Isotopic Events Preceding the Badenian Salinity Crisis in the Central Paratethys, Middle Miocene, Poland

Abstract

Middle Miocene foraminifera from the Upper Silesian Basin (Poland) have been analysed. The stable oxygen and carbon isotope signatures in Uvigerina, Globigerina bulloides, and Globigerinoides quadrilobatus show a consistent tendency of directional changes. There is an abrupt, strong increase in the proportion of heavy isotopes of δ18O recorded about 10 m below the Badenian evaporites.