Proper noun
Messinian
(geology, paleontology) The final subdivision of the Miocene epoch.
Messinian salinity crisis During Mesozoic and Cenozoic times, as the northwest corner of Africa converged on Iberia, it lifted the Betic-Rif mountain belts across southern Iberia and northwest Africa. Source: Internet
The time of beginning of the MSC was recently estimated astronomically at 5.96 mya, and it persisted for some 630,000 years until about 5.3 mya; citation see Animation: Messinian salinity crisis, at right. Source: Internet
The Messinian salinity crisis started about six million years ago (mya) when the Mediterranean became landlocked, and then essentially dried up. Source: Internet