Changes

===Aptian (about 120 Ma)===

===Aptian (about 120 Ma)===

The major oceanic seaways that characterize the present-day configuration are readily recognized in the Aptian map (Figure 9). The North Atlantic Ocean was opening between Iberia and Newfoundland, whereas the northernmost part of the future Atlantic Ocean was characterized by the development of a network of rift basins seen between Canada, Greenland, and Scandinavia. Africa was separated from India and Antarctica by narrow seaways. The South Atlantic Ocean was opening between southern Africa and the southernmost part of South America. Continental South America and Africa were still connected along the future Equatorial Atlantic. The Alpine Tethys connected the Central Atlantic with the Neo-Tethys Ocean. The passive margin of North Africa and northernmost Arabia faced the Mesogea Ocean (Barrier and Vrielynck, 2008). The active southern margin of Laurasia was still characterized by the subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean beneath it. Along this margin it was still possible to recognize a volcanic arc with backarc basins. The central part of the Neo-Tethys was characterized by the slow northward motion of a complex puzzle of blocks, including parts of future Turkey, Greece, Dinarids, and Adria microplates. Within this block, bordered by passive margins facing to the north the Neo-Tethys Ocean and to the south the Mesogea Ocean, extensional tectonics were responsible for the development of a major basin (Pindos-Olonos basin). Albian time probably marked the beginning of the compressional regime in the Alpine Tethys, with the possible onset of its subduction. During Aptian time sea level was close to its Phanerozoic maximum, so the size of the continental shelves are very large. Along the uplifted shoulder of the southern coast of Mesogea the coastal deposits were represented by a narrow belt, whereas most of the eastern and southern part of the Arabian block were characterized by shallow to deep carbonate deposits. The future Red Sea area was uplifted and emergent, whereas in its surroundings (mainly in the present-day Libya and Egypt, where extensional basins were formed; Schandelmeier and Reynolds, 1997) fluvio-lacustrine deposits passed seaward to deltaic clastics and evaporites (Mesogea Ocean coast). Volcanic activity is recorded in Israel (alkali-basaltic lavas), whereas syenitic intrusions are reported from NE and S Sudan (Schandelmeier and Reynolds, 1997).

The major oceanic seaways that characterize the present-day configuration are readily recognized in the Aptian map ([[:file:M106Ch01Fig09.jpg|Figure 9]]). The North Atlantic Ocean was opening between Iberia and Newfoundland, whereas the northernmost part of the future Atlantic Ocean was characterized by the development of a network of rift basins seen between Canada, Greenland, and Scandinavia. Africa was separated from India and Antarctica by narrow seaways. The South Atlantic Ocean was opening between southern Africa and the southernmost part of South America. Continental South America and Africa were still connected along the future Equatorial Atlantic. The Alpine Tethys connected the Central Atlantic with the Neo-Tethys Ocean. The passive margin of North Africa and northernmost Arabia faced the Mesogea Ocean (Barrier and Vrielynck, 2008). The active southern margin of Laurasia was still characterized by the subduction of the Neo-Tethys Ocean beneath it. Along this margin it was still possible to recognize a volcanic arc with backarc basins. The central part of the Neo-Tethys was characterized by the slow northward motion of a complex puzzle of blocks, including parts of future Turkey, Greece, Dinarids, and Adria microplates. Within this block, bordered by passive margins facing to the north the Neo-Tethys Ocean and to the south the Mesogea Ocean, extensional tectonics were responsible for the development of a major basin (Pindos-Olonos basin). Albian time probably marked the beginning of the compressional regime in the Alpine Tethys, with the possible onset of its subduction. During Aptian time sea level was close to its Phanerozoic maximum, so the size of the continental shelves are very large. Along the uplifted shoulder of the southern coast of Mesogea the coastal deposits were represented by a narrow belt, whereas most of the eastern and southern part of the Arabian block were characterized by shallow to deep carbonate deposits. The future Red Sea area was uplifted and emergent, whereas in its surroundings (mainly in the present-day Libya and Egypt, where extensional basins were formed; Schandelmeier and Reynolds, 1997) fluvio-lacustrine deposits passed seaward to deltaic clastics and evaporites (Mesogea Ocean coast). Volcanic activity is recorded in Israel (alkali-basaltic lavas), whereas syenitic intrusions are reported from NE and S Sudan (Schandelmeier and Reynolds, 1997).

During Albian time the paleoceanographic setting was characterized by a major anoxic event that can be traced all across the Albian seas.

During Albian time the paleoceanographic setting was characterized by a major anoxic event that can be traced all across the Albian seas.