The Messinian–early Pliocene stratigraphic record in the southern Bajo Segura Basin (Betic Cordillera, Spain): Implications for the Mediterranean salinity crisis

Synchronous onset of the Messinian evaporite precipitation: First Mediterranean offshore evidence

“…In San Miguel-1 well, we identified 9 beds, in agreement with previous works (Lugli et al, 2010;Soria et al, 2008). PLG successions from Calpe and La Mata wells are remarkably similar and 12 couplets are recognised.…”

“…Precessional cycle numbers after Lourens et al (1996). sum/marl intercalations produce fluctuating, high amplitude log records allowing recognition of 8 to 12 individual evaporite layers. Similar resistivity readings (characteristic shapes) are recorded in the Betics (Soria et al, 2008) and the Adriatic regions (Ghielmi et al, 2013;Roveri et al, 2005). In the Muchamiel well, the uppermost part of this facies shows a singular pattern (∼878-921 mbsl; Fig.…”

“…Consequently our data support the presence of only one large unconformity, located at the top of the PLG and thus post-dating the first MSC-stage. Basin-wide correlation of this erosion surface indicates that the onshore end-Messinian unconformity (in the BSB; Soria et al, 2005Soria et al, , 2008 and the offshore top BU erosive surface correspond to the same chronostratigraphic surface. The offshore extension of this unconformity corresponds with the MES, which is related with a major sea-level fall affecting the entire Mediterranean during the second-MSC stage (CIESM, 2008;Roveri et al, 2014).…”

“…However, it contrasts with data from the contiguous BSB where two erosive levels bounding the gypsum beds (or coeval proximal sediments) have been defined (Corbi et al, 2010;Soria et al, 2005;Soria et al, 2008). The basal erosion located below the PLG, referred as the intra-Messinian erosive surface, is consid- (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)…”

“…This suggests that a post-evaporitic erosive event capped the topmost part of the PLG sequence along the BSB and the BP. Onshore works in the BSB have documented this erosive surface as the end-Messinian unconformity (e.g., Corbi et al, 2010;Soria et al, 2005Soria et al, , 2008. Similarly, seismic profiles reveal a post-evaporitic erosion surface, regarded as the Top BU Erosive Surface (e.g.…”