Research Article

Geodynamic Framework of Saline Systems in Eastern Tunisia: Saline Depressions Inherited from the Triassic Intrusions and/or the Messinian Salinity Crisis

Figure 11

Geodynamic model of an inherited playa from the Messinian Salinity Crisis integrated in the framework of the transition from subduction to collision between Eurasian and African plates.
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(a) Before the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Tectonically, subduction between African and Eurasian plates had been taking place. The Sahel was evaded by the Mediterranean Sea with deposition of the marine Miocene
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(b) During the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Tectonically, collision started causing the MSC with the stagnation of evaporites and within the dried Mediterranean Sea and the deposition of the continental /or salty water
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(c) After the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Tectonically, the transposed compression in the Sahel gave birth to folds and playas opening. Even after the MSC, uplands and folds forbad the sea to return to its initial position. The compression has controlled the evolution within playas, especially the formation of fault-spring mounds (1,2,3,4)