Evaporitic precipitates exposed in the research area consist of gypsum. Seven gypsum lithofacies which massive gypsum (F1), bedded gypsum (F2), laminated gypsum (F3), nodular gypsum (F4), selenitic gypsum (F5), gypsum domes (F6) and satin-spar gypsum (F7) are recognized which are precipitated both shallow water and deep water environments in a restricted basin. Alabastrine, balatino, granoblastic and detritic textures are observed in petrographic studies. SEM/EDS analysis showed that celestite accompanied the gypsum precipitation. The strontium content of gypsum ranges between 197-22970 ppm which indicates the precipitation occured under marine conditions. Low barium content (2-129.4 ppm) indicates that there is no hydrothermal activity during gypsum precipitation, and arsenic, molybdenum and wolfram values lower than 1 ppm show that precipitation occurred under non-reductant conditions. Isotope values of δ³⁴S_SO4 range between 20.76‰ to 23.42‰ and δ¹⁸O_SO4 ranges between 10‰ to 14.49‰ compatible with sulphur and oxygen values of Paleogene (Eocene-Oligocene) seawater. Furthermore, ^87/86Sr values range from 0.707747‰  to 0.708558‰. These values correspond with late Eocene – early Oligocene seawater.

All data indicate that the precipitation of evaporite in the study area occurred under marine environmental conditions during the late Eocene - early Oligocene time interval, in the last phase of the regression processes of the remnant Eocene sea, as a result of the horizontal movements of the Eocene period seen almost everywhere in the Anatolian microcontinent.

How to cite: Karakuş, E. and Tekin, E.: Sedimentology and Geochemistry of Evaporites in Bâlâ-Karakeçili Basin (SE Ankara, Central Anatolia), EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-94, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-94, 2024.

Marine Functional Connectivity (MFC) refers to all the unimpeded flows of matter, genes and energy that are caused by the movements of marine life that occur at various spatial and temporal scales. Climate, palaeogeography, ocean circulation, biogeochemical cycles, evolution of Life and human activities control MFC over the long term. The geological and historical records offer valuable data on ecological and societal change that can be used to understand the evolution of MFC over time. We explain the links between these long-term drivers and MFC processes, as well as the diverse archives that can be used to study them: the sedimentary record, biogeochemical proxies, fossil assemblages, sclerochronological archives, genetic data, zooarchaeological remains, archaeological artefacts and historical sources.

How to cite: Agiadi, K., Caswell, B., and Darnaude, A. and the the Q-MARE - SEA-UNICORN workshop participants: Marine functional connectivity through the ages: geological and historical perspectives, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-5651, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-5651, 2024.

The Late Miocene was a period of major paleogeographic, climatic and biotic changes for the Mediterranean due to the restriction of the marine gateway to the Atlantic, which culminated to the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), and the ongoing global climatic cooling. The Late Miocene ecological crisis very likely affected biodiversity of bivalves living in the Mediterranean during that time. In this study, we investigate the consequences of the Messinian Salinity Crisis and its preconditioning phase for the evolution of functional diversity of the Mediterranean bivalve fauna. The biodiversity of bivalves is quantified for the Tortonian, the pre-evaporitic Messinian and the Zanclean of the Mediterranean using the functional richness index, by considering the following bivalve species traits: lifestyle, depth range, maximum adult size, trophic role and substrate affinity. The analysis is based on a recently compiled dataset containing the updated fossil record of the Mediterranean bivalves for this time interval. The traits of the species in this dataset is obtained from online open-access databases and the literature. Our results support a decrease in the functional diversity of bivalves in the Mediterranean from the Tortonian to the Early Messinian and a full recovery in the Early Pliocene.

How to cite: Vesely, B., Harzhauser, M., Dominici, S., Koskeridou, E., Thivaiou, D., and Agiadi, K.: Functional diversity of the Mediterranean bivalve fauna across the Late Miocene ecological crisis, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6137, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6137, 2024.

This work presents the fluctuation pattern related to the modifications in the calcareous nannofossil diversity and abundance and shift in δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O isotopes identified in a succession situated in the Outer Moldavide nappe system of the Eastern Carpathians. The studied section is mainly made by clays and marls and includes a cm-thick volcanic ash layer dated as 13.32 ± 0.07 Ma (de Leeuw et al., 2018). We have pointed out the biotical response to the environmental changes that took place as a consequence of the “Badenian Evaporitic Crisis” of the Central Paratethyan Realm. 

Based on the biostratigraphy of the calcareous nannofossils, we identified the Badenian NN5 biozone, argued by the co-occurrence of Sphenolithus heteromorphus, Coronocyclus nitescens and Cyclicargolithus floridanus. The semiqualitative analysis point out the abundant presence of Helicosphaera spp. (mainly H. carteri), which together with Sphenolithus spp., Cyclicargolithus floridanus, Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus and Braarudosphaera bigelowii accounted up to 50% calcareous nannofossil assemblages. Most of the found specimens of Braarudosphaera bigelowii are “rounded” morphotypes, as previously identified in several Central Paratethyan Miocene successions (Melinte-Dobrinescu & Stoica, 2013; Peryt et al., 2021), whereas the “classical” specimens with sharp edges and trapezoidal segments are extremely rare. In the studied interval, the values of δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O isotopes show wide ranges, with a significant negative shift of δ¹³C isotope values towards the top of the studied succession.

References

De Leeuw, A., Tulbure, M., Kuiper, K.F., Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C., Stoica, M., Krijgsman, W., 2018. New ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar, magnetostratigraphic and biostratigraphic constraints on the termination of the Badenian Salinity Crisis: Indications for tectonic improvement of basin interconnectivity in Southern Europe. Global and Planetary Change, 169, 1-15.

Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C., Stoica, M., 2013. Badenian Calcareous Nannofossil Fluctuation in the Eastern Carpathians: Palaeoenvironmental significance. Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae, 9(2), 47-56.

Peryt, D., Garecka, M., Peryt, T.M., 2021. Foraminiferal and calcareous nannoplankton biostratigraphy of the upper Badenian–lower Sarmatian strata in the SE Polish Carpathian Foredeep. Geological Quarterly, 65(18), 1-22.

How to cite: Anton, E., Apotrosoaei, V., Pojar, I., Lazar, C., and Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.: Middle Miocene calcareous nannofossil and isotope fluctuations in the Central Paratethyan Realm (Eastern Carpathians), EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-7757, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-7757, 2024.

The Messinian Salinity crisis (MSC) was a major ecological crisis triggered by a combination of climatic and tectonic drivers that led to the progressive restriction of the Mediterranean, and culminated with the formation of large evaporite deposits. The Tabernas Basin (SE Spain) presents an exceptional Miocene sedimentary record, key for understanding the evolution of a turbiditic basin during the MSC. A composite stratigraphic section (>200m long) from the early Messinian to the early Pliocene shows different phases of the MSC in the Yesón Alto area (~20 km from Almeria City). Our study allows recognizing pre-evaporitic, syn-evaporitic, and post-evaporitic units. Two stratigraphic sections, one in the Yeson Alto and the other in Rambla de Lanujar were measured, sampled and documented for their petrological, geochemical and sedimentary facies characterization. Paleontological data, obtained through the analysis of foraminifera and marine macrofossils, enabled bio-stratigraphic dating. Magnetostratigraphic sampling along the pre- and post-evaporitic units was executed, although only the post-evaporitic deposits allowed the isolation of the primary Characteristic Remanent Magnetization. The preliminary results indicate that sedimentation rates during the pre-evaporitic phase were approximately four times greater than those of the correlated Abad member in the neighbouring Sorbas Basin The examined pre-evaporitic unit (90 m-thick) predominantly comprises fine-grained deposits intercalated with levels of sandstones and limestones. Abundant benthic and planktonic foraminifera, together with other marine fauna, facilitated the identification of 13 bioevents in the succession. The presence of Turborotalita quinqueloba and Orbulina taxa allows correlation with the last Messinian biozone (d) of Mediterranean biostratigraphy. Decimeter-thick beds of fossiliferous packstones/wackestones and barren mixed-siliciclastic carbonates occur toward the uppermost part of the unit, at the transition with the evaporites, indicating the initiation of evaporitic conditions preceding the deposition of the first gypsum bed. Soft-sediment deformation in these transitional beds suggests the occurrence of an important seismic event in Tabernas basins during initial stage of the MSC. The evaporitic unit in this area comprises only three cycles of massive selenitic gypsum beds intercalated with mudstones, in contrast with the Sorbas Basin, where up to 15 cycles have been described. δS analysis of these selenites reveals values expected for Miocene marine evaporites. A level with abundant marine fossils in the second inter-evaporitic level indicates at least an episode of dilution from >150gr/l to <40gr/l during the evaporitic deposition phase, where normal marine conditions prevailed. Towards the basin margins (Rambla de Lanujar section), the pre-evaporitic unit is characterized by the alternation of siliciclastic mudstones and gravity flow deposits, including boulder-grained breccias. The evaporitic unit is represented here by two beds of secondary nodular gypsum and centimetriclenite crystals forming Selenite supercones up to 2.5 m in diameter. Conformably overlying the last gypsum bed, a cyclic sequence of interbedded conglomeratic sandstones, matrix-supported conglomerates, and siliciclastic mudstones occurs. The paleomagnetic analysis reveals a reverse polarity for this unit, suggesting its correlation with the chron C3r. The presence of a fossiliferous assemblage, indicative of marine conditions with high salinity, also supports the conclusion that the post-evaporitic phase began during the Messinian times.

