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We are thrilled to announce that in its first year (Nov-2024/2025) our COST action was able to finance 9 Short Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) and 1 conference participation from members of the SaltAges COST action.
Katja Mužek from Croatian Geological Survay (Zagreb, Croatia) WG1
«The Dinarides Lake System to the Mediterranean Lago Mare: migration patterns and climate change recorded by the late Neogene limnic ostracods and mollusks »
«During my Short-Term Scientific Mission, from the 7th to the 13th of September 2025, I conducted fieldwork in the Adriatic foreland and wedge-top basins of central Italy, focusing on sites to that record the dramatic environmental changes linked to the Messinian Salinity Crisis. Detailed sedimentological logs were completed at the Maccarone and Fonte dei Pulcini sections, where Lago-Mare and early Pliocene deposits were systematically sampled for fossil ostracods. My host, Prof. Elsa Gliozzi, provided invaluable support by sharing essential literature, geological maps, and GPS coordinates for the target sites, which greatly facilitated efficient planning and successful field documentation. The material gathered will allow detailed taxonomic and paleoenvironmental analyses, helping to trace migration routes of freshwater and brackish species between the Paratethys, Dinarides Lake System, and the Mediterranean basins. This work contributes to the main objectives of the SALTAGES COST Action by improving our understanding of faunal exchange, environmental adaptation, and climate- driven evolution during one of the most significant transitions in Earth’s history. Beyond the scientific outcomes, the STSM also supported close collaboration, field training, and knowledge exchange between institutions, allowing the way for future joint research and publication, as well as contribution for my PhD research.»
Christos Psarras from National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Greece) WG1
«The Messinian Faunal Turnover through the Emblematic Sacco's Collection.»
«During my STSM at the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali di Torino in July 2025, I worked on the study of historical fossil cone snail (Conidae) specimens to better understand Mediterranean biodiversity changes around the Messinian Salinity Crisis. With support from the collection manager Dr Loredana Macaluso and the lent camera equipment given by Prof. Francesca Lozar (University of Turin), I photographed 181 fossil specimens, many of them type specimens, using both natural and UV light. UV imaging helped reveal preserved colour patterns that are rarely visible otherwise, offering new clues for species identification. My initial aim was to document 50 specimens, but I ended up expanding the work significantly. The results suggest that several historical species need reclassification, with some forms previously considered variations now showing clear differences in morphology and patterning. This points to a sharper faunal turnover across the Messinian than previously thought. The volume and quality of material I was able to work with went far beyond my expectations, as many specimens were well preserved, and I was able to document material that hadn’t been examined in decades. A peer-reviewed ublication revising these species is planned, and the work also laid the groundwork for continued collaboration with the museum team.»
Geanina Adriana Butiseaca from Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Germany) WG1
« Geochemical and paleoenvironmental analysis of the southern Permian Basin »
«The grantee flew to Vilnius where she met with the host, Darja Dankina. From there, they travelled from Vilnius to Karpenai Quarry, on the border with Latvia where they were given access to survey and sample out of the active area. The target was to sample stratigraphically the entire succession accumulated during the Werra Cycle of the Late Permian Zechstein Basin. The rest of the visit, the team went to the core repository of the Lithuanian Geological Survey (in Vievis city), where they have sampled two boreholes (a total of 20 boxes), to cover the rest of the Permian and the Lower Triassic (i.e., the units before and after what is exposed in the quarry). The first borehole covered the 2ndZechstein cycle (Stassfurt; Z2) and the P/T boundary, while the second borehole covered the entire Upper Permian succession deposited in Lithuania. All samples were transported to Spain and will be further analysed for inorganic geochemistry in autumn at the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) in Barcelona.»
Oriane Leger from Montpellier University (France) WG1 and WG4
«The search for salty fluxes: geophysical and sedimentological insights into the Late Miocene and Early Pliocene transition in the Western Alboran basin »
« In summer 2025, I conducted a Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) at the Institute de Ciènces del Mar in Barcelona that aligns with the working groups WG1 and WG4 of COST Action SaltAges. (..) I am fortunate to say that I traveled internationally to work alongside Dr. Gemma Ercilla and Dr. Ferran Estrada, who are remarkable people and who generously shared their extensive knowledge with me. (...) This collaborative project was an incredibly valuable experience for me, exceeding all my expectations. I was able to improve my skills in seismic reflection and borehole data interpretation, especially with the Kingdom Suite software. I began by familiarizing myself with the geodynamic context and the current geological and oceanographic characteristics of the Alboran Basin, which laid the groundwork for a more accurate interpretation of seismic data. I learned how to interpret the seismic lines of the Alboran Basin (Western Mediterranean), focusing on delimiting the Messinian layer, particularly in the IODP/IMMAGE site U1611 region (…) Beyond technical skills, this collaboration also deepened my understanding of the influence of marine currents and gravitational instabilities in sedimentation, and the importance of these processes in reconstructing past paleogeographies.»
Christoph Leitner from Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (Austria) (WG4) undertook field work in Hungary with Szilvia Köver (HUN-REN Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science)
«Anhydrite and mafic rocks within a basal tectonic mélange (Silica nappe)»
« Together with researchers of the HUN-REN Institute of Sopron, Hungary, I took samples of the drilling BR-4. This drilling crosscuts anhdrite and mafic rocks of an accretionary wedge in the Western Carpathians (Silica nappe, Hungary). It goes down to 520 meter depth. Thin sections, age dating and geochemistry are the main methods, which will be conducted in Austria (University of Salzburg, my university), but also in Slovakia, Hungary and Germany. I made the photograph of the Hungarian reseachers and students in the core repository just before we started.»
