Control estructural en las depresiones desarrolladas sobre el pedimento granítico del Macizo de la Albera, pirineos, NE España

The Albera granite pediment is an exposed weathering front with 214 endorheic basins that locally lead to a multi-concave topography. In these places, topographic basins assume the status of a characteristic landform together with residuals boulders, tors and nubbins. The structural influence on the basin geometry has clearly been established by the similarity between the orientation of the basins long-axis and the orientation of fractures. The spatial distribution of basins is also controlled by the tectonic framework, being these arranged along NW-SE-trending straightbands. In most cases such basins are located on or near fault plains and shear bands. This relationship suggests that the development of basins, in the weathering front, occur predominantly in those areas where the weathering has acted to a more depth, due to the existence of fractures and shear planes that weaken the rock massif.