Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Interactions
Environmental Crises during the Neogene
ABSTRACT VOLUME
Marius Stoica, Mihaela C. Melinte-Dobrinescu & Dan Palcu (eds.)
REGI ONAL COMMI TTEE ON MEDI TERRANE AN NEOGENE STRATI GRAPHY
BUCHAREST, 27- 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 - RCMNS I NTERI M COLLOQUI UM BUCHAREST, 27- 30 SEPTEMBER 2012 - RCMNS I NTERI M COLLOQUI UM
Regional
Committee on
Mediterranean
Neogene
Stratigraphy
R C MNS
Paratethys-Mediterranean
Interactions:
Environmental Crises during the Neogene
ABSTRACT VOLUME
Marius Stoica, Mihaela C. Melinte-Dobrinescu & Dan Palcu (eds.)
Bucharest, 27-30 September 2012
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
THIS WORK WAS SUPPORTED BY CNCS-UEFISCDI, PROJECT NUMBER
PNII-IDEI/WE-CODE/2012.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Organizers:
Marius Stoica (University of Bucharest),
Mihaela Melinte-Dobrinescu (GeoEcoMar),
Co-organizer:
Wout Krijgsman (Utrecht University),
Organizing committee:
Iuliana Lazar (University of Bucharest)
Dan Palcu (University of Bucharest)
Dan Jipa (GeoEcoMar)
Alina Floroiu (University of Bucharest)
Maria Tulbure (Petroleum-Gas University of Ploieti)
Andrei Briceag (GeoEcoMar)
Monica Crihan (Petroleum-Gas University of Ploieti)
Daniel tefan (University of Bucharest)
Web design: Bogdan Baltac
Scientifc Committee:
Jordi Agusti (Spain)
Madeline Bhme (Germany)
Jean-Jacques Corne (France)
Sorin Filipescu (Romania)
Mathias Harzhauser (Austria)
Frederick Hilgen (Holland)
Silvia Iaccarino (Italy)
Dan Jipa (Romania)
Wout Krijgsman (Holland)
Fabrizio Lirer (Italy)
Imre Magyar (Hungary)
Oleg Mandic (Austria)
Liviu Matenco (Romania)
Werner Piller (Austria)
Gheorghe Popescu (Romania)
Serghei Popov (Russia)
Marco Roveri (Italy)
Mario Sprovieri (Italy)
Jean Pierre Suc (France)
Iuliana Vasiliev (Holland)
Regional
Committee on
Mediterranean
Neogene
Stratigraphy
R C MNS
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
- 4 -
WELCOME
Te semi-enclosed Mediterranean and Paratethys regions form incomparable
natural laboratories to study environmental changes under diferent
geodynamic and climatic conditions. Tey are excellently suited to unravel
fundamental questions concerning mammal migration, evolution patterns,
basin restriction, sea level variations, and environmental change. Changes
in Paratethys and Mediterranean marine ecosystems were mainly driven by
global climate and paleoceanographic changes over the Neogene as well as
the evolution of marine connections. Gateway restriction in the Neogene
ultimately generated hypersaline environments and deposition of massive
evaporites during the Badenian Salinity Crisis of the Paratethys and the
Messinian Salinity Crisis of the Mediterranean.
Terrestrial ecosystems have been very sensitive to climatic changes as well
(e.g. Vallesian crisis), while the appearance and disappearance of land
bridges between Paratethys and Mediterranean played a major role in species
migration.
Tis Interim Colloquium will focus on recent developments in
Mediterranean-Paratethys interactions in the terrestrial and marine domain,
including advancements in high-resolution dating and multi-proxy analyses,
to decipher key intervals of extreme environmental change. In this meeting
we are pleased to welcome all Scientists interested on the climatic, biologic
and geologic history of the Paratethys and Mediterranean over the last 23
Myr. We especially seek contributions that shed new light on the Miocene
to Pleistocene evolution of marine and terrestrial palaeoenvironments in
Europe, southwest Asia and northern Africa.
We are looking forward to see you in Bucharest!
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
Session 1:
Paratethys - Palaeogeography, Stratigraphy and Mediterranean
Interactions;
Session 2:
Salinity Crises (Badenian and Messinian)
Session 2.1:
Badenian salinity crisis;
Session 2.2:
Messinian salinity crisis;
Session 3:
Terrestrial Systems.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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3 ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
4 WELCOME
5 SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMME
13 THE PALEOGRAPHY OF EARLY
MIOCENE BASIN SEDIMENTATION
IN AZERBAIJAN
Afandiyeva, M.
15 THE VALLESIAN MAMMAL
TURNOVER: A LATE MIOCENE
RECORD OF DECOUPLED LAND-
OCEAN EVOLUTION
Agust, J.
16 THE BADENIAN SALINITY CRISIS
Bbel, M.
18 SEDIMENTOLOGY AND
GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE LATE
NEOGENE POZNA FORMATION,
JAROSZW DEPRESSION
(SW POLAND) IN SOUTHERN
MARGINAL ZONE OF THE
NORTHWEST EUROPEAN BASIN
Badura, J.
1
, Czapowski, G.
2
,
Gsiewicz, A.
2,
&
Przybylski, B.
1
19 PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF
COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE
CENTRAL PARATETHYS AND THE
MEDITERRANEAN DURING THE
LATE BADENIAN/SERRAVALLIAN
Bartol, M.
1
, Miku, V.
1, 2
, Horvat, A.
1, 2
21 MORPHOLOGICAL AND
PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHICAL
EVIDENCE FOR THE DISPERSAL OF
HOMININES INTO AFRICA IN THE
LATE MIOCENE
Begun, D. R.
1
& Nargolwalla, N.
1
23 FORAMINIFERA ASSEMBLAGES
ASSOCIATED TO EARLY
MIOCENE SEA-LEVEL CHANGES
FROM THE NORTH-WESTERN
TRANSYLVANIAN BASIN
(ROMANIA)
Beldean, C.
1
, Szkely, S-F.
1
, Filipescu, S.
1
& Ssran, E.
1
25 THE ONSET OF THE MESSINIAN
SALINITY CRISIS FROM MARGINAL
TO DEEP WATER SETTINGS
(TERTIARY PIEDMONT BASIN,
NW ITALY): RELATIONSHIP WITH
GYPSUM DEPOSITION.
Bernardi, E.
1
, Dela Pierre, F.
1
, Lozar, F.
1
, Violanti, D.
1
,
Gennari, R.
2
& Natalicchio, M.
1
27 MIOCENE PALAEO-
ENVIRONMENTAL
RECONSTRUCTIONS
Bhme, M.
28 HOLOCENE
PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL
CHANGES IN THE NW BLACK SEA
Briceag, A.
1
, Stoica, M.
2
, Melinte-Dobrinescu, M. C.
1
& Oaie, G.
1
30 BADENIAN SALT SEDIMENTATION
IN THE CARPATHIAN FOREDEEP
BASIN (POLAND) BASED ON
GEOCHEMICAL AND ISOTOPIC
RESEARCH
Bukowski, K.
Table of Contents
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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31 DEEP-SEA RECORD OF
MEDITERRANEAN MESSINIAN
EVENTS (DREAM)
Camerlenghi, A.
1
, deLange, G.
2
, Flecker, R.
3
, Garcia-
Castellanos, D.
4
, Hbscher, C.
5
, Krijgsman, W.
2
, Lof,
J.
6
, Lugli, S.
7
, McGenity, T.
8
, Manzi, V.
7
, Panieri, G.
9
,
Rabineau, M.
10
, Roveri, M.
7
& Sierro, F.J.
11
33 THE RANGE AND EXTENT OF THE
VALLESIAN CRISIS IN ITS TYPE
AREA
Casanovas-Vilar, I.
1
, Van den Hoek Ostende, L.W.
2
,
Furi, M.
1
& Madern, P.A.
1, 2
35 ACINONYX PARDINENSIS (CROIZET
ET JOBERT, 1828) FROM THE EARLY
PLEISTOCENE OF PANTALLA
(CENTRAL ITALY)
Cherin, M.
1
, Iurino, D.
2
& Sardella R.
2
38 CONSTRAINING THE MESSINIAN
SALINITY CRISIS IN THE EASTERN
MEDITERRANEAN (ADANA BASIN,
TURKEY)
Cosentino, D.
1
, Cipollari, P.
1
, Darba,
G.
2
, Gliozzi, E.
1
, Grossi, F.
1
, Grbz, K.
3
,
Nazik, A.
3
& Radef, G.
1
40 MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF
BADENIAN/SARMATIAN (EARLY
SERRAVALLIAN) BOUNDARY
POSITION IN THE EASTERN
CARPATHIAN FOREDEEP
(POLAND): PRELIMINARY REPORT
Czapowski, G.
1
, Gsiewicz, A.
1
, Bukowski, K.
2
, Chang,
L.
3
, De Leeuw, A.
3
, Gadzicka, E.
1
, Krijgsman, W.
3
,
Paruch-Kulczycka, J.
1
, Sant, K.
3
& Studencka, B.
4
42 PALAEONTOLOGY AND
STRATIGRAPHY OF THE LATEST
MESSINIAN-LOWER PLIOCENE
DEPOSITS IN THE APENNINES:
NEW INSIGHTS FROM MOLISE
(SOUTHERN ITALY)
DAmico, C.
1
, Bracone, V.
2
, Esu, D.
3
, Frezza, V.
1, 3
&
Guerrieri, P.
4
44 COMPARISON OF MIOCENE
FORAMINIFERA FROM NORTH
OF CENTRAL IRAN (TETHYS)
TO NORTH FLANKS OF ALBORZ
MOUNTAINS (PARATETHYS) IN
IRAN
Daneshian, J.
1
& Derakhshani, M.
2
45 BIG BACTERIA FILAMENTS IN
THE EUXINIC SHALE FROM
THE PRIMARY LOWER GYPSUM
UNIT (PIEDMONT BASIN, NW
ITALY): VESTIGES OF MESSINIAN
CHEMOTROPHIC MICROBIAL
MATS
Dela Pierre F.
1
, Clari P.
1
, Natalicchio M.
1
, Bernardi E.
1
,
Lozar F.
1
, Lugli S.
2
, Violanti D.
1
47 CHRONOLOGY OF THE BADENIAN
SALINITY CRISIS OF THE CENTRAL
PARATETHYS
De Leeuw, A.
1
, Bukowski, K.
2
, Krijgsman, K.
3
, Kuiper
K. F.
4
, Stoica, M.
5
& Tulbure, M.
5
48 PALEOMAGNETIC AND
GEOCHRONOLOGIC CONSTRAINTS
ON THE GEODYNAMIC EVOLUTION
OF THE CENTRAL DINARIDES
De Leeuw, A.
1
, Mandic, O.
2
, Krijgsman, W.
3
, Kuiper,
K. F.
4
& Hrvatovi, H.
5
50 MAEOTIAN / PONTIAN OSTRACOD
BIOSTRATIGRAPHY FROM THE
SOUTH CARPATHIAN FOREDEEP
(BADISLAVA TOPOLOG AREA)
Floroiu, A.
1
, Stoica, M.
1
, Krijgsman, W.
2
, Vasiliev, I.
2
&
Van Baak, C.
2
52 BADENIAN SULPHATIC
EVAPORITIC SEQUENCES
FROM PIATRA VERDE
(SLNIC-TEIANI, PRAHOVA
COUNTY)
Frunzescu, D.
54 BADENIAN SULPHATIC
EVAPORITIC SEQUENCES FROM
VALEA REA SALT BRECCIA
(ISTRITA HILL, BUZAU COUNTY)
Frunzescu, D.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
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56 DISPERSAL EVENTS OF THE
PARATETHYAN OSTRACOD
SPECIES IN THE PALAEO-
MEDITERRANEAN DOMAIN
DURING THE MESSINIAN
SALINITY CRISIS
Gliozzi, E., Grossi, F.
& Cosentino, D.
58 MIOCENE PLIOCENE CLIMATE,
ENVIRONMENTS, AND
CONNECTIVITY
OF THE EASTERN PARATETHYAN
DOMAIN
Grothe, A.
1
; Sangiorgi F.
1
; Krijgsman, W.
2
; Vasiliev, I.
2
;
Reichart, G-J.
3
; Stoica, M.
4
& Brinkhuis, H.
1,5
59 STRATIGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS
FOR THE OLIGOCENE-EARLY
MIOCENE NORTH ALPINE
FORELAND BASIN: BEYOND
REGIONAL CONCEPTS AND
TOWARDS CORRELATION WITH
THE INTERNATIONAL TIME SCALE
Grunert, P.
1
, Piller, W. E.
1
, Soliman, A.
1
, ori, S.
2
,
Hinsch, R.
3
, Harzhauser, M.
4
60 HIGH RESOLUTION ANALYSIS
AND THE LIMITS OF
PALEOENVIRONMENTAL
RECONSTRUCTIONS
Harzhauser, M.
1
,
Kern, A.K.
1
, Piller, W.E.
2
& Soliman,
A.
2
61 PARATETHYS
PALEOENVIRONMENTAL
RECONSTRUCTIONS
Harzhauser, M.
1
, Piller, W.E.
2
, Reuter, M.
2
, Grunert,
P.
2
62 ATNTS2012
Hilgen, F.
1
, Lourens, L.
1
, Van Dam, J.
2
, Beu, A.
3
, Boyes,
A.
4
, Cooper, R.
3
, Krijgsman, W.
1
, Ogg, J.
5
, Piller, W.
6
&
Wilson, D.
7
63 ASTROCHRONOLOGY OF THE
BURDIGALIAN-LANGHIAN
IN THE MEDITERRANEAN:
UNDERSTANDING CLIMATIC AND
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES
Hsing, S.K.
1
, Hilgen, F.
2
, Krijgsman, W.
3
, Turco, E.
4
65 MOLLUSCAN ASSEMBLAGES
AND ECOSTRATIGRAPHIC-
PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHICAL
IMPLICATIONS OF THE EARLY
PLIOCENE DEPOSITS FROM THE
EASTERNMOST MEDITERRANEAN
REGION (HATAY BASIN, SE
TURKEY)
slamolu, Y.
1
, Tekin, E.
2
, Varol, B.
2
& Szeri, K.
2
68 LATE PALEOGENE THRACE BASIN
AS A PALEO(BIO)GEOGRAPHIC
TURNOVER AREA: A SYNTHESYS
slamolu Y.
1
and Harzhauser M.
2
71 FAUNAL MIGRATION VERSUS
SEDIMENT ACCUMULATION IN
THE DACIAN BASIN.
PASSAGEWAYS, ROUTING AND
MECHANISMS
Jipa, D. C.
1
& Lubenescu, V.
2
73 DACIAN BASIN SEDIMENTARY
HISTORY.
STATE OF THE ART
Jipa, D. C.
75 MIDDLE AND UPPER MIOCENE
PALEODANUBE DELTA SYSTEM
HISTORY
Kov , M.
1
, Hudkov, N.
1
, Halsov, E.
1
, Kovov,
M.
1
, Hlavat, J.
2
, Pereszlnyi, M.
3
, Sopkov, B.
3
, Synak,
R.
1
77 SEISMIC ATLAS OF THE
MESSINIAN SALINITY
CRISIS MARKERS IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN AND BLACK
SEAS
VOLUME 2
Lof, J.
78 CALCAREOUS NANNOFOSSIL
BIOEVENTS HERALDING THE
ONSET OF THE MESSINIAN
SALINITY CRISIS IN THE
TERTIARY PIEDMONT BASIN: A
CHRONOSTRATIGRAPHIC TOOL
AT THE BASIN SCALE?
Lozar F.
1
, Bernardi E.
1
, Dela Pierre F.
1
, Gennari R.
2
,
Natalicchio M.
1
, Violanti D.
1
, Clari P.
1
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
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81 THE MESSINIAN SALINITY CRISIS:
A FACIES PERSPECTIVE
Lugli S.
1
, Gennari R.
2,3
, Manzi V.
2,3
Roveri M.
2,3
&
Schreiber C.
4
84 DINARIDE LAKE SYSTEM -
MIOCENE DIVERSITY HOTSPOT
REVISITED
Mandic, O.
1
, De Leeuw, A.
2
, Neubauer, T.A.
1
,
Harzhauser, M.
1
& Krijgsman, W.
3
87 AGE REFINEMENT OF THE ONSET
OF THE MESSINIAN SALINITY
CRISIS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Manzi V.
1, 2
, Gennari R.
1, 2
, Lugli S.
3
, Roveri M.
1, 2
,
Hilgen F.J.
4
, Krijgsman W.
5
, Sierro F.J.
6
90 THE ABRUZZO-APULIAN
(CENTRAL AND SOUTHEASTERN
ITALY) FOSSIL FAUNA,
NEW CHALLENGES FOR
PALEONTOLOGISTS AND
PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHERS
Masini, F.
1
, Savorelli, A
2
. & Mazza, P
3
.
92 NEW INSULAR TAXA FROM
THE OLDEST TERRE ROSSE
FISSURE FILLING (GARGANO,
SOUTHEASTERN ITALY)
Masini, F.
1
, Rinaldi, P.M.
2
, Savorelli, A
3
. & Pavia, M.
4
.
94 HOPLITOMERYCIDAE
(RUMINANTIA, CENTRAL-
SOUTHEASTERN ITALY): WHOM
FROM?
Mazza, P.
96 BADENIAN CALCAREOUS
NANNOFOSSIL FLUCTUATION
IN EASTERN CARPATHIANS:
PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL
SIGNIFICANCE
Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C
1
. & Stoica, M.
2
98 THE OLIGOCENE-MIOCENE
BOUNDARY IN ROMANIA: STATE
OF THE ART
Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C.
100 HOW DRY WAS THE MESSINIAN
SALINITY CRISIS? A MOLECULAR
STUDY OF THE ERACLEA MINOA
SECTION (SICILY)
Mezger, E. M.
1
, Vasiliev, I.
1, 2*
, Lugli, S.
3
,
Roveri, M
4
., Manzi, V.
4
, Reichart, G. J.
1,5
,
Sangiorgi, F.
6
, Krijgsman, W.
2
& Van Roij, L.
1
101 A FLUID INCLUSION STUDY OF
THE PRIMARY LOWER GYPSUM
OF THE PIEDMONT BASIN
(ITALY): PRECIPITATION FROM
EVAPORATED SEAWATER?
Natalicchio, M.
1
, Dela Pierre, F.
1
, Lugli, S.
2
, &
Ferrando, S.
1
103 DIAGENETIC HISTORY OF THE
VILOB GYPSUM UNIT (VALLS
PENEDS BASIN, MIOCENE,
NE SPAIN): AN EXAMPLE OF
FRACTURED AND CEMENTED
EVAPORITE DEPOSIT
Play, E.
1
, Moragas, M.
2
, Martnez, C.
1
, Baqus, V.
1
,
Trav, A.
1
, Ort, F.
1
& Alas, G.
1
105 SEA LEVEL CHANGES AND STORM
SIGNATURES IN PLIOCENE
SEQUENCES FROM VINTIL VOD
- NORTHERN DACIAN BASIN,
ROMANIA
Popa, L.V.
1, 2,
& Popa, L.M
1
107 CLAY MINERAL ASSEMBLAGES AND
THEIR ORIGIN IN THE MIOCENE
SALT DEPOSITS OF ROMANIA
Rdan, S.
108 TRANSITION FROM OUTER SHELF
TO COARSE GRAIN DELTAS ACROSS
THE PALEOGENE/NEOGENE
BOUNDARY INTERVAL IN NE GETIC
DEPRESSION, ROMANIA
Roban, R-D.
1, 2
, Anastasiu, N.
1
, & Melinte-Dobrinescu
M.C.
2
110 MEDITERRANEAN-PARATETHYS
CONNECTIONS: INSIGHTS FROM
ISOSTACY
Ryan, W.B.F.
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112 NEOGENE BIVALVES OF THE
NORTH WEST OF ALGERIA:
EXTINCTION OR FAUNA RENEWAL?
Satour, L.
1
, Belkebir, L.
1
& Bessedik, M.
2
113 A HIGH-RESOLUTION
BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC MARKER
AT 6 MA IN THE EASTERN
PARATETHYS
Stoica, M.
1
, Crihan, I.M.
2
, Popescu, G.
1
,
Floroiu, A.
1
, Krijgsman, W.
3
, van Baak, C.
3
,
Vasiliev, I.
3
, Lazr, I.
1
,& Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C.
4
115 THE ESTABLISHED OF A NEOTYPE
FOR PARADOLICHOPITHECUS
GETICUS NECRASOV, RDULESCU
& SAMSON 1961
tiuc E.
116 THE ISOLATION OF THE CENTRAL
PARATETHYS: HOW OROGENESIS
AND SEA LEVEL FLUCTUATIONS
CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEMISE OF
A LARGE INLAND SEA
Ter Borgh, M.
1
, Vasiliev, I.
2
, Stoica, M.
3
, Kneevi,
S.
4
, Matenco, L.
2
, Krijgsman, W.
2
, Rundi, L.
4
&
Cloetingh, S.
2
117 THE BADENIAN SARMATIAN
TRANSITION IN THE SOUTH
CARPATHIANS FOREDEEP
Tulbure, M.
1, 2
, Stoica, M.
2
, Krijgsman, W.
1,
Crihan, M.
3
&Popescu, G.
2
118 PALEOENVIRONMENTAL
RECONSTRUCTIONS AND
CHRONOSTRATIGRAPHIC DATING
OF THE SOUTH CASPIAN BASIN
LATEST MIOCENE TO RECENT
Van Baak, C. G. C.
1
, Grothe, A.
1
, Stoica, M.
1, 2
, Aliyeva,
E
3
, Vasiliev, I.
1
, Krijgsman, W.
1
.
119 NEGATIVE HYDROLOGICAL
BUDGET OF THE BLACK SEA
DURING THE MESSINIAN
SALINITY CRISIS OF THE
MEDITERRANEAN
Vasiliev, I.
1, 2*
, Reichart, G. J.
1,3
, Sangiorgi, F.
4
, Krijgsman,
W.
2
,
van Roij, L.
1
120 MIO-PLIOCENE HERPETOFAUNA
OF WESTERN SIBERIA AND ITS
PALAEOCLIMATIC SIGNIFICANCE
Vasilyan, D.
1
, Bhme, M.
1, 2
, Zazhigin, V.
3
&
Winklhofer, M.
4
122 THE NEOGENE MAMMAL
LOCALITIES OF SOUTHERN
MEDITERRANEAN SIDE
Zouhri, S.
1
& Ben Moussa, A.
2
124 INDEX
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THE PALEOGRAPHY OF EARLY MIOCENE BASIN
SEDIMENTATION IN AZERBAIJAN
Afandiyeva, M.