How to cite: Lacerda Orita, G. K., Pérez-Valera, F., Soria, J., Gomez-Rivas, E., Corbi, H., Sierra Ramirez, N., Liu, J., and Gibert, L.: From turbidites to evaporites: the Messinian Salinity crisis record of the Tabernas Basin (SE Spain), EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-2095, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-2095, 2024.

Warm and saline Mediterranean overflow today is an important driver of thermohaline circulation in the North Atlantic. In the latest Miocene, Mediterranean salinity varied dramatically as the Messinian salt giant formed. The precipitation of a ~1.5 km thick evaporite layer across the Mediterranean seafloor requires substantial changes both to the geometry of the Atlantic-Mediterranean gateway and the nature of exchange between the two basins. This salinity crisis was the consequence of on-going Africa-Eurasia collision, which formed, narrowed, and ultimately closed the two ancestral marine connections that pre-date the Gibraltar Strait. One of these connections is now preserved on land in southern Spain, the other in northern Morocco. Both the initiation of Mediterranean overflow, variations in its size and salinity, and the establishment of the present-day overflow pattern in the early Pliocene are likely to have impacted thermohaline circulation, climatic change and deep water sedimentation during the late Miocene and Pliocene.

IMMAGE (Investigating Miocene Mediterranean-Atlantic Gateway Exchange) is a land-2-sea drilling project designed to recover a complete record of Late Miocene-Pliocene exchange (8-4Ma) offshore with International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) in both the Atlantic and Mediterranean and onshore with International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) in Morocco and Spain. IODP Expedition 401 is the first element of the land-2-sea drilling to take place. At the time of abstract submission, Expedition 401 is at sea (December 2023-February 2024) in the process of recovering these critical records. We propose to present an overview of the sediments recovered during the expedition and initial shipboard analytical results.

How to cite: Flecker, R., Ducassou, E., and Williams, T. and the IODP Expedition 401 participants: Preliminary results of IODP Expedition 401, the first element of the Miocene Mediterranean-Atlantic Gateway (IMMAGE) Land-2-Sea drilling project, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-4237, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-4237, 2024.

In the Mediterranean, the latest Miocene was characterized by an exceptional event caused by the severe drop of the sea-level, leading to the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). This event is characterized throughout the whole Mediterranean by the occurrence of thick evaporites in its deep basins and huge fluvial canyons within its margins (i.e., Cita et al., 1978; Cornée et al., 2006; Clauzon et al., 2008). This significant event triggered important faunas and floras modifications from the Mediterranean region and the surrounding basins, affecting the assemblage diversity, abundance, and composition. One of the most sensitive marine planktonic organisms, the calcareous nannoplankton, is well reflecting the palaeoenvironmental setting of the Messinian-Zanclean boundary interval.

