Changes

In the Tethys region, the evolution of North Africa and the Arabian Plates are intimately involved with the occurrence of [[hydrocarbon]]s in both regions. In the Early Paleozoic, [[paleogeography]] was characterized by the breakup of Rodinia and by the re-arrangement of the major continental plates in the [[Pangea]] supercontinent. During the assemblage of Pangea, a major role was played by the transformation from Pangea B to Pangea A during Permian time by means of dextral motion of Laurasia relative to Gondwana, which changed the relative position of the [[Paleozoic]] and [[Mesozoic]] domains facing the east-west oriented Tethys Gulf.<ref name=Muttonietal_2009a /> <ref name=Muttonietal_2009b />

In the Tethys region, the evolution of North Africa and the Arabian Plates are intimately involved with the occurrence of [[hydrocarbon]]s in both regions. In the Early Paleozoic, [[paleogeography]] was characterized by the breakup of Rodinia and by the re-arrangement of the major continental plates in the [[Pangea]] supercontinent. During the assemblage of Pangea, a major role was played by the transformation from Pangea B to Pangea A during Permian time by means of dextral motion of Laurasia relative to Gondwana, which changed the relative position of the [[Paleozoic]] and [[Mesozoic]] domains facing the east-west oriented Tethys Gulf.<ref name=Muttonietal_2009a /> <ref name=Muttonietal_2009b />

Since late Paleozoic time, the southern margin of the Tethys was affected by the time-transgressive opening of the Neo-Tethys, which gave origin to a complex mosaic of peri-Gondwanan terranes. They gradually collided, during Mesozoic and [[Cenozoic]] times, with the northern margin of the Tethys, as the oceanic lithosphere of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean was subducted below Laurasia. Collisions were distributed irregularly along the northern margin of the Tethys. The spreading of the Neo-Tethys balanced the subduction of the oceanic lithosphere along the northern margin of the Paleo-Tethys, preserving the Tethys Ocean until the beginning of Cenozoic time. The subduction of the Paleo-Tethys led to the accretion of microplates that today characterize the Middle East outside of Arabia. Accretion started in [[Triassic]] time with the Cimmerian [[orogeny]] and persisted up to today, with the collision of Arabia along the Zagros suture. The present day relationships among [[orogenic belt]]s are further complicated by the presence of important [[strike]]-slip movements, which accommodated the different convergence rates among plates, from the Alps to the Himalayas.

Since late Paleozoic time, the southern margin of the Tethys was affected by the time-transgressive opening of the Neo-Tethys, which gave origin to a complex mosaic of peri-Gondwanan terranes. They gradually collided, during Mesozoic and [[Cenozoic]] times, with the northern margin of the Tethys, as the oceanic lithosphere of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean was subducted below Laurasia. Collisions were distributed irregularly along the northern margin of the Tethys. The spreading of the Neo-Tethys balanced the subduction of the oceanic lithosphere along the northern margin of the Paleo-Tethys, preserving the Tethys Ocean until the beginning of Cenozoic time. The subduction of the Paleo-Tethys led to the accretion of microplates that today characterize the Middle East outside of Arabia. Accretion started in [[Triassic]] time with the Cimmerian [[orogeny]] and persisted up to today, with the collision of Arabia along the Zagros suture. The present day relationships among orogenic belts are further complicated by the presence of important [[strike]]-slip movements, which accommodated the different convergence rates among plates, from the Alps to the Himalayas.

The Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution of the Tethys Oceans was also affected by the plate reorganizations caused by the breakup of Pangea. The opening of the Atlantic Ocean further complicated the geodynamic settings of the Laurasian and Gondwanan margins due to the changes in stress fields during different stages that characterized the breakup of Pangea. In particular, the movement and rotation of Africa, controlled by the opening of the central and southern Atlantic oceans, heavily controlled the relative motions among the numerous plates (which suffered alternatively both extensional and compressional tectonic regimes) in the Tethys. The present-day setting of south Mediterranean and Middle East regions is therefore the result of the global reorganization derived from the closure of the Tethys Ocean(s) and the time-transgressive opening of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Mesozoic and Cenozoic evolution of the Tethys Oceans was also affected by the plate reorganizations caused by the breakup of Pangea. The opening of the Atlantic Ocean further complicated the geodynamic settings of the Laurasian and Gondwanan margins due to the changes in stress fields during different stages that characterized the breakup of Pangea. In particular, the movement and rotation of Africa, controlled by the opening of the central and southern Atlantic oceans, heavily controlled the relative motions among the numerous plates (which suffered alternatively both extensional and compressional tectonic regimes) in the Tethys. The present-day setting of south Mediterranean and Middle East regions is therefore the result of the global reorganization derived from the closure of the Tethys Ocean(s) and the time-transgressive opening of the Atlantic Ocean.

==Paleogeographic reconstructions==

==Paleogeographic reconstructions==

Paleogeographic maps have been reconstructed for selected time intervals: Cambrian, Late Ordovician, Early Devonian, Early Permian, Permian-Triassic boundary, Norian, Callovian, Aptian, Cretaceous-Cenozoic boundary, and Late Eocene. For each time interval both the general picture of the major plate tectonic configuration and a detail of the paleogeography and paleoenvironment of North Africa to the Middle East are presented. On these maps, the major paleoenvironmental settings (from continental to shallow marine and deep ocean) are shown for the area stretching from North Africa to Afghanistan in all the selected time slices. Besides the major tectonic events, the global climate evolution and their interplay are discussed, which in some cases led to significant biotic turnovers or even to mass extinctions (e.g., Late Ordovician, Permian-Triassic boundary, Cretaceous-Cenozoic boundary). Paleogeographic maps have been compiled from literature, selecting those based on sound paleomagnetic/paleobiogeographic data. Each map is accompanied by the description of the major tectonic events that characterized the considered time interval. When contrasting paleogeographic reconstructions were available, their differences have been discussed. In general, major differences concern the interpretation of the setting and positioning of the microplates and terranes between the major continental plates.  

Paleogeographic maps have been reconstructed for selected time intervals: Cambrian, Late Ordovician, Early Devonian, Early Permian, Permian-Triassic boundary, Norian, Callovian, Aptian, Cretaceous-Cenozoic boundary, and Late Eocene. For each time interval both the general picture of the major plate tectonic configuration and a detail of the paleogeography and paleoenvironment of North Africa to the Middle East are presented. On these maps, the major paleoenvironmental settings (from continental to shallow marine and deep ocean) are shown for the area stretching from North Africa to Afghanistan in all the selected time slices. Besides the major tectonic events, the global climate evolution and their interplay are discussed, which in some cases led to significant biotic turnovers or even to mass extinctions (e.g., [[Late Ordovician]], Permian-Triassic boundary, [[Cretaceous]]-Cenozoic boundary). Paleogeographic maps have been compiled from literature, selecting those based on sound paleomagnetic/paleobiogeographic data. Each map is accompanied by the description of the major tectonic events that characterized the considered time interval. When contrasting paleogeographic reconstructions were available, their differences have been discussed. In general, major differences concern the interpretation of the setting and positioning of the microplates and terranes between the major continental plates.  

[[file:M106Ch01Fig01.jpg|thumb|300px|{{figure number|1}}Time-position of the paleogeographic maps. Each map is displayed in the context of the evolution of the sea-water chemistry (aragonite vs. calcite sea, KCl vs. MgO₄ evaporites), the global sea-level curve, the major volcanic events, the global climate, the major geodynamic events, and the ages of the five big extinctions of the Phanerozoic.]]

[[file:M106Ch01Fig01.jpg|thumb|300px|{{figure number|1}}Time-position of the paleogeographic maps. Each map is displayed in the context of the evolution of the sea-water chemistry (aragonite vs. calcite sea, KCl vs. MgO₄ evaporites), the global sea-level curve, the major volcanic events, the global climate, the major geodynamic events, and the ages of the five big extinctions of the Phanerozoic.]]