A NEW-TYPE OF SEISMITES IN THE UPPER MIOC ENE OF ALICANTE (EASTERN BETIC CORDILLERA, SPAIN) - DETRITAL WEDGES

In the Upper Miocene materials from the northern border of the Low Seg ura-Elche Basin, a new kind of seismite has been recognized. These str uctures are constituted by vertical fillings of detrital elements show ing different size or other physical features to those from the host b ed. For them, we propose the generic term ''detrital wedges'', by the fact they thin progressively downwards. Often these structures are obs erved where detrital elements reach the size of gravels. The detrital wedges form through processes of extension and collapse, during seismi c shocks, that affect non-consolidated sediments. These seismites, tog ether with others described in the region by several authors, represen t another expression of the tectonic activity in the basin during the late Neogene.