In the Messinian salinity crisis (also referred to as the Messinian event, and in its latest stage as the Lago Mare event) the Mediterranean Sea went into a cycle of partial or nearly complete desiccation (drying-up) throughout the latter part of the Messinian age of the Miocene epoch, from 5.96 to 5.33 Ma (million years ago).

Apr 16, 2024 · In this Review, we summarize the boundary conditions, causes and consequences of the Mediterranean Messinian salinity crisis (MSC; 5.97–5.33 million years ago). Salt giant formation is more...

Jun 1, 2014 · Forty years after the image of the Mediterranean transformed into a giant salty lake was first conceived, the fascinating history of the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) still arouses great interest across a large and diverse scientific community.

Aug 12, 1999 · The Messinian salinity crisis is widely regarded as one of the most dramatic episodes of oceanic change of the past 20 or so million years (1–3).

Oct 24, 2024 · Once upon a time, the Mediterranean Sea turned into a vast salty basin for around half a million years. Hints of this geological upset can still be seen today – and there’s a chance a similar...

Dec 25, 2024 · The crisis point was reached 5.97 million years ago, when suddenly, across the entire Mediterranean Sea, deposits of salts and gypsum began to appear. It seems likely there was a worsening of the situation at this time, perhaps with the outflow being further reduced.

Jun 1, 2014 · The Messinian salinity crisis can be defined as an ecological crisis caused by large amplitude environmental changes which developed in the Mediterranean at the end of the Miocene as a result of coeval effects of geodynamic and climatic forcings and their feedbacks.

Jul 3, 2019 · The so-called Messinian salinity crisis, which dramatically affected the Mediterranean Sea at the end of Miocene, and resulted in the accumulation of important quantities of both layered and massive salt deposits within the basin, also generated a thick pile of research papers, as well as endless debates within the scientific community.

In this Review, we summarize the boundary conditions, causes and consequences of the Mediterranean Messinian salinity crisis (MSC; 5.97-5.33 Ma), and highlight the impacts of salt extraction and ion return on the Earth system.

In this Review, we summarize the boundary conditions, causes and consequences of the Mediterranean Messinian salinity crisis (MSC; 5.97–5.33 million years ago). Salt giant formation is more complex than the simple evaporation of an enclosed sea.