Cimmerian continent
Quick Summary
The term "Cimmerian continent" refers to a landmass that existed during the Mesozoic Era. This continent was part of the larger Tethyan realm and played a significant role in the geological formation of Asia. As the Cimmerian continent moved, it caused the Paleo-Tethys Ocean to close and the Neo-Tethys Ocean to expand.
The northern part of this continent collided with another landmass, forming the Cimmeride Mountains, which stretched across Asia. Later, the southern part of the Cimmerian continent also collided, further shaping the Asian landscape. This geological activity, including the rifting and collision of continental fragments, contributed to the formation of mountain ranges and influenced the distribution of mineral resources.1
It is important to note that "Cimmerian" also refers to an ancient people who lived north of the Caucasus Mountains and were driven into Anatolia by the Scythians around the 8th century BC.2
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AsiaChronological summaryThat continental strip, called the Cimmerian continent, was joined during its northward journey by a collage of continental material that had gathered around the Yangtze paraplatform and the Kontum block, and, between about 210 and 180 million years ago, all of that material collided with Altaid Asia to create the…
Read MoreThat continental strip, called the Cimmerian continent, was joined during its northward journey by a collage of continental material that had gathered around the Yangtze paraplatform and the Kontum block, and, between about 210 and 180 million years ago, all of that material collided with Altaid Asia to create the…
Read More- AsiaPaleozoic events in the Tethysides
…Paleo-Tethys Ocean behind the separating Cimmerian continent. In northern and eastern Turkey, southwestern Iran, and Oman, folding and thrust faulting were in places accompanied by granitic and andesitic magmatism and high-temperature, low-pressure metamorphism, all collectively suggesting the activity of a subduction zone dipping under Gondwanaland. The same subduction zone may…
Read More…Paleo-Tethys Ocean behind the separating Cimmerian continent. In northern and eastern Turkey, southwestern Iran, and Oman, folding and thrust faulting were in places accompanied by granitic and andesitic magmatism and high-temperature, low-pressure metamorphism, all collectively suggesting the activity of a subduction zone dipping under Gondwanaland. The same subduction zone may…
Read More