A brief review on the tectonic evolution of the west Tethysides

The research progress of the main suture zones in the west Tethysides and the development characteristics of the oceanic basin represented by them are reviewed. We propose the potential location of the Paleo-Tethys suture and summarize a brief evolution of the Paleo-Tethyan Ocean. Combining with regional geological data, this paper discusses the tectonic framework of the west Tethysides during the latest Paleozoic to the Mesozoic. The similar tectonic evolution is also found within the Paleo-Tethys which can be compared between the east and west parts. From the latest Paleozoic onward, the west Tethysides realm was mainly affected by double-sided subduction of the Paleo-Tethys.The Neo-Tethys was characterised by archipelagic arc-basin system during the Mesozoic, which succeed the Permian rifts in the aftermath of the Paleo-Tethys subduction. The west Tethysides was mainly manifested by the orogenesis of collaped back-arc basin.