Late Miocene events in the Mediterranean as recorded by carbonate-evaporice relations

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 1992 Late Miocene events in the Mediterranean as recorded by carbonate-evaporice relations Jean-Marie Rouchy; Jean-Marie Rouchy 1Laboratoire de Géologie (UA 723 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43, rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jean-Paul Saint Martin Jean-Paul Saint Martin 2Centre de Sédimentologie/Paléoécologie, Université d'Aix-Marseille 1 (Saint-Charles), 3, place Victor Hugo 13331 Marseille, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Jean-Marie Rouchy 1Laboratoire de Géologie (UA 723 CNRS), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43, rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France Jean-Paul Saint Martin 2Centre de Sédimentologie/Paléoécologie, Université d'Aix-Marseille 1 (Saint-Charles), 3, place Victor Hugo 13331 Marseille, France Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1992) 20 (7): 629–632. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1992)020<0629:LMEITM>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Jean-Marie Rouchy, Jean-Paul Saint Martin; Late Miocene events in the Mediterranean as recorded by carbonate-evaporice relations. Geology 1992;; 20 (7): 629–632. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1992)020<0629:LMEITM>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The Messinian Stage in the Mediterranean region is known mainly because of a major evaporitic event whose causes and global implications are still under discussion. Correlations between basinal evaporite-bearing series and marginal carbonate platforms allow for improvement of the classical depositional models, especially concerning the eustatic control of theenvironmental changes in the Mediterranean. These changes were controlled by the interplay of aperiodic and periodic factors: (1) tectonics, related to the relative motions of the African and Eurasian plates and resultant linear increase in basin restriction; (2) sea- level fluctuations that alternately aggravated the restriction or allowed marine replenishment, and (3) climatic fluctuations that controlled the level of the Mediterranean during stages of isolation. The Messinian sedimentary succession reflects a typical sequence of progressive isolation: marine marls → laminites → transitional deposits → evaporites → lacustrine deposits. The structure of the carbonate platforms shows that during early Messinian time, the sea-level regime changed from a highstand (TB3.2 cycle) that was responsible for widespread extension of the carbonate platforms to the classical "Messinian regression" that induced final isolation of the Mediterranean water body and onset of the so-called "salinity crises." The first stage of the crisis was characterized by a Mediterranean lowstand that resulted in erosion of former platforms and deposition of the lower evaporites. During the next stage, sea level rose (TB3.3 cycle) high enough to temporarily replenish the basin (cyclic upper evaporites, with development of stromatolite-rich deposits). Finally, the uppermost Messinian freshwater to brackish lacustrine deposits reflect both the cessation of sea-water input (maximum tectonic isolation, low sea level) and freshwater input related to increasing runoff. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.