Sedimentological and paleoenvironmental scenario before, during, and after the Messinian Salinity Crisis: The San Miguel de Salinas composite section (western Mediterranean)

Abstract

Sedimentological and paleoenvironmental scenario before, during, and after the Messinian Salinity Crisis: The San Miguel de Salinas composite section (western Mediterranean) Highlights 1) The sedimentary record is divided into three synthems: Messinian I (pre-evaporitic), Messinian II (syn-evaporitic), and Pliocene (post-evaporitic). 2) Marls associated with gypsum beds (syn-evaporitic phase) record dwarf planktonic foraminifera. 3) The syn-evaporitic phase (chron 3Cr) records major changes in water salinity in a stressed marine environment. 4) Two erosional surfaces correspond to the intra-and end-Messinian unconformities. 5) The end-Messinian unconformity is represented by an incised paleovalley.

A new chronostratigraphic and palaeoenvironmental framework for the end of the Messinian salinity crisis in the Sorbas Basin (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain)

“…Our new data and observations allow to establish for the first time with more accuracy the age and modality of the end of the salinity crisis in the Sorbas Basin. Our results, differently to what suggested by Clauzon et al (), document that fully and permanent marine conditions were reestablished in the Sorbas Basin only at the top of the Zorreras Mb., in a time window corresponding to the base of the Zanclean Stage, in agreement with what observed in other Mediterranean basins (see Caracuel, Soria, & Yébenes, ; Corbi et al, ; Cornée et al, , ; ; Roveri, Bertini, Cipollari, et al, ; Roveri, Bertini, Cosentino, et al, ; Van Couvering et al, ).…”

The synthetic seismic expression of the Messinian salinity crisis from onshore records: Implications for shallow‐ to deep‐water correlations

“…This unit, cored in the Palma de Mallorca borehole (Rosell, Ortì, Kasprzyk, Playa, & Peryt, ; Figure c), consists of in situ, selenite gypsum beds showing the typical PLG well log blocky pattern (Figure a; Lugli et al, ; Roveri et al, a; Roveri, Flecker, et al, ). Due to the similar number of cycles (13) and stacking pattern, a correlation with the PLG outcropping in the Sorbas basin and drilled in the Bajo Segura basin (La Mata, San Miguel‐2, Benejuzar‐1, Rojales‐1, La Marina‐1 boreholes) has been suggested (Corbì et al, ; Martinez del Olmo, , ; Rosell et al, ; Soria et al, ; Figure S1d, d). Martinez del Olmo () proposed the same correlation for the evaporites drilled offshore (Muchamiel, Calpe‐1, Golfo de Valencia‐1 and Castellon‐L1 boreholes), indicating that the distribution of gypsum is limited to the more marginal areas (see Figure d).…”

“…Stratigraphic accuracy and resolution are very different when looking at outcropping or buried successions. Integration of field, seismic and borehole data has been successfully carried out onshore (Sicily, Apennines, Spain, Cyprus), resulting in high-resolution chronostratigraphic reconstructions (Corbi et al, 2016;Dela Pierre et al, 2011;Manzi et al, 2007;Manzi, Lugli, Roveri, Schreiber, & Gennari, 2011;Omodeo-Salé, Gennari, Lugli, Manzi, & Roveri, 2012;Roveri, Bertini, et al, 2008;Roveri et al, 2001;Roveri, Manzi, Ricci Lucchi, & Rogledi, 2003;Soria et al, 2008). These studies documented the rapid lateral and vertical facies changes and the subaerial and subaqueous erosional surfaces of the Messinian successions.…”

Witnesses of the early Pliocene sea-level rise in the Manilva Basin (Málaga, S Spain)

“…Dwarfed microfauna are generally attributed to stressful conditions (e.g. Van de Poel, 1991Poel, , 1992Abramovich & Keller, 2003;Corbí et al, 2016). In the study case, the limited extension of the marls in Canuto de la Utrera suggests that deposition could have taken place in deep cracks associated with karstifi cation and/or tectonic (joints and/or faults).…”