Paleoceanographic conditions which led to the formation of the "mid"-cretaceous triad along the northern Tethys margin are elucidated. In the first part, the evolution of this sequence is traced from the demise of the platform to the return of the detritus dominated deposition. The second part includes a discussion of the reconstructed paleoceanographic and tectonic variables, their possible interaction as well as their influence on sediment properties.