabrera). This work provides an exhaustive paleontological list of the species present in the archipelago, detailed stratigraphic columns of the main facies studied, paleoclimatic characteristics of their formation and a complete list of the sites studied and mapped. In summary, this work presents the results of a detailed survey of the entire archipelago's coastline.