‘The Himalayas’ secret’: Indian Plate tearing apart beneath Tibet. claims study
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Geological Clash
The Himalayas arose from a 60-million-year collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, a slow-motion event shaping Earth’s tallest peaks.
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Hidden Forces
Beneath these peaks, enigmatic tectonic dynamics continue, resisting subduction and challenging traditional geologic theories.
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Plate Behavior
Unlike oceanic plates, continental plates are thick and buoyant, making their collision behavior a matter of ongoing scientific debate.
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Crucial Hypotheses
One theory suggests the Indian Plate slides horizontally beneath Tibet, while another posits its lower section subducts into the mantle.
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New Evidence
A study analyzing earthquake waves beneath Tibet and gases surfacing nearby reveals a potential fracture in the Indian Plate.
Plate Delamination
The research suggests the denser lower portion of the Indian Plate is peeling away, or “delaminating,” from its upper layer.
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Boundary Fracture
Evidence indicates a vertical tear separating the delaminated slab from the untouched portion, reshaping tectonic models.
Expert Insights
Geodynamicist Douwe van Hinsbergen noted, “We didn’t know continents could behave this way—this is fundamental for solid Earth science.”
Broader Impact
Presented at the American Geophysical Union conference, this study offers insights into Himalayan formation and earthquake risk assessment.
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