Models of Upper Miocene Evaporite Genesis in the Mediterranean Region

Sonnenfeld, Peter

doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-8572-1_16

Cited by 31 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Following Nesteroff (1973), Sonnenfeld (1985) argued against a deep-basin shallow-water origin for the Messinian evaporites, giving a long list of arguments among which was the unexpected occurrence of tidal sediments. Recently, the deep-basin shallowwater origin of Messinian evaporites has been Kendall, 1992.)…”

Section: Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Shallow‐Basin Model for ‘Saline Giants’ Based on Isostasy‐Driven Subsidence

Belt

Boer

2007

Sedimentary Processes, Environments and Basins

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The common assumption that 'saline giants' must have formed in deep basins and that their thickness reflects initial basin depth ignores the principle of isostasy. Due to the high density of anhydrite and high precipitation rates for evaporite minerals, isostatic compensation is much more important in evaporite than in non-evaporite settings. The main implication is that evaporite precipitation drives subsidence rather than the other way round, and that thick evaporite deposits require an initial basin depth much less than their final thickness. Once initiated, evaporite precipitation and consequent isostatic subsidence is a self-sustaining process that can result in kilometre-scale evaporite stratigraphy. Rapid isostatic compensation is facilitated by thin, fractured crust in extensional basins, which explains the typical occurrence of saline giants in such settings. It is shown that a shallow-basin origin in combination with rapid isostatic compensation can well explain the extreme thickness of saline giants as well as the commonly associated shallow-water sedimentary facies. Although there is no reason to exclude the possibility of a basin-wide dropdown of a few thousand metres as proposed for some saline giants, a desiccated deep basin is certainly not a requirement. An initially shallow basin that rapidly deepens by isostatic adjustment in response to the precipitation of evaporites eliminates the need for deep-basin desiccation, gigantic waterfalls, and repeated opening and closure of a connection to the world ocean, and makes the extreme thickness of saline giants less enigmatic.

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Section: Basinmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Shallow‐Basin Model for ‘Saline Giants’ Based on Isostasy‐Driven Subsidence

Belt

Boer

2007

Sedimentary Processes, Environments and Basins

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“…Such rocks were drilled on that continental shelf at present depths of about 700 m, which is comparable to the Eratosthenes summit depth (Gvirtzman and Buchbinder, 1976;Kempler, 1994b). If found, Messinian rocks on the Eratosthenes Seamount would be expected to have derived from refilling stages in a deep-dry basin, a peripheral facies of a shallow, permanent basin, or a barred basin (e.g., Hsü et al, 1977;Gvirtzman and Buchbinder, 1977;Sonnenfeld, 1985).…”

Section: The Eratosthenes Messinian Islandmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eratosthenes Seamount: the possible spearhead of incipient continental collision in the Eastern Mediterranean

Kempler¹

1998

Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, 160 Scientific Results

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We compare earlier works, based on available geophysical data and plate kinematic considerations, about the origin and evolution of the Eratosthenes structure within the Eastern Mediterranean tectonic framework, with data from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Leg 160. The model under discussion is supported by the ODP data regarding the late evolution of the Eratosthenes Seamount; however, deeper drilling is needed for better understanding of the early history of this structure.Analysis of the available seismic reflection, seismic refraction, and magnetic data in view of the regional geologic history suggests that the deep structure of the Eratosthenes Seamount originated in early Mesozoic time. The ODP data confirm that the Eratosthenes structure, which was located a few hundred kilometers away from the Late Cretaceous/early Tertiary active plate boundary, was not affected by the major tectonic events of that period. The data also reflect the existence of the Eratosthenes structural high already in Late Cretaceous and Eocene times. The ODP data corroborate that the Africa-Anatolia plate boundary was reactivated as the Cypriot Arc, between Cyprus and the Eratosthenes structure, in the late Miocene, through subduction of remnant oceanic lithosphere of the Mesozoic Neotethys beneath Cyprus.The absence of Messinian evaporites on the Eratosthenes Seamount and within the surrounding depression was confirmed by Leg 160 data. Similar data led us to infer that this area formed a Messinian island, which subsided in post-Messinian time. The post-Messinian subsidence shaped the seamount and surrounding natural moat, which in turn are superimposed on the Eratosthenes structural high. The Miocene-Pliocene subduction along the Cypriot Arc changed into collision between Cyprus and the Eratosthenes structure after the elimination of oceanic lithosphere from this junction. The Cyprus-Eratosthenes collision triggered the extreme uplift of southern Cyprus at about 1.5−2 Ma. Pulsed uplift of Cyprus, apparently accompanied by pulsed subsidence of the Eratosthenes area, marks incipient continental collision in the Eastern Mediterranean. The Eratosthenes Seamount, therefore, is the possible spearhead of incipient continental collision and is the best candidate for the study of collisional processes in this area.

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“…Subsequent investigators have refined the modified barred basin model (eg. Sonnenfeld, 1985) but none has specifically addressed the problems of precipitating and preserving soluble salts in a deep water-filled basin.…”

Section: Salt Deposition In Deep Watermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The evidence in support of the desiccation model is not unambiguous, however. Sonnenfeld, and more recently, Dietz, are among the geologists who have seriously challenged the hypothesis (Dietz & Woodhouse, 1988;Sonnenfeld, 1985). Evaluation of the desiccation model clearly requires consideration of alternative hypotheses (Chamberlin, 1897).Three" working hypotheses" are presented below.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Mediterranean salinity crisis: Alternative hypotheses

Schmalz

1991

Carbonates Evaporites

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Models of Upper Miocene Evaporite Genesis in the Mediterranean Region

Cited by 31 publications

References 33 publications

A Shallow‐Basin Model for ‘Saline Giants’ Based on Isostasy‐Driven Subsidence

A Shallow‐Basin Model for ‘Saline Giants’ Based on Isostasy‐Driven Subsidence

Eratosthenes Seamount: the possible spearhead of incipient continental collision in the Eastern Mediterranean

The Mediterranean salinity crisis: Alternative hypotheses

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