Institute of Geology ANAS, AZ1143,Baku,Azerbaijan,G.Javid av.,29A, m.efendiyeva@gia.ab.az
Keywords: Azerbaijan, Early Miocene, archipelago
islands,sediments
Introduction
Over a long enough period of time it was considered
that the Lower Miocene deposits were primarily
sedimented within the deep part of a palaeobasin.
However, recent studies have indicated that the
above-mentioned sediments formed in a shallow
water palaeoenvironment.
Methodology
Te studies were based on an integrated approach of
the investigated sedimentary rocks, by interpretating
all available geological and geophysical data, already
published, from a signifcant amount of literature,
and by adding own data.
Analysis of the data allowed us to point out the
lithofacies of Lower Miocene sediments, deposited
within the territory of Azerbaijan. The collected
materials were used to firstly elaborate maps
of isopachs as well as lithofacial maps for each
of the Lower Miocene stratigraphic units (i.e.,
Caucasian, Sakaraulian and Kotsahurian). As a
result, it was possible to constrain the conditions
of sedimentation for each unit and to explain the
palaeobasinal deposition, features that were not
previously subject of explanation.
Discussion
For nearly a century, the Lower Miocene
sedimentation, both within the territory of
Azerbaijan, as well as outside this territory, in the
neighborhood areas, was supposed to be related to a
deep marine basin (Bogachev, 1933). Tis is explained
by the fact that, lithologically, the Lower Miocene
is represented by hard deposits of predominantly
dismember thickness, mainly composed of dark-grey
shales and noncalcareous clays with faunas, , which
include only abundant remains of fsh, such as scales,
otoliths, and even complete skeletons of fshes of the
genus Meletta (Gubkin, 1950).
Te partition of logs of wells penetrating the Lower
Miocene sediments, corroborated with using eustatic
changes in the sea level, allowed to establish the
boundaries of occurrence of each stratigraphic unit of
Maikop (Caucasian, Sakaraulian, and Kotsahurian)
and to determine the gas capacity of each of them.
Tese data formed the basis for mapping facilities for
each unit separately, which revealed the presence of a
large area of land within which the rocks of this age do
not deposited. Moreover the character of the location
of these areas allows us to assume that the territory
of Azerbaijan in Early Miocene was an archipelago of
islands.
Lithological and petrographic analyzes performed
on samples taken from Early Miocene deposits
exposed in outcrops in some areas of oil and gas,
as well as on core samples from drilled performed
on the entire territory of Azerbaijan, allowed to
emphasize the changing in lithofacial characteristics
of the Lower Miocene rocks .
During the Early Miocene, the major mountain
systems of Azerbaijan, the Greater and the Lesser
Caucasus, just began to develop as a young mountain
system, which in some areas was very close to the
coastal zone of the paaleobasin, but in some places
were a fat, little land near the shore. Te Greater
Caucasus and Talysh were parts of the little land that
all sides were surrounded by the waters of the Early
Miocene Basin. Tis indicates that diferent parts of
the territory of Azerbaijan over the Early Miocene
formed under diferent conditions of sedimentation,
respectively, and hence are characterized by diferent
lithofacies.
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Tere were areas with steep banks, from which fast
razed the mountain rivers to the shelf of the pool,
bringing a lot of coarse material. When combined
with heavy rains, they formed the shingle coastal
zone, which is a typical feature of the mountainous
coast. By the time, these were rapidly disappeaed as
soon as the mountainous coast give way to the gentle
and low coast. In some sections, there are plaster
layer and whole lenses of gypsum, which suggest that
these deposits were formed in a closed basin. In the
shallow bays, mainly in the lagoons, and in those
areas, devoid of rivers, were deposited mostly clayey
deposits. For some sites, we can assume that, in the
archipelago of islands located in the coastal zone of
the Early Miocene basin, the depositional regime
contributed to the formation of stagnant water.
Diferentiated nature of the bottom of the sea during
Early Miocene times led to normal gas exchange,
which conducted to the formation of dark colored
clayey deposits. Tese islands were the source of weak
erosion demolition for a part of the clastic material.
Te material in the sedimentation basin could fall
by proluvial processes, such as temporary water from
the rain and streams. As a result of these processes
within the basins near the islands and in places such
as bays and lagoons mainly clays were deposited. In
these sediments a shif to fne grained sediments
was observed, these deposits being linked to very
shallow depths of 1-2 m, sometimes reaching the
water surface.Te active volcanic activity within the
range of continental islands, led to the formation of
volcanic formations.
We may assume that the small number or even the
absence of the faunal remains in the Lower Miocene
rocks is not always a proof of a sedimentation in a
deep palaeobasin. By contrary, the above-mentioned
features may characterize a shallow pool, with
unfavorable conditions for the life of organisms,
particularly due to changes in salinity and gas
regime, which undoubtedly took place during the
depositional phases of the Early Miocene interval in
the territory of Azerbaijan (Ruhin, 1962).
Conclusions
Tis work represents a frst attempt to elaborate
lithofacial maps for each stratigraphic unit belonging
to the Early Miocene interval. Te fndings of this
study are:
- Te Early Miocene sediments were deposited
in diferent palaeogeographical conditions;the
diferences in lithofacies characteristics are due to
features of various regions of Azerbaijan, and overall
the presence during Early Miocene times of a slowly
regressing palaeobasin;
- Te deposition took place not in a deep basin,
as previously thought, but mostly in a shallow-
water basin, which is the modern analogue of the
Archipelago Sea, in the straits between the islands
where sedimentary rocks, mainly composed of fne-
grained argillaceous deposits, were formed.
References
Bogachev V.V., 1933. Gloing fsh the Maikop
formation the Apsheron Peninsula. Izv.AZFAN, p.12
Gubkin I.M.,1950. Geological investigation of the
Western part of the Apsheron Peninsula. Perekishkul
list. Selected works, M.,USSR Academy of Sciences,
vol.1, p.355-374
Ruhin Y.B., 1962. Paleogeography`s main parts.
Leningrad, USSR, 628 pp.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
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THE VALLESIAN MAMMAL TURNOVER: A LATE MIOCENE
RECORD OF DECOUPLED LAND-OCEAN EVOLUTION
Agust, J.
ICREA. Institut de Paleoecologia humana i Evoluci social (IPHES). Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Pl. Imperial Tarraco, 1.
43005-Tarragona. Spain. E-mail: jordi.agusti@icrea.cat
In Western Europe, the change from the Middle
Miocene forest adapted mammalian faunas to the
more open woodland faunas, which characterizes
the later Neogene, took place through an abrupt
critical period known as the Vallesian Crisis. Te
Vallesian Crisis involved the disappearance of most
of the forest adapted elements characterizing the
middle Miocene, such tapirs, rhinoceroses, wet
adapted artiodactyls, hominoids (Dryopithecus),
rodents (mainly dormice, hamsters, fying-squirrels
and beavers), and the large carnivores of the families
Nimravidae and Amphicyonidae. Detailed analysis
in the well calibrated and mostly complete sequence
of the type-area of the Vallesian Mammal stage, the
Valls-Peneds Basin (NE Spain), reveals that entries
were always above the level of exits during the early
Vallesian, reaching a diversity maximum at the end of
this time. At 9.7 Ma, the Vallesian Crisis involved a
sudden decrease of diversity, caused by high extinction
levels, well above the number of entries. Te European
Mammalian faunas never recovered their levels of
diversity afer this drop. Correlation of this event to
the main global oceanic events, recorded as isotopic
shifs, reveals a chronological coincidence with Mi7, a
minor isotopic shif at about 9.6 Ma. Te correlation
of the Vallesian Crisis with such a minor isotopic shif
is in contrast with previous, more signifcant isotopic
shifs, such as Mi6, which had little ecological efects
on the terrestrial ecosystems (although they could be
responsible for some isolated overland dispersals, as in
the case of hipparionine horses). Tis inconsistency
between the global climate change inferred from the
oceanic record and its efect on the structure of the late
Miocene terrestrial ecosystems calls for some caution
when inferring direct, linear relationships between
climate change and mammalian turnover. While
the glacial-interglacial dynamics account for most
of this turnover during the Plio-Pleistocene times,
the efects of this climate forcing seem to have been
more complex during Miocene times. An alternative
pattern of change can be envisaged by proposing
a House of Cards efect for the Vallesian Crisis.
Increasing diversity levels afer a prolonged period
of stability enhanced terrestrial ecosystems to evolve
into a self-organized critically state, which suddenly
dropped afer a critical threshold was surpassed. In
contrast to other critical periods, the fnal decline of
the Vallesian chronofauna was more dependent on
the critical state of the system than on the magnitude
of the agent which induced the crisis.
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THE BADENIAN SALINITY CRISIS
Bbel, M.
Institute of Geology, University of Warsaw, 02-089 Warszawa, Al. wirki i Wigury 93, Poland,
e-mail: m.babel@uw.edu.pl
Keywords: Miocene, Central Paratethys, Carpathian
Foredeep, evaporites, halite, gypsum, selenite
Te Badenian salinity crisis, known also as the
Wielician crisis, was a crucial event in the history of
the Central Paratethys. Te Badenian seas occupying
the area of the emerging Carpathian orogen lost their
open connection with the Mediterranean Sea and
were transformed into evaporite basins (Peryt 2006).
Te largest was the Carpathian Foredeep Basin (CFB),
which developed in front of the emerging orogen. Te
other basins (East-Slovakian Basin, Trans-Carpathian
Basin, and Transylvanian Basin) occupied the interior
of the Carpathian loop (Fig. 1). Te separate zone of
Badenian evaporites occurs in NE Bulgaria.
Fig. 1. Paleogeography during the Badenian salinity
crisis (A), and present day distribution of the
Badenian evaporites (B); A - afer Rgl 1999, B afer
Khrushchov, Perichenko 1979 and other sources
All these evaporites were originally more widespread
than their present extent. Te Carpathian margin
of the CFB was reduced by a few tens of km in some
areas due to tectonic shortening. Te basins were
presumably at least temporarily connected, however
the original sedimentary record of these connections,
and of the connections with the Mediterranean,
were removed by later erosion. Te evaporite basins
were re-fooded with marine water at the end of
the crisis, during the late Badenian. Later, during
Sarmatian, they became a part of the giant brackish-
to-euhaline Sarmatian Paratethys Sea or Sea-Lake.
Biostratigraphic analyses and radiometric data
indicate that in the CFB the salinity crisis took place in
the earliest Neogene Nannoplankton Zone 6 (NN6:
Discoaster exilis Zone), i.e. in the early Serravallian,
and it lasted much less than 940 k.y. (liwiski et al.
2012). Sedimentological data from some areas suggest
that the crisis could be very short, only 20-40 k.y. in
duration, however the Badenian evaporite deposition
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in the particular Paratethyan basins could be
diachronous and in sum - longer in time. Te highly
reliable radiometric data indicate that the Badenian
salts from Wieliczka (CFB) were deposited ca 13.6
Ma years ago (Bukowski 2011). Te salinity crisis was
apparently preceded by climatic cooling correlated
with the Mi3b global cooling event. In the CFB the
areal extent of the evaporites is remarkably smaller
than both the under- and overlying marine Badenian
deposits. Tis is presumably a result of evaporitic
water level fall in the marine basin followed by the
rapid post-evaporitic Badenian marine transgression
and fooding. Te Ca-sulphate evaporites in the CFB
were interpreted as deposited in a salina basin entirely
cut-of from the Mediterranean (Bbel 2004). A
water level in this basin supposedly dropped a few tens
of meters below the global sealevel due to evaporite
drawdown. Te Badenian evaporites comprise
mainly gypsum, anhydrite and halite deposits; the
evaporitic carbonates are less common. Te original
thickness of the halite deposits forming salt diapirs
in the Transylvanian Basin was estimated as up to
300 m (Krzsek et al. 2010). In the other basins these
deposits are commonly less than a few tens of meters
thick. Te investigation of the primary fuid inclusions
in sedimentary halite crystals showed that they were
crystallized from the brine of marine derivation and
that the original Badenian (Serravallian) seawater
was slightly depleted in Mg ions in relation to the
present seawater. Specifc and rarely encountered
clastic facies were recognized within the Badenian
halite deposits in the CFB and East-Slovakian Basin
(lczka, Kolasa 1997; Bukowski 2011). Te Badenian
Ca-sulphate deposits are commonly 10-30 m thick,
and only in places reach 60 m in thickness. Te most
extensive outcrops of the Badenian gypsum deposits
occur in Ukraine, where they show exceptionally
well-preserved record of primary facies with unique
sedimentary structures. Tese include: (1) crusts of
bottom-grown grass-like (= selenite) crystals (some
up to 3.5 m in length, and forming spectacular
giant intergrowths), (2) gypsum microbialite and
selenite domes (some up to several meters in size),
(3) oriented structures produced by the accelerated
growth of selenite crystals in the up-current direction
of infowing brine, and others. Some sets of selenite
beds are traceable in the outcrops over a distance of a
few hundred km and are interpreted as isochronous
or near-isochronous. Te presence of such aerially-
extensive, well-preserved primary gypsum deposits
makes the northern margin of CFB unique among
the known selenite basins the deposits of which are
commonly poorly preserved, and unavailable for the
direct study. In consequence of the Badenian salinity
crisis, important mineral resources originated in the
region. Tey include not only gypsum and rock salt,
but also native sulphur deposits formed by diagenetic
transformation of the Badenian gypsum (in northern
CFB), and hydrocarbons accumulated in traps
associated with salt diapirs (in Transylvanian Basin).
References
Bbel, M., 2004. Badenian evaporite basin of the
northern Carpathian Foredeep as a drawdown
salina basin. Acta Geologica Polonica, 54, 313-337.
Bukowski, K., 2011. Badenian saline sedimentation
between Rybnik and Dbica based on geochemical,
isotopic and radiometric research. Rozprawy,
Monografe, 236, 1-184. Wyd. AGH, Krakw.
Khrushchov, D.P., Petrichenko, O.I., 1979. Evaporite
formations of Central Paratethys and conditions of
their sedimentation. Annales Gologiques des Pays
Hellniques, Tome hors srie, No. 2, 595-612. Athens.
Krzsek, C., Filipescu, S., Silye, L., Matenco, L.,
Doust, H., 2010. Miocene facies associations
and sedimentary evolution of the Southern
Transylvanian Basin (Romania): Implications for
hydrocarbon exploration. Marine and Petroleum
Geology, 27, 191214.
Peryt, T.M., 2006. Te beginning, development and
termination of the Middle Miocene Badenian
salinity crisis in Central Paratethys. Sedimentary
Geology, 188-189, 379-396.
Rgl, F., 1999. Mediterranean and Paratethys. Facts
and hypotheses of an Oligocene to Miocene
paleogeography (short overview). Geologica
Carpathica, 50, 339-349.
lczka, A., Kolasa, K., 1997. Resedimented salt in
the Northern Carpathians Foredeep (Wieliczka,
Poland). Slovak Geological Magazine, 3, 135155.
liwiski, M., Bbel, M., Nejbert, K., Olszewska-
Nejbert, D., Gsiewicz, A., Schreiber B.C.,
Benowitz, J.A., Layer, P., 2012. BadenianSarmatian
chronostratigraphy in the Polish Carpathian
Foredeep. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology, 326-328, 1229.
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SEDIMENTOLOGY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF THE LATE
NEOGENE POZNA FORMATION, JAROSZW DEPRESSION
(SW POLAND) IN SOUTHERN MARGINAL ZONE OF THE
NORTHWEST EUROPEAN BASIN
Badura, J.
1
, Czapowski, G.
2
,
Gsiewicz, A.
2,
& Przybylski, B.
1
1
Polish Geological Institute, National Research Institute, Lower Silesian Branch in Wrocaw, al. Jaworowa 19, 50-122
Wrocaw, Poland, e-mail: janusz.badura@pgi.gov.pl; boguslaw.przybylski@pgi.gov.pl
2
Polish Geological Institute, National Research Institute, ul. Rakowiecka 4, 00-075 Warszawa
e-mail: ; andrzej.gasiewicz@pgi.gov.pl; grzegorz.czapowski@pgi.gov.pl
Keywords: Lower Silesia (SW Poland), fuvial
deposits, mud fow, pedocomplexes, kaolinite
Te Late Miocene-Early Pliocene Pozna Formation
have covered the are area of Polish part of the
Northwest European Basin (NEB), extended between
the Fennoscandian Shield and the Bohemian Massif
(Gibbard et al., 1988). Genesis of these deposits is
poorly understand and controversial: a lacustrine or
limnic with marine inputs (Dyjor, 1992, 1995).
Extensive sedimentological and geochemical studies
of the Pozna Fm profle (30 m thick, absent
faunistic remains) in the open-pit mine at Jaroszw
(Lower Silesia area, S part of NEB) evidenced its
continental character. Tese clay to silty deposits have
accumulated in the tectonically controlled subbasin
of foremountain zone as dynamic food and mud-fow
sediments, with rare fne sand lenses of ephemeral
fuvial channels but periodically interrupted by marsh
to peat-bog coaly clays registering more stagnant
conditions. Periods of low sediment supply favoured
pedogenesis (two distinct pedogenic horizons) but
increased tectonic activity and erosion of alimentary
area produced fne to coarse sandy fuvial channel
series in the top of profle.
Te studied Pozna Fm profle shows a distinct
geochemical tripartition with two lower complexes
similar one each other but diferent from the upper
one. Te deposits are generally matured in the
lower and the middle complexes and immatured
in the upper one. Geochemical data indicated the
relatively dynamic, shallow water and well ventilated
environment and a humid climate favoured increased
weathering of sedimentary cover over the land. Te
material - mainly quartz and clay minerals (mostly
kaolin) - was delivered from weathered basic (mainly),
acidic and sedimentary rocks of the Sudetes and
magmatic intrusions. Te Pozna Fm mud fow
cover developed as a result of an increase in elemental
leaching attributed to either increasing chemical
weathering of the Fore-Sudetic mountain system???
Nie wiem po co to????.
References
Dyjor, S., 1992. Evolution of sedimentation, and
process of alterations of sediments in the Pozna
suite in Poland. (In Polish, English summary). Acta
Univ. Wratisl., 1354, Prace Geol.-Miner., 26, 3-18.
Wrocaw.
Dyjor, S., 1995. Evolution of the Cainozoic on
the Fore-Sudetic Block. (In Polish with English
summary). In: Przewodnik 66 Zjazdu PTG, 29-
40. Wrocaw.
Gibbard, P., Rose, J., Bridgland, D.R., 1988. Te
history of the great northwest European rivers
during the past three million years. Philosophical
Transactions of the Royal Society, B. 318, 559-602.
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PALEONTOLOGICAL EVIDENCE OF COMMUNICATION
BETWEEN THE CENTRAL PARATETHYS AND THE
MEDITERRANEAN DURING THE LATE BADENIAN/
SERRAVALLIAN
Bartol, M.
1
, Miku, V.
1,2
, Horvat, A.
1,2
1
Ivan Rakovec Institute of Paleontology ZRC SAZU, Novi trg 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija, e-mail: mbartol@zrc-sazu.si
2
University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Engineering, Department of Geology, Privoz 11, SI-1000 Ljubljana,
Slovenija, e-mail: vasja.mikuz@ntf.uni-lj.si; aleksander.horvat@ntf.uni-lj.si
Keywords: calcareous nannoplankton, diatoms,
Pereiraeia gervaisi, palaeogeography, Slovenian
Corridor
Introduction
Te Slovenian Corridor, a seaway linking the
Central Paratethys and the Mediterranean, opened
simultaneously with the formation of the Pannonian
Basin System in the Carpathian at the end of the
Early Miocene. It is widely assumed (e. g., Rgl,
1998; Steininger & Wessely, 2000; Harzhauser &
Piller, 2007) that this corridor closed at the end of
the Middle Badenian, corresponding to the boundary
between 3
rd
order eustatic cycles TB2.4 and TB2.5
and calcareous nannoplankton biozones NN5 and
NN6 (13,6Ma). From that time onwards the Central
Paratethys supposedly communicated only with the
Indopacifc bioprovince and the Eastern Paratethys.
Te results of independent studies of Middle Miocene
calcareous nannoplankton (Bartol, 2009), diatoms
(Horvat, 2004) and molluscs (Miku, 2000) in
adjacent Paratethyan basins in the area of E Slovenia
suggest that the communication between the Central
Paratethys and the Mediterranean persisted until the
end of the Badenian.
Palaeogeographic implications of calcareous
nannoplankton
Middle Miocene nannoplankton assemblages from
the W part of the Mura-Zala Basin (NE Slovenia)
closely resemble contemporary Mediterranean
assemblages (described in Fornaciari et al., 1996).
Tey contain no specimens of Rhabdosphaera poculi
and Nannocorbis (Hayella) challengeri, which are
present in Middle Miocene assemblages from several
localities in the Eastern and Central Paratethys, but
do not occur in the Mediterranean until the Late
Miocene. In the Middle Miocene, discoasters are
common in the Mediterranean and virtually absent in
the Walbersdorf locality in the Vienna Basin (Rgl &
Mller, 1976), which served as a reference point for
the Central Paratethys. In contrast to this, a distinct
peak in abundance of several species of discoasters was
observed at the NN5/NN6 boundary in E Slovenia.
Te same event was recorded in Serbia (Mihajlovi &
Keevi, 1989) and W Slovakia (Ozdnov, 2008).
Te succession of biostratigraphic events above
the NN5/NN6 boundary (LO of Sphenolithus
heteromorphus, LCO and LO of Cyclicargolithus
foridanus, FCO of Reticulofenestra pseudoumbilicus
(>7 m), the appearance of the frst scattered specimens
of Calcidiscus macintyrei), observed in the Mura-Zala
basin (Bartol, 2009) and several Mediterranean sites
(Fornaciari et al., 1996) is identical. Tis parallelism
is either a consequence of an active connection
between the two realms or a result of a universal
global trend. A comparison with ODP and DSDP
reports from around the globe has shown, that only
the LO of Sphenolithus heteromorphus is a globally
well correlative event, while others are diachronous
(or absent) in various regions even in similar latitudes.
Moreover, in most sites considered outside the
Central Paratethys and the Mediterranean, additional
biostratigraphic events were observed in the studied
time interval.
Te above indicates that the Slovenian Corridor was
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still active during the Late Badenian. Te assemblages
in a particular Central Paratethys site exhibit various
degrees of similarity to the Eastern Paratethys or
the Mediterranean, which probably results from a
complex pattern of sea currents.
