New insights into the Messinian salinity crisis: Zanclean reflooding erosion in the Gibraltar-Alboran Sea connection area

Abstract

The Gibraltar Strait-Alboran Sea connection is a key area to understand the zanclean reflooding of the Mediterranean basin, at the end of the messinian salinity crisis. In spite of this importance, suggested by many authors, little is known about the submarine geological record of this area where the large magnitude of the Earliest Zanclaean reflooding had to produce a great impact in the sedimentary record. In order to fill this gap, an integration of recent an ancient seismic data (single and multichannel profiles) around the Alboran side of the Gibraltar Arc has been done. The study of these data has permitted an improvement of the seismic stratigraphy trough correlation with the DSDP 121 and ODP 976 drills, and a detailed view of the messinian surface. The prelimirary results indicate the existence of a striking erosive channel-like feature in front of the Gibraltar Strait related with the Zanclaean reflooding of the Mediterranean Sea. Likewise, several terraces and canyons are identified on the Spanish margin nearby the Gibraltar Strait probably related with sea level fluctuations during the Messinian salinity crisis