Age refinement of the Messinian salinity crisis onset in the Mediterranean

Abstract

We propose a revised age calibration of the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) in the Mediterranean based on re-analysis of two “classical” sections: Perales (Sorbas basin, Spain) and Monticino (Vena del Gesso basin, Italy). The main novelties are recognition of an extra gypsum cycle in the transitional interval of the Perales section and the revision of the magnetostratigraphy in the Monticino section. We show that the first primary gypsum bed is located three precessional cycles above the C3r/C3An magnetic reversal, correlating to the summer insolation peak at 5.969 Ma; consequently we place the MSC onset in the preceding flexural point in the insolation curve at 5.971 Ma. Accordingly, we suggest that the MSC onset was preconditioned by the reduction of the hydrological exchanges with the Atlantic ocean and was finally triggered by glacial conditions in the northern hemisphere and by arid conditions in northern Africa

Glacioeustatic control on the origin and cessation of the Messinian salinity crisis

“…The MSC started at 5.97 ± 0.02 Ma (Krijgsman et al, 1999a;Manzi et al, 2013), coinciding with the onset of Lower Evaporite deposition. The paleodepth curve based on benthic foraminifera shows a significant sea-level fall of 227 m at this time based on benthic foraminifera (Pérez-Asensio et al, 2012a) (Fig.…”

Biogeographical homogeneity in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. II. Temporal variation in Lebanese bivalve biota

“…The present-day autochthonous Mediterranean marine fauna is mostly of Atlantic origin, having originated with the re-establishment of the AtlantoMediterranean connection (5.33 million years ago), after the Messinian Salinity Crisis (from 5.971 to 5.33 million years ago; Manzi et al 2013) had probably nearly exterminated the stenoecious marine biota (Sabelli & Taviani in press). The subsequent 5 million years of evolution within the framework of the complexity of the basin gave rise to the peculiar and variegate Mediterranean assemblage, with the co-occurrence of temperate and subtropical organisms and a main transitional zone between the 2 seas (the Alboran Sea), hosting a mix of Mediterranean and Atlantic species (Bianchi & Morri 2000, Oliverio 2003, Coll et al 2010.…”

Insight into the latest Messinian (5.7–5.2Ma) palaeoclimatic events from two deep-sea Atlantic Ocean ODP Sites

“…Although the onset of deposition of evaporites at 5.96 Ma (Krijgsman et al, 1999); revised to 5.97 Ma by Manzi et al (2013) is related to tectonic events affecting the Strait of Gibraltar (Duggen et al, 2003), their cyclicity testifies to isolation events involving sea level changes and therefore glacial cycles.…”

“…Recently, the wealth of observations in the Mediterranean Sea area accumulated over the last 30 years has led to both a better understanding of the Messinian nature and evolution as well as to the developement of a stratigraphic synthesis presented graphically in Manzi et al, (2013) on Figure 1. Evaporite sequences found in and around the Mediterranean basin and…”