Te geographical distribution of Pereiraeia
gervaisi
Diatom assemblages from the oldest marine facies in
the Krko basin (SE Slovenia) are of Upper Badenian
age, which means that the Krko basin was not fooded
before the beginning of the TB 2.5 cycle (Horvat,
2004). Te mollusc assemblages of the Krko basin
contain the gastropod species Pereiraea gervaisi. Tis
species can be found in the Mediterranean and the
Western Paratethys as well as the Central Paratethys,
where it only occurs in sediments of Later Badenian
age or younger (Miku, 2000). Tis is evidence of an
active marine connection between the two realms
at that particular time. Te palaeogeographical
distribution of this species in the Central Paratethys
is restricted to its NW part. Tis clearly indicates
that the colonization of the Central Paratethys must
have taken place across the Slovenian Corridor and
not through some other marine connection (e. g., the
Vardar Corridor; Studencka et al., 1998).
References
Bartol, M., 2009. Middle Miocene calcareous
nannoplankton of NE Slovenia (western Central
Paratethys). ZRC SAZU Publishing, Ljubljana,
136 pp.
Fornaciari, E., Di Stefano, A., Rio, D. & Negri, A.,
1996. Middle Miocene calcareous nannofossil
biostratigraphy in the Mediterranean region.
Micropaleontology, 42, 37-62.
Harzhauser, M. & Piller, W. E., 2007. Benchmark
data of a changing sea Paleogeography,
Pleobiogeography and events in the Central
Paratethys during the Miocene. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 253, 8-31.
Horvat, A., 2004. Middle Miocene siliceous algae of
Slovenia: paleontology, stratigraphy, paleoecology,
paleobiogeography. ZRC SAZU Publishing,
Ljubljana, 255 pp.
Mihajlovi, . & Kneevi, S., 1989. Calcareous
nannoplankton from Badenian and Sarmatian
deposits at Vinjica and Karaburma in Belgrade.
Geoloki anali Balkanskoga poluostrva, 53, 343-
366.
Miku, V., 2000. Pereiraea gervaisi (Vzian) from
Miocene beds south of entjernej in Lower
Carniola. Geologija, 42, 123-140.
Ozdnov, S., 2008. Badenian calcareous nannofossils
from Semerovce Sv-8 and Cifer-1 boreholes
(Danube basin). Mineralia Slovaca, 40, 141-150.
Rgl, F. & Mller, C., 1976. Das Mittelmiozn
und die Baden-Sarmat Grenze in Walbersdorf
(Burgenland). Annalen des Naturhistorischen
Museums Wien, 80: 221-232.
Rgl, F., 1998. Palaeogeographic considerations for
Mediterranean and Paratethys Seaways (Oligocene
to Miocene). Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, 99A,
279-310.
Steininger, F.F. & Wessely, G., 2000. From the
Tethyan Ocean to the Paratethys Sea: Oligocene
to Neogene stratigraphy, paleogeography and
paleobiogeography to the circum-Mediterranean
region and the Oligocene to Neogene basin
evolution in Austria. Mitt. sterr. Geol. Ges., 92,
95-116.
Studencka, B., Gontsharova, I.A. & Popov
S.V., 1998. Te bivalve faunas as a basis for
reconstruction of the Middle Miocene history of
the Paratethys. Acta Geol. Pol. 48, 285342.
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MORPHOLOGICAL AND PALEOBIOGEOGRAPHICAL
EVIDENCE FOR THE DISPERSAL OF HOMININES INTO
AFRICA IN THE LATE MIOCENE
Begun, D. R.
1
& Nargolwalla, N.
1
1
University of Toronto, Department of Anthropology, 19 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, Canada,
email: begun@chass.utoronto.ca, Mariam.n@utoronto.ca
Keywords: Dryopithecus, Rudapithecus,
Hispanopithecus
Several interpretations of the geographic origin of
the African ape and human clade (hominines) are
currently being debated. Most researchers support
the hypothesis, frst proposed by Charles Darwin,
that the ancestors of the hominines frst appeared in
Africa. Other suggest, as did Darwin as well, that the
hominine clade may have frst appeared in Europe,
being represented by what Darwin referred to as the
dryopithecus of Lartet. Here we review the evidence
from the comparative anatomy of fossil and living
hominoids, the paleobiogeography of land mammals
found in association with fossil apes from Europe and
Africa and the distribution of late Miocene fossil apes,
to test the African and European origins hypotheses.
Te earliest hominid (great apes and humans) known
from Eurasia is Griphopithecus and related thickly
enameled taxa. While there is debate on the age of
Griphopithecus from Turkey, the Griphopithecus-
like specimen from Engelswies is clearly over 17 Ma
(Heizmann & Begun 2001; Bohme et al., 2011).
Between 17 and 14 Ma thickly enameled hominids are
widespread in Europe, from Germany to Turkey, and
are also found in Kenya, although their frst appearance
in Africa is about two Ma later than in Europe (Begun,
2009). Tese taxa, which I refer to informally as the
griphopiths, are all hominid-like in dental attributes
but Proconsul-like (primitive stem hominoid)
postcranially. Te dispersal of griphopiths into Eurasia
(probably from an Afropithecus-like ancestor) is
accompanied at 17-17.5 Ma by other African taxa,
such as proboscideans, suids and girafds, as well
as the Pliopithecoidea, whose origin is either Asian
or African. However, most of the infux of taxa into
Europe in MN5 was from Asia (Nargolwalla, 2008).
Dryopithecins (Dryopithecus, Pierolapithecus,
Hispanopithecus, Rudapithecus, Neopithecus,
Udabnopithecus and Ouranopithecus) frst appear in the
fossil record at 12.5 Ma, and most likely evolved from
a griphopith. Pierolapithecus, from 11.9 Ma sediments
from Barranc de Can Vila 1, in the Valls-Peneds of
Catalonia, shares characters with the African apes that
appear for the frst time in this taxon. Tese include
a stepped subnasal fossa and a frontal sinus probably
derived from the ethmoidal sinus. Te dentition is
thinly enameled and the canines are compressed, as
in extant African apes. Pierolapithecus also preserves
the earliest evidence of adaptations for specialized
climbing, orthogrady and probably some degree of
suspensory locomotion, characteristic of all modern
hominoids. Other less well preserved specimens from
additional localities in the Valls-Peneds extend back
to 12.5 Ma or older, and are dentally almost identical to
Pierolapithecus, which in turn is most similar dentally
to Dryopithecus from the Valls-Peneds and the type
locality of Saint Gaudens, France.
In the Vallesian more modern hominines appear
that share additional characters with extant taxa.
Hispanopithecus from Can Llobateres (Valls-
Peneds), includes a well preserved partial skeleton
with well-defned highly suspensory characters of the
phalanges and limb proportions. Rudapithecus, from
Rudabnya (Hungary) also preserves unambiguous
indications of well-developed suspensory capabilities
as well as cranial evidence of afnities with the
hominines. Tese include, in addition to the
stepped subnasal fossa and ethmoid frontal sinus
found in Pierolapithecus, incipient development of
the brow ridges (also found in Hispanopithecus),
fusion of the tympanic and articular portions of the
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temporal bone, an elongated neurocranum and a
klinorhynch (ventrally defected) face relative to the
neurocranium. In Rudapithecus the brain case is
sufciently well preserved to estimate cranial capacity
in two specimens. Taking body mass estimate into
account, the brain of Rudapithecus is well within the
range of variation of extant chimpanzees. No fossil
apes known from the time interval between 13.5 and
9.8 Ma in Africa (af. Proconsul, Samburupithecus,
Chororapithecus, Nakalipithecus) have any of these
features, although all but Samburupithecus are known
only from isolated teeth and a lower jaw fragment.
In the fossil record of the Hominoidea, characters
exclusive to extant hominoids frst appear in Europe
(thickly enameled teeth, modern dental proportions,
suspensory adaptations, large brains). While is it
true that the fossil record of hominoids in Africa is
poor in the time interval of interest, suggesting that
the `true`ancestor of the hominines may in fact
be African and yet to be discovered, this does not
account for the large number of hominine characters
of the dryopithecins. In particular, the combination
of numerous suspensory characters along with
unusual cranial attributes strongly suggests that both
the hominids (great apes and humans) and hominines
frst appear in Europe.
In the late Vallesian (ca. 9 Ma) signifcant land
mammal dispersal is documented from Eurasia to
Africa, including equids, suids, bovids, girafds,
carnivores and a number of micromammals. We
suggest that the ancestor of crown hominines was
among the mammals entering Africa at this time,
derived from a European dryopithecin.
It is obvious that we need to establish the geographic
origins of the Homininae if we are to understand
the ecological circumstances, and by inference, the
selective pressures that led to the appearance of our
clade. Te recovery of more specimens, with hominine
afnities, from African localities older than the earliest
known hominines from Europe, will contribute to the
falsifcation of the European origins hypothesis.
References
Begun D. R., 2009. Dryopithecins, Darwin, de Bonis,
and the European origin of the African apes and
human clade. Geodiversitas 31, 789-816
Bhme, M., et al. 2011. Bio-magnetostratigraphy
and environment of the oldest Eurasian hominoid
from the Early Miocene of Engelswies (Germany).
J. Hum. Evol. 61, 332-339.
Heizmann, E. & Begun, D.R. 2001. Te oldest
European Hominoid. J. Hum. Evol. 41, 465-481.
Nargolwalla, M. 2008. Eurasian middle and late
Miocene hominoid paleobiogeography and
the geographic origins of the homininae. Ph.D.
Dissertation, University of Toronto, pp. 1-259
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FORAMINIFERA ASSEMBLAGES ASSOCIATED TO EARLY
MIOCENE SEA-LEVEL CHANGES FROM THE NORTH-
WESTERN TRANSYLVANIAN BASIN (ROMANIA)
Beldean, C.
1
, Szkely, S-F.
1
, Filipescu, S.
1
& Ssran, E.
1
1
Babe-Bolyai University, Department of Geology, 1 Mihail Koglniceanu Street, 400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania,
e-mail: beldean_claudia@yahoo.com; szablocs@yahoo.com; sorin.flipescu@ubbcluj.ro; emanoil.sasaran@ubbcluj.ro
Keywords: Early Miocene, Transylvanian Basin,
Central Paratethys, foraminifera assemblages
Te Transylvanian Basin, as part of the Central
Paratethys Sea underwent a continuous change
in connections with the oceans. Its evolution is
expressed in the preserved sedimentary sequences.
Consequently the succession of fossil assemblages
shows some peculiarities in relation to the sea-level
changes connected to the regional evolution.
Te foraminifera assemblages from the north-
western part of the Transylvanian Basin are related
to a major faunal change associated to Early Miocene
megasequence (Krzsek & Bally, 2006). Te
interpretation of depositional events in the studied
sections is as follows:
1. Coarse grained deposits of the Coru Formation
represents the frst term of the Early Miocene
transgression and preserve a typical Mediterranean
assemblage of bivalves (Moisescu & Popescu 1980) in
beach environments;
2. Te glauconitic facies form the base of the Chechi
Formation (about 0,5-2 m thick) can be associated to
the maximum fooding surface of the transgression.
3. Te sedimentation continued on a narrow shelf
associated with fan-deltas during the highstand.
During this interval, the foraminifera assemblage
became abundant and diverse. Te identifed
calcareous benthic foraminifera are typical for
the Chechi Formation (Rusu & Popescu, 1965,
Popescu, 1970, 1975) with high abundance of
lagenids (Marginulina, Lenticulina, Planularia,
Amphicoryna) and buliminids (Uvigerina). Te
agglutinated foraminifera are representative to shelf
environments with species of Spirorutilus, Vulvulina,
Semivulvulina sp. Planktonic foraminifera belong
to the Globigerinoides trilobus Biozone (Popescu,
1975). Similar planktonic and benthic assemblages
were identifed in the Lower Miocene from Austria
(Rgl & Nagymarosi, 2004), which suggests open-sea
connections of the Transylvanian Basin to the west.
4. Following the deposition of the Chechi Formation
the basin was flled during the remaining Early
Miocene with turbidites associated to the fan deltas
of the Hida Formation. In the studied area this
deposits preserve lower abundance and diversity of
foraminifera assemblages, mainly with agglutinated
forms (Cyclammina sp., Bathysiphon sp.) and very rare
calcareous benthic species. Planktonic assemblages
contain small-sized trochospiral foraminifera
(Tenuitella sp., Tenuitelinata sp., Globigerina dubia,
Globigerina tarchanensis) associated to areas with
high organic-matter supply.
Acknowledgements
Tis work was possible with the fnancial support
of the Sectorial Operational Programme for
Human Resources Development 2007-2013, co-
fnanced by the European Social Fund, under the
project number POSDRU 89/1.5/S/60189 with
the title Postdoctoral Programs for Sustainable
Development in a Knowledge Based Society.
References
Krzsek, C. & Bally, A.W., 2006. Te Transylvanian
Basin (Romania) and its relation to the Carpathian
fold and thrust belt: Insights in gravitational salt
tectonics. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 23, 405-42.
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Moisescu V. & Popescu, G., 1980. Chattian
Badenian biochronology in Romania by means
of molluscs. Anuarul Institutului de Geologie i
Geofzic, LVI, 205-224.
Popescu, G., 1970. Foraminiferele planctonice din
stratele de Hida (nord-vestul Transilvaniei). Studii
i cercetri de geologie, geofzic, geografe. Geologie,
15(1), 240-253.
Popescu, G., 1975. tudes des foraminifres du
Miocne infrieur et moyen du nord-ouest de la
Transylvanie. Mmoires - Institut de Gologie et de
Gophysique, XXIII, 1-121.
Rgl, F. & Nagymarosy, A., 2004. Biostratigraphy and
correlation of the Lower Miocene Michelstetten
and Ernstbrunn sections in the Waschberg
Unit, Austria (Upper Egerian to Eggenburgian,
Central Paratethys). Courier Forschungsinstitut
Senckenberg, 246, 129-151.
Rusu, A. & Popescu, G., 1965. Contribuii la
stratigrafa Miocenului Inferior din nord-vestul
Bazinului Transilvaniei. Studii i cercetri de geologie,
geofzic, geografe. Geologie, 10(2), 467-473.
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THE ONSET OF THE MESSINIAN SALINITY CRISIS FROM
MARGINAL TO DEEP WATER SETTINGS (TERTIARY
PIEDMONT BASIN, NW ITALY): RELATIONSHIP WITH
GYPSUM DEPOSITION.
Bernardi, E.
1
, Dela Pierre, F.
1
, Lozar, F.
1
, Violanti, D.
1
, Gennari, R.
2
& Natalicchio, M.
1
1
Torino University, Department of Earth Science, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Torino, Italy, e-mail: elisa.bernardi@unito.it
2
Parma University, Department of Earth Science, Parco Area delle Scienze 157A, 43100 Parma, Italy
Keywords: micropaleontology, foraminifers,
paleoenvironmental reconstruction, gypsum facies
Introduction and geological setting
Te Tertiary Piedmont Basin (TPB) preserves the
northernmost record of the Messinian salinity
crisis (MSC). During the Messinian the TPB was
a wide wedge top basin, developed on basement
units juxtaposed during the main phases of Alpine
orogenesis. Te Messinian strata are presently exposed
on the northern (Torino Hill and Monferrato domain)
and southern (Langhe domain) basin margins and
comprise pre-evaporitic muddy sediments, followed
by primary sulphate evaporites of the Primary Lower
Gypsum unit (PLG). Te succession ends with fuvio-
deltaic and lacustrine sediments with Lago Mare
fossil assemblages.
Te lateral transition between marginal and deep
water successions (Dela Pierre et al., 2011) is preserved
in this basin, emphasized by variations in facies and
thickness of the Messinian sediments. Tis provides
a well-suited case study to describe the environmental
conditions in marginal, intermediate and distal
settings.
In this work we focus on the pre-evaporitic sediments
heralding the onset of the MSC. Quantitative
micropaleontological analyses on planktonic and
benthic foraminifers were performed on four sections
located both in the southern margin (Govone
and Pollenzo) and in northern one (Banengo and
Moncalvo). Te results of these studies allowed to
obtain a detailed chronostratigraphic framework of
the paleoenvironmental changes related to the onset
of MSC in diferent palaeogeographic settings.
Results
Micropaleontological data show a general trend
towards more impoverished assemblages in all the
sections. Te planktonic assemblages are well or
moderately abundant and diversifed in the lower part
of the studied sections; upward they are dominated
by stress tolerant taxa (Turborotalita quinqueloba,
T. multiloba, Globigerinella spp.) indicating a
stressed pelagic domain. Te benthic foraminiferal
assemblages show the same trend with progressive
increase of stress tolerant infaunal taxa (Bolivina
dilatata, B. etrusca, B. spathulata, Bulimina echinata)
suggesting increase of disoxia and water column
stratifcation. Te high abundance of opportunistic
taxa, related to progressive more stressed conditions,
partially obliterate the paleoenvironmental signal
hampering detailed paleobathimetric estimations.
Te northern and southern successions are however
characterized by diferent foraminiferal assemblages
and evaporitic facies, related to diferent depositional
conditions.
Te southern margin of TPB
At Pollenzo and Govone pre-evaporitic sediments
consist of a rhythmic alternation of laminated shale-
homogeneous marl couplets. Te lithologic cyclicity
is mirrored by regular fuctuation in microbiological
assemblages, testifying to the infuence of precession-
controlled climate changes. An open marine pelagic
environment is documented by plankton-dominated
assemblages. Detailed biomagnetostratigraphic
studies carried out at Govone has been used as the
starting point for the astrochronological calibration
to 65N summer insolation and precession indexes
of the La2004 solution (Laskar et al., 2004) and
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for correlation with other Mediterranean reference
sections.
Benthic foraminiferal assemblages typical of
outer shelf (Pollenzo) and upper slope (Govone)
palaeoenvironment generally do not contain shallow
water taxa, testifying deposition in open marine
settings; Tey are dominated by taxa adapted to high
nutrient availability and poorly oxigenated bottom
water conditions (Melonis spp., Cibicidoides spp.,
Uvigerina peregrina, Hanzawaia boueana).
Te onset of the MSC in these sections is not
recorded by gypsum deposition and is placed in a
muddy succession (the deep water counterpart of
the PLG unit) without lithological evidence of this
oceanographic event. Te gypsum precipitation starts
later than in marginal settings: the gypsum layers are
represented by laminated beds that become thinner
and richer in a terrigenous component toward deeper
settings.
Te northern margin of TPB
In the Banengo and Moncalvo sections the precession-
controlled cyclicity is very poorly expressed from
both the lithological and microbiological point
of view. Detailed cyclostratigraphic correlations
are thus hampered. However the presence of some
foraminiferal and calcareous nannofossil taxa
characteristics of Messinian assemblages (B. echinata,
T. quinqueloba, T. multiloba; A. primus, A. delicatus)
allow to constrain the time interval immediately
preceding the onset of MSC. Te P/(P+B) ratio is
very low and the benthic assemblages are dominated
by shallow water epiphytic taxa (Elphidium spp.,
Rosalina spp., Discorbis spp., Glabratella spp.).
Siliceous spicules and microscleres of Demosponges
are also abundant.
Micropaleontological data indicate deposition in a
shallow water setting, probably on inner-outer shelf
bottoms. Te PLG unit is characterized by thick beds
(from 20 to 50 m) of massive and banded selenite,
comparable to gypsum facies described in other
sections of the Mediterranean basin (Lugli et al.,
2010).
References
Dela Pierre, F., Bernardi, E., Cavagna, S., Clari, P.,
Gennari, R., Irace, A., Lozar, F., Lugli, S., Manzi,
V., Natalicchio, M., Roveri, M. & Violanti, D.
(2011) - Te record of the Messinian salinity crisis
in the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (NW Italy): Te
Alba section revisited. Palaeogeogr.,Palaeoclim.,Pa
laeoecol.,310, 238-255.
Laskar, J., Robutel, P., Gastineau, M., Correia,
A.C.M. & Levrard B. (2004) - A long term
numerical solution for the insolation quantities of
the Earth. Astron. Astrophys. 428, 261 285.
Lugli, S., Manzi, V., Roveri & M., Schreiber,
B.C., 2010. Te Primary Lower Gypsum in the
Mediterranean: a new facies interpretation for
the frst stage of the Messinian salinity crisis.
Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclim., Palaeoecol., 297, 8399.
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MIOCENE PALAEO-ENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTIONS
Bhme, M.
University Tbingen (Germany), Institute for Geoscience, Sigwartstr. 10, D-72076 Tbingen,
email: m.boehme@ifg.uni-tuebingen.de
Te reconstructions of continental palaeo-
environments based on fossils play an important role
in geoscientifc research and publicity.
In research because environmental parameters
involving biotic (evolution, ecosystem function,
biodiversity, etc.) and abiotic (climate, landscape,
erosion, etc.) processes, which interactions are
basic objects of geo-research. In publicity, because
the transfer of palaeo-environmental knowledge
require and produce reconstructions at diferent
states of complexity. Despite of rational approaches,
palaeoenvironmental reconstructions produce images
and by this transport our subjectivity.
Based on historic and actual examples from continental
Miocene of Europe the lecture will illustrate recent
advances in this feld and argue in favour of four theses,
all of them restrain the eforts of palaeoenvironmental
reconstruction. 1) Te fossil record display commonly
time-averaging, 2) past environments could have
changed fast, 3) diferent preservation potential of
plants and animals bias reconstructions, and 4) the
basinal setting of fossiliferous sediments strongly
bias our understanding of continental environmental
evolution during the Neogene.
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HOLOCENE PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES IN
THE NW BLACK SEA
Briceag, A.
1
, Stoica, M.
2
, Melinte-Dobrinescu, M. C.
1
& Oaie, G.
1
1
National Institute of Marine Geology and Geo-ecology, 23-25 Dimitrie Onciul, RO-024053 Bucharest, Romania,
e-mail: andrei.briceag@geoecomar.ro; melinte@geoecomar.ro; goaie@geoecomar.ro
2
University of Bucharest, Department of Geology, 1
st
Nicolae Balcescu Bld., Bucharest, Romania,
e-mail: marius.stoica@g.unibuc.ro
Keywords: Ostracods; Foraminifera; Calcareous
nannoplankton; sea-level fuctuation.
During Holocene times, the Black Sea basin sufered
a major shif from a brackish water environment to a
marine one. Tere are two main hypotheses regarding
the Holocene Black Sea sea-level rising: catastrophic
and gradual. Te scenario concerning the catastrophic
fooding of the Black Sea was advanced by Ryan et al.
(1997), attracting the greatest attention and arousing
a great deal of controversy and further research.
Another scenario, agreed by many scientists (Panin,
1997; Grr et al., 2001 and Yanko-Hombach et
al., 2007), indicates that no catastrophic fooding
of the Black Sea has occurred, and the Neoeuxinian
Lake gradually transformed into a marine basin. Tis
work is focused on the fuctuation in composition
and abundance of microfaunas (foraminifera
and ostracoda) and nannoforas (calcareous
nannoplankton), encountered in several drillings
performed in the Romanian Black Sea shelf area.
