Mediterranean and Paratethys. Facts and hypotheses of an Oligocene to Miocene paleogeography (short overview)

Paleogeographical considerations on the development of the Paratethys and t he Mediterranean during Oligocene and Miocene are presented in twelve rime- slices. Plate tectonic activities and the collision of India with Asia caus ed the destruction of the Western Tethys Ocean in the Late Eocene. The Medi terranean and the intracontinental Paratethys basins came into existence as new marine realms. In the Mediterranean Basin open oceanic connections exi sted throughout the Oligocene and most of the Miocene. The Eastern Parateth ys and the Central to Western Paratethys showed different marine conditions and changing connections most of the lime. A first period with reduced sal inity, anoxic bottom conditions, and strong endemisms occurred throughout t he Paratethys in a short period of the Lower Oligocene (Solenovian, NP 23). It was followed by more open marine conditions with wide-spread elastic se dimentation (Upper Kiscellian, Kalmykian, NP 24). By the collision of Afric a and Arabia with Eurasia, the seaway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean was closed in Burdigalian time, but a new landbridge enabled a distinct mammal migration between the continents (Gomphotherium Landbridg e). During the Middle Miocene marine sea ways between the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Paratethys opened and closed intermittently. Finall y, the marine connections of the Paratethys were strongly reduced, and gave way to the endemic faunal development during the later Miocene (Sarmatian to Pontian).