The late Messinian event: a worldwide tectonic revolution

Type Article
Date 2018-06
Language English
Author(s) Leroux EstelleORCID1, Aslanian DanielORCID1, Rabineau MarinaORCID2, Pellen Romain2, Moulin MarylineORCID1
Affiliation(s) 1 : IFREMER, ZI Pointe Diable, Plouzane, France.
2 : CNRS, LGO, UBO, UBS,UMR6538, Plouzane, France.
Source Terra Nova (0954-4879) (Wiley), 2018-06 , Vol. 30 , N. 3 , P. 207-214
DOI 10.1111/ter.12327
WOS© Times Cited 12
Abstract

A review of geological and geophysical observations points towards a worldwide kinematic change at around 6 Ma. The synchronicity of many manifestations (tectonics, magmatism, kinematics, ecological events, among others) at ~6 Ma, similar to those recognized from time to time on the geological timescale, argues for a global geodynamic event that has led to many regional consequences on Earth's surface. In particular, we propose that this global event was the main trigger for the three fold increase in sediment deposits in the world ocean over the last ~5 Ma, but also for the onset of the Messinian Salinity Crisis in the Mediterranean area, one of the most severe ecological crises in the Earth's history. We suggest this Messinian revolution to be the last occurrence of cyclic successions of global events.

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