Paleoenvironmental changes preceding the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis in the western Mediterranean Sea (pre-evaporitic Messinian of the Melilla-Nador Basin, NE Morocco)

Authors

  • Hanane Bahaj Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'sik, Geology Department, Geosciences and Applications Laboratory, B.P 7955, Sidi Othmane Casablanca (Morocco) Author
  • Nadia Barhoun Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'sik, Geology Department, Geosciences and Applications Laboratory, B.P 7955, Sidi Othmane Casablanca (Morocco) Author
  • Naima Bachiri Taoufiq assan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'sik, Geology Department, Geosciences and Applications Laboratory, B.P 7955, Sidi Othmane Casablanca (Morocco) Author
  • Jihad Rahmouna Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'sik, Geology Department, Geosciences and Applications Laboratory, B.P 7955, Sidi Othmane Casablanca (Morocco) Author
  • Soukaina Targhi Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'sik, Geology Department, Geosciences and Applications Laboratory, B.P 7955, Sidi Othmane Casablanca (Morocco) Author
  • Naima Berry Hassan II University of Casablanca, Faculty of Sciences Ben M'sik, Geology Department, Geosciences and Applications Laboratory, B.P 7955, Sidi Othmane Casablanca (Morocco) Author
  • Jean-Pierre Suc Sorbonne Université, CNRS-INSU, Institut des Sciences de la Terre Paris, ISTeP UMR 7193, 75005 Paris (France) Author
  • Speranta-Maria Popescu Geobiostratdata.consulting, 385 Rte du Mas Rillier, 69140 Rillieux-la-Pape (France) Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2110/carnets.2024.2401

Keywords:

Melilla-Nador basin, Morocco, Western Mediterranean, pre-evaporitic Messinian, marine environment, continental environment, Foraminifera, pollen, dinocysts

Abstract

In order to contribute to the understanding of the evolution of marine and continental environments, preceding the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis in the western Mediterranean, we conducted an integrated study of the pre-evaporitic Messinian sedimentary series in the Melilla-Nador basin. Three sections have been carried out in the marl-diatomite series and were the subject of a detailed biostratigraphic and palynological study. The study of planktonic foraminifera, pollen, dinocysts, and palynofacies allowed us to characterize the evolution of these environments. From 6.83 to 6.52 Ma, the marine environment was relatively open, calm, probably subject to the action of upwellings and received periodic continental inputs. Starting 6.52 Ma, the abundance and diversity of planktonic foraminifera decreased. Continental inputs gradually dominate, alternating with marine ones, and reflecting a succession between proximal and distal neritic environments. The surface water conditions were warm. After 6.35 Ma, began the degradation of marine conditions. The continental environment shows an open vegetal landscape dominated by herbaceous plants, reflecting a tropical to arid subtropical climate, slightly less dry than that of the South Rifian Corridor.
This study confirms the existence of several parameters that contributed to the deposition of the cyclical marl-diatomite series: on the one hand, the hot and dry climate favored the reduction of the plant landscape and therefore erosion (continental inputs); on the other, the tectonics (volcanism and uplift).

CG2401

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Published

2024-01-17

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Articles

How to Cite

Paleoenvironmental changes preceding the onset of the Messinian salinity crisis in the western Mediterranean Sea (pre-evaporitic Messinian of the Melilla-Nador Basin, NE Morocco). (2024). Carnets Geol., 24, 1-27. https://doi.org/10.2110/carnets.2024.2401