Gamze Ozel Kadilar from Hacettepe University (Ankara, Türkiye) WG3 went to CSIC, Geosciences Barcelona (Spain)
« Integrating Orbital-Scale Insolation Signals into the Predictive Modelling of the MessinianSalinity Crisis »
« During my STSM in Barcelona, I worked with Dr. Daniel García-Castellanos on analyzing data statistics from the NOW mammal database and on integrating orbital insolation changes into a mechanistic model of the Messinian Salinity Crisis. My main tasks included preparing and cleaning a large fossil mammal dataset from Europe, North Africa, and the Mediterranean islands, resolving taxonomic inconsistencies, and harmonizing spatial information. We then applied diversity and richness analyses (Shannon, Simpson, Hill numbers) and produced spatial density maps, which revealed both geographic imbalances in fossil coverage and changes in diversity during and after the MSC. In addition, I analyzed the timing of potential migrations of mammalian genera using the same database. The preliminary results reveal peaks of dispersal in the pre- and syn-MSC stages (especially 9 to 5 Myr) relative to earlier and later stages. Ongoing work will determine if the data can constrain in a statistically robust manner an episodic nature for trans-Mediterranean mammal migrations. These results may provide a link between terrestrial faunal dispersal in connection with sea level changes associated with the formation of the Messinian Salt Giant »
Dr. Darja Dankina from the Nature Research Center of Vilnius (Lithuania). WG1
« Lamina scale investigation of the upper gypsum of the Caltanissetta Basin (Messinian, upper Miocene) »
« During my two-week stay at the University of Turin in Italy with my wonderful host, Francesca Lozar, I had the opportunity to learn the most common techniques used in preparing samples for SEM imaging and microscopic analysis. These methods are essential for identifying coccolith taxonomy at the genus and species level, based on Late Miocene samples from Sicily (Italy). Thanks to my host’s guidance, I was also able to practice gypsum rock stub preparation and enhance my skills in identifying this group of nannofossils.
As a result of our work, we conducted a lamina-scale investigation and identified an important coccolith assemblage that provides new insights into the palaeoenvironment of the Caltanissetta Basin. The results will be presented at the Micropalaeontological Society (TMS) Annual Meeting this November in Pisa, and a scientific publication will be prepared based on this project by the end of the year.»
Dr. Francesco Pilade from Università degli Studi di Torino (Italy) undertook his STSM at Utrecht University (Netherlands) with Pr. Wout Krijgsman (WG1)
« Untangling the demise of the MSC inthe northern Mediterranean: acomplete record of the Messinian Salinity Crisis phase 3 from the Maccarone section »
« I used a range of statistical methods (including cluster analysis and ordination techniques) to objectively define environmental changes and transitions in the record. One aspect of particularly interesting was the time series analysis and tuning the magnetic susceptibility data to orbital cycles (particular interesting the obliquity signal). This helped create an astrochronologically constrained and significant age model for the sedimentary section covering the Lago mare event in Nortern Mediterranean.Some of the main outcomes include: (i)An astronomically tuned multiproxy dataset for the Maccarone section, anchored by a well-constrained age model. This has allowed us to describe and precisely time a series of environmental changes during the late Messinian Lago Mare phase in the Adriatic basin. (ii)A clearer picture of how factors like terrestrial input, water chemistry, and sediment sources varied across the studied interval. (iii)Two new open-source tools for data analysis, which I plan to share with the community along with the source code and documentation.»
Dr. Dan Mircea Tămaș from Babes-Bolyai University (Romania) (WG2)
« Subsurface drone mapping in Atlaussee salt mine, processing and interpreting data »
«This summer, I had the chance to take part in a Short Term Scientific Mission (STSM) in Austria, where I worked with the host, Dr. Oscar Fernandez (University of Vienna), and colleagues from Salinen Austria AG, Babes-Bolyai University and the Polish Geological Institute, to test cutting-edge drone technology in the Altaussee salt mine. Using an Asio-X underground mapping drone, we surveyed vast caverns and mine galleries, some of which are normally inaccessible or unsafe for people to enter. In just a few days, we completed dozens of flights and captured high-resolution 3D imagery that reveals the underground world in great detail.
After completing data acquisition, I began processing and quality-checking the data, which already shows the huge potential of drone-based photogrammetry for mapping in GPS-denied environments. These results not only enhance our geological understanding of mines but also create a digital record that supports heritage preservation and sustainable resource management. The collaboration has set the stage for exciting follow-up work, from 3D reconstructions to international conference presentations and future underground surveys.»
Dr. Ivana Pandzic from Banja Luka University (Bosnia and Herzegovina) went to the Fifth International Congress on the Anthropology of Salt in Rzeszow (Poland), 24-28 March 2025. (WG2) She presented work she undertook in collaboration with Banja Luka University, Middle Tennessee State University and University of North Carolina (USA).
« Presenting preliminary results titled “Exploring Multifunctionality at Salines: Residue Analyses of Salt Production Vessels from the Southeastern United States and Eastern Europe” as a first collaborative work on salt research of B&H and USA, we believe we brought out the cross-regional comparison, multifunctionality of vessels, as well as cultural and economic insights trough methodological invocations via residue analysis, enriching our understanding of past societies' technological practices. The attended conference served as an ideal platform to present our work and discuss it with wither audience that deals with salt in archaeology in various aspects. We believe our work contributed to the collective understanding of how salt influenced human societies across different regions and time periods. »
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