A5055617145- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Geological formations and processes
- Marine and environmental studies
- Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
- earthquake and tectonic studies
- Methane Hydrates and Related Phenomena
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils
- Karst Systems and Hydrogeology
- Geological Formations and Processes Exploration
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Oceanographic and Atmospheric Processes
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
Utrecht University
2019-2024
University of Turin
2019
The late Miocene evolution of the Mediterranean Basin is characterized by major changes in connectivity, climate and tectonic activity resulting unprecedented environmental ecological disruptions. During Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC, 5.97-5.33 Ma) this culminated most scenarios first precipitation gypsum around margins (Stage 1, 5.97-5.60 subsequently > 2 km halite on basin floor, which formed so-called Salt Giant 2, 5.60-5.55 Ma). final MSC Stage 3, however, was a "low-salinity crisis",...
ABSTRACT The evolution of marine gateways and sea straits exerts major control on bottom current depositional systems. A well‐known interval in geological history characterized by frequent changes connectivity is the Messinian Salinity Crisis (5.97 to 5.33 Ma) when Mediterranean allegedly experienced (>1 km) sea‐level drawdown followed a catastrophic replenishment at base Zanclean. Controversy exists around timing mode this event as unambiguous flood deposits have so far never been...
The Northern Aegean region evolved during the Miocene as a restricted land-locked basin with small ephemeral connections to both Eastern Paratethys (former Black Sea) and Mediterranean. Its biostratigraphic data show mixed Paratethys-Mediterranean components, but fauna has generally been neglected for chronologic reconstructions. Here, we review this from Paratethyan perspective present revised paleogeographic reconstructions of throughout late Miocene. In Tortonian, all sub-basins mainly...
The Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) successions record extreme fluctuations in the Mediterranean's environmental conditions. However, some of scenarios that are thought to have caused these environments contentious. One prominent example this is Mediterranean water level during Lago-Mare stage MSC, which interpreted either as being very low a largely desiccated punctuated by endorheic lakes (lacustrine scenario) or sufficiently high enable basin-wide connectivity across and with Atlantic...
The formation and dissolution of salt giants impacts ocean chemistry on thousand-million year timescales. Gypsum precipitation weathering changes the oceanic calcium concentration with implications for carbon cycle global temperatures. However, connectivity is necessarily restricted, making timing Ca2+ extraction return more uncertain. Here we reconstruct final phase gypsum Late Miocene Mediterranean Salt Giant using micropaleontology, sedimentology 87Sr/86Sr analyses most complete record...
Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the Mediterranean Basin at end Messinian Salinity Crisis is contentious. One section that records this final phase (Stage 3) Pollenzo Section in Piedmont (NW Italy). Here, we present new stratigraphic, sedimentological, petrographic, micropaleontological (ostracods, calcareous nannofossils, foraminifera, dinoflagellates) and geochemical (87Sr/86Sr ratios) data from Cassano Spinola Conglomerates (CSC) interpret paleoenvironment northernmost tip Basin. The...
The sulfur-bearing limestones interbedded in the upper Miocene diatomaceous sediments (Tripoli Formation) of Lorca Basin (SE Spain) are typified, as other Mediterranean coeval carbonate and gypsum deposits, by filamentous, circular rod-shaped microstructures controversial origin. These features have been interpreted both fecal pellets brine shrimps and/or copepods, remains algae or cyanobacteria fossilized sulfide-oxidizing bacteria. To shed light on their origin, a multidisciplinary study...
A detailed ichnological analysis has been conducted, for the first time, of Arenazzolo and Trubi formations Caltanissetta Basin in Sicily. Aim this is to evaluate paleoenvironmental changes affecting macrobenthic tracemaker communities during re-flooding Mediterranean at end Messinian Salinity Crisis. The uppermost Formation characterized by a scarcity trace fossils, probably related high energy depositional conditions, perhaps no fully normal salinity level yet, resulting an unfavourable...
Abstract Palaeocurrent analysis is vital for basin and helps in the interpretation of depositional environments (along‐slope or downslope). For that, it crucial to have multiple measuring methods at hand apply palaeocurrent with a wide range different datasets (outcrops, cores photographs). Here, two relatively underexploited measurement techniques are assessed when applied trough cross‐stratification observed Arenazzolo Formation Eraclea Minoa (Sicily). The first technique novel design...
<p><strong>During the so-called Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC: 5.97-5.33 Myr ago), reduced exchange with Atlantic Ocean caused Mediterranean to develop into a “saline giant” wherein ~</strong><strong>1 million km<sup>3</sup> of evaporites </strong><strong>(gypsum and halite) were deposited. Despite decades research it is still poorly understood exactly...
At the end of Miocene, restriction Atlantic-Mediterranean seaway led to deposition a basin-wide salt giant (of up 2.5km in thickness) Mediterranean. Drawdown(s) water level Mediterranean during this Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) have been proposed occurred. However, their number, timing and amplitude are still largely debated, with estimates ranging from 200m 2km. While an important sea fall could efficiently blocked outflow Atlantic Ocean, limited drawdown would allowed huge export turn...
<p>Between 5.97-5.33 Ma several kilometre-thick evaporite units were deposited in the Mediterranean Basin during Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). The MSC reflects a period featured by negative hydrological budget, with net evaporative loss of water exceeding precipitation and riverine runoff. contemporary changes continental marine circum-Mediterranean temperature are, however, poorly constrained. Here we reconstruct mean annual temperatures (MAT) using branched glycerol...
<p>The discovery in the 70’s of km-thick Mediterranean salt giant alongside seismic observance Pliocene-filled engravings along its shelf-slope systems concurred together to postulate that Mediterranean-Atlantic seaway terminated during late Messinian. The resulting changes paleogeographic, paleohydrological and biological conditions, acknowledged as Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC, 5.97-5.33 Ma), find their expression marginal sedimentary record fauna-depleted...