Messinian events in the Black Sea |
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| Authors: | Christiaan G C van Baak Eleanora P Radionova Larisa A Golovina Isabella Raffi Klaudia F Kuiper Iuliana Vasiliev Wout Krijgsman |
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| Institution: | 1. Paleomagnetic Laboratory “Fort Hoofddijk”, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands;2. Geological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Moscow, Russia;3. Department of Engineering and Geology, Università “G. d'Annunzio”, Chieti Scalo, Italy;4. Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Past hydrological interactions between the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea are poorly resolved due to complications in establishing a high‐resolution time frame for the Black Sea. We present a new greigite‐based magnetostratigraphic age model for the Mio‐Pliocene deposits of DSDP Hole 380/380A, drilled in the southwestern Black Sea. This age model is complemented by 40Ar/39Ar dating of a volcanic ash layer, allowing a direct correlation of Black Sea deposits to the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) interval of the Mediterranean Sea. Proxy records divide these DSDP deposits into four intervals: (i) Pre‐MSC marine conditions (6.1–6.0 Ma); (ii) highstand, fresh to brackish water conditions (~6.0–5.6 Ma); (iii) lowstand, fresh‐water environment (5.6–5.4 Ma) and (iv) highstand, fresh‐water conditions (5.4–post 5.0 Ma). Our results indicate the Black Sea was a major fresh‐water source during gypsum precipitation in the Mediterranean Sea. The introduction of Lago Mare fauna during the final stage of the MSC coincides with a sea‐level rise in the Black Sea. Across the Mio‐Pliocene boundary, sea‐level and salinity in the Black Sea did not change significantly. |
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