Tehran (Web Desk) Chinese scientists have discovered two large cracks in a major geological plate beneath southeastern Iran, revealing important information about the Earth's internal structure and the formation of continents.
According to the research, the cracks are located in the Arabian Plate, and their formation is primarily attributed to differences in the density and structure of various types of rocks.
The study, led by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, states that one part of the plate was once part of the ocean floor of the ancient Neotethys Sea. The heavy basalt rocks found there are sinking beneath another plate, while the other section consists of relatively lighter and thicker continental rocks.
According to scientists, differences in the properties of oceanic and continental rocks are creating pressure on various sections of the plate, resulting in the formation of large cracks. Instead of sinking underground, continental rocks resist this movement, triggering the process of mountain formation.
The research, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, will help scientists understand how oceans disappear over millions of years, how continents collide with one another, and how major geographical changes occur on the Earth's surface.
According to the researchers, this discovery represents a significant development in understanding Earth's geological history and the complex movements of tectonic plates.