Chapter B1 Miocene palaeogeography of the tethys ocean; potential global correlations in the mediterranean

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses Miocene palaeogeography of the Tethys Ocean and potential global correlations in the Mediterranean. The two main areas where integrated stratigraphy has been applied to Miocene sediments, as reported in this chapter, are Japan and the Mediterranean region. The former is connected to the Pacific super-basin; the latter is mostly related to the Atlantic super-basin. If correlation of sections between these two study areas are possible, then similar correlations might be practical on a global scale. This is of primary interest for proposal of global stratotype sections. Given the importance of pelagic fossils for the correlations, it is clear that correlation between the two study areas (and the global application of our study) will heavily depend on the possibility for continuous and easy faunal exchanges between Japan and the Mediterranean basin. The natural means for such exchanges would have been through the Tethys Ocean, for which a recent synthetic reconstruction is available. The distribution of the Tortonian palaeoenvironments is significant for purpose because the sea level is at one of its lowest stands of the Miocene.