P. Schmoldt, PhD - MTNet - DIAS

7.3. Tajo Basin and central Spain
Fig. 7.17.: Tectonomagmatic scenario for the latest Miocene to present alkaline basaltic volcanism in western Europe; modified
after López-Ruiz et al. [2002]. The tectonomagmatic scenario involves a NW-SE connection between the trans-Moroccan, western
Mediterranean European (TMWME) fault zone and the Calatrava volcanic province (CVP) intersecting the PICASSO Phase I profile
(indicated by the red line) in the area of the Campo de Montiel region. (cf. Figs. 7.1 and 7.16)
Alternatively to the indentation scheme, López-Ruiz et al. [1993] propose a mantle diapir
as source for the second stage of volcanism in the CVP. A mantle diapir source could
explain the horizontally small-scale (< 100 km) lithospheric thinning from approximately
100 km to 80 km thickness beneath the CVP proposed by Bergamín and Carbó [1986]
based on an observed negative Bouguer anomaly in the region [López-Ruiz et al., 1993;
Cebriá and López-Ruiz, 1995].
The PICASSO Phase I investigation may provide additional information about the nature
of the second stage since, in case of the Betics indentation source proposed by Cebriá
and López-Ruiz [1995] and López-Ruiz et al. [2002], the course of the lava transport would
intersect the PICASSO Phase I profile in the area of the Campo de Montiel region. Hence,
indentation processes are likely to cause significant decrease of electric resistivity in station
data at the related region along the PICASSO Phase I profile, presuming a sufficient
amount of partial melt or remanent asthenospheric material in a region in close proximity
to the profile.
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