India-Eurasia convergence speed-up by passive-margin sediment subduction.

ABSTRACT: The fast increase of convergence rate between India and Eurasia around 65 million years ago (Ma)-from approximately 8 cm yr^-1 to a peak rate of approximately 18 cm yr^-1-remains a complex geological event to explain^1-8, given the inherent uncertainty surrounding the tectonic history and the intricate interplay of forces influencing plate speed^9-11. Here we use a combination of geochemical analysis and geodynamic modelling to propose that this rapid convergence can be explained by sediment subduction derived from the northern Indian passive margin. Through isotope and trace element analysis, we find an enhanced contribution of terrigenous sediment melt to the mantle source of the Gangdese magmatic rocks around 65 Ma, concurrent with the acceleratio

SUBMITTER: Zhou H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11541214 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature