A relative paleointensity (RPI)-calibrated age model for the Corinth syn-rift sequence at IODP Hole M0079A (Gulf of Corinth, Greece)

Marco Maffione, Emilio Herrero-bervera

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

212 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The Corinth basin (Greece) is a young continental rift that recorded cyclic basin paleoenvironment variations (i.e., marine to lacustrine) caused by glacio-eustatic sea level fluctuations during its initial connection to the global oceans. The Corinth syn-rift sequence offers therefore a unique opportunity to determine the timing and modality of connection of young rifts to the global oceans, and investigate how sediment supply change during this extremely dynamic stage of their evolution. Here we use magnetostratigraphic and relative paleointensity (RPI) constraints from 885 discrete samples from International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Hole M0079A to generate an unprecedented high-resolution (∼15kyr) age model for the youngest part of the Corinth’s offshore syn-rift sequence. Our RPI-calibrated age model spans the last ∼850 kyr and reveals that initial connection of the Corinth basin to the Mediterranean Sea occurred at ∼530 ky, more recently than previously thought and after a short-lived marine incursion at ∼740 kyr. Accumulation rates calculated from our age model indicate two significant changes in sediment supply at 530 (from 74 to 156 cm/kyr on average) and 70 ka (from 156 to 258 cm/kyr on average), interpreted as due to increased local fault activity in the southern margin of the Corinth basin. Sedimentation rates also display a short-term variation indicating a lower sediment supply (98 cm/kyr on average) during interglacial periods and a higher input (156 cm/kyr on average) during glacial periods. We conclude that long-term variations of sediment supply in young rifts connecting to the global oceans are predominantly controlled by local tectonics (i.e., new depocenters formation), while short-term variations may be driven by global climate (i.e., increased erosion aided by fewer vegetation during glacial periods). Grain size of the Corinth syn-rift sequence shows a weak correlation with glacial cycles too (i.e., coarser sediments during interglacials), but we suggest this to be controlled by the hydrodynamics of the basin (i.e., stronger bottom currents when the basin was connected to the Mediterranean Sea during interglacial periods).
Original languageEnglish
Article number813958
Number of pages15
JournalFrontiers in Earth Science
Volume10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 28 Mar 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank all involved with the successful completion of IODP Expedition 381, including ECORD Science Operator staff, ship and drilling crew of the D/V Fugro Synergy, and the co-chief scientists Lisa McNeill and Donna Schillington. We are also grateful to Thomas Frederichs and Liane Brük for their support during paleomagnetic analyses in Bremen, and Ursula Röhl, Holger Kuhlmann, and Alex Wülbers for their guidance during the sampling. MM acknowledges funding from NERC Moratorium Award n. NE/R013942/1 and Marie Sklodovska-Curie Individual Fellowship n. 894395. EHB was supported by SOEST-HIGP of the University of Hawaii at Manoa as well an USAC-IODP grant. We thank the Editor J. C. Larrasoaña, and reviewers P. Calvín and L. Iovane for their critical and useful review of the original manuscript.

Funding Information:
MM acknowledges funding from NERC Moratorium Award n. NE/R013942/1 and Marie Sklodovska-Curie Individual Fellowship n. 894395. EH-B was supported by SOEST-HIGP of the University of Hawaii at Manoa as well an USAC-IODP grant.

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2022 Maffione and Herrero-Bervera.

Keywords

  • Corinth rift
  • International Ocean Discovery Program
  • paleomagnetism
  • magnetostratigraphy
  • relative paleointensity (RPI)
  • age model

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A relative paleointensity (RPI)-calibrated age model for the Corinth syn-rift sequence at IODP Hole M0079A (Gulf of Corinth, Greece)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this