ALTERNATE INTERPRETATION OF THE MESSINIAN SALINITY CRISIS - CONTROVERSY RESOLVED

A high-resolution chronology of the Mediterranean Messinian salinity c risis is proposed. Two types of evaporite deposition may be distinguis hed: those in marginal areas vs. those in basinal ones. Their diachron eity is deduced from the stratigraphic relationships linking these eva porites to a major Messinian erosional surface, A two-step model is pr oposed for the evolution of the salinity crisis through time. During t he first phase (from 5.75 to 5.60 Ma), the deposition of marginal evap orites took place in response to a modest sea-level fall; in the secon d interval (from 5.60 to 5.32 Ma), the Mediterranean basin became isol ated. During this later period, the deposition of basinal evaporites a nd the cutting of the Mediterranean canyons took place.