This study presents the fluctuation pattern before, during and after the MSC, as identified in several studied successions of the Western and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Below the MSC, the calcareous nannofossil assemblages are characterized by high diversity and abundance, with dominance of the warm-water taxa, such as the discoasterids. At the beginning of the MSC, brackish environment dominated the late Messinian, which is barren of nannofossils, but some marine influxes are to be assumed, as in some Mediterranean areas the salinity was high enough to allow the nannoplankton survival. Calcareous nannoplankton assemblages recorded in the Messinian deposits (NN11b nannofossil subzone) are dominated by long-ranging and diagenetical resistant taxa (i.e., Reticulofenestra spp., Sphenolithus moriformis, and Coccolithus pelagicus). In most investigated sections, during the MSC, almost monospecific assemblages containing Braarudosphaera bigelowii, indicating strong salinity variations, were observed. Around the base and the top of the above-mentioned intervals, blooms of the calcareous dinoflagellate genus Thoracosphaera (suggesting unstable palaeosetting) were also identified. A marine environment is restored within the base of the Pliocene (early Zanclean), being most probably related to the important transgressive event, linked to the reconnection of Mediterranean with the open-ocean. The earliest Pliocene nannofossil assemblages of the NN12 zone are dominated by Discoaster and Sphenolithus taxa, indicative for warm-surface waters and an open-marine environment.

References

Cita, M.B., Ryan, W.B.F., Kidd, R.B., 1978. Sedimentation rates in Neogene deep sea sediments from the Mediterranean and geodynamic implications of their changes. Initial Reports DSDP 42A, 991–1002.

Clauzon, G., Suc, J.-P., Popescu, S.-M., Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C., Quillévéré, F., Warny, S.A., Fauquette, S., Armijo, R., Meyer, B., Rubino, J.-L., Lericolais, G., Gillet, H., Çağatay, M.N., Ucarkus, G., Escarguel, G., Jouannic, G., Dalesme, F., 2008. Chronology of the Messinian events and paleogeography of the Mediterranean region s.l. CIESM Workshop Monographs 33, 31–37.

Cornée, J.-J., Ferrandini, M., Saint Martin, J.-P., Münch, P., Moullade, M., Ribaud Laurenti, A., Roger, S., Saint Martin, S., Ferrandini, J., 2006. The late Messinian erosional surface and the subsequent reflooding in the Mediterranean: new insights from the Melilla–Nador basin (Morocco). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 230 (1–2), 129–154.

How to cite: Melinte-Dobrinescu, M., Suc, J.-P., and Speranta-Maria, P.: Calcareous nannofossil fluctuation related to the Messinian Salinity Crisis, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9263, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9263, 2024.

Between 5.97 and 5.33 Ma, the Mediterranean area was fundamentally impacted by the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), a pivotal event that led to the transformation of the Mediterranean Sea into an extensive evaporitic basin, caused by rapidly changing environmental conditions. The MSC was caused by a combination of tectonic and climatic factors, resulting in severe connectivity restriction between the Mediterranean-Paratethys system and the Atlantic Ocean. The Sorbas Basin, thanks to its proximity to the Atlantic gateway and astronomically dated sedimentary succession, represents a key element in understanding the nature of palaeoceanographic transformations affecting the Western Mediterranean, preceding and announcing the MSC. Here, we present the first sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface salinity (SSS) estimates recorded in Sorbas (i.e., Western Mediterranean) for the time interval between 7.3 to 6.0 Ma. The studied section includes the lower Abad Member (cyclic alternations of homogenous marls and indurated layers) and the upper Abad Member (cyclic alternations of sapropels, diatomites and marls). SSTs were estimated using TEX₈₆ and U^K´₃₇ biomarker-based proxies, with cross validation at distinct levels. To further constrain the SSS changes, we combined the TEX₈₆ and U^K´₃₇ based SST estimates with δ¹⁸O values measured at the same stratigraphic levels on the planktonic foraminifera Orbulina universa. The temperature estimates vary between 17 and 27 °C, with a pronounced cold (17 °C) peak at 7.1 Ma, following the restriction of the Betic and Rifian corridors. This cooling is followed by a generally warmer period lasting until 6.27 Ma, when a colder trend emerges and lasts until 6.18 Ma. A marked and sharp cooling from 27 to 18 °C is observed at 6 Ma, preceding the onset of the MSC. The SST-δ¹⁸O- calculated salinity ranges between 34 and 44 for most of the levels. However, several levels around 7.0, 6.74, 6.52 and 6.06 Ma, generated SSS values as low as 20, provoked by exceptionally low, yet not fully understood , δ¹⁸O_{O. universa} component in our SSS calculation. The low values might be associated with a significant local influx of fresh water, considering the basin's restricted nature. When comparing our results to coeval records existing for the Eastern and Central Mediterranean (Agios Myron, Kalamaki and Monte dei Corvi), we notice a correlation of warmer and colder peaks across the Mediterranean, albeit with minor leads and lags. Importantly, the Sorbas SST values are well within the range of SSTs in the Eastern and Central Mediterranean. The SSS values of Sorbas are also within the range reported in the Eastern Mediterranean with the exception of those levels presumably affected by fresh water input. In the absence of a full explanation for the associated low-δ¹⁸O_{O. universa} values, we observe the dominance of the C_37:4 alkenone component, exclusively associated with fresh to brackish water environments, at some of these levels, strongly suggesting the occurrence of repeated fresh water influx into the basin.

