Mesozoic Paleogeography of the Central Mediterranean Region

One of the most important objectives of the research project entitled "Mesozoic rifting events in the central Mediterranean: paleogeography and tectonic evolution" was to produce a set of palaeogeographic and palaeotectonic maps through a rigorous kinematic modelling of the central Mediterranean Mesozoic evolution. Eight maps showing the main steps of the rifting events and the eo-alpine orogeny are presented, from 230 Ma (late Ladinian) to 84 Ma (Santonian-Campanian boundary). The maps represent the palaeogeographic domains, the facies distribution, the plate boundaries, and main tectonic structures. From the late Ladinian (230 Ma) to the middle Norian (210 Ma) the Atlantic rift propagated along the Saharan and Tunisian Atlas up to intersect the Ionian basin. At the beginning of this stage the northern margin of the Ionian basin was reactivated forming the M. Facito formation, whereas the Sicanian basin represented the southern margin of the oceanic seaway. At 210 Ma the Ionian embayment was surrounded by carbonate platforms and reefs. During the next stage, from the middle Norian (210 Ma) to the Pliensbachian (185 Ma), the Ionian spreading center became extinct and Adria-Apulia started to separate from the Eurasian plate to form a promontory which remained by then fixed to Africa. The promontory was connected to Africa through a narrow slice of continental crust, where the Jurassic carbonate platforms of Panormide and southern Apennines developed. To the North, the rift of Adria from Eurasia determined the formation of the Lombard, La Spezia and Longobucco basins. The third stage of break-up of Pangaea started during the Pliensbachian (185 Ma). During this phase the northward propagation of the Atlantic rift caused the relocation of the plate boundaries between Eurasia and Africa. At about 150 Ma (Kimmeridgian-Tithonian boundary) a new northward jump of the Gondwana-Laurasia boundary caused the separation of the Iberian plate from Eurasia Finally, during the Aptian, the opening of the North Atlantic caused the separation of North America from Eurasia and a subsequent re-organization of the plate motions between Africa and Eurasia, which started to converge. Starting from Cenomanian time the convergence between Africa and Eurasia plate induced the westward extrusion of the Adriatic plate, which separated from Apulia. This event determined the emersion of the Apulian and Apenninic platforms. Starting from 210 Ma, the existence of a persistent continental bridge between Africa and Adria allowed the exchange of reptiles and amphibian fauna.