In the Holocene deposits of the Black Sea, Ross and
Degens (1974) recorded three stratigraphic units
(from young to old): Unit I (the microlaminated
coccolith ooze, deposited under marine conditions),
Unit II (the sapropel mud, corresponding to a
brackish, anoxic phase), and Unit III (the lacustrine
lutite deposited during the freshwater or oligohaline
stage).
Based on the lithological and sedimentological, as
well as microfaunal and nannoforal changes, we
identifed in the deepest analysed core, situated at 200
m water depth, two lithological units, respectively the
youngest Unit I (Coccolithic Mud) and the oldest
Unit III (Lacustrine lutite). Between them there is
an erosional surface and Unit II is missing. From a
lithological point of view, the investigated cores are
mainly characterized by the deposition of a grey mud,
alternating with thin cm sands and coquina layers;
mainly broken shells of molluscs, such as Modiolus and
Mytilus, together with small gastropods, are present.
A detailed lithology of the investigated cores was
published by Oaie & Melinte-Dobrinescu (2010).
Based on the microfaunal and nannoforal
assemblages, we identifed two distinct assemblages:
(i) Te base of the core is characterised by a brackish
or even lacustrine ostracod assemblage, with
a high diversity of taxa and by the absence
of foraminifera and very scarce calcareous
nannoplankton (the few occurrences, most
probably are reworked). In this interval, the most
abundant ostracod species are represented by taxa
belonging to Candonidae and Loxoconchidae.
In the lower part of the core, we assume that a
lowering of temperature took place due to the
occurrence of the ostracod Fabaeformis candona.
Tis assemblage tolerates a salinity comprised
between 3-8 .
(ii) In the upper part of the core there is a shif from the
lacustrine assemblage to a marine one, as indicated
by the presence of ostracods with Mediterranean
origin (i.e., Hiltermannicythere rubra) and by a
bloom of the calcareous nannoplankton species
Emiliania huxleyi. Notably, foraminiferal species
occurs (i.e., Ammonia spp.), with a very high
abundance, but showing a low diversity, Te
ostracods from this assemblage tolerate salinities
comprised between 17-21 and characterise a
sublitoral environment. Te occurrence of this
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type of microfaunal association is indicative for
the Late Holocene reconnection of the Black
Sea with the Mediterranean.
Besides the above-described core of deeper part of
NW Black Sea, several cores from a very shallow
setting (water depth between 12 and 60 m) were
analysed. Our investigations indicate that, above the
fresh-water clays of Unit III (sensu Ross and Degens,
1974), which is the single lithological unit recognised
both in shallow and deep marine environment of the
Black Sea, a layer that contains fresh-water, brackish
and marine molluscs was deposited. Above this level,
blooms of the calcareous nannoplankton species
Braarudosphaera bigelowii, followed by blooms of
Emiliania huxleyi, were recorded. In the youngest
deposits of marine Unit I of Ross & Degens (1974),
as well as in its shallower correspondent (i.e., the
Shallow Unit, sensu Giunta et al., 2007), the calcareous
nannoforas contain almost exclusively (above 95 %)
Emiliania huxleyi (Melinte-Dobrinescu & Briceag,
2011). Te increasing abundance of Emiliania
huxleyi (the dominant calcareous nannoplankton
species in contemporaneous assemblages of the Black
Sea) slightly preceded the occurrence of marine
microfaunas on the Romanian Black Sea shelf.
Te fuctuation in the composition of the microfaunal
assemblages and calcareous nannoplankton suggests
a progressive salinity increase in the Black Sea during
Holocene times, from a brackish setting to a marine
one. Tis observation is true, in our opinion, only for
deeper parts of the Black Sea (with water depth below
200 m), while in a very shallow marine setting of the
basin a rapid salinity increasing could be assumed.
In Late Holocene times, stable marine conditions
established, with salinity close to nowadays,
allowing the proliferation of marine microfaunal
and nannoforal assemblages, characterised by high
abundance, but low diversity, a feature that is still
present nowadays in the Romanian Black Sea shelf.
References
Giunta,
S., Morigi, C., Negri, A., Guichard,
F.,
Lericolais, G., 2007. Holocene biostratigraphy
and paleoenvironmental changes in the Black
Sea based on calcareous nannoplankton. Marine
Micropaleontology 63, 91-110.
Grr, N., agatay, M.N., Emre, .B., Alpar, M.,
Sakin, Y., Islamoglu, O., Algan, T., Erkal, M.,
Keer, M., Akkk, R., Karlik, G., 2001. Is the
abrupt drowning of the Black Sea shelf at 7150yr
BP a myth? Marine Geology 176, 6573.
Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C., Briceag, A., 2011.
Holocene calcareous nannoplankton in the inner
shelf of the NW Black Sea. Acta Palaeontologica
Romaniae 7, 238-248.
Oaie, G., Melinte-Dobrinescu, M.C., 2010. Holocene
litho- and biostratigraphy of the NW Black Sea
(Romanian shelf ). Quaternary International
261,146-155.
Panin, N., 1997. On the geomorphologic and
geologic evolution of the river Danube - Black Sea
interaction zone. GeoEcoMarina 2, 31-40.
Ross, D.A., Degens, E.T. 1974. Recent sediments
of the Black Sea. In: Degens E.T. and Ross D.A.
(Eds.), Te Black Sea: Geology, Chemistry,
and Biology. American Association of Petroleum
Geologists, 183-199.
Ryan, W.B.F., Pitman, W.C., Major, C.O., Shimkus,
K., Moskalenko, V., Jones, G.A., Dimitrov, P.,
Grr, N., Sakin, M. & Ycel, H. 1997. An abrupt
drowning of the Black Sea shelf. Marine Geology:
138, 119-126.
Yanko-Hombach, V., Gilbert, A.S., Panin, N. &
Dolukhanov, P.M. (Eds.), 2007. Te Black Sea
Flood Question: Changes in Coastline, Climate and
Human Settlement. Springer, Dordrecht, 971 pp.
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BADENIAN SALT SEDIMENTATION IN THE CARPATHIAN
FOREDEEP BASIN (POLAND) BASED ON GEOCHEMICAL AND
ISOTOPIC RESEARCH
Bukowski, K.
AGH University of Science and Technology, Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environment Protection, Al. Mickiewicza 30,
30-059 Krakow, Poland, e-mail: buk@agh.edu.pl
Keywords: Miocene, evaporites, rock salt,
geochemistry, stable isotopes, Central Paratethys
One of the distinct changes of the paleoenvironment
in the past dozen of millions of years that has not
been studied adequately is the Badenian salinity
crisis. During that crisis, a complex of climatic,
environmental and geological conditions caused the
occurrence of a continuous series of evaporate deposits
on a large area of Central and Southern Europe. Te
goal of the present study is to build a reliable model of
the saline basin development. Te western part of the
Carpathian Foredeep (southern Poland) was selected
for detailed studies. Te research area is located along
the present-day edge of the Carpathians, between
Rybnik in the west and Dbica in the east (Bukowski
2011).
Te geochemical study results as the studies of
the bromine content in halite, chemistry of fuid
inclusions, isotopic composition of stable isotopes of
oxygen and sulphur from anhydrites occurring in the
salt series, and isotopic composition of oxygen and
hydrogen in fuid inclusions were used for drawing
conclusions on the origin of brine and access of
continental waters as essential components of chloride
facies evaporate sedimentation.
Salt crystallization in the studied area was initiated
in the sea basin containing water whose chemical
composition was similar to present-day ocean water.
During halite crystallization, the saline basin was
supplied with seawater of normal salinity, as well
as meteoric water (infltration and surface water)
mixing with basins brine. Te water entering the
basin caused partial solution and redeposition of salt
from shallow and marginal parts of the salt basin.
Te analysis of the present-day range of the evaporate
facies in the western part of the Carpathian Foredeep
clearly indicates a direct relationship between the
intensity and type of evaporate sedimentation and
the morphology of pre-Badenian substrate, refecting
the existence of several morphologic thresholds in the
substrate. Te respective elevations produced shallow
areas on which sulphate crystallization occurred, and
moreover, the elevations divided the saline basin into
a number of smaller basins. Such thresholds produced
barriers that made the fow of heavy saturated brine
between particular basin sections difcult. Te supply
of terrigenous material, the traces of dissolved salt
and of volcanic activity indicate that the observed
cycle of salt series formation was caused by tectonic
phenomena. Halite precipitation from brine
delaminated in respect of density occurred in deeper
parts of the basin during the periods of tectonic peace.
Periodic episodes of tectonic intensity on the edges of
the saline basin relocated the deposits from marginal
sections of the salt pan and salt mud fat.
References
Bukowski, K., 2011. Badenian saline sedimentation
between Rybnik and Dbica based on geochemical,
isotopic and radiometric research (in Polish with
English summary), Dissertation Monographs 236,
1-184, AGH University of Science and Technology
Press, Krakow
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DEEP-SEA RECORD OF MEDITERRANEAN MESSINIAN
EVENTS (DREAM)
Camerlenghi, A.
1
, deLange, G.
2
, Flecker, R.
3
, Garcia-Castellanos, D.
4
, Hbscher, C.
5
,
Krijgsman, W.
2
, Lof, J.
6
, Lugli, S.
7
, McGenity, T.
8
, Manzi, V.
7
, Panieri, G.
9
, Rabineau, M.
10
,
Roveri, M.
7
& Sierro, F.J.
11
1
ICREA and University of Barcelona, Spain, e-mail:angelo.camerlenghi@icrea.es
2
Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, the Netherlands, e-mail: gdelange@geo.uu.nl
3
School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK, e-mail: r.fecker@bristol.ac.uk
4
ICTJA - CSIC, Barcelona, Spain, e-mail: danielgc@ictja.csic.es
5
Institute of Geophysics, University of Hamburg, Germany, e-mail: Christian.huebscher@zmaw.de
6
Gosciences Montpellier, University of Montpellier 2, France, e-mail: johanna.lof@gm.univ-montp2.f
7
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra - Universit degli Studi di Parma, e-mail: vinicio.manzi@unipr.it; marco.roveri@unipr.it
8
School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, UK, e-mail: tjmcgen@essex.ac.uk
9
MCNR-ISMAR, Bologna, Italy, e-mail: giuliana.panieri@bo.ismar.cnr.it
10
Domaines ocaniques, University of Brest, e-mail: marina.rabineau@univ-brest.f
11
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, University of Salamanca, Spain, email:sierro@usal.es
Keywords: multiple-site drilling, evaporite, Chikyu,
Joides Resolution, MSP 5-6
Te discovery of the Messinian evaporites in
the Mediterranean is probably one of the major
achievements of the DSDP program. Following Leg
XIII in 1970, the frst fascinating, although debated,
Messinian salinity crisis (MSC) scenario has been
proposed. During the 40 years that have passed since
the formulation of this scenario, many works have
been dedicated to this event. Analysis of the onshore
outcrops, of ofshore seismic records and scattered
samples from DSDP and ODP drillings, as well as the
substantial efort of climate, chemical and geophysical
modelling, have however not been able to provide a
unifed conclusive interpretation of the Messinian
event. More than 1800 scientifc publications have
been produced, about 900 of which only in the last 10
years, but the Messinian event still remains one of the
longest-living controversy in Earth Science. Timing,
causes and chronology of the MSC are not yet fully
understood, although diferent scenarii have been
proposed to explain in details the modalities of this
catastrophic event.
Certainly, the ongoing discussion about not fully
conclusive interpretations are mainly linked to the
fact that so far, due to technical limitations and
safety issues (non-riser drilling vessel), only the few
upper meters of the deep buried basin sequence has
been recovered. Te greater part of the Messinian
succession that could provide a unique entire record
of the MSC still lacks lithological and stratigraphical
calibrations.
In 2007 a deep revision of the knowledge of the
Messinian event was performed in Almeria (Spain)
which produced the document: Te Messinian
Salinity Crisis from mega-deposits lo microbiology
- A Consensus report, 2008. N 33 in CIESM
Workshop Monographs (F. Briand Ed.), 168 pages,
Monaco. A number of open question were identifed
and the need for ultra-deep drilling was stressed
as: efort must be made to identify drill sites that
intersect the most complete evaporite sequences and those
that retain their sedimentological characteristics, i.e.
avoiding successions that have been strongly modifed
by salt fow. In addition, many researchers suggested
that, the full understanding of the Messinian event,
will come from the drilling of diferent depositional
settings, with specifc emphasis on the Western versus
Eastern basins.
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In this context, the DREAM proposal has been
submitted to the MagellanPlus Workshop Series
Program, designed to support European and
Canadian scientists in developing new and innovative
science proposals for submission to IODP and ICDP.
Te purpose of DREAM is to organise in spring 2013
a workshop gathering three generations of scientists
(those who participated in the discovery, those who
are presently actively involved in research, and the
next generation) in order to identify locations for
multiple-site drilling (including riser-drilling) in
the Mediterranean Sea that would allow to solve
the several open questions still existing about the
causes, processes, timing and consequence at local
and planetary scale of a outstanding case of natural
environmental change in the recent Earth history:
the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC).
Te product of the workshop will be the identifcation
of the embryonic structure of an experimental design
of site characterization, riser-less an riser drilling,
sampling, measurements, and down-hole experiments
that will be the core for at least one compelling and
feasible scientifc proposal. Particular focus will be
given to reviewing seismic site survey data available
from diferent research groups at pan-Mediterranean
basin scale, and on the need for additional site survey
activity including 3D seismics.
Tis project opens the perspective of a new intellectual
and scientifc adventure that we expect to be as rich
and exciting as the discovery of the MSC event was.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
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THE RANGE AND EXTENT OF THE VALLESIAN CRISIS IN
ITS TYPE AREA
Casanovas-Vilar, I.
1
, Van den Hoek Ostende, L.W.
2
, Furi, M.
1
& Madern, P.A.
1,2
1
Institut Catal de Paleontologia Miquel Crusafont, Universitat Autnoma de Barcelona, Campus de la UAB s/n, 08193
Cerdanyola del Valls, Spain, e-mail: isaac.casanovas@icp.cat; marc.furio@icp.cat
2
Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, PO Box 9517, 2300 RA, Leiden, Te Netherlands,
e-mail: lars.vandenhoekostende@ncbnaturalis.nl; anneke.madern@ncbnaturalis.nl
Keywords: palaeodiversity, micromammals, Late
Miocene, Valls-Peneds basin, Catalonia, Iberian
Peninsula.
Te analysis of patterns and trends in past diversity
always has to deal with the undesirable biases that the
very nature of the fossil record may introduce. Such
record is uneven, so both the temporal spacing of the
sites and their quality varies. Quite ofen the richest or
better sampled sites (or time intervals) show a greater
diversity than less well known ones simply because
many more rare taxa are recovered. Terefore, a single
peak in the quality of the record would exaggerate the
recorded diversity as well as origination and extinction
rates. Robust diversity estimates must assess such
biases either by excluding those taxa know from just
one single site or time interval which is supposed to be
better sampled, or by taking into account the sample
size recovered in each locality and the probability of
sampling a particular taxon in subsequent localities.
Here we analyze the efects of the quality of the
small mammal record in our understanding of the
Vallesian Crisis, an important turnover event said
to have afected European mammal faunas by the
beginning of the Late Miocene. Te Vallesian Crisis
was initially recognized as a local event which implied
the extinction of certain rodent and artiodactyl
genera coinciding with the early/late Vallesian
boundary (at 9.7 Ma; Agust et al., 1984). Following
works increased the range and extent of this event
to encompass all Europe and involve a great number
of mammal taxa (e.g. Agust and Moy-Sol, 1991;
Fortelius & Hokkanen, 2001). Here we analyze the
Vallesian rodent and insectivore record of the Valls-
Peneds basin (Catalonia, Spain), where the crisis
was frst recognized. We show that the quality of the
record before the crisis is comparatively much better
than aferwards so diversity appears infated and
extinction rates are overemphasized. Accordingly,
we used the probability of sampling a given taxon
(following Barry et al., 2002 as modifed by Van der
Meulen et al., 2005) as well as rarefaction to calculate
new diversity measures independent of sample size.
Tese measures virtually eliminate the Vallesian
Crisis, showing that diversity somehow decreased
during the earliest late Vallesian and soon recovered
aferwards. Tis is because it cannot be discarded that
several rare taxa, customarily said to have disappeared
during the crisis, are in fact present. Amongst the
rodents and insectivores these taxa include genera
that are generally rare and show a discontinuous
record during the early Vallesian. Tese are presumed
specialists adapted to humid forested environments
such as fying squirrels, beavers or certain dormice,
most of them being only recorded when the sample
size is large enough. Some of them are in de facto
present in a few late Vallesian sites, thus supporting
our interpretation. Alternatively, these genera may
have been associated to very specifc habitats which,
for an unknown reason, are not sampled during the
late Vallesian. Our results cast serious doubts on the
very existence of the Vallesian Crisis suggesting that
rather than an abrupt event a series of extinctions
occurred during a longer time span. It has not been
evaluated whether the same pattern is observed in the
case of large mammals and in other areas, however,
previous approaches have generally omitted the bias
introduced by the quality of the record and, as shown
here they may importantly afect the calculations.
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References
Agust, J., Moy-Sol, S., 1991. Spanish Neogene
Mammal succession and its bearing on continental
biochronology. Newsl. Strat. 25, 91-114.
Agust, J., Moy-Sol, S., Gibert, J., 1984. Mammal
distribution dynamics in the eastern margin of the
Iberian Peninsula during the Miocene. Palobiol.
Cont. 14, 33-46.
Barry, J.C., Morgan, M.E., Flynn, L.L., Pilbeam, D.,
Behrensmeyer, A.K., Mahmood Raza, S., Khan,
I.A., Badgley, C., Hicks, J., Kelley, J., 2002. Faunal
and environmental change in the Late Miocene
Siwaliks of Northern Pakistan. Paleobiology 28
(supp. to num. 2), 1-71.
Fortelius, M., Hokkanen, A., 2001. Te trophic
context of hominoid occurrence in the later
Miocene of western Eurasia: a primate-free view.
In: De Bonis, L., Koufos, G.D., Andrews, P.
(Eds.), Hominoid Evolution and climatic change in
Europe. Volume 2: Phylogeny of Neogene Primates of
Eurasia. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
pp. 19-47.
Van Dam, J.A., Abdul Aziz, H., lvarez Sierra,
M.A., Hilgen, F.J., Van den Hoek Ostende,
L.W., Lourens, L.J., Mein, P., Van der Meulen,
A.J., Plaez-Campomanes, P. 2006. Long-period
astronomical forcing of mammal turnover. Nature
443, 687-691.
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ACINONYX PARDINENSIS (CROIZET ET JOBERT, 1828) FROM
THE EARLY PLEISTOCENE OF PANTALLA (CENTRAL ITALY)
Cherin, M.
1
, Iurino, D.
2
& Sardella R.
2
1
Universit di Perugia, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Piazza Universit, 06123 Perugia, Italy
e-mail: marco.cherin@gmail.com
2
Sapienza Universit di Roma, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
e-mail: dawid84@tiscali.it; rafaele.sardella@uniroma1.it
Keywords: Acinonyx pardinensis, cheetah, fossil
mammals, Italy, Villafranchian
From the Early Pleistocene locality of Pantalla (about
30 km S to Perugia, central Italy) abundant remains
of Late Villafranchian continental mammals, mostly
represented by well-preserved skulls, were discovered.
Te site is located in the southwestern branch of the
Tiber Basin, a wide intermontane basin that was
flled by clastic (lacustrine, palustrine and fuvial) and
carbonate (travertines sensu lato) deposits since the
early Late Pliocene (Basilici, 1997).
Te Pantalla mammal fauna has been recovered in
1995 from a 15 m thick stratigraphic succession
referred to the Early Pleistocene Santa Maria di
Ciciliano Unit. Two fossil-bearing levels have been
identifed: the lower one is represented by fuvial silty
sands interpreted as crevasse-splay deposits; the upper
one by silty clays interpreted as a drained paleosol
(Gentili et al., 1997).
Te Late Villafranchian mammal assemblage from
Pantalla can be referred to the Olivola/Tasso Faunal
Units (~ 1.8-1.7 Ma) of the biochronological scale
and includes the following taxa: Apodemus cf.
A. dominans, Canis etruscus, Lynx issiodorensis,
Acinonyx pardinensis, Sus cf. S. strozzii, Axis nestii,
Cervidae indet. (big form); Leptobos af. L. furtivus,
Equus sp., Mammuthus cf. M. meridionalis.
Te present study is focused on the giant cheetah
Acinonyx pardinensis from Pantalla, that is
represented by two complete crania (SBAU 337624
and 337648) and a lef hemimandible (SBAU
337627).
Te crania show a very good state of preservation, even
if they have been deformed during the diagenesis, as
they have been plastically translated on the lateral side
(right side for 337624 and lef side for 337648).
Te specimens are very similar, both morphologically
and morphometrically. In lateral view, they appear
quite domed and antero-posteriorly compressed.
Tis is commonly considered a cheetah-like character
(Spassov, 2011). Te braincase is very wide respect
to total length, and bulkier than in Panthera. In
particular, both crania show a strong bulging of the
posterior part of the frontals. Tis character has been
pointed out as a synapomorphy of the closely related
genera Acinonyx, Puma and Uncia, but is particularly
strong in Acinonyx (Spassov, 2011). Even if the nasal
cavities have been slightly deformed and narrowed
during the diagenesis, they look very wide in anterior
view, as in the extant cheetah. Typical cheetah-like
characters are also recognizable in the upper teeth:
canines are small and stout; cheek teeth are very close
one another, as it normally occurs in big cats with
short skulls (Acinonyx and Puma); P4 is characterized
by the strong reduction of the protocone, as typical
for both extant and extinct cheetahs (e.g., Viret, 1954;
Martin et al., 1977; ORegan, 2002; Spassov, 2011).
337627 resembles a typical cheetah mandible in all
its morphological characters: it is short and slender
on the whole; in dorsal view, the long axis of the
condyle is inclined respect to the horizontal branch;
the symphysis and the diastema are very short; the
lower canine is short and stout; the cheek teeth show
the peculiar feur-de-lis morphology; in occlusal
view, cheek teeth are so close one another to appear
partially overlapped, as described for A. pardinensis
from Perrier-touaries (Schaub, 1949) and Saint
Vallier (Viret, 1954).
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For a more detailed analysis of these fossils, three-
dimensional images were obtained using CT scans
and a Diagnostic Medical Imaging Sofware. Imaging
of serial planes through an object (tomography)
allows to study both the inside and outside of 3D
fossils (Sutton, 2008); in this way, it is possible to
obtain a wealth of paleontological information that
otherwise it would not be possible to obtain with
conventional methods of investigation. In the present
work, 3D analysis was divided in two phases: frstly,
a targeted analysis of the objects internal structures
(morphology of the tooth roots, internal anatomy
of the cranium, shape of the inner ear, taphonomic
information) was carried out; secondly, the three
specimens were modelled using a 3D graphic
sofware for restoring their natural morphology. Te
hemimandible was cloned and mirrored, in order
to reconstruct with good approximation the whole
mandible. Te latter was fnally articulated with
337624 to show the possible aspect of a complete A.
pardinensis skull.
