Messinian palaeorelief from a 3-D seismic survey in the Tarraco concession area (Spanish Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The 3-D seismic survey shot in the Tarraco concession area enables a very detailed analysis of the Messinian unconformity in that area. The revealed palaeomorphological features in combination with well data confirm that during the Messinian the sea level dropped rapidly and substantially, resulting in the erosion of a pre-Messinian shelf and slope sequence under subaerial conditions. The magnitude of the sea level drop is estimated to be about 2000m. The nature of the infill of the Messinian valleys indicates a rapid return to normal global sea level.