A University of Göttingen study reveals that the Neotethys oceanic plate is horizontally breaking beneath Turkey and Iran. The research indicates that the tectonic loads from the Zagros Mountains influence Earth’s surface depressions. The study suggests that the sinking oceanic plate contributes to sediment accumulation in the region, with potential implications for resource exploration and geodynamic modeling.
Recent research led by the University of Göttingen has observed that the Neotethys oceanic plate is laterally fracturing beneath Turkey and Iran, extending a tear from southeast Turkey to northwest Iran. This study investigates how tectonic forces from the Zagros Mountains have influenced Earth’s surface bending over the past 20 million years. The findings highlight the complex dynamics occurring deep within the Earth’s crust, which affects surface topography.
The Neotethys oceanic plate, located between the Arabian and Eurasian continents, experiences significant geological activity as continental plates converge. As these continents collide over time, the oceanic plate descends, leading to the uplift of mountain ranges and the subsequent bending of the Earth’s surface due to immense weight. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding sediment accumulation in regions such as Mesopotamia.
The research reveals that the sediment accumulation in the Zagros region is more extensive than the mountain weight alone can account for. This is attributed to the additional forces from the sinking Neotethys plate, which pulls the land downward. Such findings may have implications for resource exploration and seismic risk assessment.
Original Source: www.technologynetworks.com