Beachrock, paleosuelo y aeolianita holocenas en el arco central de la playa de Las Canteras (NE de Gran Canaria, España)

Abstract

Las Canteras beach Central Arc outcrops correspond to vestiges of Holocene palaeoenvironments that represent global changes. Under stratigraphic, sedimentological, mineralogical, petrographic, geochemical and dating studies it has been possible characterise a variety of facies. The basal level is a beachrock (calcarenitic layers with isopaque LMC cement around sand grains of phreatic marine origin) formed through a rising sea level during the Present Interglacial stage (lower Holocene >6.6 ka). Afterwards, during middle Holocene (about 6.6 ka, 14C dating), coastal progradation phase and/or lower sea level could lead land emersion and formation of soil, with well-developed horizons, and the presence of terrestrial gastropods (Helix sp.). Overhead, but only observed in southwestern part of the central arc, coastal aeolianite deposit were identified (calcarenite with phreatic LMC and vadose aragonite cements) formed in the upper Holocene (<6.6 ka). This aeolian deposit represents the highest coast progradation or the end of low-stand sea level.