A global system of spiraling geosutures

Abstract

A global system of geosutures was identified. These form a major counterclockwise converging spiral pattern whose ‘eye’ stretches along the Alpine‐Himalayan orogenic belt. The system of lithospheric slices, which are bounded by these geosutures, approaches the Alpine‐Himalayan ‘eye’in different ways: the slices converging from the south collide frontally, whereas the northern ones tangentially and sequentially slide along one another. Another smaller clockwise converging spiral pattern was identified close to the earth's north pole. In addition to the Alpine‐Himalayan belt, many other important tectonic features appear to be associated with the geosutures of the proposed system, thereby offering explanations for their genesis. The correlation between some of the geosutures and hydrocarbon accumulations as well as metallic ore deposits may stimulate new concepts and leads for economic explorations elsewhere. Another system of geosutures of planetary dimensions was also noticed on Mars. The largest spiral pattern converges counterclockwise on an ‘eye’ located along the Martian equator. Two smaller spiral patterns were also noticed on both poles of Mars. The northern spiral is clockwise, while the southern one is counterclockwise. If the Martian spirals are indeed analogous to those on earth, then a third spiral showing counterclockwise convergence may exist close to the earth's south pole. The coherence and smoothness of the newly identified patterns on earth build confidence in their reliability. Once the kinematics involved in this system are understood, we expect that their origin will also be deciphered. However, this last is beyond the scope of the present paper.