The Messinian evaporites of the Mesaoria basin (North Cyprus): A discrepancy with the current chronostratigraphic understanding

Large volume of evaporites were deposited during the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) across Mediterranean. These are currently outcropping on land and interpreted by seismic profiles beneath Mediterranean floor. Biostratigraphic, magnetostratigraphic astrochronologic data recovered from sediments below above evaporites, together with gypsum facies associations stratigraphic cyclicity, cornerstone what is known as MSC ‘three-stage’ model: Primary Lower Gypsum (PLG) – stage 1, Resedimented (RLG) - 2, Upper (UG) 3. Although this litho- chronostratigraphic model mainly based succession in Sicily, it being applied many investigators The Mesaoria basin, North Cyprus, hosts well exposed deposits Kalavasos Fm. Two informal units distinguished succession. lower unit, largely consisting clastic deposits, conformably overlaid upper mostly ‘in situ’ vertically-oriented selenite deposits. Based lithostratigraphic succession, unit could be tentatively assigned to RLG while correspond UG However, our lithologic geochemical (?34Ssulfate ?18Osulfate, 87Sr/86Sr) points that fits those PLG 1. For first time, thick beds lithofacies signatures diagnostic lay over successions accepted model. In platforms ‘clastic’ gravity-flow coeval involving erosion redeposition same evolutive stage. complete Cyprus must considered Evaporites ‘two-step’ (Lower Evaporites) classically proposed prior We show how nearby evaporite basins island (North South Cyprus) can produce different sedimentary records. Our cast doubts systematic application other successions. This work highlights importance local processes sedimentation distribution active tectonic settings, alerts against extrabasinal correlations distribution.