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The Indian plate (or India plate) is a minor tectonic plate straddling the equator in the Eastern Hemisphere. Originally a part of the ancient continent of Gondwana , the Indian plate broke away from the other fragments of Gondwana 100 million years ago and began moving north, carrying Insular India with it. [ 2 ]
The southernmost part of the Eurasian plate was actually the Lhasa block, which itself had drifted north and joined the landmass, simultaneous to the drift of the Indian Plate. This, however, is not included in the hypothesis, as it does not gravely affect the tectonic activities.
The Indian plate is part of the Indo-Australian plate, which underlies the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, and is moving north-east at an average of 60 mm/a (0.075 in/Ms). The India Plate meets the Burma plate (which is considered a portion of the great Eurasian plate) at the Sunda Trench. At this point, the India Plate subducts beneath the ...
Map showing the Indo-Australian plate (IA) and other major plates The Indo-Australian plate, shown as its two subdivisions: the Indian plate (red) and the Australian plate (orange) The Indo-Australian plate is or was a major tectonic plate. It is in the process of separation into three plates, and may be currently separated into more than one ...
The relative movement of the plates typically ranges from zero to 10 cm annually. [5] Faults tend to be geologically active, experiencing earthquakes, volcanic activity, mountain-building, and oceanic trench formation. Tectonic plates are composed of the oceanic lithosphere and the thicker continental lithosphere, each topped by its own kind of ...
However, there is a relative movement between the Indian plate and the Australian plate. A process which would eventually split the Indo-Australian plate in two probably started 8 to 10 million years ago and is still taking place. The 2012 Indian Ocean earthquake is associated to the reactivation of the NNE-striking sea floor fabric. [9] [10]
It is, however, particularly prone to earthquakes as it lies on top of active geological faults where two tectonic plates, the large Eurasian and small Indian tectonic plates collide. This collision forces the Indian plate under the Eurasian plate, causing movement of the earth's crust. [15]
Obduction zones occurs when the continental plate is pushed under the oceanic plate, but this is unusual as the relative densities of the tectonic plates favours subduction of the oceanic plate. This causes the oceanic plate to buckle and usually results in a new mid-ocean ridge forming and turning the obduction into subduction. [citation needed]