On the post-25 Ma geodynamic evolution of the western Mediterranean

During the Neogene and Quaternary western Mediterranean geodynamics were dominated by the 'eastward' migration of the Apenninic arc and associated back-arc basins. The migration was controlled by retreat of the Apenninic slab and was associated with 'boudinage' of the lithosphere in the back-arc area. Palaeo-reconstruction of the kinematics of the arc suggests about 775 km of migration from the Late Oligocene to present along a transect from the Gulf of Lions to Calabria. A maximum of 135 km of N-S converge occurred between Africa and Europe during the same time span. The western Mediterranean was thus mainly shaped by the migration of the slab related to west-directed subduction. It is hypothesized that minor N-S convergence deformed the arc but was not the cause of its formation.