Anatolian Plate is Splitting - International Research Team Reveals

southeastern turkey, iran - An international research team has announced the discovery of a 1500-kilometer rift extending from southeastern Turkey to Iran, potentially impacting the region significantly.

Splitting of Anatolian Plate

An international research team from Germany's Göttingen University has identified a 1500-kilometer rift stretching from southeastern Turkey to Iran. The rift, originating from the Tethys Oceanic Plate beneath the Zagros Mountains, separating the Arabian Plate from the Eurasian Plate, is said to be horizontally tearing apart. Dr. Renas Koshnaw from the Structural Geology and Geothermal Department at Göttingen University stated that this plate is pulling the region downwards. The remnants of the Tethys Ocean are now known as the Mediterranean, Black, and Caspian Seas. The Zagros Mountains, a 1500-meter mountain range believed to have formed due to the collision of the African, Arabian, and Indian plates with the Eurasian Plate, are noted to be pulling down the Earth's crust, leading to the formation of new mineral deposits. Koshnaw emphasized that such research contributes to understanding how the Earth's rigid outer shell functions, aiding in the discovery of natural resources like ore deposits and geothermal energy, as well as providing better insights into earthquake risks.