Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

The Messinian salinity crisis and evidence of late Miocene eustatic changes in the world ocean

Nature volume 269, pages 383–386 (1977)Cite this article

Abstract

The Mediterranean Sea became isolated from the world ocean in the late Miocene and underwent a ‘crisis of salinity’ during which vast deposits of evaporites were laid down in pre-existing depressions. The final connection with the Atlantic is believed now to have been the Betic Strait entering into the Mediterranean from Andalusia, Spain. Although the closing of this connection, known as the Iberian Portal, is related to largescale plate movements which brought Africa into direct contact with southern Europe, its final severing may have resulted from glacial-eustatic lowering of the global ocean. Further stratigraphic resolution of late Miocene sea-level and ice-volume changes is sought to verify the eustatic-fall hypothesis.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hsü, K. J., Cita, M. B. & Ryan, W. B. F. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 13, 1203–1231 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Hsü, K. J., Ryan, W. B. F. & Cita, M. B. Nature 242, 240–244 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Hsü, K. J. et al. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, U. S. Government Printing Office (in the press).

  4. Ruggieri, G. Systematics Assoc. Publ. No. 7 (eds Adams, C. G. & Ager, D. V.) 283–290 (London, 1967).

  5. Ryan, W. B. F. et al. Riv. Ital. Paleont. 80, 631–687 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Adams, C. G. Systematics Assoc. Publ. No. 7 (eds Adams, C. G. & Ager, D. V.) 195–217 (London, 1967).

  7. Benson, R. H. Marine Micropal. (in the press).

  8. Ryan, W. B. F. Messinian Events in the Mediterranean (ed. Drooger, C. W.) 26–29 (Konink. Ned. Akad. Wetensch, Amsterdam, 1973).

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cita, M. B., Wright, R. H., Ryan, W. B. F. & Longinelli, A. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, 42A U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. (in the press).

    Google Scholar 

  10. Nesteroff, W. D. & Glacon, R. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer. Medit. 23, 153–154 (1975).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Lacombe, H. & Tchernia, P. The Mediterranean Sea (ed. Stanley, D. J.) 25–36 (Dowden Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsberg, Pa. 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Benson, R. H. The Mediterranean Sea (ed. Stanley, D. J.) 63–73 (Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross, Stroudsberg, Pa., 1972).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Benson, R. H. Micropaleontology. Special Pub. No. 1, 41–48 (1975).

  14. Maiklem, W. R. Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol. 19, 487–503 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Deuser, W. G., Ross, E. H. & Waterman, L. S. Science 191, 1168–1170 (1976).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Berggren, W. A. & Boersma, A. Hot Brines and Recent Heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea (eds Degens, E. T. & Ross, D. A.), 282–298 (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1969).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Smith, L. A. Geotimes 22, No. 3, 20–23 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bizon, G., Bizon, J. J. & Montenat, Ch. Revue de l'Inst. Fran¸ais du Pétrole, 27, 831–863 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Hsü, K. J. et al. Nature 267, 399–403 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Montenat, C., Bizon, G. & J. J. Revue de l'inst. Fran¸ais du Páetrole 31, 613–663 (1976).

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hsü, K. J. Earth-Sci. Rev. 8, 371 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Hsü, K. J. Sci. Am. 277, 27–36 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Adams, C. G. Bull. Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. (geol.) 19, 85–137 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Adams, C. G. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol. 20, 47–66 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Cole, W. S. Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Surv. 260-O, 569–605 (1954).

  26. Cole, W. S. Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Surv. 260-V, 743–784 (1958).

  27. Palmieri, V. Rep. Geol. Surv. Qld. 86, 1–14 (1974).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Quilty, P. G. J. Geol. Soc. Aust. 21, 301–318 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Bemmelen, R. W. van The Geology of Indonesia Government Printing Office, The Hague, 1A, xxiii + 732pp. (2nd edition, 1970).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Baumann, P. Bull. Nat. Inst. Geology and Mining 5, 13–28 (Bandung, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Berggren, W. A. & Haq, B. U., Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol., Palaeoecol. 20, 67–129 (1976).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Spencer, M. Bull. Am. Soc. petrol. Geol. 51, 263–268 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  33. Huddlestun, P. F. & Wright, R. C. Gulf Coast Assoc. geol. Soc. Trans. 27 (in the Press).

  34. Peck, D. M., Missimer, T. M., Wise, S. W. & Wright, R. C. Fla. Scient. 40, 22–23 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  35. Kraft, J. C., Sheridan, R. E. & Maisano, M. Am. Assoc. petrol. Geol. 55, 658–679 (1971).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Colquhoun, D. J. & Johnson, H. S., Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclim., Palaeoecol. 5, 105–126 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. Bold, W. A. van den Mem. VI Conferencia Geologica del Carib-Margarita, Venezuela, 485–490 (1972).

  38. Swain, F. M. Prof. Pap. U.S. Geol. Surv. 573-D (1968).

  39. Ingle, Jr, J. C. Bull Am. Paleontology 52, 217–394 (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Bandy, O. L. & Ingle, J. C., Jr. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Paper 124, 131–172 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Barrow, J. A. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclim., Palaeoecol. 14, 277–291 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Bandy, O. L., Butler, E. A. & Wright, R. C. Science 166, 607–609 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Lietz, J. & Schminke, H. U. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclim., Palaeoecol. 18, 213–239 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Douglas, R. C. & Savin, S. M. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 32, 509–520 (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  45. Shackleton, N. J. & Kennett, J. P. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 29, 801–807 (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Hayes, D. E. & Frakes, L. A. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 28, 919–942 (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Wolfe, J. A. & Hopkins, D. M. Proc. 11th Pacific Sci. Congr. Tokyo, 1966, 67, Sasakai, Sendai (1967).

  48. Kennett, J. P. & Vella, P. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project 29, 769–799 (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C., 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Kennett, J. P. N.Z. J. Geol., Geophys. 10, 1051–1063 (1967).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Kennett, J. P. Micropaleontology 14, 305–318 (1968).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Bandy, O. Giorn. Geol. 35, 277–290 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  52. Kennett, J. P. & Watkins, N. D. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 85, 1385–1398 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. Van Couvering et al. Marine Micropaleontology 1, 263–286 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Palaeontology, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London, SW7, UK

    C. G. Adams

  2. Department of Paleobiology, Smithsonian Institution, United States National Museum, Washington DC, 20560

    R. H. Benson

  3. Institute of Oceanographic Sciences, Wormley, Godalming, Surrey, UK

    R. B. Kidd

  4. Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York, 10964

    W. B. F. Ryan

  5. Department of Geology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32306

    R. C. Wright

Authors
  1. C. G. Adams
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. H. Benson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. B. Kidd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. B. F. Ryan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. C. Wright
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adams, C., Benson, R., Kidd, R. et al. The Messinian salinity crisis and evidence of late Miocene eustatic changes in the world ocean. Nature 269, 383–386 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269383a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269383a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing