The onset of the Messinian salinity crisis: Insights from Cyprus sections

Surface expression of eastern Mediterranean slab dynamics: Neogene topographic and structural evolution of the southwest margin of the Central Anatolian Plateau, Turkey

“…Correlation panel of different Upper Miocene stratigraphic sections from the eastern Mediterranean. Numbers in circles show synchronous planktonic foraminifera events recognized both in the Tochni section [ Orszag‐Sperber et al , 2009] and in the Pissouri Motorway section [ Krijgsman et al , 2002]. Letters in circles show either biostratigraphical events recognized in some of the analyzed sections, or a lithologic change that synchronously affected the eastern Mediterranean.…”

“…The lithostratigraphy of the Sarıalan section shows similarities with other Mediterranean Late Miocene sedimentary sections, especially in its distinct lithologic change in the uppermost part of the section. Abrupt changes in lithology from carbonates to diatomites/sapropels and then to evaporites are recorded in upper Tortonian‐Messinian successions throughout the Mediterranean, including sections in Spain [ Pérez ‐ Folgado et al , 2003] Crete [ Santarelli et al , 1998; Faranda et al , 2008], Cyprus [ Krijgsman et al , 2002; Kouwenhoven et al , 2006; Orszag ‐ Sperber et al , 2009], Sicily [ Krijgsman et al , 1995; Bellanca et al , 2001; Rouchy and Caruso , 2006], the central Apennines [ Sampalmieri et al , 2010], and the northern Apennines [ Roveri et al , 2003; Roveri and Manzi , 2006]. These basin‐wide lithologic changes are mainly due to discrete steps of restriction of the connection between the Mediterranean Basin and the Atlantic Ocean [ Kouwenhoven et al , 2006] and related changes in basin‐wide circulation patterns.…”

Eastern Mediterranean foraminiferal palaeoecological response to Mid-Late Pliocene climatic regime: A preliminary note.

“…The Pissouri Basin contains one of the most suitable sedimentary sequences for studying the onset of the MSC in the Eastern Mediterranean . It provides one of the most continuous sedimentary successions related to the MSC, comprising the pre-evaporitic, evaporitic and post-evaporitic deposits which cover the period from the late Tortonian up to the early Pliocene Orszag-Sperber et al, 2009). Palaeodepth estimations in the Pissouri Section are based on foraminifera, bivalves and gastropods (Rouchy et al 2001;Krijgsman et al, 2002;.…”

The Hecataeus Rise, easternmost Mediterranean: A structural record of Miocene-Quaternary convergence and incipient continent-continent-collision at the African-Anatolian plate boundary

“…Brackish water conditions prevailed during the terminal stage of the Messinian Salinity Crisis e the so called Lago Mare episode (Orszag-Sperber, 2006). Sediments associated with this period were sampled both onshore (Rouchy et al, 2001;Orszag-Sperber, 2006;Orszag-Sperber et al, 2009) and also directly offshore Cyprus (Robertson, 1998a). Offshore Cyprus, the uppermost 200 m of Lago Mare deposits were drilled at ODP Site 968 (Fig.…”

“…A period of Messinian compressional tectonic activity is evident by early evaporite deformation along the eastern segment of the Cyprus Arc and has also affected sediments within the Polemi Basin, onshore western Cyprus ( Fig. 1b) (Orszag-Sperber et al, 2009;Maillard et al, 2011;Reiche et al, 2014).…”