Spatial variability of multi-controlled aeolian supersurfaces in central-erg and marine-erg-margin systems Juan Pedro Rodríguez-López a,⇑ , Nieves Meléndez a,b , Poppe L. de Boer c , Ana R. Soria d , Carlos L. Liesa d,e a Grupo de Análisis de Cuencas Sedimentarias (UCM-CAM), Departamento de Estratigrafía, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Ciudad Universitaria, 28040 Madrid, Spain b Instituto de Geociencias, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain c Sedimentology Group, Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, The Netherlands d Grupo de Análisis de Cuencas Continentales, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain e Grupo Geotransfer, Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain article info Article history: Available online 12 August 2013 Keywords: Aeolian sandstones Supersurfaces Erg sequences Subsidence Tectonics Transgression abstract During the Albian Iberia was under the influence of the Northern-Hemisphere Hot Arid Belt favouring the development of an extensive sandy desert system with a marine-erg margin where prograding aeolian dunes interacted with Tethyan waters. The interplay of different controls, such as synsedimentary tecton- ics, compaction of the underlying coal-bearing unit, eustatic sea-level variations, climate modulation, and the autodynamics of the different sedimentary subenvironments determined the character of bounding surfaces, which separate four erg sequences. These bounding surfaces, or supersurfaces, may display a different sedimentary expression in adjacent areas. Bounding surface 1 is a sand-drift surface (SDS) in the central-erg and a transgressive surface (TS) in the marine erg margin. Bounding surface 2 is associated with a basin re-configuration associated to active extension tectonics, followed by deflation. Bounding surface 3 marks the end of erg expansion, the start of its partial destruction and redeposition and rework- ing in restricted marine environments. Bounding surface 4 marks the return to more arid conditions and draa progradation into Tethyan waters. These bounding surfaces separate four erg sequences. On the basis of the relative role of allocyclic processes, two megasequences are defined. The first comprises erg sequences 1–3, and the second megasequence comprises erg sequence 4. Erg megasequence 1 devel- oped while synsedimentary tectonic activity and substrate (peat) compaction were active. Erg megase- quence 2 was mainly modulated by climate (change). A nomenclature for supersurfaces is proposed based on the types of external control. Ó 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction Aeolian super-surfaces may arise through (a combination of) climate change, sea-level change, tectonics and erg migration (Tal- bot, 1985; Kocurek, 1988; Havholm et al., 1993; Kocurek and Hav- holm, 1993; Mountney and Howell, 2000). Discerning and interpreting the relative role of allocyclic processes may be difficult because sufficiently large outcrops and/or clear sedimentological features are not always available. Moreover, the correlation of aeo- lian supersurfaces between remote outcrops can be complicated where lateral facies changes and changes in wind-water processes occur, e.g. in erg margins associated with alluvial systems (e.g. the Mesoproterozoic Bigbear erg, Canada, Ross, 1981; the Middle Devonian Kilmurry Sandstone Formation, Ireland, Dodd, 1986; Morrisey et al., 2012), and at marine erg-margin systems (e.g. the Middle Pennsylvanian Upper Member Morgan Formation, USA, Driese and Dott, 1984; the Middle Jurassic Entrada Sandstone, USA, Crabaugh and Kocurek, 1993, 1998). This paper focuses on large-scale outcrops of the Mid-Cretaceous Desert System in Spain, that developed under the influence of extension tectonics, eustatic sea-level rise, differential subsidence and orbitally induced climate variation, with a complex interplay and different sedimentary expressions. The main sedimentary systems, the main aeolian bounding surfaces, and the erg sequence architecture are analysed and discussed, and the evolution of the erg system is recon- structed. A nomenclature for supersurfaces is proposed to be used where sedimentary features permit the distinction of different geo- logical controls. 2. The Mid-Cretaceous Iberian Erg The Mid-Cretaceous Iberian Erg along the Iberian Range (east- ern Spain, Provinces of Soria, Zaragoza and Teruel; Fig. 1a and b) formed while Iberia was located in the Northern-Hemisphere Hot 1875-9637/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2013.07.002 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel.: +34 679089851. E-mail address: jprodrig@geo.ucm.es (J.P. Rodríguez-López). Aeolian Research 11 (2013) 141–154 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Aeolian Research journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/aeolia