© 1996 Adam Cooper.

Southern Spain is an excellent place for geology.  As well as providing some truly
spectacular scenery, the Betic Cordillera of Southern Spain contains examples of
many different varieties of sedimentary, metamorphic and volcanic rocks, some of
which contain impressive examples of individual minerals.  Many rock outcrops clearly
show complex structural features acssociated with deformation.  In simplistic terms
the geological structures of the area are related to Permian to Triassic rifting, Late
Triassic Marine Transgression and the Late Cretaceous - Tertiary Alpine Orogeny

© 1996 Adam Cooper

At one particular location on the Rio de Aguas, about 1km east-southeast of Sorbas
you may find Messinian shallow-marine sediments and evaporite deposites.  In
particular a bed consisting entirely of gypsum crystals.  If you do happen to find this
outcrop you should adopt an 'absolutely no hammering' policy to help preserve this
important, delicate outcrop.  There will be loose weathered crystals scattered
about below the outcrop which are just as good in quality as any
crystals within the outcrop itself.

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