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Drift velocity partitioning indicates anomalous high velocities for the Indian plate during ~65 Ma
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  • Amarjeet Ramesh Bhagat,
  • S J Sangode,
  • Ashish Dongre,
  • Ashish Dongre
Amarjeet Ramesh Bhagat
Savitribai Phule Pune University, Savitribai Phule Pune University
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S J Sangode
Savitribai Phule Pune University, Savitribai Phule Pune University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ashish Dongre
Savitribai Phule Pune University
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Ashish Dongre
Savitribai Phule Pune University
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Abstract

A rapid northward drift of the Indian plate after 130 Ma has also recorded significant plate rotations due to the torques resulting from multiple vectorial forces. Magnetic anomaly, seismic tomography and palaeomagnetic database is used here to constrain drift velocities, tilt and lithospheric root delamination at different temporal snapshots. It results into estimates of 263.2 to 255.7 mmyr-1 latitudinal drift, 234 to 227.3 mmyr-1 longitudinal drift and 352.2 to 342.1 mmyr-1 diagonal drift, for the period from ~66 to 64 Ma during the Chrons C30n.y–C29n.y. Alternative models suggest active driving forces arising from i) slab pull, ii) ridge push from eastern-, western and southern plate margins, and iii) Reunion plume-push force; in addition to delamination of the lithospheric root during approximately 65+2 Ma. Delamination amplified the buoyancy of the Indian plate in contrast to sudden loading from Deccan basaltic pile that resulted into complex drift dynamics expressed by hyper plate velocities within global plate circuit.