How to cite: Lanterna, F., Sierro, F. J., Mulch, A., and Vasiliev, I.: Sorbas’ basin secrets unveiled: First record of Sea Surface Temperature and Sea Surface Salinity in the Western Mediterranean prior to the onset of the Messinian Salinity Crisis, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9714, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9714, 2024.

During the late Miocene Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), the Mediterranean Basin was transformed into the youngest salt giant in Earth's history. The acme phase of the MSC appeared to have coincided with a high-magnitude sea level drop, resulting in widespread erosion of sulphate evaporites deposited in shallow, marginal basins during the early phase of the MSC. Clastic gypsum deposits were consequently emplaced by submarine mass movements and low to high-density gravity flows in deep basins interfingering with thick halite deposits and hemipelagic, laminated sediments including organic-rich shales and laminar gypsum. Deciphering the depositional mechanisms behind hemipelagites is pivotal to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental and paleoceanographic conditions of deep Mediterranean basins during the MSC acme, including water depth and chemical, physical and biological characteristics of the aquatic system. This work focuses on the Racalmuto basin (Sicily, Italy), where a continuous sedimentary record from the pre-evaporitic Tripoli Fm. to the final stages of the MSC (Upper Gypsum) is exposed. Here, the MSC acme is recorded by gypsum turbidites and a chaotic interval, interbedded with laminar gypsum (“balatino”) formed by nucleation of gypsum crystals in the water column and their subsequent deposition on the sea floor (cumulate deposits). The most typical microfacies consist of an intricated network of gypsum crystals with a rhombohedral to prismatic elongated habit (< 1 mm in size). Petrographic observations show textural changes across the studied interval. The size of the crystals progressively decreases upwards across the studied section, possibly reflecting the increase in the saturation of the brine approaching the time of halite deposition in the deeper parts of the basin. The appearance of a diversified calcareous nannofossils assemblage, interbedded with gypsum laminae immediately below the bottom-grown selenitic gypsum of the Upper Gypsum (final stage of the MSC) suggests that normal marine conditions were intermittently established in the upper water column approaching the end of the MSC acme.

How to cite: Nallino, E., Sabino, M., Dela Pierre, F., and Natalicchio, M.: Laminar Gypsum deposited during the Messinian salinity crisis acme: a case study from the Racalmuto basin (Sicily, Italy)., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11589, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11589, 2024.

