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Zanclean/Piacenzian transition on Cyprus (SE Mediterranean): calcareous nannofossil evidence of sapropel formation

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Abstract

Quantitative analyses of calcareous nannofossils in the sediments of Pissouri South section on the island of Cyprus have produced a paleoceanographic record reflecting the paleoclimatic conditions during the Zanclean/Piacenzian transition. Pissouri South cyclical lithological alternations between organic-rich laminated layers and grey marls reflect the Earth’s orbital precession. According to the calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy which has been performed, the studied section is correlated with MNN14/15 and MNN16 calcareous nannofossil biozones and is astronomically dated between 4.065 and 3.217 Ma. Intervals of increased organic carbon content, along with the positive values of Florisphaera profunda, Helicosphaera sellii, Discoaster spp. and the subsequent increase of stratification S-index, correspond to the sapropel deposition during periods of wetter climate and intense continental runoff, especially from the river Nile. These layers alternate with grey marly intervals, featured by the increased values of small placoliths of Reticulofenestra and Gephyrocapsa species, which are indicative of eutrophic conditions during intense surface-water mixing. Our data support the prevalence of a generally warm phase characterized by the absence of high-frequency climate variations in the southeastern Mediterranean during the Zanclean/Piacenzian (Early/Late Pliocene) transition.

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Acknowledgments

This work has been made possible thanks to the financial support provided by ΕU EraNet/Marinera Medecos project and University of Athens, SARG 70/4/11078. Field work funding has been provided by Research Projects 70/3/7093 and 70/4/3570 financed by Cyprus Geological Survey and University of Athens, SARG. We are grateful to Dr. Efthimios Tsiolakis (Geological Survey of Cyprus) for his warm support during the field work. Critical comments by Stefano Patruno, Agata Di Stefano, and the journal editors have proved invaluable in improving the manuscript.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, University of Athens, 157 84, Panepistimioupolis, Athens, Greece

    M. Athanasiou, M. V. Triantaphyllou, M. D. Dimiza & G. Τheodorou

  2. Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Institute of Oceanography, Anavyssos, 190 13, Attiki, Greece

    A. Gogou

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  1. M. Athanasiou
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  2. M. V. Triantaphyllou
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Correspondence to M. Athanasiou.

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Athanasiou, M., Triantaphyllou, M.V., Dimiza, M.D. et al. Zanclean/Piacenzian transition on Cyprus (SE Mediterranean): calcareous nannofossil evidence of sapropel formation. Geo-Mar Lett 35, 367–385 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-015-0414-6

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