Edad minima del gossan de Las Cruces: implicaciones sobre la edad del inicio de los ecosistemas extremos en la Faja Pirítica Ibérica

The micropalaeontogical study of glauconite sands overlying Las Cruces massive sulfide deposit (Iberian Pyrite Belt) indicates an Upper Tortonian minimum age for oxidation and the gossan genesis. Sulfide oxidation, both natural and anthropic, give acid waters which are characterized by low pH values...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Moreno Garrido, María Carmen, Capitán, M. A., Doyle, M., Nieto Liñán, José Miguel, Ruiz Muñoz, Francisco, Sáez Ramos, Reinaldo
Format: article
Publication Date:2002
Country:España
Institution:Universidad de Huelva (UHU)
Repository:Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva
Language:Spanish
OAI Identifier:oai:ariasmontano.uhu.es:10272/9105
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10272/9105
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Las Cruces
Iberian Pyrite Belt
Gossan
Extreme ecosystems
Description
Summary:The micropalaeontogical study of glauconite sands overlying Las Cruces massive sulfide deposit (Iberian Pyrite Belt) indicates an Upper Tortonian minimum age for oxidation and the gossan genesis. Sulfide oxidation, both natural and anthropic, give acid waters which are characterized by low pH values as well as high sulphate and metals concentration. Extreme environments, controlled by acidic waters, have been developed in the Iberian Pyrite Belt including the Rio Tinto ecosystem, which have been enhanced recently by an unexpected level of biodiversity, importance of such type of environments are related with the origin of life on Earth and even other Solar system scenarios. Time consideration for natural acidic water pollution at the Rio Tinto system have been suggested of about 0,5 m.y. However, the minimum age of the Las Cruces gossan predate on about 6 m.y the previously reported age for the Rio Tinto acidic ecosystem