Palaeoceanographic controls on reef deposition: the Messinian Cariatiz reef (Sorbas Basin, Almería, SE Spain)

The Cariatiz section lies at the toe of the palaeoslope of the Messinian Cariatiz fringing reef, at the northern margin of the Neogene Sorbas Basin in SE Spain. Distal-slope reef deposits in the upper part of the section can be traced laterally to the reef core of the last episodes of reef progradation. The underlying deposits are alternating diatomitic marl, marl and silty marl that intercalate with sandstone beds. Combined lithological changes, variations in proportions of warm-water planktic foraminifera and δ 18O values suggest that at least seven, probably precessional, cycles are recorded throughout the Cariatiz section. The correlation of seven cycles in the pelagic deposits to seven reef progradation cycles, and associated vertical shifts in reef facies, indicates relative sea-level oscillations of several tens of metres. Biostratigraphic and palaeomagnetic data suggest that both the Cariatiz section and the fringing reef formed during the reverse polarity Chron C3r. Surface-water temperatures seem to be the major factor controlling carbonate production in the reef system. Deposition of bioclastic calcirudite and calcarenite, with no active coral growth, took place at the lowest sea-level within each reef cycle during temperature minima within each precessional cycle. Porites framework and reef-slope deposits with Halimeda gravel, in contrast, formed during temperature rises and thermal maxima within precessional cycles.