Geoturism Balearic Islands

The itinerary begins at Sa Puntassa, at the north-west end of the Platja Gran de Torà, where we can observe a complex of well-stratified limestones of whitish colours (point A). 

These materials correspond to the Peguera Formation, belonging to the Upper Eocene, with approximately 40 Ma. This geological formation represents in its various levels tropical continental environments in which lakes existed. 

Some levels of limestones contain gyrogonites, calcareous capsules fabricated by charophytes, green algae very similar to the terrestrial plants that live in lake zones. 

The gyrogonites, although almost microscopic, are very important in the continental fossil record because their great variety and short stratigraphic distribution facilitate precise knowledge of the age of the levels where they are found. 

Adjoining these Eocene materials, just above the present sea level, there appear remains of an ancient beach, and, covering them, paleodunes from the Pleistocene (points B and C). 

The beach sediments correspond to conglomerates formed by accumulations of gravels and molluscs which are interpreted as deposits originating in the foreshore (the wave-beating zone, between the low and high tidelines). Some of the species found here still live in the island, although there also exist fossils of extinct Mediterranean species which today populate subtropical zones of Africa, which demonstrates that the climate in that period (some 125,000 years ago) was warmer than in the present day.