## 3 Results  
### Spatial Distribution of Dolomite Breccia Bodies  
The distribution of brecciated facies is comprised in a narrow strip along the Jumilla-Yecla-Caudette-Fuente de la Higuera structural alignment (Figure 2). This tectonic alignment, roughly northeast-southwest (NE-SW), strongly controlled sedimentation in some Upper Cretaceous intervals [18] and also seemed to have played a major role in the dolomitisation and breccia processes [38; 39; 40]. At the outcrop scale, the limits of the dolomite bodies are irregular, locally exceeding the limits of the Sierra de Utiel Fm. itself.  
The limestones that surround the dolomite body locally are also brecciated, indicating that: (i) brecciation and dolomitisation are not genetically related or (ii) at least one phase of brecciation is subsequent to the dolomitisation of the Sierra de Utiel Limestones Fm. That means the distribution of the dolomitic bodies indicates that during brecciation and dolomitisation processes, the sedimentological or stratigraphic control was not the main factor.  
The central sector of the study area comprises four sections (Figure 2), three of them located in the province of Murcia (Sierra de la Magdalena, Yecla and Sierra del Principe) and one in Albacete (Sierra del Cuchillo). At the Sierra de la Magdalena (FV) quarry and the boreholes samples from the Sierra del Cuchillo area, dolostone packbreccias arranged in metric-thick beds are the main dolostone facies. In the outcrops studied in the Sierra del Principe section (SP, SPS), in addition to the most abundant brecciated types, complex brecciated dolostone facies and micritic packbreccias with incipient dolomitisation are present. At the Yecla quarries (Y) (Figure 3A), conglomerate facies are also recognised.  
The southeast (SE) sector of the study area comprises three sections (Figure 2) located in the province of Murcia, which correspond to three quarries where the Marron Emperador commercial marble is exploited or prospected. At Jumilla quarry (JUM), dolostone breccias are arranged in metric-thick beds with a dip varying 20 to 30\({}^{\circ}\) to the north. At Sierra de la Fuente quarry (FUEN), dolostone breccias are recognised in decimetric to metric-thick beds, as well as locally, polymictic conglomerate levels. At the Hermanos Jimenez quarry (Sierra de Cingla, JIM) (Figure 3B) dolostone packbreccia beds are characterised by the abundance of veins and/or macrocrystalline calcite infillings (\"flowers\") showing a subvertical decimetric development that highlights the stratification in the quarry fronts.  
Figure 3: Field images of the main outcrops and breccia types recognised in the study area. (**A**) General view of Marröm Emperador quarry at Sierra de la Magdalena (Ycela, Murcia) (Y section, central sector). (**B**) General view of Marröm Emperador quarry at Sierra de Cingla (Murcia) (JIM section, southeast sector). (**C**) Crackle breccia (Sierra del Principe, Murcia) (SP section, central sector). (**D**) Mosaic breccia (La Encina, Alicante) (EN section, northeast sector). (**E**) Chaotic breccia (La Encina, Alicante) (EN section, northeast sector).  
The northeast sector of the study area comprises two sections or groups of outcrops. At La Encina quarries (EN), dolostones appear as dark massive metric-thick beds with great lateral continuity, where the main dolostone breccia types are recognised. Late Cretaceous outcrops in the Fuente de la Higuera (FHI) area consist of a succession of clear massive decimetric to metric-thick dolostone beds. Within the fractured areas, irregular dolostone breccia bodies appear showing darker tones.