Messinian astrochronology of the Melilla Basin: Stepwise restriction of the Mediterranean–Atlantic connection through Morocco

Assen, E. van; Kuiper, Klaudia F.; Barhoun, Nadia; Krijgsman, Wout; Sierro, Francisco J.

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2006.03.014

Cited by 65 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Various studies have shown that such climatic changes relate to orbital forcing. In particular, precession is well-known to have controlled the sedimentary record of the Mediterranean basins during both the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene (Griffin, 2002;Sierro et al, 2003;van Assen et al, 2006) and was demonstrated for the Messinian successions in the adjacent Sorbas Basin (Krijgsman et al, 2001). This latter record of eight cycles for the interval covering the LM episode agrees well with the seven to eight LM cycles present in the study area ( Fig.…”

Section: Frequency and Magnitude Of Palaeoseismic Events Based On Sedsupporting

confidence: 84%

Evidence for Late Messinian seismites, Nijar Basin, south‐east Spain

Fortuin¹,

Dabrio

2008

Sedimentology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Feos Formation of the Nijar Basin comprises sediments deposited during the final stage of the Messinian salinity crisis when the Mediterranean was almost totally isolated. Levels of soft-sediment deformation structures occur in both conglomeratic alluvial sediments deposited close to faults and the hyposaline Lago Mare facies, a laminated and thin-bedded succession of whitish chalky marls and intercalated sands alternating with non-marine coastal plain deposits. Deformation structures in the coarse clastics include funnel-shaped depressions filled with conglomerate, liquefaction dykes terminating downwards in gravel pockets, soft-sediment mixing bodies, chaotic intervals and flame structures. Evidence for soft-sediment deformation in the fine-grained Lago Mare facies comprises syndepositional faulting and fault-grading, sandstone dykes, mixed layers, slumping and sliding of sandstone beds, convolute bedding, and pillar and flame structures. The soft-sediment deformed intervals resemble those ascribed elsewhere to seismic shaking. Moreover, the study area provides the appropriate conditions for the preservation of deformation structures induced by seismicity; such as location in a tectonically active area, variable sediment input to produce heterolithic deposits and an absence of bioturbation. The vertical distribution of soft-sediment deformation implies frequent seismic shocks, underlining the importance of seismicity in the Betic region during the Late Messinian when the Nijar Basin became separated from the Sorbas Basin to the north. The presence of liquefied gravel injections in the marginal facies indicates strong earthquakes (M ‡ 7). The identification of at least four separate fissured levels within a single Lago Mare interval suggests a recurrence interval for large magnitude earthquakes of the order of millennia, assuming that the cyclicity of the alternating Lago Mare and continental intervals was precession-controlled. This suggestion is consistent with the present-day seismic activity in SE Spain.

show abstract

Section: Frequency and Magnitude Of Palaeoseismic Events Based On Sedsupporting

confidence: 84%

Evidence for Late Messinian seismites, Nijar Basin, south‐east Spain

Fortuin¹,

Dabrio

2008

Sedimentology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…van Assen et al, 2006;Benammi et al, 1996;Betzler , 2006;Hüsing et al, 2010;Ivanovic et al, 2013a;Krijgsman et al, 1999b). Although blocking MOW in a modern HadCM3 simulation had little impact on North Atlantic ocean circulation and climate (Ivanovic et al, 2014), consistent with other similar GCM simulations (Chan and Motoi, 2003;Kahana, 2005;Rahmstorf, 1998), there is considerable model and proxy evidence to suggest that it has the potential to play a more important role during periods of weaker AMOC (e.g.…”

Section: No Mediterranean Outflow Watersupporting

confidence: 79%

“…This is carried out in the upper 13 ocean levels of the model, 0 to 1 km depth, which is an appropriate palaeobathymetry in the model for either side of the Messinian MediterraneanAtlantic seaways (e.g. van Assen et al, 2006;Fortuin and Krijgsman, 2003;Hilgen et al, 2000;Hodell et al, 1994;Krijgsman, 2001;Krijgsman et al, 2004;van der Laan et al, 2006). Although the continental seaways were probably not this deep, or at least not for the entire Messinian, because of the model's horizontal resolution constraints, the parameterisation also necessarily captures part of the mixing and flow that occurs above the continental shelf in the Gulf of Cadiz (Atlantic) and the Alboran Sea (Mediterranean).…”

Section: Mediterranean-atlantic Exchangementioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling global-scale climate impacts of the late Miocene Messinian Salinity Crisis

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. Late Miocene tectonic changes in MediterraneanAtlantic connectivity and climatic changes caused Mediterranean salinity to fluctuate dramatically, including a tenfold increase and near-freshening. Recent proxy-and modelbased evidence suggests that at times during this Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC, 5.96-5.33 Ma), highly saline and highly fresh Mediterranean water flowed into the North Atlantic Ocean, whilst at others, no Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) reached the Atlantic. By running extreme, sensitivity-type experiments with a fully coupled oceanatmosphere general circulation model, we investigate the potential of these various MSC MOW scenarios to impact global-scale climate.The simulations suggest that although the effect remains relatively small, MOW had a greater influence on North Atlantic Ocean circulation and climate than it does today. We also find that depending on the presence, strength and salinity of MOW, the MSC could have been capable of cooling mid-high northern latitudes by a few degrees, with the greatest cooling taking place in the Labrador, Greenland-IcelandNorwegian and Barents seas. With hypersaline MOW, a component of North Atlantic Deep Water formation shifts to the Mediterranean, strengthening the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) south of 35 • N by 1.5-6 Sv. With hyposaline MOW, AMOC completely shuts down, inducing a bipolar climate anomaly with strong cooling in the north (mainly −1 to −3 • C, but up to −8 • C) and weaker warming in the south (up to +0.5 to +2.7 • C).These simulations identify key target regions and climate variables for future proxy reconstructions to provide the best and most robust test cases for (a) assessing Messinian model performance, (b) evaluating Mediterranean-Atlantic connectivity during the MSC and (c) establishing whether or not the MSC could ever have affected global-scale climate.

show abstract

“…Cyclostratigraphic correlation of the Messinian pre-evaporite sections of the Atlantic and Mediterranean on a W-E transect, and confirmed by biostratigraphic data. Inset map shows the locations of key sections used to construct the astrochronological framework for the Messinian: 1) Bou Regreg (Krijgsman et al, 2004); 2) Melilla (Van Assen et al, 2006); 3) Sorbas (Krijgsman et al, 1999b); 4) Sicily (Krijgsman et al, 1999b); 5) Gavdos (Krijgsman et al, 1999b); 6) Cyprus ; 7) Northern Apennines (Manzi et al, 2007) confirmed by biostratigraphic data (numbers correspond to biostratigraphic levels; 5 = last occurrence (LO) G. conomiozea group, 6 = first common occurrence (FCO) Turborotalita multiloba, 7 = sinistral/ dextral coiling change Neogloboquadrina acostaensis, 8 = first influx sinistral neogloboquadrinids (90%), 9 = second influx sinistral neogloboquadrinids (40%)). Inset map shows the distribution and extent of the Messinian evaporites in the Mediterranean with location of the DSDP-ODP sites that recovered evaporitic deposits (modified after Rouchy and Caruso, 2006).…”

Section: The Messinian Pre-evaporitesmentioning

confidence: 99%