Paleomagnetism and the changing configuration of the Western Mediterranean area in the Mesozoic and Early Cenozoic eras

Abstract

A review is given of paleomagnetic data that have become available during the last years. The accent of this review is on the paleomagnetic results from the Italian peninsula, since most of the new data came from there. It is shown that the data from the Italian peninsula are consistent and define the movements of the Adriatic block. The Adriatic block moved together with Africa during post-Hercynian times until the Early Tertiary. In a post-Early Tertiary movement phase this block was detached from the African continent. The Tertiary rotation pole that describes this detachment is derived. according to a new method for fitting apparent polar wander curves.