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 Ba learic Promontory separates the Valencia Trough to the northwest from the S outh Balearic-Algerian Basin to the southeast. It consists of three blocks, Ibiza at the southwest end, Mallorca in the center and Menorca at the nort heast end of the Promontory. The Ibiza and Mallorca blocks were thrust faul ted 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 ex tensive along the transform separating the Ibiza and Mallorca blocks. We in fer 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 Va lencia Trough behind them, the westward displacement of the Alboran micropl ate along the Emile Baudot Escarpment on the southeast side of the Promonto ry and the opening of the South Baleric-Algeria Basin behind it, and the cl ockwise rotation of the Ibiza and Mallorca blocks produced by the passing A lboran microplate. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.