Researchers map ancient geological history of Iran and Afghanistan
Scientists from the University of Central Asia and Utrecht University reconstructed the complex tectonic history spanning 200 million years across Iran, Afghanistan, and the Pamir Mountains.
Complex geological reconstruction published
Researchers published their findings in the journal Gondwana Research after analyzing decades of literature. They describe a region where Earth's crust has been kneaded like dough for some 200 million years. Pieces of crust disappeared into the mantle while other parts were pushed up into mountains. Dr Nalan Lom from the University of Central Asia explained that minerals and metal ores form in these plate-tectonic highways.
Ancient continental collisions occurred
Blocks from Iran broke away from Arabia 270 million years ago before colliding with Europe 50 million years later. Afghanistan consists of an enormous piece of crust squeezed westward out of the Tibetan Plateau into Iran. The area was then compressed again by the collision with India while Arabia collided from the southwest. Ocean crust subducted under Iran and Pakistan, pulling on the plate and causing Arabia to rotate away from Africa.
Persian Gulf formation details
The collision zone near Iran pushed the Arabian continent down slightly, creating the Persian Gulf. A mountain range running through Oman formed a crescent shape where it was pushed down. That procedure formed a curve in the Persian Gulf which has become the Strait of Hormuz. The small islands within that strait represent the peaks of a drowned mountain range.
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