Fossil remains of cheetah are quite rare in Europe,
and sufciently complete cranial material has been
described only from Saint Vallier, France (Viret,
1954), Untermassfeld, Germany (Hemmer, 2001),
and Montopoli, Italy (Ficcarelli, 1984). For this
reason, the new remains from Pantalla are of great
importance because they ofer the opportunity to
deepen the knowledge on the cranial anatomy of this
carnivore.
Because of the scarce fossil material, the history of
cheetahs in Europe is still unclear. Hemmer et al.
(2008) propose to place the European cheetahs
within the macrospecies A. pardinensis, that has been
represented by three successive subspecies during the
Plio-Pleistocene: A. p. pardinensis (Cr. et Job., 1828),
for the late Pliocene-early Early Pleistocene; A. p.
pleistocaenicus (Zdansky, 1925) for the late Early
Pleistocene (Epivillafranchian); A. p. intermedius
(Tenius, 1954), for the Middle Pleistocene.
Te giant cheetah was a specialized hunter adapted to
open spaces, a top predator in the Eurasian terrestrial
ecosystems and, as pointed out by Hemmer et al.
(2011), A. pardinensis could be considered a top
carcass producer, a very important source of food for
other mammal species.
References
Basilici, G., 1997. Sedimentary facies in an
extensional and deep-lacustrine depositional
system: the Pliocene Tiberino Basin, Central Italy.
Sedimentary Geology, 109, 73-94.
Gentili, S., Ambrosetti, P., Argenti, P., 1997. Large
carnivores and other mammal fossils from the
early alluvial plain of the Tiberino Basin (Pantalla,
Central Italy). Preliminary reports. Bollettino
della Societ Paleontologica Italiana, 36, 233-240.
Ficcarelli, G., 1984. Te Villafranchian cheetahs
from Tuscany and remarks on the dispersal and
evolution of the genus Acinonyx. Palaeontographia
Italica, 73, 94-103.
Hemmer, H., 2001: Die Feliden aus dem
Epivillafranchium von Untermassfeld. In: Kahlke,
R.-D. (Ed.), Das Pleistozn von Untermassfeld bei
Meiningen (Tringen), Teil 3. Monographien
des Rmisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums
Mainz, 40 (3), 699-782.
Hemmer, H., Kahlke, R.D., Keller, T., 2008.
Geparde im Mittelpleistozn Europas: Acinonyx
pardinensis (sensu lato) intermedius (Tenius,
1954) aus den Mosbach-Sanden (Wiesbaden,
Hessen, Deutschland). Neues Jahrbuch fr
Geologie und Palontologie, Abhandlungen, 249
(3): 345-356.
Hemmer, H., Kahlke, R.D., Vekua, A.K., 2011.
Te cheetah Acinonyx pardinensis (Croizet et
Jobert, 1828) s.l. at the hominin site of Dmanisi
(Georgia) - A potential prime meat supplier in
Early Pleistocene ecosystems. Quaternary Science
Reviews, 30: 2703-2714.
Martin, L.D., Gilbert, B.M., Adams D.B., 1977.
A cheetah-like cat in the North American
Pleistocene. Science, 195 (4282), 981-982.
ORegan, H., 2002. Defning cheetahs, a multivariate
analysis of skull shape in big cats. Mammal Review,
32 (1), 58-62.
Schaub, S., 1949. Revision de quelques carnassiers
villafranchiens du Niveau des Etouaries (Montagne
de Perrier, Puy-de-Dme). Eclogae Geologicae
Helvetiae, 42, 492-506.
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Spassov, N., 2011. Acinonyx pardinensis (Croizet et
Jobert) remains from the Middle Villafranchian
locality of Varshets (Bulgaria) and the Plio-
Pleistocene history of the cheetahs in Eurasia.
Estudios Geolgicos, 67 (2), 245-253.
Sutton, M.K., 2008. Tomographic techniques
for the study of exceptionally preserved fossils.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 275 (1643),
1587-1593.
Viret, M.J., 1954. Le loess a bancs durcis de Saint-
Vallier (Drme) et sa faune de mammifres
villafranchiens. Nouvelles Archives du Museum
dHistoire Naturelle de Lyon, 4, 1-195.
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CONSTRAINING THE MESSINIAN SALINITY CRISIS IN THE
EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN (ADANA BASIN, TURKEY)
Cosentino, D.
1
, Cipollari, P.
1
, Darba, G.
2
, Gliozzi, E.
1
, Grossi, F.
1
, Grbz, K.
3
,
Nazik, A.
3
& Radef, G.
1
1
Roma Tre University, Department of Geological Sciences, 1 L.go S. Leonardo Murialdo, I-00146 Rome, Italy, e-mail:
cosentin@uniroma3.it; cipollar@uniroma3.it; gliozzi@uniroma3.it; fgrossi@uniroma3.it; gradef@uniroma3.it;
2
Jeoloji Mhendislii Bolm, Kahramanmara St mam niversitesi, Avar Kamps, 46100 - Kahramanmara
Turkey, e-mail: guldemin@ksu.edu.tr
3
Jeoloji Mhendislii Bolm, ukurova niversitesi, Mimarlk Fakltesi Maden Mhendislii Blm 01330 Balcal
Adana, Turkey, e-mail: sedim@cu.edu.tr; anazik@cukurova.edu.tr
Keywords: late Messinian, Messinian Erosional
Surface, Lower Evaporites, Resedimented Lower
Gypsum, Lago-Mare biofacies
Introduction
Te Messinian salinity crisis (MSC), which happened
between 5.96 and 5.33 Ma, afected both deep
and marginal basins in the Mediterranean area. In
the ofshore domains of the Mediterranean Basin
diferences in the organization of the MSC seismic
markers have been shown between western and
eastern realms (Lof et al., 2011). In the western
Mediterranean realm, the Messinian trilogy,
including the Lower Unit (LU), the Mobile Unit
(MU), and the Upper Unit (UU) was recognized
throughout all the deep basins (Lof et al., 2011) and
was speculatively compared with the MSC deposits
in Sicily. On the contrary, on the seismic profles of
the eastern Mediterranean Basin the three Messinian
seismic units (LU, MU, and UU) have not been
identifed (Lof et al., 2011), suggesting diferences in
the organization of the MSC deposits in western and
eastern Mediterranean sub-basins.
Te MSC in the eastern Mediterranean Basin
Te easternmost MSC deposits of the Mediterranean
Basin have been recently signalled in the onshore
Adana Basin, southern Turkey (Darbas and Nazik,
2010; Cosentino et al., 2010; Cipollari et al., in press).
Te MSC afected southern Turkey in marginal
basins connected with the late Miocene evolution
of the Taurus Mountains and the more external
Kyrenia Range and Misis Mountains. Te Adana
Basin, which developed as a Miocene episutural
basin in a tectonically active area of the easternmost
Mediterranean region, is one of the best onshore
basins of southern Turkey for exposing the efects of
the MSC.
According to the Neogene stratigraphy of the Adana
Basin as for the literature, the Messinian stage is
recorded either within the lower part of the Handere
Fm or by the Adana group. Te base of the Handere
Fm, or conversely the base of the Adana group,
which according to the authors corresponds to the
base of the Messinian stage, rests conformably on
the Tortonian Kuzgun Fm. Accordingly, Messinian
gypsum beds related to the MSC are signalled either
in the Handere Fm (Gkkuyu Mbr) or at the top of
the Adana group. Following both the results of a feld
work carried recently out on the Handere Fm and
the preliminary results of the micropaleontological
analyses, the Handere Fm should be emended at least
for its chronostratigraphic signifcance.
In the western part of the basin (Karayayla and Topu
sections), a cyclical succession of anhydrites and
black shales record the main evaporative event of
the Mediterranean (Primary Lower Gypsum). In the
Karayayla section the anhydrites with black shales
seem to lie conformably on pre-evaporitic Messinian
marls. Most gypsum deposits that crop out in diferent
sections of the Adana Basin (Topu, Tepeaylak,
Gkkuyu, Adana, etc.) pertain to a unit characterized
by Resedimented Lower Gypsum. Te base of this unit
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corresponds to a spectacular erosional surface cutting
down to either the Primary Lower Gypsum (Topu
section) or the pre-evaporitic Tortonian-early
Messinian deposits (Gkkuyu and Adana sections).
Tis erosional surface correlates with the MES of
the Mediterranean area. Te Resedimented Lower
Gypsum of the Adana section contains Cyprideis
sp. and Loxoconcha mlleri, which pertain to the
Messinian early-Lago-Mare biofacies (L. mlleri
Zone). A younger erosional surface (MES
2
) afects
the Messinian succession of the Adana Basin. Above
the MES
2
a continental unit consisting mainly of
fuvial coarse-grained deposits lies unconformably on
Primary Lower Gypsum (Karayayla), Resedimented
Lower Gypsum (Topu, Tepeaylak, Adana), and
pre-evaporitic marls (Gkkuyu). Some fne-grained
intercalations both at the base and at the top of
those mainly channelised fuvial deposits contain
ostracods with Paratethyan afnities pertaining to the
Messinian late-Lago-Mare biofacies (Loxocorniculina
djafarovi Zone). Although they are considered
Pliocene in age, these fndings allow us to refer to the
latest Messinian Lago-Mare event the thick fuvial
conglomerates pertaining to the Handere Fm.
Te geohistory of the Adana Basin, as reconstructed
by using seismic profles and well logs, shows an
increase in the subsidence rate at about 5.59 Ma,
during the deposition of the Resedimented Lower
Gypsum. It corresponds to a period of increased
sedimentation rate right afer the drawdown of
the Mediterranean base level and the formation of
the MES. In the Adana Basin, a major increase in
subsidence rate is recorded at about 5.45 Ma, above
the MES
2
, with the deposition of up to 1.6 km of
fuvial deposits (conglomerates and marls of the
Handere Fm).
Conclusions
Although in the ofshore seismic profles of the
eastern Mediterranean Basin the organization of the
MSC deposits is quite diferent from the western one
(Lof et al., 2011), no major diferences were fgure
out between the MSC deposits of the Adana Basin
and other marginal basins of the Mediterranean
area. Te general organization of the MSC deposits
cropping out in the easternmost Mediterranean
region (Adana Basin) shows the occurrence of
deposits related with the main Messinian stages of
the MSC: 1) Primary Lower Gypsum; 2) Halite; 3)
Resedimented Lower Gypsum; 4) Lago-Mare deposits.
In the Adana Basin, the same organization of the
outcropping MSC deposits were recognized on the
seismic profles crossing the basin.
References
Cipollari, P., Cosentino, D., Radef, G., Schildgen,
T. F., Faranda, C., Grossi, F., Gliozzi, E., Smedile,
A., Gennari, R., Darba, G., Dudas, F. ., Grbz,
K., Nazik, A., Echtler, H.P. 2012. Easternmost
Mediterranean evidence of the Zanclean fooding
event and subsequent surface uplif: Adana Basin,
southern Turkey. Geol. Soc. Lond. Spec. Publ. 372,
Cosentino, D., Darba, G., Grbz, K. 2010. Te
Messinian salinity crisis in the marginal basins
of the peri-Mediterranean orogenic systems:
examples from the central Apennines (Italy) and
the Adana Basin (Turkey). Geophysical Research
Abstracts Vol. 12, EGU2010-2462, 2010. EGU
General Assembly 2010.
Darba, G., Nazik, A., 2010. Micropaleontology and
paleoecology of the Neogene sediments in the
Adana Basin (South of Turkey). Journal of Asian
Earth Sciences 39, 136-147.
Lof, J., Devrchre, J., Gaullier, V., Gillet, H., Gorini,
C., Guennoc, P., Loncke, L., Maillard, A., Sage, F.,
I. Tinon, 2011. Atlas of the Messinian seismic
markers in the Mediterranean and Black seas,
Mm. Soc. gol. f., n.s., 179, and World Geological
map Commission, 72p.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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MULTIDISCIPLINARY STUDY OF BADENIAN/SARMATIAN
(EARLY SERRAVALLIAN) BOUNDARY POSITION IN
THE EASTERN CARPATHIAN FOREDEEP (POLAND):
PRELIMINARY REPORT
Czapowski, G.
1
, Gsiewicz, A.
1
, Bukowski, K.
2
, Chang, L.
3
, De Leeuw, A.
3
, Gadzicka, E.
1
,
Krijgsman, W.
3
, Paruch-Kulczycka, J.
1
, Sant, K.
3
& Studencka, B.
4
1
Polish Geological Institute-National Research Institute, Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warsaw, Poland,
e-mail (corresponding author): grzegorz.czapowski@pgi.gov.pl
2
Museum University of Mining and Metallurgy, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Cracow, Poland, e-mail: buk@agh.edu.pl
3
Paleomagnetic Laboratory Fort Hoofddijk, Faculty of Geosciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 17, 3584 CD,
Utrecht, Te Netherlands, e-mail (corresponding author): krijgsma@geo.uu.nl
4
Museum of the Earth in Warsaw, Polish Academy of Sciences, Al. Na Skarpie 20/26, 00-488 Warsaw, Poland,
e-mail: bstudencka@go2.pl
Keywords: Late Miocene, Badenian-Sarmatian
boundary, Central Paratehtys-Polish Carpathian
Foredeep
Te boundary between the Badenian and the
Sarmatian (B/S) stages in the Paratethys area is
associated with a major turnover in faunal assemblage,
defned as the Badenian-Sarmatian Extinction
Event (BSEE - Harzhauser & Piller, 2007). Tere is
a controversy as to the cause of the B/S in the semi-
isolated Paratethys Sea and most probably is related to
isolation of the Eastern Paratethys from ocean water.
Te Upper Badenian to the Lower Sarmatian
(Late Serravallian stage Piller et al., 2007) marine
succession (Machw Fm), up to 3 km thick in the
Central Paratethys area (Polish part of Carpathian
Foredeep Fig. 1) is underlain by the widespread
evaporate series. Te succession consists of
monotonous fne siliciclastics (dominantly clays to
silts) with varying amounts of carbonate fraction. Te
siliciclastics are locally interbedded by thin to thick,
fne to medium sand lenses and thin volcanoclastic
material (tufte) both dispersed or concentrated as
locally correlatable layers. Te Badenian-Sarmatian
deposits were deposited mainly from suspension (silts-
clays) and by ephemeral turbidite fows (sands) in the
open shelf basin with local anoxic bottom conditions
(Czapowski, 1994).
Because of no evident lithological and faunistic
markers, a high faunistic and nannoplankton
endemism and its very local importance, and usually
palaeontologically dumb of the upper unit, the
boundary between the Badenian and the Sarmatian
series is highly ambiguous (Gsiewicz et al., 2004).
In order to defne the B/S boundary in this region a
multidisciplinary approach has been applied. Four
cored profles of the Machw Fm. (Fig. 1), over 200 m
thick, were studied in details to defne the Badenian/
Sarmatian (B/S) boundary in the northern part of the
Central Paratethys.
Te recognition of the B/S boundary transition in
this area is based on faunistic (macrofauna-bivalves),
microfauna (forams) and nannoplankton analyses,
geochemical (stable carbon and oxygen isotopes,
major + trace elements and TOC contents) and
paleomagnetic data. Te results of the undertaken
integrated study are as follows: 1/ sedimentological
analyses indicate that the Badenian-Sarmatian
transition in all well cores represents a continuous
fossil record; 2/ palaeomagnetic data (transition from
normal C5AAn to reversed C5A3.3r polarity chrones
could be dated as 12.8 Ma) locate B/S boundary just
below the microfaunistic B/S marker (mfB/S), 3)
the upper one (T2) of two tufte correlated horizons
locates above and in the top of mfB/S interval, 4/
geochemical (both isotopic and chemical) changes
occur higher (from several up to several tens m)
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
- 40 - - 41 -
above the registered faunal and foral changes linked
to the B/S turnover (Fig. 1); 5/ both the faunistic-
nannoplankton and geochemical changes occurred in
deeper and open marine basin and before an interval
with signifcant turbidite episodes; 6/ as a one and
common change of a basinal extent and nature, the
B/S boundary fossil record in the area studied is still
indefnite and depends on the method used for its
identifcation.
Fig. 1. Position of Badenian/Sarmatian boundary in
studied profles from the Polish part of Carpathian
Foredeep. Paratethys palaeogeography and evaporates
distribution of the Upper Badenian (Late Serravallian) age
(afer Bukowski, 2011).
References
Bukowski, K., 2011. Badenian saline sedimentation
between Rybnik and Dbica based on geochemical,
Isotopic and radiometric research (in Polish with
English Summary). Dissertations, Monographs of
AGH. 260, 1-184.
Czapowski G., 1994. Sedimentation of Middle
Miocene marine complex from the area near
Tarnobrzeg (north-central part of the Carpathian
Foredeep). Geological Quarterly, 38 (3), 577-592.
Gsiewicz A., Czapowski G., Paruch-Kulczycka
J., 2004. Badenian-Sarmatian boundary in
geochemical record in the Carpathian Foredeep
area: stratigraphic implications (in Polish with
English Summary). Przegld Geologiczny, 52,
413-420.
Harzhauser M., Piller W.E., 2007. Integrated
stratigraphy of the Sarmatian (Upper Middle
Miocene) in the western Central Parathetys.
Stratigraphy, 1, 65-86.
Piller W. E., Harzhauser M., Mandic O., 2007.
Miocene Central Paratethys stratigraphy
current status and future directions.
Stratigraphy, 4, 151-168.
B/Sboundary
after bivalves
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Ch
96-97 m
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240,0-244,0 m
Biv B/S
Ch
170,0-171,5 m
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POB
POB
POB
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242,5 m
Ch
206,5-
207,5 m
Ch
136-137 m
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154,5-160,5 m
Fr B/S
101,4-117,5 m
Fr B/S
110,8 m
NN B/S
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Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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PALAEONTOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY OF THE LATEST
MESSINIAN-LOWER PLIOCENE DEPOSITS IN THE
APENNINES: NEW INSIGHTS FROM MOLISE
(SOUTHERN ITALY)
DAmico, C.
1
, Bracone, V.
2
, Esu, D.
3
, Frezza, V.
1, 3
& Guerrieri, P.
4
1
Informal Group of Micropaleontological and Malacological Researches, www.girmm.com, e-mail: carminedamicot@libero.it
2
Molise University, Department of Biosciences and Territory, c.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche (Isernia), Italy,
e-mail: vito.bracone@unimol.it
3
Sapienza University of Rome, Department of Earth Sciences, 5 Piazzale Aldo Moro, 00185 Rome, Italy,
e-mail: daniela.esu@uniroma1.it; virgilio.fezza@uniroma1.it
4
Saint-Gobain PPC Italia S.p.A, 6 via Ettore Romagnoli, 20146, Milano, Italy,
e-mail: pietro.guerrieri@saint-gobain.com
Keywords: Messinian salinity crisis, Lago-Mare,
Zanclean, Facies analysis, Foraminifers, Molluscs
Introduction. In the last decades, several stratigraphic
and paleontological investigations on Upper
Messinian-Lower Pliocene deposits cropping out in
Italian Apennines contributed signifcantly to the
knowledge of the palaeoenvironmental changes related
to the Mediterranean Messinian salinity crisis and the
following Early Pliocene marine re-fooding from the
Atlantic Ocean (Roveri et al., 2008 and references
therein).
Te formation of the Apennines, which took place
mainly between Early Miocene and Early Pleistocene,
caused the deformation of the main palaeogeographic
domains of the African continental margin (Patacca
& Scandone, 2007). In the early stages of the Late
Miocene, in the central-southern Apennines the
Sicilide Units, originally deposited in a Tethys-facing
basin along the African passive margin, overrode the
outermost units of the Apenninic edifce defning a
tectonic mlange with top-thrust basin deposits made
up of Messinian evaporites, marls and clays of Lago-
Mare and Early-Middle Pliocene sands and clays,
respectively (Vezzani et al., 2010).
Aim of this work is to detail the sedimentological and
palaeoecological features of the Lago-Mare deposits
cropping out along the orogenic wedge of the Molise
Apennines and to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental
evolution of this area at the transition between Late
Miocene and Early Pliocene.
Materials and methods. Field survey was carried out
to the direct acquisition of stratigraphic data and a
detailed facies analysis was performed on a sedimentary
succession developed on Messinian evaporites cropping
out in a quarry district near Guglionesi (Molise
Region). Within selected stratigraphic intervals, several
samples were collected for palaeontological analysis. A
representative study section has been reconstructed.
Results. In the study section the Messinian evaporites
are about 40 m thick; at the top these deposits are
characterized by an irregular palaeotopography and
Terre Rosse locally occur. Evaporites are overlain by 4
m thick grey laminated and well stratifed marls with
ostracods and foraminifers (abundant planktonic:
Neogloboquadrina acostaensis, Turborotalita
quinqueloba, Globorotalia miotumida; rare benthic:
Bolivina spp.). Tis deposit is overlain by green-grey
clays, 1 m thick, with ostracods, planktonic foraminifers,
micromammal remains, and a typical Lago-Mare
molluscan fauna with Dreissena ex gr. rostriformis,
Euxinicardium subodessae, Pontalmyra bollenensis,
Pontalmyra incerta chiae, Melanoides curvicosta,
Melanopsis narzolina, Saccoia sp. and Teodoxus sp. Also
the bivalve Mactra sp., and terrestrial gastropods such as
Cepaea sp., Hygromiidae indet., Limacidae indet. and
Parmacella sp. were recovered. Te top of this deposit
is characterized by a black clayey layer, 30 cm thick,
with ostracods, foraminifers (abundant planktonic:
Globigerina bulloides, N. acostaensis, G. miotumida;
rare benthic: Ammonia tepida), micromammal
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
- 42 - - 43 -
remains and fragmentary molluscs of the same species
of the underlying level. Follow 1-1.5 m thick matrix-
supported gravels, which pass laterally to coarse sands
with planar cross stratifcation. Tese deposits are
overlain by 2 m thick green-grey to red laminated
clays with ostracods, planktonic foraminifers and rare
fragmentary and decalcifed molluscs (Dreissena);
an intercalated level, 5-10 cm thick, with rounded
clasts (mm to cm) and decalcifed valves of Dreissena
and Lymnocardiinae can be observed. Te top of this
deposit is made up of a black clayey layer 30 cm thick.
