Abstract
This study views the evolution of the Mediterranean region as part of a long-lived continental collision zone that originally separated Laurasia from Gondwanaland. The relative motions of stable Africa relative to stable Europe, and vice versa, have been calculated from recently available data. The motions have been shown as increments and as total displacements. The total displacements have also been calculated for the hotspots frame both for stable Europe and for stable Africa. These motions define boundary conditions that must be satisfied by all plate tectonic solutions to the Mediterranean region. The rate of change of oceanic area in the region has been calculated since the central Atlantic began to open. Extrapolation suggests that continental suturing will be complete at about 34 m.y. in the future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Alvarez, W., Cocozza, T. and Wezel, F.C., 1974. Fragmentation of the Alpine orogenic belt by microplate dispersal. Nature, 248:309–314.
Biju-Duval, B., Dercourt, J. and Le Pichon, X., 1977. From the Tethys Ocean to the Mediterranean seas: a plate tectonic model of the evolution of the western Alpine system. In: B. Biju-Duval and L. Montadert (Editors), Structural History of the Mediterranean Basins. Editions Technip, Paris, pp. 143–164.
Bullard, E.C., Everett, J.E. and Smith, A.G., 1965. The fit of the continents around the Atlantic. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. London, A, 258:41–51.
Chase, C.G., 1978. Extension behind island arcs and motions related to hot spots. J. Geophys. Res., 83:5385–5388.
Dercourt, J., 1970. L’expansion océanique actuelle et fossile; ses implications géotectoniques. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 12:261–317.
Dewey, J.F., Pitman, W.C., Ryan, W.B.F. and Bonnin, J., 1973. Plate tectonics and the evolution of the Alpine system. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 84:3137–3180.
Finetti, I., 1981. Geophysical study on the evolution of the Ionian Sea. In: F.C. Wezel (Editor), Sedimentary Basins of Mediterranean Margins. C.N.R. Italian Project of Oceanography, Tecnoprint, Bologna, pp. 465–484.
Francheteau, J., 1973. Plate tectonic model of the opening of the Atlantic Ocean south of the Azores. In: D.H. Tarling and S.K. Runcorn (Editors), Implications of Continental Drift to the Earth Sciences, 1. Academic Press, New York, pp. 197–202.
Hallam, A., 1981. Relative importance of plate movements, eustasy, and climate in controlling major biogeographical changes since the early Mesozoic. In: G. Nelson and D.E. Rosen (Editors), Vicariance Biogeography: A Critique. Columbia University, New York, pp. 303–340.
Harland, W.B., Cox, A.V., Llewellyn, P.G., Pickton, C.A.G., Smith, A.G. and Walters, R., 1982. A Geologic Time Scale. Cambridge University Press, London, 131 pp.
Irving, E., 1977. Drift of the major continental blocks since the Devonian. Nature, 270:304–309.
Klitgord, K.D. and Schouten, H., 1982. Early Mesozoic Atlantic reconstructions from sea-floor-spreading data. EOS, Trans. Am. Geophys. Un., 63:307.
Kristoffersen, Y., 1978. Sea floor spreading and the early opening of the Atlantic. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 38:273–290.
Kristoffersen, Y. and Talwani, M., 1977. Extinct triple junction south of Greenland and the Tertiary motion of Greenland relative to North America. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 88:1037–1049.
Laubscher, H.P., 1971. The large-scale kinematics of the western Alps and the northern Apennines. Am. J. Sci., 271:193–226.
Laubscher, H.P. and Bernoulli, D., 1977. Mediterranean and Tethys. In: A.E.M. Nairn, W.H. Kanes and F.G. Stehli (Editors), The Ocean Basins and Margins, vol. 4A. Plenum Press, New York, pp. 1–28.
Le Pichon, X., 1979. Bassins marginaux et collision intracontinentale: exemple de la zone égéene. C.R. Séances. Acad. Sci. Paris, D, 288:1083–1086.
Le Pichon, X. and Angelier, J., 1981. The Aegean Sea. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. London, A, 300:357–372.
Le Pichon, X. and Sibuet, J.-C., 1971. Comments on the evolution of the North-East Atlantic. Nature, London, 233:257–258.
Le Pichon, X. and Sibuet, J.-C., 1981. Passive margins: a model of formation. J. Geophys. Res., 82:803–827.
