The Mesozoic structuring in South-East Malta with reference to the Tectonic evolution of the Central Mediterranea

Abstract

The complex, structural evolution of the Mediterranean was largely controlled by the relative oblique motion of Eurasia and Africa claiming the Late Carbonifrous to mid Cretaceous to the Present time. This motion provided the driving force to a series of tectonic events that led to the formation of several sedimentary basins in the Pelagian Block of the Central Mediterranean. During the Late Carboniferous to Mid Cretaceous, the block experienced multi-phase rifting, accompanied by basin formation due to the closure of the Tethys and oceanisation of the Neotethys. This contrasted with the rifting and structural reactivation of basins in the Late Senonian, causeJ by the multi-phase closure ofthe Neotethys. Throughout this time, the Pelagian Block remained attached to the north African plate margin and responded to changing stress regimes by unJc1going tlanstensional anJ transpressive structural deformation and the formation of several sedimentary basins, some of which are oil prolific.