Above this deposit vertically alternations of four units
comprising sands, clays with ostracods, foraminifers
(abundant planktonic: Globigerinoides trilobus, G.
bulloides, Globorotalia conomiozea, N. acostaensis,
Orbulina suturalis; rare benthic: A. tepida, Elphidium
sp.) and rare Characeans, and some coquina beds
(Dreissena, Lymnocardiinae) can be observed. Each
unit is bounded at the top by thin black silty layers with
specimens (Limacidae) and fragments (Hygromiidae)
of terrestrial molluscs associated with fragments of
Dreissena and Lymnocardiinae. On the whole the four
units are about 12 m thick and overlain by dark grey
clays, 3 m thick, with mixed non-marine (Dreissena
ex gr. rostriformis; P. incerta chiae, Limacidae indet. M.
curvicosta, M. narzolina, Saccoia fontannesi, Saccoia
oryza, Prososthenia cfr. meneghiniana, Teodoxus
mutinensis) and marine molluscs (Anomia sp.,
Glycymeris sp., Turritella sp., Pectinidae indet., Pinna
sp., Ostreidae indet.), benthic foraminifers (Elphidium
sp.), planktonic foraminifers (G. bulloides, Globorotalia
scitula, N. acostaensis, T. quinqueloba, Orbulina
spp., rare Globorotalia margaritae), marine anellids
(Ditrupa), echinids, balanids and some fsh otoliths.
Tis deposit is overlain by gravels, 1-1.5 m thick,
with marine molluscs (Pectinidae indet., Ostreidae
indet.). Te succession is closed up by yellow silty-
sands, 4 m thick, with marine molluscs (Pectinidae
indet., Ostreidae indet.), benthic (Elphidium spp.,
Lobatula lobatula) and planktonic foraminifers
(Globoturborotalita apertura, Globigerinoides spp., G.
bulloides, N. acostaensis, rare G. margaritae).
Discussion and conclusions. Te reconstructed
stratigraphic section allows to defne the characteristics
in term of fauna and sedimentology of the latest
Messinian Lago-Mare episode and the following
Early Pliocene marine transgression.
Te lower and the middle portions of the section register
the latest Messinian Lago-Mare episode. In particular
the lower laminated grey marls indicate the presence
of a brackish lake-type palaeoenvironment evolving
upper-section to fuvio-deltaic palaeoenvironments
settled by typical Lago-Mare molluscan assemblages
of hypo- and oligohaline gastropods (M. curvicosta,
M. narzolina, Saccoia spp. and T. mutinensis) endemic
of Mediterranean, and bivalves (Lymnocardiinae
and Dreissenidae) of Paratethyan origin (Esu,
2007). Planktonic foraminifers ofen abundant,
but represented mainly by small tests, are very likely
reworked.
In the upper portion of the section, marine
transgression is evidenced frstly by clay deposits with
mixed Lago-Mare, very likely reworked molluscs
and marine fauna, then by the overlying gravels
with marine molluscs, and fnally by the yellow silty
sands containing marine elements. Te record of
G. margaritae (MPl2-MPl3 biozones: Iaccarino &
Premoli Silva, 2007) allows the attribution of these
latter deposits to the Zanclean (Early Pliocene).
References.
Esu, D., 2007. Latest Messinian Lago-Mare
Lymnocardiinae from Italy: Close relations with
the Pontian fauna from the Dacic Basin. Geobios 40,
291-302.
Iaccarino, S. & Premoli Silva, I., 2007. Practical manual
of Neogene planktonic Foraminifera. International
School on Planktonic Foraminifera, VI Course:
Neogene, Perugia (Italy) February 19-23, 2007.
Patacca, E. & Scandone, P., 2007. Geology of the
Southern Apennines. Boll. Soc. Geol. It., Spec. Issue
7, 75-119.
Roveri, M., Bertini, A., Cosentino, D., Di Stefano,
A., Gennari, R., Gliozzi, E., Grossi, F., Iaccarino,
S.M., Lugli, S., Manzi, V., Taviani, M., 2008. A
high resolustion stratigraphic framework for the
latest Messinian events in the Mediterranean area.
Stratigraphy 5(3-4), 323-342.
Vezzani, L., Festa, A., Ghisetti, F., 2010. Geology and
tectonic evolution of Central-Southern Apennines,
Italy. Geol. Soc. Am. Special paper, 469, 1-58.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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COMPARISON OF MIOCENE FORAMINIFERA FROM NORTH
OF CENTRAL IRAN (TETHYS) TO NORTH FLANKS OF
ALBORZ MOUNTAINS (PARATETHYS) IN IRAN
Daneshian, J.
1
& Derakhshani, M.
2
1
Kharazmi University, Department of Geology, 43 Mofatteh Avenue, 15614 Tehran, Iran, e-mail: daneshian@tmu.ac.ir
2
Kharazmi University, Department of Geology, 43 Mofatteh Avenue, Tehran, Iran, e-mail: derakhshani_82@yahoo.com
Introduction. Miocene marine sediments have been
studied in north of central Iran by several authors (e.g.
Daneshian and Ramezani Dana, 2007; Daneshian and
Chegini, 2007: Daneshian and Derakhshani, 2008)
.Tat is in the vicinity of south fanks of Alborz. On the
basis of foraminifera record, the youngest strata belong
to probably early Burdigalian. Whereas, the Miocene
sediments do not exist in south fanks of Alborz. Also,
in north fanks, Lower Miocene sediments have not
been reported. Only middle Miocene deposits have
been observed in part of north fank. On the other
hand, it seems south beach of Caspian sea and north
fanks of Alborz are part of south east Paratethys (Cited
in Rohbakhsh, 2008).
Methodology. Studied area is located in west part of
Dasht-e-Kavir, southeast Tehran, capital of Iran. Te
section (Ghasr-e- Bahram) is situated in northern lati-
tudes 34
,
45to 34
,
49and eastern longitudes 52
,
5to
52
,
15. Tis section consists mainly of limestone, ar-
gillaceous limestone, marl and gypsy marl with a thick
359m. Totally 191 samples, including 144 hard and 47
sof sample were collected.
Results. A few investigations have been achieved about
foraminifera record from north fanks of Alborz (e.g.
Azoji, 2005). A comparison of foraminifera record
from Ghasr-e- Bahram section located in north of cen-
tral Iran to the sections which have been studied by
Azoji (2005) in north fanks of Alborz , indicate that
some families, genera and species in north of central
Iran ( studied section) and north fanks of Alborz are
similar. Accordingly, this similarity between foramin-
ifera taxa shows relation between Tethys and Paratethys
and existence a sea way between them in near to or in
Iran.
Conclusions: Te investigation of foraminifera taxa
in the examined section led us to identifying 50 genera
and 79 species which mostly are benthic . A comparison
of age between this section and those which studied by
Azoji (2005), show an Early Miocene age in mentioned
section and Middle and early Late Miocene in Azoji
,
s
section. Hence, it is no existence a sea way in central
part of north and south fanks of Alborz and north of
central Iran. Tis relation should be where in northwest
of Iran or out of borders of Iran. Terefore, the lacking
of sufcient data especially about foraminifera assem-
blages suggest study of Miocene foraminifera of north
fanks of Alborz and south of Caspian sea.
References:
Azoji, H., 2005. Miocene biostratigraphy and sedimen-
tary environment of Miocene sediments in south of
Ghaem Shahr and south of Sari, Tesis M.Sc., Sha-
hid Beheshti Univ.
Daneshian, J., Chegini, A., 2007. Biostratigraphy of the
Qom Formation in the Northwest and Southeast of
Semnan, Scientifc Quart. Jour. Geosci., 16(62), 72-
79 (in persaian).
Daneshian, J., Ramezani Dana, L., 2007. Early Mio-
cene benthonic foraminifera and biostratigraphy
of the Qom Formation, Deh Namak, Central Iran;
Jour. Asian Earth Sci.e, 29(.5-6), 844-858.
Daneshian, J., Derakhshani, M., 2008. Paleoecology
of foraminifera of the Qom Formation in Ghasr-
e- Bahram section, northwest part of Siakuh, south
Garmsar, Res. Jour. Univ. Isfahan, 30(1), 1-16 (in
persaian).
Mousavi Rohbakhsh, S. M., 2008. Stratigraphy and pe-
troleum geology of Caspian sea. Agricalt. Sci. Iran
publ., 246 p.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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BIG BACTERIA FILAMENTS IN THE EUXINIC SHALE FROM THE
PRIMARY LOWER GYPSUM UNIT (PIEDMONT BASIN, NW ITALY):
VESTIGES OF MESSINIAN CHEMOTROPHIC MICROBIAL MATS
Dela Pierre F.
1
, Clari P.
1
, Natalicchio M.
1
, Bernardi E.
1
, Lozar F.
1
, Lugli S.
2
, Violanti D.
1
1
Universit di Torino, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Via Valperga Caluso 35, 10125 Torino - Italy,
e-mail: fancesco.delapierre@unito.it
2
Universit di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, P. S. Eufemia 9, 41100 Modena - Italy
Keywords: microbial flaments, sulphide-
oxidizing bacteria, Messinian salinity crisis,
Piedmont Basin
Introduction
Microbial flamentous remains are a common
component of the Messinian salinity crisis (MSC)
stratigraphic record. Tey were frst reported from
bottom grown selenite gypsum crystals of the
Northern Apennines (the spaghetti-like structures;
Vai and Ricci Lucchi, 1977), and identifed as
fossilized cyanobacteria (Scytonema sp.; Panieri
et al., 2010), thus providing evidence for shallow
water depositional conditions (but see also Lugli et
al., 2010). Similar structures were later described in
carbonate deposits just below the frst gypsum bed;
these deposits were considered as stromatolites,
recording basin shallowing and restriction heralding
the onset of the MSC (Oliveri et al., 2010). In this
work we report the result of a study carried out on
flamentous remains found in laminated euxinic shale
deposits belonging to the Primary Lower Gypsum
unit of the Piedmont basin (NW Italy). Te study of
these features, that are more frequent than previously
known, ofers the opportunity to discuss the role of
microbial activity in modulating the stratigraphic
architecture of the MSC sedimentary record in the
Piedmont Basin.
Geological setting
Te Primary Lower Gypsum unit (PLG) was
deposited at the margins of the Mediterranean basin
during the frst MSC stage (5.96-5.60 Ma; CIESM,
2008). In the Piedmont Basin this unit consists of up
to 14 cycles composed of laminated shale/gypsum
couplets, overlying marine muddy sediments also
displaying a cyclic stacking pattern. In the deeper part
of the basin, the lower gypsum beds are transitional
to thin carbonate-rich beds that are interbedded to
laminated euxinic shales (Dela Pierre et al., 2011).
Te PLG unit is overlain by resedimented and chaotic
evaporites, deposited during the second MSC stage
(5.60-5.55 Ma; CIESM, 2008) in turn followed by
fuvio deltaic and lacustrine deposits representing the
third MSC stage (5.55-5.33 Ma; CIESM, 2008).
Filaments in the PLG unit
A large amount of flamentous bacteria remains
was found in the shale deposits of the PLG unit;
in particular: 1) in the euxinic shales representing
the deep water counterpart of the marginal gypsum
beds, and 2) in the shale intervals interbedded to the
gypsum beds. Te flament remains are more easily
recognizable where later carbonate precipitation
entombed them in dm-thick carbonate-rich beds
but are equally visible in the unconsolidated shale
intervals. In both cases, the flaments are found in
laminated layers consisting in the alternation of
mm-thick dark grey terrigenous-rich and whitish
carbonate-rich laminae. Te terrigenous laminae are
normally graded and ofen contain diatom frustules
and coccoliths. Te whitish laminae are instead made
up of curved, interwoven flaments up to 150 m
across and few mm long. In the carbonate-cemented
beds the flaments can be observed in more detail
and in most cases they are composed of micron-sized
carbonate crystals. In few layers the flaments enclose
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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abundant pyrite framboids grouped together to
outline the flament shape.
Discussion and conclusions
Te flaments preserved in the euxinic shale deposits
of the PLG unit may be interpreted as remains of
Beggiatoa-like sulphide-oxidizing bacteria (and not
cyanobacteria) on the basis of their size, shape and
the lack of associated shallow water biota remains
(Dela Pierre et al., 2012). On this basis, the laminated
deposits containing them are interpreted as the
product of lithifcation of chemotrophic microbial
mats dominated by sulphide-oxidizing bacteria.
Tese microbialites do not provide any evidence of
sea level lowering at the onset of the MSC because
sulphide-oxidizing bacteria are not light dependent
and can live at any depth. Teir development was
sustained by an upward fux of hydrogen sulphide
generated by degradation of organic matter via
bacterial sulphate reduction in underlying sediments.
Bacterial sulphate reduction was also responsible for
the local precipitation of carbonate cement in the
sediment pore spaces. A prerequisite for the growth
and preservation of these mats was the establishment
of anoxic conditions at the sea bottom, in turn related
to density stratifcation of the water column and/
or to enhanced biological productivity in the water
column. Te defnition of the mutual relationships
of the described flament remains with the spaghetti
structures preserved in the gypsum crystals is strongly
needed, in order to clarify the possible infuence of
microorganisms in modulating the stratigraphic
architecture of the PLG unit, that shows impressive
similarities in facies and thickness across the diferent
Mediterranean sub-basins (Lugli et al., 2010).
References
CIESM, 2008. Te Messinian salinity crisi: from
mega-deposits to microbiology a consensus
report. In: Briand F. (ed.), CIESM workshop
monographs N. 33, Monaco, 168 pp.
Dela Pierre, F., Bernardi, E., Cavagna, S., Clari, P.,
Gennari, R., Irace, A., Lozar, F., Lugli, S., Manzi,
V., Natalicchio, M., Roveri, M., Violanti, D., 2011.
Te record of the Messinian salinity crisis in the
Tertiary Piedmont Basin (NW Italy): Te Alba
section revisited. Palaeo3, 310, 238-255.
Dela Pierre, F., Clari,P., Bernardi, E., Natalicchio,
M., Costa, E., Cavagna, S., Lozar, F., Lugli, S.,
Manzi, V., Natalicchio, M., Roveri, M., Violanti,
D., 2012. Messinian carbonate-rich beds of the
Tertiary Piedmont Basin (NW Italy): microbially-
mediated products straddling the onset of the
salinity crisis. Palaeo3 344-345, 78-93.
Lugli, S., Manzi, V., Roveri, M., Schreiber, B.C., 2010.
Te Primary Lower Gypsum in the Mediterranean:
a new facies interpretation for the frst stage of the
Messinian salinity crisis. Palaeo3, 297, 83-99.
Oliveri, E., Neri, R., Bellanca, A., Riding, R., 2010.
Carbonate stromatolites from a Messinian
hypersaline settings in the Caltanissetta Basin,
Sicily: evidence of microbial activity and related
stable isotope and rare element signatures.
Sedimentology 57, 52-64.
Panieri, G., Lugli, S., Manzi, V., Roveri, M., Schreiber,
C.B., Palinska, K.A., 2010. Ribosomal RNA gene
fragments from fossilized cyanobacteria identifed
in primary gypsum from the late Miocene, Italy.
Geobiology 8, 101-111.
Vai, G.B., Ricci Lucchi, F., 1977. Algal crusts,
autochtonous and clastic gypsum in a cannibalistic
evaporite basin; a case history from the Messinian
of Northern Apennine. Sedimentology 24, 211-
244.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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CHRONOLOGY OF THE BADENIAN SALINITY CRISIS OF
THE CENTRAL PARATETHYS
De Leeuw, A.
1
, Bukowski, K.
2
, Krijgsman, K.
3
, Kuiper K. F.
4
, Stoica, M.
5
& Tulbure, M.
5
1
CASP, West Building, 181A Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DH, United Kingdom,
e-mail: arjan.deleeuw@casp.cam.ac.uk
2
Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology, A.
Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland, email: buk@agh.edu.pl
3
Paleomagnetic Laboratory Fort Hoofddijk, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Te Netherlands,
e-mail: w.krijgsman@uu.nl
4
Isotope Geochemistry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands,
email: klaudia.kuiper@falw.vu.n
5
Bucharest University, Department of Geology, Balcescu Bd. 1, 010041 Bucharest, Romania,
email: marius.stoica@g.unibuc.ro, tulbure_maria@yahoo.com
Keywords: Radio-isotopic ages;
Magnetostratigraphy; Catastrophic event; Causal
relationships; Climate variability; Evaporites;
Mediterranean region; Miocene; Oxygen isotope
records; Volcanic tufs
Hydrological changes had a profound infuence on
environmental conditions within the Paratethys.
Water exchange through the shallow gateways
connecting this land-locked sea to the open ocean
was frequently obstructed, either due to ongoing
tectonism or as a result of global sea-level changes.
Tis brought about large fuctuations in water
chemistry, which led to a number of regional
extinction events, multiple expansions of highly
endemic faunas, and the deposition of some world-
class source rocks. A strong increase in salinity during
the regional Badenian stage led to the extinction of
a large number of species and triggered deposition
of up to 300 m thick evaporites in large parts of
the Central Paratethys. Tis so-called Badenian
Salinity Crisis was arguably one of the most severe
environmental catastrophes striking this aquatic
ecosystem. A scarcity of absolute age data has,
nevertheless, hampered a thorough understanding
of this event.
In this presentation, we will focus on constructing a
reliable chronology for the Badenian Salinity Crisis.
Radio-isotopic (
40
Ar/
39
Ar) ages for volcanic tuf
layers from below the evaporites in southern Poland
show that evaporite deposition started shortly afer
13.81 0.08 Ma (de Leeuw et al., 2010). New
radio-isotopic and paleomagnetic results from the
Radiolarian Shales in the Carpathian Foredeep
in Romania indicate that the Badenian Salinity
Crisis ended shortly afer 13.4 Ma. Tis is in good
agreement with the 13.60 0.07 Ma age obtained
for a volcanic tuf within the salt and with the
recently published 13.06 0.11
40
Ar/
39
Ar age for a
tuf in the Pecten Beds overlying the evaporites in
southern Poland (Sliwinski et al., 2012).
We will use this improved chronology of evaporite
deposition to place the Badenian Salinity Crisis in
a regional as well as global context, and discuss its
potential forcing mechanisms.
References
De Leeuw, A., Bukowski, K., Krijgsman, W., & Kuiper,
K. F., 2010. Age of the Badenian Salinity Crisis;
impact of Miocene climate variability on the circum-
Mediterranean region. Geology, 38(8), 715-718.
liwiski, M., Bbel, M., Nejbert, K., Olszewska-
Nejbert, D., Gsiewicz, A., Schreiber, B. C.,
Benowitz, J.A., Layer, P., 2012. Badenian-Sarmatian
chronostratigraphy in the Polish Carpathian
foredeep. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology, 326-328, 12-29.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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PALEOMAGNETIC AND GEOCHRONOLOGIC
CONSTRAINTS ON THE GEODYNAMIC EVOLUTION OF
THE CENTRAL DINARIDES
De Leeuw, A.
1
, Mandic, O.
2
, Krijgsman, W.
3
, Kuiper, K. F.
4
& Hrvatovi, H.
5
1
CASP, West Building, 181A Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DH, United Kingdom,
e-mail: arjan.deleeuw@casp.cam.ac.uk
2
Department of Geology & Palaeontology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 Wien, Austria,
e-mail: oleg.mandic@nhm-wien.ac.at, thomas.neubauer@nhm-wien.ac.at, mathias.harzhauser@nhm-wien.ac.at
3
Paleomagnetic Laboratory Fort Hoofddijk, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Te Netherlands,
e-mail: w.krijgsman@uu.nl
4
Isotope Geochemistry, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
e-mail: klaudia.kuiper@falw.vu.nl
5
Federal Institute for Geology - Sarajevo, Ustanika 11, 71210 Ilida, Bosnia and Herzegovina, e-mail: hharish@bih.net.ba
Keywords: Paleomagnetic Review, Chronostratigraphic
Review, Post Orogenic Evolution, Intra-montane basins,
Dinaride Lake System, Rotation, Magnetostratigraphy
Te Dinaride Mountains of South-eastern Europe
once separated the Paratethys from the Mediterranean.
Tey formed a barrier for the exchange of species
between these two seas, which led to large scale
endemism in the Paratethys. Te mountain chain
on the contrary facilitated the exchange of mammal
species between central Europe, Africa and Asia.
Te Dinaride Mountains consequently played an
important biogeographic role. Te geodynamic
evolution of this orogen is, however, relatively poorly
understood, especially in comparison with the
neighbouring Alps and Carpathians.
We use recently obtained paleomagnetic and
40
Ar/
39
Ar age results to construct a chronology for
the evolution of a number of the intra-montane
basins in the Central Dinarides and distinguish two
phases of basin formation (de Leeuw et al., 2012).
Te constructed time-frame also provides increased
insight in the evolution of the Dinaride Lake System
and lays the foundation for a regional biochronologic
framework based on lacustrine molluscs (Mandic et
al., this volume; Mandic et al., 2011; de Leeuw et al.,
2011). It furthermore pinpoints the ages of the Sinj
and Banovici mammal faunas whose compositions
testify to the above-mentioned migration events (de
Leeuw et al., 2010, 2011a, 2011b).
Our paleomagnetic results moreover indicate that the
Dinarides did not experience any signifcant tectonic
rotation since the late Oligocene (de Leeuw et al.,
2012). Te Dinaride orogen must consequently have
accommodated signifcant shortening. A review of
paleomagnetic data from the Adria plate, which plays
a major role in the evolution of the Dinarides as well
as the Alps, constrains its rotation since the Early
Cretaceous to 48 10 counterclockwise (CCW)
and indicates 20 of this CCW rotation took place
since the Miocene. Te amount of rotation within the
Adria-Dinarides collision zone increases with age and
proximity of the sampled sediments to undeformed
Adria.
Tese results signifcantly improve our insight in the
post-orogenic evolution of the Dinarides and resolve
the existing apparent controversy between structural
geological and paleomagnetic rotation estimates for
the Dinarides as well as Adria (Ustaszewski et al.,
2008; Marton et al., 2002, 2003). Tey moreover
elucidate the paleogeographic evolution of this part
of southeastern Europe and help to appreciate its
important paleobiogeographic role.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
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References
Mrton, E., Drobne, K., osovi, V., and Moro,
A., 2003. Palaeomagnetic evidence for Tertiary
counterclockwise rotation of Adria. Tectonophysics
377, 143-156.
Mrton, E., Paveli, D., Tomljenovi, B., Avani, R.,
Pami, J., and Mrton, P., 2002. In the wake of a
counterclockwise rotating Adriatic microplate:
Neogene paleomagnetic results from northern
Croatia. International Journal of Earth Sciences 91,
514-523.
Mandic, O., De Leeuw, A., Neubauer, T.A.,
Harzhauser, M., Krijgsman, W., 2012. Dinaride
Lake System - Miocene diversity hotspot revisited.
