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Paleogene India-Eurasia collision constrained by observed plate rotation

Author

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  • Xiaoyue Wu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Southern University of Science and Technology
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jiashun Hu

    (Southern University of Science and Technology)

  • Ling Chen

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Liang Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Lijun Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)

Abstract

The Cenozoic India-Eurasia collision has had profound impacts on shaping the Tibetan plateau, but its early history remains controversial due to uneven availability of constraints. Recent plate reconstructions reveal two prominent counterclockwise rotation (azimuthal change) rate peaks of the Indian plate at 52-44 and 33-20 Ma, respectively, which could bear key information about this collision history. Using fully dynamic three-dimensional numerical modeling, we show that the first rotation rate peak reflected the initial diachronous collision from the western-central to eastern Indian front, and the second peak reflected the full collision leading to strong coupling between India and Eurasia. Further comparison with observation suggests that the initial and complete India-Eurasia collision likely occurred at 55 ± 5 and 40 ± 5 Ma, respectively, an inference consistent with key geological observations. We suggest that this collision history is instructive for studying the tectonic history of the Tibetan plateau and its surrounding areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyue Wu & Jiashun Hu & Ling Chen & Liang Liu & Lijun Liu, 2023. "Paleogene India-Eurasia collision constrained by observed plate rotation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-42920-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42920-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. T. V. Gerya & D. Bercovici & T. W. Becker, 2021. "Dynamic slab segmentation due to brittle–ductile damage in the outer rise," Nature, Nature, vol. 599(7884), pages 245-250, November.
    2. W. Roger Buck & Alexei N. B. Poliakov, 1998. "Abyssal hills formed by stretching oceanic lithosphere," Nature, Nature, vol. 392(6673), pages 272-275, March.
    3. Jiashun Hu & Lijun Liu & Michael Gurnis, 2021. "Southward expanding plate coupling due to variation in sediment subduction as a cause of Andean growth," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
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