La Crisis de Salinidad del Messiniense en la cuenca sedimentaria de Palma (Mallorca, Islas Baleares).

Abstract

The Messinian and Pliocene stratigraphic record in the Palma basin (Mallorca) shows four stratigraphic units and two majors unconformities. The Reef Unit (late Tortonian-Messinian) recorded the pre-evaporitic marine sedimentation (pre-Messinian Salinity Crisis). This unit is limited at the top by the intra-Messinian unconformity, representing a subaerial erosive phase related to a first major sea-level fall. The evaporitic marginal episode is characterized by the Terminal Carbonate Complex changing basinward into massive selenite gypsum. The post-evaporitic deposits (latest Messinian) are characterized by lacustrine-continental sedimentation, related to the so called Lago Mare episode. At the top of the Lago-Mare Unit is located the fini-Messinian unconformity, caused by a second major sea-level fall. Over this unconformity lies the Pliocene Units (early Pliocene), represented by marine deposit which marks a transgression, and the subsequent final of the Messinian Salinity Crisis.