Rheic Ocean

The Rheic Ocean was an ancient ocean between Gondwana and Laurussia. It opened during the Paleozoic and closed as the continents assembled into Pangaea.

Rheic Ocean opening: The Paleozoic rifting and seafloor spreading that created the Rheic Ocean between Gondwana and Laurussia. Opening began when terranes detached from Gondwana and moved toward Laurussia.
Gondwana: A southern supercontinent that assembled during the Neoproterozoic and dominated much of the Paleozoic. Gondwana formed the southern margin from which several Rheic-bound terranes departed.
Rheic Ocean suture: A tectonic boundary marking where the Rheic Ocean closed and continental blocks collided. Suture zones preserve the route of closure where oceanic crust was consumed.
Alleghanian orogeny: A late Paleozoic mountain-building event in eastern North America caused largely by collision with Gondwana. This collision closed the ocean's western reaches and joined continental margins.
Rheic Ocean closure: The Paleozoic to early Mesozoic convergence that consumed the Rheic Ocean as Pangaea formed. Subduction and continental collision progressively removed the ocean basin.
Laurussia: A Paleozoic continent formed by the collision of Laurentia, Baltica, and Avalonia. Laurussia lay across the ocean from Gondwana before the basin closed.
Variscan orogeny: A Paleozoic mountain-building episode caused by collisions during the assembly of Pangaea in Europe and adjacent regions. Its deformation records the late stages of Rheic Ocean closure.
Variscan Belt: A broad late Paleozoic mountain belt extending across parts of Europe and formed during Pangaea's assembly. Its rocks record continental collision along the Rheic suture.
Iapetus Ocean: An ancient ocean that separated Laurentia from Baltica and Avalonia before their Paleozoic collision. Its closure preceded the Rheic Ocean's closure and helped assemble Laurussia.
Avalonia: A peri-Gondwanan continental fragment that rifted away and later joined the margin of Laurussia. Its northward journey across the Rheic Ocean carried it toward Laurussia.

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