Le Pichon, X., Francheteau, F. and Bonnin, J., 1973. Plate Tectonics. Elsevier, Amsterdam, 312 pp.
Le Pichon, X., Sibuet, J.-C. and Francheteau, J., 1977. The fit of the continents around the Atlantic Ocean. Tectonophysics, 38:169–209.
McKenzie, D.P., 1972. Active tectonics of the Mediterranean region. Geophys. J.R. Astron. Soc., 30:109–185.
Morgan, W.J., 1981. Hotspot tracks and the opening of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In: C. Emiliani (Editor), The Sea, vol. 7. John Wiley & Sons, New York, pp. 443–487.
Morgan, W.J., 1983. Hotspot tracks and the early rifting of the Atlantic. Tectonophysics, 94:123–139.
Odin, G.S. (Editor), 1982. Numerical Dating in Stratigraphy. 2 vols. John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1040 pp.
Patriat, P., Segoufin, J., Schlich, R., Goslin, J., Auzende, J.-M., Beuzart, P., Bonnin, J. and Olivet, J.-L., 1982. Les mouvements relatif de l’Inde, de l’Afrique et de l’Eurasie. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr. 24:363–373.
Pitman, W.C. and Talwani, M., 1972. Sea-floor spreading in the North Atlantic Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 83:619–643.
Sclater, J.G., Hellinger, S. and Tapscott, C., 1977. The paleobathymetry of the Atlantic Ocean from the Jurassic to the present. J. Geol. 85:509–552.
Sengör, A.M.C., 1979. Mid-Mesozoic closure of Permo-Triassic Tethys and its implications. Nature, 279:590–593.
Sengör, A.M.C., Yilmaz, Y. and Ketin, I., 1980. Remnants of a pre-Late Jurassic ocean in northern Turkey: Fragments of Permian-Trias sic Paleo-Tethys? Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 91:599–609.
Shelton, A.W. and Gass, I.G., 1980. Rotation of the Cyprus microplate. In: A. Panayiotou (Editor), Ophiolites. Proc. Internatl. Ophiolite Symposium, 1979. Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Geological Survey Department, Cyprus, pp. 61–65.
Sheridan, R.E. et al, 1982. Early history of the Atlantic Ocean and gas hydrates on the Blake Outer Ridge: results of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, Leg 76. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 93:876–885.
Smith, A.G., 1971. Alpine deformation and the oceanic areas of the Tethys, Mediterranean and Atlantic. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 82:2039–2070.
Smith, A.G., 1976. Plate tectonics and orogeny: a review. Tectonophysics, 33:215–285.
Smith, A.G. and Spray, J.G., 1984. A half-ridge transform model for the Hellenic-Dinaric ophiolites. In: J.E. Dixon and A.H.F. Robertson (Editors), The Geological Evolution of the Eastern Mediterranean. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Pub. 17:629–644.
Smith, A.G., and Woodcock, N.H., 1982. Tectonic syntheses of the Alpine-Mediterranean region: a review. In: H. Berckhemer and K. Hsü (Editors), Alpine-Mediterranean Geodynamics. Geodynamics Ser. 7, Am. Geophys. Un. and Geol. Soc. Am., pp. 15–38.
Smith, A.G., Hurley, A.M. and Briden, J.C., 1981. Phanerozoic Paleocontinental World Maps. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 98 pp.
Talwani, M., and Eldholm, O., 1977. Evolution of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 88:969–999.
Tapponnier, P., 1977. Evolution tectonique du système alpin en Méditerranée: poinçonnement et écrasement rigide plastique. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 19:437–460.
Termier, P., 1903. Les nappes des Alpes orientales et la synthése des Alpes. Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr., 4:711–765.
Trumpy, R., 1960. Paleotectonic evolution of the central and western Alps. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., 71:843–908.
Wezel, F.C., 1982. The structure of the Calabro-Sicilian Arc: result of a post-orogenic intra-plate deformation. In: J.K. Leggett (Editor), Trench-Forearc Geology: Sedimentation and Tectonics on Modern and Ancient Active Plate Margins. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Pub. No. 10, pp. 345–354.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1985 Springer-Verlag New York, Inc.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Livermore, R.A., Smith, A.G. (1985). Some Boundary Conditions for the Evolution of the Mediterranean Region. In: Stanley, D.J., Wezel, FC. (eds) Geological Evolution of the Mediterranean Basin. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8572-1_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-8572-1_5
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-8574-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4613-8572-1
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive