Geodynamic evolution of the black sea region

An analysis of the Phanerozoic evolution of the Black Sea region (Fig.,1) shows that at least from the Paleozoic onwards, the region evolved as an active margin of the Northern Tethys comprising oceanic and continental back-arc systems. Counterparts of many of the Caucasian-Eastern Pontian structural units can be traced in Western Pontides, Balkans and Carpathians. Continuous development of the PaleothethysTethys throughout the Paleozoic-Mesozoic-Early Cenozoic is indicated by the presence of Paleozoic to Upper Cretaceous oceanic rocks, of the Lower Paleozoic to Eocene supra-subductional magmatic assemblages and by an uninterrupted deep marine Devonian to Late Eocene sedimentation in the Dizi basin of the Greater Caucasus. In this connection, the Dizi series represent interarc or back-arc associations. The whole region seems to represent a West Pacific type long living accretionary assemblage of the Lesser Caucasian North Anatolian-Vardar branch of the Tethys.