High amounts of Chattian-Langhian orogenic magmatism have generated volcaniclastic deposits that are interbedded\u00a0within the penecontemporaneous sedimentary marine successions in several central-western peri-Mediterranean\u00a0chains. These deposits are widespread in at least 41 units of different basins located in different geotectonic provinces:\u00a0(1) the Africa-Adria continental margins (external units), (2) the basinal units resting on oceanic or thinned continental\u00a0crust of the different branches of the western Tethys, (3) the European Margin (external units), and (4) the\u00a0Western Sardinia zone (Sardinia Through units). The emplacement of volcaniclastic material in marine basins was\u00a0controlled by gravity flows (mainly turbidites; epiclastites) and fallout (pyroclastites). A third type comprises volcaniclastic\u00a0grains mixed with marine deposits (mixed pyroclastic-epiclastic). Calc-alkaline magmatic activity is characterized by a medium- to high-potassium andesite-dacite-rhyolite suite and is linked to complex geodynamic processes\u00a0that affected the central-western Mediterranean area in the \u223c26 to 15 My range. The space\/time distribution of\u00a0volcaniclastites, together with a paleogeographic reconstructions, provide keys and constraints for a better reconstruction\u00a0of some geodynamic events. Previous models of the central-western Mediterranean area were examined to\u00a0compare their compatibility with main paleotectonic and paleogeographic constraints presented by the main results\u00a0of the study. Despite the complexity of the topic, a preliminary evolutionary model based on the distribution of\u00a0volcaniclastites and active volcanic systems is proposed.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.ua.es\/westerntethys\/files\/2019\/12\/volcanites.png\")
Paleogeographic and paleotectonic evolutionary model of the central-western Mediterranean region sketched in three steps (modified from Schettino and Turco 2006, 2011; Guerrera and Mart\u00edn-Mart\u00edn 2014). A, Late Oligocene. B, Early Miocene. C, Middle Miocene p.p. (Langhian). The relationships between sedimentary basins and volcaniclastites, and the distribution of active volcanic systems during the late Oligocene-middle Miocene p.p. (Langhian) are shown.<\/p><\/div>\n