ISOTOPE GEOCHEMISTRY OF SOME MESSINIAN EVAPORITES - PALEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Stable isotope measurements have been carried out on a number of carbonate and sulfate samples from evaporites of Messinian age. The results obtained indicate that the environmental conditions of deposition of Messinian sediments changed widely through time and space. They also suggest that the input of meteoric water was not limited to certain basins but was a widespread feature which is worth further and deeper consideration. Isotopic data suggest that Sicilian selenite beds were the product of primary deposition and rapid recrystallization. The genesis of laminated gypsum (balantino) is not particularly clarified by the isotopic data. © 1979.