Tis volume.
Mandic, O., de Leeuw, A., Vukovi, B., Krijgsman,
W., Harzhauser, M., Kuiper, K.F., 2011.
Palaeoenvironmental evolution of Lake Gacko (NE
Bosnia and Herzegovina): impact of the Middle
Miocene Climatic Optimum on the Dinaride
Lake System. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology 299, 475492.
De Leeuw A., Mandic O., Vranjkovi A., Paveli
D., Harzhauser M., Krijgsman W., Kuiper K.F.,
2010. Chronology and integrated stratigraphy of
the Miocene Sinj Basin (Dinaride Lake System,
Croatia). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology,
Palaeoecology 292, 155167.
De Leeuw A., Mandic O., de Bruijn, H., Markovi,
Z., Reumer, J., Wessels, W., ii, E., Krijgsman
W., 2011a. Magnetostratigraphy and small
mammals of the Late Oligocene Banovii basin
in NE Bosnia and Herzegovina. Palaeogeography,
Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 310, 400-412.
De Leeuw, A., Mandic, M., Krijgsman, W., Kuiper,
K.K., Hrvatovi, H., 2011b A chronostratigraphic
framework for the Dinaride Lake System deposits
of the Livno-Tomislavgrad Basin in Bosnia-
Herzegovina. Stratigraphy 8, 28-49.
De Leeuw A., Mandic O., Krijgsman W., Kuiper
K.F., Hrvatovi, H., 2012, Paleomagnetic and
geochronologic constraints on the geodynamic
evolution of the Central Dinarides. Tectonophysics
530-531, 286298
Ustaszewski, K., Schmid, S.M., Fgenschuh, B.,
Tischler, M., Kissling, E., Spakman, W., 2008, A
map-view restoration of the Alpine-Carpathian-
Dinaridic system for the Early Miocene. Swiss
journal of Geoscience 101, 273-294.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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MAEOTIAN / PONTIAN OSTRACOD BIOSTRATIGRAPHY
FROM THE SOUTH CARPATHIAN FOREDEEP (BADISLAVA
TOPOLOG AREA)
Floroiu, A.
1
, Stoica, M.
1
, Krijgsman, W.
2
, Vasiliev, I.
2
& Van Baak, C.
2
1
Department of Geologyy, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, University of Bucharest, Romania, e-mail: foroiualina@yahoo.
com; marius.stoica@g.unibuc.ro;
2
Paleomagnetic Laboratory Fort Hoofddijk, Budapestlaan 17, 3584 CD Utrecht, Te Netherlands, e-mail: krijgsma@geo.
uu.nl; vasiliev@geo.uu.nl; C.G.CvanBaak@uu.nl
Keywords: Maeotian / Pontian Boundary,
Ostracods, Dacian Basin, Paratethys.
Te paleogeographical and geological evolution of
the Dacian Basin (and Eastern Paratethys, in general)
during the Late Maeotian and Pontian is frequently
discussed in the geological literature, because at this
time interval in the Mediterranean area experienced
its so-called Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC). Many
authors consider that this event had dramatical
efects in adjacent basins of the Paratethys including
the Dacian Basin. Te main efects of changing the
connections or disconnections of Paratethys with
the open seas consist in changing the bathymetry and
salinity of Paratethyan basins. We have established
a high-resolution ostracod biochronology for
the Maeotian-Pontian interval by integrating
biostratigraphic and palaeomagnetic data, allowing
a detailed correlation to the Mediterranean MSC
event.
Te Mio-Pliocene sedimentary successions are
very well exposed in the northern part of the Getic
Depression, especially in the Topolog Valley. Late
Maeotian and Pontian sedimentary sequences from
the investigated area are integrated into a large
monoclinal structure with 15
o
-20
o
plunge
to the
SSE. Based on detailed mapping and sampling of the
Maeotian and Pontian sequences from this area we try
to reconstruct the evolution of palaeoenvironments
and ostracod assemblages for this time interval.
Te Upper Maeotian deposits from the Badislava-
Topolog area reach up to 250 m in thickness and are
developed in a fuviatile-deltaic facies with frequently
continental type intercalations. Te ostracods
assemblage is represented by few species of fresh water
ostracods: Candoniella sp., Candona sp., Paracandona
albicans (Brady), Ilyocypris bradyi Sars. In the Dacian
Basin, these species populated unstable environments,
lakes and rivers with temporary existence and food-
plains. Tis scarce Maeotian ostracod fauna from this
section difers essentially from the diversifed one of
the same stage from the areas that evolved in basinal
conditions. Te mollusk assemblages from this
stage are also poor and are represented only by few
badly preserved shells of continental or fresh water
gastropods and bivalves (Stoica et al., 2007).
Te top of the Maeotian sequence is marked by an
erosional surface. Te overlaying Pontian deposits
have a transgressive character and are represented by
a fning-upward sequence that starts with coarsed to
medium-grained pebbles and sands in the lower part,
passing to predominant pelitic deposits to the upper
part. Tese pelitic sediments provided a rich ostracods
fauna represented by: Amplocypris dorsobrevis Sokac;
Scottia sp.; Cypria tocorjescui Hanganu; Candona
(Caspiocypris) ex. gr. alta (Zal.); Candona (Caspiolla)
ossoinae Krst.; Candona (Caspiolla) venusta (Zal.);
Candona (Pontoniella) acuminata striata Mandelstam;
Candona (Pontoniella) excellentis Olteanu; Candona
(Pontoniella) sp.; Candona neglecta Sars; Bakunella
dorsoarcuata (Zal.); Bakunella sp.; Cyprideis sp.1;
Cyprideis sp. 2; Tyrrhenocythere flipescui (Hanganu);
Tyrrhenocythere motasi Olteanu; Tyrrhenocythere
sp.1; Tyrrhenocythere sp.2; Leptocythere (Amnicythere)
palimpsesta Liv.; Leptocythere picturata Liv.;
Leptocythere (Amnicythere) multituberculata (Liv.);
Leptocythere sp.; Leptocythere ex. gr. bosqueti (Liv.);
Loxoconcha babazananica Liv.; Loxoconcha schweyeri
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
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Suzin; Loxoconcha petasa Liv.; Loxoconcha sp. Tis
ostracods assemblage is more abundant and is
characteristic for the Upper Pontian (Bosphorian
sub-stage). Some of these species continue to exist
in the Lower Dacian (Getian). Te Upper Pontian
(Bosphorian) sediments from our area contain also
a rich mollusk assemblages represented by brackish
water bivalves and gastropods (Stoica et al., 2007).
Te Maeotian / Pontian boundary on Badislava
Valley section is marked by an erosional event. Te
Upper Pontian deposits discordantly overlying the
Late Maeotian sediments. Tere are no indications
for the presence of the Lower and Middle Pontian
(Odessian and Portaferrian) substages. Tis
stratigraphical discontinuity can also be noticed on
the interpretations of seismic lines (Leever, 2007;
Leever et al., 2009).
References:
Leever, K.A. 2007. Foreland of the Romanian
Carpathians controls on late orogenic
sedimentary basin evolution and Paratethys
paleogeography. PhD thesis, Vrije Universiteit
Amsterdam.
Leever, K.A., Matenco, L., Rbgia, T.,Cloetingh, S.,
Krijgsman, W. and Stoica, M. 2009. Messinian sea
level fall in the Dacic Basin (Eastern Paratethys):
palaeogeographical implications from seismic
sequence stratigraphy. Terra Nova, 22, 12-17.
Stoica, M., Lazar, I., Vasiliev, I. and Krijgsman, W.
2007. Mollusc assemblages of the Pontian and
Dacian deposits from the Topolog Arges area
(southern Carpathian foredeep Romania).
Geobios, 40, p. 391-405.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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BADENIAN SULPHATIC EVAPORITIC SEQUENCES
FROM PIATRA VERDE
(SLNIC-TEIANI, PRAHOVA COUNTY)
Frunzescu, D.
Geology-Geophysics Department, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, 100680, Ploiesti, Romania,
e-mail: dfunzescu@yahoo.com
Keywords: Southern side of Eastern Carpathians,
Tarcu nappe, Slnic molasse, gypsum facies
modelling.
Geological setting
Within Slnic and Drajna synclines, the Slnic
Molasse unit (tefnescu and Mruneanu, 1980)
contains (Grujinschi, 1972): a tuf and lower gypsum
subunits and asalt and Upper sulphur subunits (Early
Badenian = Late Langhian in age), as well as and
brecia and grey lutitic units of Radiolarians Shales
and Spiratella Marls (Late Badenian = Kossovian).
Te Breccia Unit is discordantly disposed on the
Globigerina Marls and Slanic Tuf. Its stratigraphic
thickness and clast frequency decrease from the outer
side to the inner side. Te breccia matrix is marly-clayey,
while clasts are reworked from subjacent formations,
such as the Rchitau type calcareous sandstones,
grey marly-limestones, bituminous carbonatic
laminites or bituminous shales, Lithothamnium
limestones, sands, green volcanic tuf (Slnic Tuf),
and globigerina marls. Te limestones from the reef
levels that are suprajacent to the tufs have been
eroded. In the Piatra Verde outcrop, approximately 8
m above the Slnic Tuf, the breccia is replaced by the
sulphatic evaporites (gypsum).Te gypsum appears as
a 40-50 m in thickness megasequence, divided into
two piles of sulphatic lithons, separated from breccia,
each lithons having obvious reworking features. Te
older sulphatic pile shows features of some kind of
gravity fow stages with few breaks of algal/clastic
rhythmic accumulation. Te younger sulphatic pile
contains algal/clastic rhythmites, followed by 20 m of
clastic debris.
Methodology
In the Piatra Verde outcrop, a few clastic gypsum
lithofacies were identifed. Tese clastic gypsum
lithofacies are supplied from some reworked sulphatic
material, which was previous or contemporary to the
resedimentation and was adjacent to the sedimentation
area. Various lithofacies have been stated and they
have been coded, defned and interpreted (Frunzescu,
1998) as disturbed facies in tufaceous siltolutites =
dLST, dolomitic carbonatic shales = l-D, laminitic
clastic gypsum = c-la-g, banded clastic gypsum =
c-b-g, gypsum slumps structures = sl-g, gypsum ball
and pillow structures = b-p-g, gypsum debris-fow
structures = DF-g, gypsum mud-fow structures =
MF-g, gypsum Bouma type structures = TS-g, as well
as mud-fow structures = MF.
Sedimentology and sequence stratigraphy
Te lithofacies from Piatra Verde outcrop are
incorporated ABC, etc., type parasequences of some
deep settings (Warren, 2006). Tese parasequences
are dominated by the clastic gypsum lithofacies that
are supplied from the sedimentation of a previous
or contemporary adjacent sulphatic material. Te
parasequences bathymetry is ranged between: A =
basin foor (of salinas = mud fow with scattered
alabastrin gypsum clastorudites, turbiditic gypsum);
B = distal slope proximal slope (debris fow or
slumps); C = subtidal intertidal mouth creek
(banded clastic gypsum, laminitic clastic gypsum
associated with faser structures or disturbed facieses).
Some parasequence show deepening upward trends.
At the beginning of the sulphatic accumulation, the
basin palaeography is marked by tectonic balances
with uplif in Carpathian areas and the water
transgression over foreland clif, on the outer side,
generalizing the lagoon system separated by islands
or shoals barriers. Te emerged areas ridges of Lera-
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
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Vleni-Butenari or Homorciu spurs are toward
the inner side of the Carpathians and the pointed
islands sills are toward the exterior side. Te slopes
are light, due to the fact that the morphology has
been attenuated by the previous high-stand deposits:
tuf, siliciclastics, or Lithothamnium reefs limestones
and by their erosion during the low-stand successive
episode, contemporary to the evaporites. Te
evolution of the sulphur sedimentation is diferent
and, seldom is diachronic between the border areas (of
foreland) and the inner areas (Carpathian areas). Te
parasequences correspond to a low-stand system tract
of a cycle of 3
rd
or 4
th
ranks, which is characterized
by high amplitude of the lower and medium terms
to the superior term. Te parasequences from Piatra
Verde have got an agradational-stocking pattern for
the lower pile and a back stepping stocking pattern
for the upper pile.
Discussion and conclusions
Te megasequence from Piatra Verde is dominated
by allohtonous gypsum. On the inner emergent
ridges, sulphatic evaporites periodically fooded
sabkha types are generated. Disturbed facieses clasts
which are multiple reworked are accumulated on
the margin of the basin (salinas, playa), under the
form of laminitic clastic gypsum or banded clastic
gypsum. Te rapid accretion, but most of all the
tectonic instability balance that takes place afer the
Early Styrian folding phase generates drastic erosion
efects on the area margins and also bathymetry
increases into the basin, accompanied by low-stand
wedge accumulation. Te fows are primed by seismic
or storm mechanical shock, and the entire range of
gravity fows is recorded: from incipient stages or from
lamina level or lithon scale to deposits assemblage.
Creep, slide, slump, debris fow, mud fow, turbidite
stages are noticed, similar feature observed in other
Carpathian area (i.e., the Polish Carpathians, Peryt
and Kasprzyk, 1992; Peryt, 1995). Tese stages are
associated with faser or load casts structures. Te fow
efects are emphasized by the horst/graben tectonics,
which increases the subsidence in Slnic fallen
sector. On the top of the megasequence dissolution
collapse breccia are recorded too. Te megasequence
has got two piles: a lower one, which is accumulated
in the deep sea realm and another upper one which
is accumulated in subtidal/intertidal realm. Te
source area can be found in Lera-Vleni-Butenari
emergent spur area. On the Northern Carpathian
border, contemporary to the evaporitic fows the
accumulations of some aluvial cone ruditic deposits
are quoted: Btrni and Vrful Benii conglomerates
(Grujinschi, 1972). Te megasequence from Piatra
Verde only corresponds to the upper part of the
typical column from Poland. Te lack of the lower
part of its correspondent from Poland is related to
the non-sedimentation on the emergent areas, but
most of all it is caused by a lowstand type drastical
erosion, which is advanced lower than the evaporite
level; e.g. the erosion could be advanced at the level of
the Lithothamnium limestones marine sequence and
even at the subjacent level of globigerina marls and
tufs formation.
References
Frunzescu, D, 1998. Stratigraphycal and
sedimentological study of Miocene evaporites
between Buzu Valley and Teleajen Valley. Ph.D.
Tesis. Bucharest University, 278 pp. (in Romanian
with English abstract).
Grujinschi, C., 1972. Observaiuni asupra
discordanei din ivirea de sare de la Baia Baciului
(Slnic Prahova), Buletinul Institutului de Petrol si
Gaze, Geologie, 17, 33-38.
Peryt, M.T., Kasprzyk, A., 1992. Earthquake
induced resedimentation in the Badenian
(middle Miocene) gypsum of southern Poland.
Sedimentology, 39, 235-249.
Peryt, M.T., Petrichenko, I.O., Pobergski, V.A.,
1995. Sedimentary history of the middle Miocene
Badenian gypsum in the Carpathian Foredeep of
West Ukraine. Romanian Journal of Stratigraphy,
76, supplement no. 7 (10
th
R.C.M.N.S. Congress)
Bucharest.
tefnescu,, M., Mruneanu, M., 1980. Age of the
Dofana Molasse. Dri de Seam ale Sedinelor
Institutului de Geologie si Geofzic, LXV/4, 169-182.
Warren, J.K., 2006. Evaporites - sediments, resources
and hydrocarbons. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg
New York.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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BADENIAN SULPHATIC EVAPORITIC SEQUENCES FROM
VALEA REA SALT BRECCIA
(ISTRITA HILL, BUZAU COUNTY)
Frunzescu, D.
Geology-Geophysics Department, Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiesti, 100680, Ploiesti, Romania,
e-mail: dfunzescu@yahoo.com
Keywords: the Southern side of Eastern
Carpathians, lower molasse of the Carpathian
Foredeep, gypsum facies modeling
Geological setting
Te sulphatic evaporites in Valea Rea basin appear in
the clay matrix of the salt breccia (namely the Cosmina
Formation) in the form of 5-6 blocks of 3-6 m size
and more submetrical blocks which contain distinct
sulphatic facies, which are unique in the Romanian
evaporitic realm (Frunzescu, 1998), but similar as
component parts of sulphatic sequences which are
described in Northern Carpathian Foredeep in
Southern Poland, Eastern Galitia, Podolia, Bucovina
(Peryt and Jasionowski, 1994).
In the Valea Rea anticlyne core of Istria Hill,
Buzu district, several molasses formations such
the Burdigalian Dofana Formation, the Langhian
Cmpinia Formation (made up of globigerina
marls and tufs = Slnic tuf) (Sndulescu et al.,
1980) and the Langhian age Cosmina Breccia = high
evaporitic formation crop out. Te salt breccia of the
Cosmina Breccia is associated with saline springs and
eforescences and is made up of grey-blackish clay
matrix, in places bituminous, siltic, micaceous with
clastorudite levels vaguely layered. Breccia clasts have
a fne ruditic facies, being represented by lithic pebbles
(marl and grey-greenish clay), grey fne micaceous
calcareous sandstones, gypsum and gipsiferous
sandstones, black shales and globigerina tufaceous
marls and, rarely, fne green schist clastorudites. At
the bottom and at diferent levels (as lenticular or
wavy beds lithons) there are sulphatic evaporites
as gipsiferous marls, and alabastrin clastic gypsum
laminites. Te salt is impure and the salt piles are in
fact zones with a higher salty concentration.
Results
Te sulphatic evaporitic sequence in Valea Rea is made
of diferent lithofacies that can be seen in diferent
blocks which are kept in a succession by referring
to a typical megasequence. With some uncertainty
which refers to the correlation of internal facies with
external facies and to some peculiarity of an excessive
development of breccias, the sequence in Valea Rea
corresponds to the low part of the megasequence
which is typical for Southern Poland (Peryt et al.,
1995). We may also add that Piatra Verde (Teiani-
Slnic) sequence corresponds to the high part of
the same megasequence. Te Valea Rea litofacies
parasequences show the following settings: A-shallow
water (selenite in gigantic twins, skeletal gypsum
debris, skeletal gypsum domal packages); B-shallower
subtidal (sabre-like selenite, bended selenite (the
bends are made of carbonatic laminae and grass-like
clastoruditic selenitic gypsum ); C-intertidalsubtidal
(laminitic criptalgal gypsum, sabre-like nucleation
cones gypsum in a context of cyanobacteria mats).
Discussion and conclusions
From a paaleogeographic point of view, the evaporitic
basin of Subcarpathians is an integral part of the
Foredeep Badenian basin of the Carpathians (s.l.),
which is bordered by barriers and which have a
zonal facies distribution. Te globicerina marl
and tufs deposition mark a high sea level stand
and the communication between the Tethyan
and Paratethyan realms. Te accumulation of
piroclastites and sea deposits, as globigerina marls
and then a correspondent of Baranow beds from
the Northern Carpathian Foredeep uniformed the
morphostructural relief of Sub-Miocen basement.
Siliciclastits and Lithothamnium limestones of
Baranow beds from the Northern Carpathian
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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Foredeep (Peryt et al., 1995) existed in this Southern
sector too, as can be seen in the reworks in Rchitau-
type sandstones (e.g. Vispeti - in Istria Hill).
At the beginning of the Badenian evaporitic
sedimentation, the Early Styrian tectonic phase
determines a change of the tectonic balance with
an internal uplif and water transgression over
foreland. On the Moesian and Eastern European
platforms extended areas appear; they are favourable
to the generation of contemporary sulphates with
the accumulation in foredeep. From one spot to
another, on the inner border, to the emergent sides
of the Carpathians, halite is accumulated in several
more subsidence basins. Regionally, a system of
interconnected Salinas formed, extended in shallower
water, and separated by island barriers or accumulative
banks. Te foor surface has slight inclinations
towards the centre. On the external border we can see
more or less carbonatic ramps. Te sulphate deposits
were deposited in front and under the carbonatic
shelf, which are partially covered by Lithothamnium
reefs. Te sulphatic deposits facies variation refects
the ramp morphology, to such an extent that we may
distinguish diferent bathymetrical zones, such as.
1. Te subtidal zone includes low energy lagoonal
(salinas) environments and high energy banks
which may be exposed to the ebb. Some salinas may
communicate with the open sea by a zone of external
shelf. Te low energy fats may be frontally delineated
by bioclastic or sulphatic sand beaches (during storms,
the sand may be brought by the wind through creeks,
salt pans or from the adjacent seafoor);
2. Te intertidal zone is a high energy area where
microbian algal mats are developed, which are
periodically disturbed and which may be by subtidal
creeks or periodically saline or brackish ponds.
Te hypersaline pools may contain unspecifc,
periodically numerous populations. Te creeks
have metric depths and are very large (sizing in tens
of metres) and they contain a lag of semi-litifed
intraclasts, which are eroded and transported from
the neighbouring fats. Tey may also contain levee
or point-bar gipsum-arenit facies and all of them may
laterally migrate considerably.
3. Te supertidal zone contains the sabkha area with
algal mats more frequently disturbed (mud-creek,
intraclasts and chips) in which nodular sulphates may
precipitate and that may be cemented with aragonite,
high-magnesium calcite, microcrystalin dolomite,
gypsum (lamina, pavements broken in intraclasts).
Te sabkha area is larger in the external side of the
Badenian evaporitic basin.
Te evolution of the sulphatic sedimentation is based
on the interpretation of the lithofacies, which show
a remarkably lateral continuity, fact that allows the
correlation of diferent profles and their integration
into a typical succession which was previosuly
described in the Northern Carpathians Foredeep
(Peryt et al., 1995). Te megasequence from Valea
Rea (Istria Hill) corresponds to the low part of this
succession, and the one from Piatra Verde (Slnic)
corresponds to the high part of the above mentioned
section.
References
Frunzescu, D, 1998. Stratigraphycal and
sedimentological study of Miocene evaporites
between Buzu Valley and Teleajen Valley. Ph.D.
Tesis. Bucharest University, 278p (in Romanian
with English abstract).
Peryt, T.M., Jasionowski, M. 1994. In situ formed
and redeposited gypsum breccias in the Middle
Miocene Badenian of Southern Poland.
Sedimentary Geology. vol. 94, 153-163.
Peryt, T.M., Petrichenko, I.O., Pobergski, V.A., 1995.
Sedimentary history of the Middle Miocene
Badenian gypsum in the Carpathian Foredeep of
West Ukraine. Romanian Journal of Stratigraphy.
vol. 76, Supplement no.7, X
-th
RCMNS Congress,
Bucharest.
Sndulescu, M., Micu, M., Popescu, B. 1980. La
structure et la paleogeographie des formations
miocenes des Subcarpathes Moldaves. Procc.
