Gypsum cycles, Spain

Middle-Messinian gypsum cycles, from the Yesares Member of the Caños Formation in the Sorbas basin. The lowermost cycle (known as "cycle 6", out of a total of 16) shows the complete sequence from nucleation cones at the base right above terrigenous sedimentary layers, through gypsum palisade (with crystals up to 20 cm long) in the middle, to supercones at the top. The next cycle up instead is dominated by supercones (nodular appearance, with terrigenous sediment trapped in small pockets). Terrigenous sediments increase progressively towards the top of the cliff. In this outcrop 3 complete cycles are clearly visible in the model, which is about 40 m tall at the highest point. Orientation is ENE to the left and WSW to the right in default view. River bend in the Rio Aguas near the town of Sorbas, Andalusia, Spain. Lat 37˚05‘23.74’‘N, Lon 2˚06‘54.66’‘W, elevation 330 m. Reference for description: *Evans et al. (2015), EPSL 430, 499-510*.