| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9526068 | Sedimentary Geology | 2005 | 23 Pages |
Abstract
The millimeter-scale couplets are interpreted as varves sedimented in an ephemeral water environment marginal to a perennial brackish water lagoonal basin. These varved sediments reflect a marked seasonality characterized by the alternation of arid and more humid climatic phases. The presence of high values of smectite (60-80%) in the clay minerals of the analyzed samples could be a consequence of these climatic oscillations from drier to moister conditions. The climatic scenario suggested in this paper for the late Messinian Lago-Mare episode is in agreement with the monsoon system that, according to some authors, starting from 5.8 Ma developed in the Mediterranean area.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Earth and Planetary Sciences
Earth-Surface Processes
Authors
D. Cosentino, P. Cipollari, S. Lo Mastro, C. Giampaolo,