Assoc. Geol. Carp-Balk., 184-197, Kiev.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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DISPERSAL EVENTS OF THE PARATETHYAN OSTRACOD
SPECIES IN THE PALAEO-MEDITERRANEAN DOMAIN
DURING THE MESSINIAN SALINITY CRISIS
Gliozzi, E., Grossi, F.
& Cosentino, D.
Roma Tre University, Department of Geological Sciences, 1 L.go S. Leonardo Murialdo, I-00146 Rome, Italy,
e-mail: gliozzi@uniroma3.it; fgrossi@uniroma3.it; cosentin@uniroma3.it
Keywords: Palaeobiogeography, brackish ostracods,
Paratethys, Palaeo-Mediterranean, late Messinian
Introduction
Te Neogene period records the major
palaeoceanographic events that turned the Tethys
Ocean into the present Mediterranean Sea. Four main
phases of change can be envisaged: 1) the complete
isolation of the Western Tethys from the north-eastern
Tethys, occurred around the late Serravallian, due to
the ongoing African-Eurasian collision (Rgl, 1998);
2) a gradual transition during Tortonian from cold,
deep, oceanic water-mass to warm, dense and saline
one, driven by tectonic and climate causes (Benson,
1986). Both of those phases marked the setting of
two palaeo(bio)geographic domains, the Palaeo-
Mediterranean and the Paratethys; 3) the variation
of the Atlantic/Palaeo-Mediterranean water-balance
due to the progressive closure of the Bethic and Rif
Corridors, started 5.96 Ma and ended around 5.59
Ma, that triggered the onset of the Messinian Salinity
Crisis (Krijgsman et al., 1999; CIESM, 2008); 4)
the restoration of the western connection with the
Atlantic Ocean and the consequent fooding of
full marine waters in the Mediterranean Sea (the
so-called Zanclean Deluge of Benson, 1986).
Te palaeoceanographic and palaeohydrological
changes caused, as well, the modifcation of the
Palaeo-Mediterranean marine fauna that, during the
Messinian Salinity Crisis, was afected by a regional
mass disappearance (Monegatti & Raf, 2010) and
was replaced, during the short Lago-Mare interval, by a
brackish fauna made by molluscs and ostracods mainly
of Paratethyan origin (Esu, 2007 with refs.; Gliozzi et
al., 2007 with refs.). What a few years ago seemed to
have been an abrupt colonization by the Paratethyan
taxa, now it seems to have occurred progressively,
through three colonization phases.
Te frst colonization phase (ca. 5.59-5.398 Ma):
the Paratethyan ostracod pioneers
Few outcropping sections located in the eastern Palaeo-
Mediterranean (Adana Basin, Turkey; Iraklion Basin,
Crete) and in the central Palaeo-Mediterranean (Majella
Mt., central Apennines, Italy) record the frst phase of the
colonization of Paratethyan ostracods. Te examined
sections rest upon the Messinian Erosional Surface
(MES), thus, according to age model for the Messinian
Salinity Crisis, are younger than 5.59 Ma (Krijgsman
et al., 1999). In central Apennines a volcanic layer
correlatable to the Maccarone ash layer (5.5550.06
Ma; Cosentino et al., 2009), intercalated between the
fossiliferous levels, is consistent with the age proposed
for the beginning of the frst colonization phase. Te
recovered ostracods are scarce but, together with the
Palaeo-Mediterranean endemic Cyprideis agrigentina,
few valves of the Paratethyan species Loxoconcha
mlleri and Loxoconcha eichwaldi were collected,
accompanied by very sporadic Tyrrhenocythere sp. juv.
Te very low ostracod frequencies in the assemblages
and their oligotipy testifes for a difcult colonization
of an aquatic environment that slowly grew favourable
for life.
Te main colonization phase (5.398-5.346): the
arrival of the Paratethyan ostracod contingent
More than ffy localities from Gibraltar (Malaga Basin,
Spain) to the west, to Cyprus and Adana Basin to the
east, on both the northern and southern coasts of the
Palaeo-Mediterranean record this phase of colonization.
Among them, the sedimentary successions of Fonte
dei Pulcini and Maccarone (central Apennines, Italy)
were calibrated astrochronologically (Cosentino et
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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al., 2012; Cosentino et al., in progress), providing
a scheme of detailed ages for the appearance of the
Paratethyan ostracods in the Palaeo-Mediterranean.
Te following nineteen species characterise the Lago-
Mare ostracod assemblages from 5.398 to 5.346 Ma:
Zalanyiella venusta, Pontoniella pontica, Caspiocypris
pontica, C. alta, Lineocypris sp. 1, Camptocypria
sp. 1, Amnicythere palimpsesta, Amnicythere sp.
2, Amnicythere sp. D, A. propinqua, A. accicularia,
A. saluta, Euxinocythere (Maeotocythere) bacuana,
E. (M.) praebaquana, Loxoconcha rhombovalis, L.
cf. L. schweyeri dacica, Loxocorniculina djafarovi,
Tyrrhenocythere pontica, Loxocauda limata and
Cytherura pyrama. Te high diversity of the recovered
assemblages (up to 15 species) testify well oxygenated
aquatic brackish environments, referable to diferent
salinities and depths.
Te last colonization phase (5.346-5.337): the
arrival of the straggles species
Many of the previously studied localities record
also the last colonization phase. Beyond the two
pioneer species and the nineteen species of the main
colonization phase, from 5.346 Ma the following
ten Paratethyan species reached the Palaeo-
Mediterranean domain during the last 14 kyr of the
Messinian Lago-Mare event: Pontoniella verrucosa,
Amnicythere multituberculata, A. costata, A. litica, A.
subcaspia, Euxinocythere (Maeotocythere) praebosqueti,
Tyrrhenocythere ruggierii, T. cf. T. taurica. Loxoconcha
kochi and L. cf. L. ludica.
Conclusions
On the whole, thirty-one Paratethyan ostracod
species migrated in the Palaeo-Mediterranean during
the Lago-Mare event, which characterizes the last step
of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Fourteen of them
have been recovered also in the coeval sediments
of the Dacic Basin (upper Pontian lowermost
Bosphorian, started 5.5 Ma, Krijgsman et al., 2010),
while only four common species have been recognized
in the Upper Pontian of the Euxinic Basin (Taman
Peninsula). It could be reliable to hypothesize that the
Paratethyan ostracods migrated from the Dacic Basin
into the Palaeo-Mediterranean through a connection
in the Macedonian area (Strimon Basin), during
the Bosphorian transgressive phase that afected the
Dacic Basin (Krijgsman et al., 2010).
References
Benson, R.H., 1986. Messinian Salinity Crisis.
Enciclopedia of Earth System Science 3, 161-167.
CIESM, 2008. Te Messinian Salinity Crisis from
Mega-Deposits to Microbiology: A Consensus
Report. CIESM Workshop Monograph 33, 1-168.
Cosentino, D., Cipollari, P., Faranda, C., Florindo,
F., Gennari, R., Gliozzi, E., Grossi, F., Laurenzi,
M.A., Lo Mastro, S., Sampalmieri, G., Sprovieri,
M., 2009, Integrated analyses of the Maccarone
section (northern Apennines, Italy): 13th Congress
RCMNS, 2nd-6th September 2009, Naples, Italy.
Acta naturalia de LAteneo Parmense v. 45 (1-4),
p. 338-339.
Cosentino, D., Bertini, A., Cipollari, P., Florindo, F.,
Gliozzi, E., Grossi, F., Lo Mastro, S., Sprovieri M.,
2012. Orbitally-forced palaeoenvironmental and
palaeoclimate changes in the late post-evaporitic
Messinian stage of the central Mediterranean
Basin. Bull. Amer. Geol. Soc. 124(3-4), 499-516.
Esu, D., 2007. Latest Messinian Lago-Mare
Lymnocardiinae from Italy: Close relations with
the Pontian fauna from the Dacic Basin. Geobios
40, 291-302.
Gliozzi, E., Ceci, M.E., Grossi, F. & Ligios, S., 2007.
Paratethyan ostracod immigrants in Italy during
the Late Miocene. Geobios 40, 325337.
Krijgsman, W., Hilgen, F.J., Raf, I., Sierro, F.J.,
Wilson, D.S., 1999. Chronology, causes and
progression of the Messinian salinity crisis. Nature
400, 652-655.
Krijgsman, W., Stoica, M., Vasiliev, I., Popov, V.V.,
2010. Rise and fall of the Paratethys Sea during the
Messinian Salinity Crisis. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.
290, 183-191.
Monegatti, P., Raf, S., 2010. Te Messinian marine
molluscs record and the dawn of the eastern Atlantic
biogeography. Palaeogeogr., Palaeoclimatol.,
Palaeoecol. 297, 1-11.
Rgl, F.,1998. Palaeogeographic considerations for
Mediterranean and Paratethys seaways (Oligocene
to Miocene). Ann. Naturhistor. Mus. Wien 99, 279-
310.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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MIOCENE PLIOCENE CLIMATE, ENVIRONMENTS, AND
CONNECTIVITY
OF THE EASTERN PARATETHYAN DOMAIN
Grothe, A.
1
; Sangiorgi F.
1
; Krijgsman, W.
2
; Vasiliev, I.
2
; Reichart, G-J.
3
; Stoica, M.
4
&
Brinkhuis, H.
1,5
1
Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Marine Palynology, Laboratory of
Palaeobotany and Palynology, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD Utrecht, Te Netherlands, e-mail: a.grothe@uu.nl
2
Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Paleomagnetic Laboratory Fort Hoofddijk,
Utrecht, Te Netherlands
3
Utrecht University, Faculty of Geosciences, Department of Earth Sciences, Geochemistry, Utrecht, Te Netherlands
4
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, Department of Geology, Bucharest, Romania
5
Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Den Burg, Te Netherlands
Keywords: dinofagellate cysts, pollen, Messinian
Salinity Crisis, salinity
During the Cenozoic, a large epicontinental sea
named Paratethys stretched from central Europe
into western Asia, afecting e.g., regional climate,
ecosystems, and the hydrological budget of the
Eurasian continent. Due to tectonic evolution
and eustatic sea level fall, the once large Eocene
Paratethys shrunk substantially, with the Black Sea,
the Caspian Sea and the Aral Lake representing its
present-day relicts. As a consequence of this retreat,
the Paratethyan basins evolved from fully marine
systems into more restricted marine/brackish water
environments and became, at times, freshwater-
dominated.
During the fnal stages of its demise (late Miocene
Pliocene), the Paratethys possibly played an
important role in the Mediterranean water budget.
During the late Miocene, the connection(s) between
the Mediterranean Basin and the Atlantic Ocean
deteriorated, which culminated in thick evaporite
deposits in the Mediterranean Basin during the
so-called Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC, 5.96
5.33 Ma). Te youngest sediments of the MSC are
characterized by brackish water conditions (so-called
Lago Mare-facies). It has been proposed that this
brackish water signature originated from freshwater
overspill of the Paratethys into the Mediterranean.
However, the complex interplay of connections and
paleocirculation between the Mediterranean and
Paratethyan basins and their role during the MSC
are still largely unknown. Timing and nature of
the water exchange between the Paratethys and the
Mediterranean is a crucial, yet poorly understood,
and highly controversial component of the MSC.
Here we present marine palynological data
(dinofagellates cysts, pollen and spores) from two
sections of the Eastern Paratethys, viz.: from the
Taman Peninsula (Russia) and from DSDP Leg
42b - Site 380a (Black Sea). Our results allow us to
reconstruct climatic and environmental evolution of
the Eastern Paratethys during the late Miocene and
early Pliocene and to understand its connectivity
with the Mediterranean Sea at times of the MSC.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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STRATIGRAPHIC CONSTRAINTS FOR THE OLIGOCENE-
EARLY MIOCENE NORTH ALPINE FORELAND BASIN:
BEYOND REGIONAL CONCEPTS AND TOWARDS
CORRELATION WITH THE INTERNATIONAL TIME SCALE
Grunert, P.
1
, Piller, W. E.
1
, Soliman, A.
1
, ori, S.
2
, Hinsch, R.
3
, Harzhauser, M.
4
1
Institute for Earth Sciences, University of Graz, Heinrichstrae 26, A-8010 Graz, Austria;
e-mail: patrick.grunert@uni-graz.at; ali.soliman@uni-graz.at; werner.piller@uni-graz.at
2
Geological Survey of Austria, Neulinggasse 38, A-1030 Vienna, Austria; e-mail: stjepan.coric@geologie.ac.at
3
Rohl-Aufsuchungs AG, Schwarzenbergplatz 16, A-1015 Vienna, Austria; e-mail: ralph.hinsch@rohoel.at
4
Geological-Paleontological Department, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, A-1014 Vienna, Austria;
e-mail: mathias.harzhauser@nhm-wien.ac.at
From Oligocene to Early Miocene the North
Alpine Foreland Basin (NAFB) was one of the main
sedimentary basins of the Central Paratethys and
acted as its primary connection to the Mediterranean
Sea. Te dynamic interplay of paleogeography and
eustatic sea-level controlled 1) faunal exchange
and consequently evolutionary patterns and
paleobiogeography, and 2) the distribution of the
(in many cases organic rich) deposits in both, the
Paratethys and Mediterranean seas. Tis drew the
attention of geologists and hydrocarbon industry alike
on the NAFB over a hundred years ago. Surprisingly,
stratigraphy remains poorly constrained until today,
being largely based on lithostratigraphic correlation
and focusing on regional biostratigraphic correlation.
Te relation to the international time scale is tentative
as robust tie points are missing.
New attempts have been made over the past years
to address these problems by joint projects between
academia and industry. In order to achieve the
primary objective, the improvement of the correlation
of NAFB deposits to the international time scale,
diferent methods including magneto-, chemo-,
cyclo- and sequence stratigraphy have been applied
to drill-sites and outcrops from the central part of
the basin and integrated with new biostratigraphic
constraints from calcareous nannoplankton and
dinofagellate cysts. Trends in Rupelian to Aquitanian
carbon isotope records are in good agreement with
the global isotopic records; stable isotope analysis
in combination with organic geochemistry further
reveal regional trends and events that can be used for
stratigraphic correlation within the basin, especially
of its imbricated southern margin. Sequence
stratigraphic analysis of the Burdigalian deposits
implies a primary control of eustatic sea-level on the
terminal marine NAFB and allows a correlation with
global 3
rd
-order sequences Bur 1-3.
Te preliminary results demonstrate that the
integration of diferent stratigraphic techniques is a
promising way to achieve a more precise stratigraphy
for the NAFB. Te improved correlation will
be fundamental by facilitating the evaluation of
teleconnections between the Paratethys and the
Mediterranean seas. It will further contribute to
the establishment of the Paratethys as a recorder
of Oligocene and Early Miocene climatic trends in
Europe.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
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HIGH RESOLUTION ANALYSIS AND THE LIMITS OF
PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTIONS
Harzhauser, M.
1
,
Kern, A.K.
1
, Piller, W.E.
2
& Soliman, A.
2
1
Natural History Museum Vienna, Geological-Paleontological Department, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria,
e-mail: mathias.harzhauser@nhm-wien.ac.at
2
University Graz, Institute of Earth Sciences, Heinrichstrasse 26, 8010 Graz, Austria
Keywords: Lake Pannon, Palynology, Miocene,
sub-Milankovitch, Climate
During the last decade continental sedimentary
records have shown to be as accurate as marine ones
concerning time resolution. Astronomical forcing
was deciphered in many long continental sections
and even bed-to-bed correlation with marine sections
was performed. Aside from solving stratigraphical
questions, these studies provide fundamental insights
into the interplay between astronomically originated
climatic change and shifing biota. Tis big leap
allows Miocene and even Oligocene records to be
resolved in equally as Pleistocene and Holocene ones.
Nevertheless, there is still a major lag in understanding
pre-Pliocene records in terms of sub-Milankovitch
scales.
Aside from geophysical and geochemical
measurements, one of the most adequate methods to
gain information on past climate and ecosystems is the
analysis of the terrestrial and aquatic palynomorphs.
Few studies on pre-Quaternary successions ever aimed
for stratigraphic resolution to get a grip on centennial
or even decadal scale. Typically, these focus on
laminated maar-lake deposits with seasonal changes in
sedimentation. Such records, however, are extremely
scarce unlike continuous successions of other lake
types, where high-resolution studies are commonly
not considered as a high sample density is requited.
By using bulk-samples, representing an undefned
amount of years or decades of sedimentation, are
usually used for analysis resulting in gross values.
Tese give useful results for calculations on a scale
of 105-106 years but are unable to capture climate
dynamics on a sub-millennial scale.
Herein we present high resolution multi-proxy
analyses, detecting shifs in diferent environmental
parameters, such as precipitation, vegetation, lake
level and surface water productivity on a decadal-to
centennial-scale within the Miocene. Even during the
Tortonian climatic optimum rapid fuctuations of
the mean annual precipitation can be detected. Te
repetitive nature of such environmental shifs may
allow a correlation with various sub-Milankovitch
cycles. We assume that these small-scale patterns
of climate fuctuations are strongly infuencing the
Miocene environments, but remain completely
overlooked so far. However, to link the observed cyclic
shifs in the proxy data to certain climatic parameter,
is still highly complicated.
Tis study is supported by the FWF grant
P21414-B16.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
- 61 -
PARATETHYS PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTIONS
Harzhauser, M.
1
, Piller, W.E.
2
, Reuter, M.
2
, Grunert, P.
2
1
Natural History Museum Vienna, Geological-Paleontological Department, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria,
e-mail: mathias.harzhauser@nhm-wien.ac.at
2
University Graz, Institute of Earth Sciences, Heinrichstrasse 26, 8010 Graz, Austria
Keywords: Paleogeography, Paleoclimate, Reefs,
marine Benthos, Mediterranean Sea
Stratigraphy and the problems of reliable correlations
are central topics of the RCMNS-members working
in the Paratethys area. Still, the boundaries of many
of the various regional stages are poorly defned and
ofen are conceptual rather than data-based. Te exact
dating of all these boundaries will remain a task for
many future studies. Hence, whilst the drawers of
the stratigraphic-cabinet are somewhat vague in
several cases, their paleontological contents are quite
well known. A refned resolution of the geological
archives allows describing the paleoenvironmental
changes and plaeoclimatic developments of the
Western/Central Paratethys in much detail, whilst
the eastern part remains enigmatic for most western
workers. Paleontological data clearly document
that throughout its history, the Western/Central
Paratethys experienced only three basic states:
1. as an appendix of the Mediterranean Sea, 2. as an
appendix of the so much bigger Eastern Paratethys
and 3. being a fully isolated waterbody. State 1 was
realized during the Aquitanian and early Burdigalian,
the late Burdigalian, most parts of the Langhian
and during a short episode of the Serrvallian. Te
corresponding biotic assemblages were highly
diverse, displayed low endemicity and polytaxic reef
structures could develop. Coral carpets and reefs are
restricted to this state. Te origin of the species is
ofen difcult to evaluate. Frequently, the Paratethyan
deposits yield the most diverse assemblages for the
time slice in the circum-Mediterranean area and the
vector of migration is unclear. Te rather abrupt
appearance of the species in the Paratethys afer
phases of endemic developments suggests rather
immigrations from the adjacent bioprovinces than
an autochthonous development in the Paratethys
Sea. State 2 is typically represented by the Sarmatian
corresponding to the late Serravallian but also in earlier
phases e.g. during the Early Oligocene. Te marine
life was low diverse and endemicity increased. Reef
structures were typically dominated by few species,
such as polychaets, bryozoans and/or foraminifers.
Eutrophication and phytoplankton blooms were
also common phenomena in this state and oolite
formation was frequent. Tere is very little or even
no evidence for successful emigration of any endemic
marine benthos species from the Paratethys Sea into
the Mediterranean Sea. Surprisingly, state 3 is rather
the exception and was realized probably only during a
short phase in the middle Burdigalian (Ottnangian),
during the end-Langhian (Badenian) for some areas,
and especially during the Late Miocene (Pannonian).
Carbonate factories collapsed regularly when the
Paratethys Sea went through this state.
Interestingly, events typical for states 2 and 3 ofen
recall and predate counterparts that developed in
the Mediterranean area at other times. Te most
outstanding one is of course the Badenian Salinity
Crises versus the Messinian Salinity Crises. Another,
yet undocumented parallel are the mid-Sarmatian
oolite phase, with a fourishing endemic mactrid-
cardiid assemblage, and its 5-ma-younger pendant
in early Messinian lagoons of the Mediterranean
Sea. In the proposed talk we will focus on the
typical ecosystems of each of the Paratethys states
and especially on the striking but diachronous
Paratethyan-Mediterranean-counterparts.
Tis abstract contributes to the FWFProject
P23492: Mediterranean OligoMiocene
stratigraphy and palaeoecology.
Paratethys-Mediterranean Interactions: Environmental Crises during the Neogene
RCMNS Interim Colloquium
- 62 -
ATNTS2012
Hilgen, F.
1
, Lourens, L.
1
, Van Dam, J.
2
, Beu, A.
3
, Boyes, A.
4
, Cooper, R.
3
, Krijgsman, W.
1
,
Ogg, J.
5
, Piller, W.
6
& Wilson, D.
7
1
Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584 CD, Utrecht, Te Netherlands,
email: filgen@geo.uu.nl; llourens@geo.uu.nl
2
Univ. Wageningen, jan.vandam@wur.nl
3
GNS Science, Post Offce Box 30368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand, e-mail: a.beu@gns.cri.nz, r.cooper@gns.cri.nz
4
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
5
Purdue University, e-mail: jogg@purdue.edu
6
Institute for Geology and Palaeontology, Karl-Franzens-University Graz, Heinrichstrasse 26, A-8010 Graz, Austria,
email: werner.piller@kfunigraz.ac.at
7
Department of Earth Science, University of California, 1006 Webb Hall - MC 9630, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-9630,
email: dwilson at geol.ucsb.edu
ATNTS2012 is presented in the Neogene chapter
of GTS2012, which just appeared as a two volume
book published by Elsevier. It is the successor
of ATNTS2004. Te changes with respect to
ATNTS2004 are relatively minor as might be
expected from a time scale that is largely underlain
by astronomical tuning. Te Serravallian Global
Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) has now been
defned at the boundary between the Globigerina
Limestone and Blue Clay Formations in the Ras-il-
Pellegrin section on Malta and coincides with the
termination of the Mi3b isotope shif; ongoing studies
are further directed to defne the Langhian GSSP close
to the C5Cn/C5Br boundary and the Burdigalian
GSSP at or close to the Helicosphaera ampliaperta
FO in a deep marine core in the open ocean. In
addition to the global chronostratigraphic scale,
regional subdivisions for New Zealand and the
Paratethys have been added, and detailed mammal-
based chronological units and calcareous plankton,
dinofagellate and radiolarian biozonal schemes
included.