Age refinement of the Messinian salinity crisis onset in the Mediterranean |
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| Authors: | Vinicio Manzi Rocco Gennari Frits Hilgen Wout Krijgsman Stefano Lugli Marco Roveri Francisco J Sierro |
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| Institution: | 1. Dipartimento di Fisica e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Parma, , Parco Area delle Scienze, 157/A 43100 Parma, Italy;2. Alpine Laboratory of Paleomagnetism (ALP), , Via Madonna dei Boschi 76, Peveragno, 12016 (CN), Italy;3. Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, , Budapestlaan 4, Utrecht, 3584 CD, The Netherlands;4. Paleomagnetic Laboratory “Fort Hoofddijk”, Utrecht University, , Utrecht, The Netherlands;5. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, , Piazza S. Eufemia 19, 41100, Modena, Italy;6. Department of Geology, University of Salamanca, , 37008 Salamanca, Spain |
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| Abstract: | We propose a revised age calibration of the Messinian salinity crisis onset in the Mediterranean at 5.971 Ma based on the recognition of an extra gypsum cycle in the transitional interval of the Perales section (Sorbas basin, Spain) and the revision of the magnetostratigraphy of the Monticino section (Vena del Gesso basin, Italy). This age re‐calibration allows to state more accurately that: (i) the interval encompassing the MSC‐onset is continuous, thus ruling out any erosional feature or stratigraphic hiatus related to a major sea‐level fall affecting the Mediterranean; (ii) the first gypsum was deposited during the summer insolation peak at 5.969 Ma associated with an eccentricity minimum and roughly coincident with glacial stage TG32; (iii) the MSC‐onset was preconditioned by the tectonically‐driven reduction of the hydrological exchanges with the Atlantic Ocean and finally triggered by glacial conditions in the northern hemisphere and by arid conditions in northern Africa. |
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