Between 5.97-5.33 Ma, kilometre-thick evaporite units were deposited in the Mediterranean Basin during an event known as the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). The MSC was characterised by a strongly negative hydrological budget, with a net evaporative loss of Mediterranean basin water exceeding precipitation and riverine runoff inputs. Despite evident proves of environmental crisis at the end of the Messinian, the Mediterranean domain still lacks quantitative estimates of temperature change across the transition from the (brackish) Lago Mare, marking the end of the Miocene, to the fully marine Pliocene. Here we reconstruct continental mean annual temperatures (MAT) using branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraether (brGDGT) biomarkers for the time period corresponding to the MSC Stage 3 (5.55-5.33 Ma) and compare them with continental temperature values obtained from Δ₄₇ clumped isotope geochemistry measured on paleosol carbonate nodules found at few locations in the Mediterranean basin. The well-preserved organic biomarkers were extracted from outcrops onshore and offshore covering a vast portion of the Mediterranean Basin; onshore (Malaga, Sicily, Cyprus) and offshore (DSDP core holes 124 and 134 from the Balearic abyssal plane, hole 374 from the Ionian Basin and hole 376 drilled west of Cyprus). Calculated MATs for the 5.55 to 5.33 Ma time interval show values around 16 to 19 ºC for the Malaga, Sicily and Cyprus outcrops. The MAT values calculated for DSDP Leg 13 holes 124, 134 and Leg 42A holes 374 and 376 are lower, around 13 to 16 ºC. Comparing the brGDGT-MAT values with Δ₄₇-MAT values from carbonate nodules, shows high congruence between both approaches. For the northern Mediterranean Δ₄₇-MAT is 24.6 ± 1.6 °C and brGDGT-MAT is 19 ± 4.8 ºC. For Cyprus Δ₄₇-MAT is 20.3 ± 1.7 °C and brGDGT-MAT is 18 ºC ± 4.8 ºC. Given the very different nature of the used paleoproxies, the similarity of the obtained MAT values provides a strong indication of their (cross)validity in sampled sections. Additionally, the measured δ¹⁸O values for the carbonate nodules used for the Δ₄₇-MAT show high δ¹⁸O of the soil water (in the range of -5 ±0.7‰) indicate highly evaporative conditions for the two onland sites where these were collected (Northern Apennines and Cyprus). We conclude that between 5.55 to 5.33 Ma the temperatures in the Mediterranean region were similar to present-day conditions, yet the region has suffered from excess evaporation as indicated by combined high δ¹⁸O values from (inorganic) carbonate nodules and δ²H values from (organic) biomarkers.

How to cite: Vasiliev-Popa, I., Agiadi, K., Methner, K., Fiebig, J., and Mulch, A.: A similarly warm but drier Mediterranean region at the Miocene - Pliocene transition, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-14271, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-14271, 2024.

The Sorbas Basin (Spain) has been a key study area for the understanding of the Late Miocene Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) (5.97-5.33 Ma). The MSC deposits of the Sorbas Basin consist of four sedimentary units: (1) the pre-MSC Abad marls topped by (2) the evaporitic Yesares gypsum member, followed by two non-evaporitic units known as the (3) Sorbas and (4) Zorreras members. These deposits have been widely studied almost exclusively in the several outcrops across the basin.

In 2021, four ~175m-long boreholes (named SG0, 1, 2 and 3) covering most of the MSC sequence were drilled, cored, and logged in the Marylen gypsum mine in Sorbas. These successions provided for the first time a continuous, non-outcropping succession of the MSC record. In addition to the recovered cores (~75% recovery), downhole geophysical logging data was obtained from the four holes and digital images of the area were collected with a drone.

Optical borehole wall images provide mm-scale images of the borehole walls, highlighting the sedimentological and structural characteristics of the deposits. Downhole geophysical measurements included acoustic velocity, electric resistivity and magnetic susceptibility, and natural spectral gamma ray. In addition to the petrophysical logs, a Vertical Seismic Profile, including a walk-away distributed acoustic sensing experiment, was acquired in holes SG2 and SG3.

Preliminary results confirmed not only the astronomical precession-driven cyclicity observed elsewhere in the Messinian gypsum, but also potentially higher-frequency cyclicity in the post-evaporitic Sorbas Mb. The Digital Outcrop Model allowed for a detailed correlation between the wells while recognizing various discontinuities and obtaining 3D data of geometry and dimensions of the different geobodies that respond to the interaction of auto and allocyclic processes that conditioned erosion and sedimentation in this western sector of the Mediterranean.

How to cite: Raad, F., Pezard, P., Viseras, C., Sierro, F. J., Yeste, L. M., Schleifer, A., Lofi, J., Camerlenghi, A., and Aloisi, G.: Multi-proxy characterization of the Messinian Salinity Crisis deposits in the Sorbas Basin (SE Spain): Implications on the paleo-environmental evolution during the uppermost Miocene, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-22572, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-22572, 2024.