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The differentiation of units in the Sierra de Almagro has been a source of controversy. There were defined the Almagride and Ballabona–Cucharo´n complexes, the former considered by several authors as part of a Subbetic metamorphosed and outcropping in a tectonic window. In this study, the units of Ballabona, Almagro and Cucharo´n are integrated into a single one, that of Tres Pacos, because they correspond to different parts of the same stratigraphic series. This unit is tectonically over the Nevado–Filabride Complex. The existence of the Almagride and Ballabona–Cucharo´n complexes is discarded and their units form part of the Alpujarride Complex. To cite this article: C. Sanz de Galdeano, F.J. Garcı´a Tortosa, C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 355–362. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this work, we present a detailed analysis of brittle and brittle–ductile structures related to the contacts of a stack of tectonic units cropping out in the Sierra Espuña (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain). These data show two superposition stages with opposing transport directions: first, a top-to-the-north (according to current coordinates) stage (Oligocene in age), and a second stage from the Middle Oligocene–Aquitanian, with a top-to-the-north sense of transport. In the Burdigalian, the Internal Betic Zone units of the Sierra Espuña sector could rotate near 180° because of the oblique collision against the External Zones, and therefore the previous stacking directions went in the contrary direction with respect to that measured nowadays. The reconstruction of movements shows that the Malaguide Complex was situated to the south of the Alpujarride prior to the Alpine tectonics, which is in good agreement with previous palaeogeographic reconstructions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]