Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Deep beneath the Zagros Mountains, a massive geological shift is unfolding. Scientists have detected that the Neotethys oceanic plate is tearing apart horizontally, altering the region’s tectonic landscape in ways never seen before.
For millions of years, the Arabian and Eurasian plates have been colliding, forcing the Neotethys plate downward. The intense pressure has caused sections of the plate to break off, leading to major changes in how the region is evolving.
Dr. Renas Koshnaw, lead author of the study in Solid Earth (2024), noted that sediment accumulation in the Zagros region is far greater than expected. This suggests that tectonic forces—not just mountain weight—are pulling the land downward.
The sinking Neotethys plate is acting like an anchor, dragging parts of the Earth’s crust deeper. This movement has created vast depressions that have filled with millions of years of accumulated sediment, reshaping the landscape.
Researchers found that the plate isn’t breaking uniformly. Some sections remain attached and continue pulling land downward, while others have detached, reducing stress and altering the regional tectonic balance.
The shifting plate could lead to increased seismic activity. As stress redistributes within the crust, regions like northwest Iran, Iraq, and southeast Turkey may experience more frequent or intense earthquakes in the coming years.
The breakage influences the movement of underground fluids and heat, impacting geothermal energy resources. It could also improve the discovery of sedimentary ore deposits, shaping future mineral exploration efforts.
Similar plate detachment events have shaped the Himalayas, Andes, and Alps. Studying the Neotethys breakage could provide insights into how mountains form and evolve in collision zones worldwide.
With advancements in seismic imaging and geodynamic modeling, scientists aim to determine whether plate breakages follow predictable patterns or occur randomly. The study marks a step toward understanding Earth’s deep tectonic processes.