Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy of the late-Messinian - Early pliocene continental to marine deposits of the Boudinar basin (North Morocco). (February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Merzeraud, Gilles; Achalhi, Mohammed; Cornée, Jean-Jacques; Münch, Philippe; Azdimousa, Ali; Ben Moussa, Abdelkhalak
• Is Part Of: Journal of African earth sciences. Volume 150(2019)
• Page Start: 205
• Page End: 223
• Publication Date: 2019-02
• Subjects: Zanclean -- Transgression -- Alboran sea -- Boudinar basin -- Facies architecture -- Sequence stratigraphy -- Late messinian -- Sedimentology -- North-east Morocco; Earth sciences -- Africa -- Periodicals; Earth sciences -- Middle East -- Periodicals; Geology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Geology -- Middle East -- Periodicals; Sciences de la terre -- Afrique -- Périodiques; Sciences de la terre -- Moyen-Orient -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Afrique -- Périodiques; Géologie -- Moyen-Orient -- Périodiques; Earth sciences; Geology; Africa; Middle East; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 556.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2018.11.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-343X

Abstract

Abstract: During the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC), between 5.97 and 5.33 Ma, the marine connections between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea were temporarily restricted. The post-MSC reflooding of the Mediterranean Sea by the Atlantic waters and its sedimentary record are debated. The Boudinar basin (North-Morocco) provides an exceptional record of this period between ca 5.32–5.27 and 4.37 Ma at youngest (Zanclean - Zone PL1). The sedimentary succession of this basin comprises seven facies associations corresponding to depositional settings ranging from continental to open marine environments. We provide a new sequence stratigraphic framework, based on twelve stratigraphic sections. Two orders of depositional sequences (4th, 3rd order), related to base-level changes during the Late-Messinian Early-Pliocene time interval, are correlated at the basin scale. According to our reconstruction, the post-MSC base level rise and the Zanclean reflooding lasted from a minimum of several tens up to hundreds thousands years, suggesting a gradual, not catastrophic event indicative of a progressive transgression. Highligths: Two orders of sequences (4 th, 3 rd order) were correlated during the Late-Messinian Early-Pliocene. The sea-level drop during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) was of limited amplitude. The post-MSC transgression does not match with the rapid and sudden reflooding scenario.