Magmatic record of India-Asia collision

• DOI: 10.1038/srep14289
• Publication Date: 2015-09-23T09:08:11Z
• Authors: Di-Cheng Zhu; Qing Wang; Zhi-Dan Zhao; Sun-Lin Chung; Peter A. Cawood; Yaoling Niu; Sheng-Ao Liu; Fu-Yuan Wu; Xuan-Xue Mo
• Keywords: Slab; continental collision

New geochronological and geochemical data on magmatic activity from the India-Asia collision zone enables recognition of a distinct flare-up event that we ascribe to slab breakoff. This tie-point in collisional record can be used back-date time initial impingement Indian continent with Asian margin. Continental arc magmatism southern Tibet during 80-40 Ma migrated south north then back significant mantle input at 70-43 Ma. A pronounced flare up intensity (including ignimbrite mafic rock) ca. 52-51 corresponds sudden decrease convergence rate. Geological are consistent controlled by rollback 70 breakoff 53 We propose slowdown plate 51 is largely consequence subducting Neo-Tethyan oceanic lithosphere, rather than onset as traditionally interpreted, implying commenced earlier, likely 55