High Mediterranean water-level during the Lago-Mare phase of the Messinian Salinity Crisis: insights from the Sr isotope records of Spanish marginal basins (SE Spain)

The Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) successions record extreme fluctuations in the Mediterranean's environmental conditions. However, some of scenarios that are thought to have caused these environments contentious. One prominent example this is Mediterranean water level during Lago-Mare stage MSC, which interpreted either as being very low a largely desiccated punctuated by endorheic lakes (lacustrine scenario) or sufficiently high enable basin-wide connectivity across and with Atlantic Eastern Paratethys (lagoonal scenario). In SE Spain, adjoining marginal basins Sorbas, Nijar Vera exhibit sedimentary records stage. Here we present 11 new 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotope ratios measured on ostracod ( Cyprideis sp.) valves from successions, add already published data whose significance, terms provenance, has not been fully explored. parallel, construct mass balance model provides quantitative insights into isotopic composition ostracods dwelt. Overall, Sorbas (0.709066–0.709131), (0.708814–0.709099) (0.708764–0.708813) all show lower values than modelled for (>0.7100). These Spanish therefore require an additional source signature likely derived main waterbody (0.7086–0.7087). This interpretation implies at least Western had relatively fluctuating MSC. • We discuss interval Nijar, basins. inconsistent contribution local sources. An external open required. overview whole phase presented.