Recent studies have shed light on the fact that prior to its convergence with the Asian landmass, Greater India constituted an independent tectonic entity spanning as much as 3,000 kilometers across. This insight has significantly modified our comprehension of the processes that gave rise to the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau.
Newly uncovered data provides a persuasive resolution to previous conflicting views and endorses the extensive breadth of Greater India.
Eons ago, Earth’s geography was starkly different, with only two major landmasses: Laurasia and Gondwanaland. What we recognize today as the Indian subcontinent was once a segment of Gondwanaland, which fragmented approximately 150 million years prior. The section of the Indian Plate that severed from Gondwanaland is now plunged beneath the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. Therefore, delineating the original magnitude of Greater India, which is no longer visible, is critical for answering significant queries regarding the timeline of the India–Asia convergence and the construction of the Tibetan Plateau.
Inquiries into Tectonic Convergence
Yet, estimates regarding the full extent of Greater India have been inconsistent, ranging from a few hundred to over 2,000 kilometers. The Sangdanlin section, situated at the juncture of the Indian and Asian plates in southern Tibet, has been likened to a geologic Rosetta stone for pinpointing the commencement of the India–Asia collision. Nonetheless, conflicting data regarding its age and paleomagnetic signals has rendered precise estimations challenging.
Researchers from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, together with their counterparts from institutions including Ludwig Maximilians University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have elucidated that Greater India was indeed a solitary plate measuring 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers before its subduction beneath Asia.
Scientific Perspectives and Discoveries
Professor Jun Meng from the China University of Geosciences’ School of Earth Sciences and Resources, the lead author of the publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, states, “There are essentially two prevalent theories regarding the India–Asia collision. One proposes a staggered collision sequence that splits the oceanic basin ahead of India into smaller plates that later amalgamated into the Asian plate. The alternative theory posits that India and Greater India were unified as a single plate during the Early Cretaceous, with the upper crust from the northern edge of Greater India constituting the Himalayan thrust belt, and its lower crust undergoing subduction beneath Asia.”
His colleague, Professor Chengshan Wang comments, “Our investigation aimed to ascertain the veracity of these models.”
The team clarified numerous questions related to these issues through integrated geological, paleontological, and paleomagnetic studies of the significant Sangdanlin section. The paleomagnetic properties of the Cretaceous rocks enabled them to trace the historical latitudinal positions of the northern part of the Indian Plate over time and to deduce a minimum dimension for Greater India.
Their findings depict the journey of the Indian Plate as it detached from the Gondwana supercontinent and sank beneath Asia, an event contributing to the formation of Earth’s highest elevations, including Mount Everest. Credit for these illustrations goes to Jun Meng of the China University of Geosciences, Beijing, and Professor Stuart A. Gilder from Ludwig Maximilians University.
Implications of the Study on Tectonic Theory
The outcomes of the research indicate that the Earth’s lithosphere, its rocky exterior, which has been consumed by subduction since the collision’s beginning 55 million years ago, was substantially more expansive than the present-day Indian subcontinent and initially stretched approximately 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers northward. This implies that roughly 5 million square kilometers of lithosphere has been subducted beneath the Asian Plate, contributing to the ascent of the Tibetan Plateau.
These results signify a profound shift in our perception of the collision between India and Asia and the resulting development of the associated geological structures.
Professor Stuart A. Gilder from Ludwig Maximilians University notes, “Our discoveries challenge the traditional views on the development of Asia’s southern border, which were thought to result from the fusion of independent tectonic blocks within the Tethys Ocean. These insights could bridge the knowledge gap concerning the scale of the Indian plate when it was part of Gondwanaland and its tectonic evolution leading up to its collision with Asia.”
The research has notably propelled forward our understanding of Earth’s tectonic history. The research team deserves recognition for their contribution to this groundbreaking discovery.
Citation: “Reinforcing the case for a vast Greater India” by Jun Meng et al., 8 August 2023, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305928120
Regarding Professor Chengshan Wang
Professor Chengshan Wang is a distinguished faculty member at the School of Earth Sciences and Resources at the China University of Geosciences in Beijing. A member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the President of the Executive Committee for the Deep-time Digital Earth initiative, his scholarly focus includes the Cretaceous period’s environmental and climatic conditions, the tectonic elevation and associated sedimentary responses, and analysis of oil-bearing basins. He is recognized as an authority in the field of mountain range uplift, particularly in his studies on the Tibetan Plateau and Himalayas, earning over 19,000 citations. His accolades include The Li Siguang Geological Science Award and the National Natural Science Award.
Regarding Professor Jun Meng
Professor Jun Meng is affiliated with the School of Earth Sciences and Resources at the China University of Geosciences in Beijing. Specializing in paleomagnetism and tectonics, he has a noteworthy publication record, with more than 20 scholarly articles and over 1,000 citations.
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about India-Asia Collision
What new evidence has emerged about the India–Asia collision?
Recent research has indicated that Greater India was a solitary tectonic plate spanning 2,000 to 3,000 kilometers prior to its collision with the Asian landmass, providing new insights into the formation of the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau.
How does this new evidence affect our understanding of the Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau formation?
The findings suggest that the Indian Plate’s original extent was larger than previously thought, which implies that the collision with Asia involved a significantly greater area, contributing to the rise of the Tibetan Plateau and influencing the geological structure of the region.
What were the two major landmasses on Earth millions of years ago?
The two major landmasses were Laurasia and Gondwanaland. The present Indian subcontinent was a part of Gondwanaland before it broke away and eventually collided with the Asian continent.
What is the significance of the Sangdanlin section in this research?
The Sangdanlin section in southern Tibet is a crucial geological site that has provided paleomagnetic data essential for tracking the movement of the Indian Plate and determining the size of Greater India before its collision with Asia.
Who conducted the research on the India–Asia collision, and where was it published?
The research was conducted by a team of scientists from the China University of Geosciences in Beijing, along with colleagues from Ludwig Maximilians University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA.
What are the main theories about the India–Asia collision?
The main theories are the multistage collision model, which involves the incorporation of smaller plates into the Asian plate, and the single plate model, which posits that India and Greater India were once a unified plate during the Early Cretaceous period.
What impact does this study have on the field of tectonic research?
This study challenges established notions about the formation of Asia’s southern margin and enhances understanding of the tectonic history of the Indian Plate, offering a more accurate model for the size and movement of Greater India before its collision with Asia.
More about India-Asia Collision
- India-Asia Collision Research
- Formation of the Himalayas
- Tectonic Plates and Continental Drift
- Paleomagnetism Studies
- Greater India’s Geological Past
- Understanding the Tibetan Plateau
5 comments
did anyone else get lost in the geology jargon i mean i get it’s important but it’s like reading another language sometimes
I’m fascinated by the idea that all this time we had no idea how large Greater India was…it’s kind of humbling, isn’t it? We’re still uncovering the planet’s secrets.
these findings are gonna rewrite textbooks! Imagine just how much we dont know about our own planet.
This research is so cool! Can you imagine, the Indian plate was once way bigger than it is today, and now its under the Himalayas, nature is wild.
wow just read about the India-Asia collision, its incredible how they figure out these things, like we’re detective for the earth’s history or something