Tectonic Framework of Northern Pakistan from Himalaya to Karakoram

Abstract

AbstractOrogenesis at continental margins and within oceanic crusts depends on the conversion of a subducting plate. The Andean/Cordilleran-type orogenic belts and magmatism form by subduction of a denser oceanic crust beneath a continental crust. Ocean–ocean convergence associated plutonic and volcanic magmatism culminated into an island arc. Complete subduction of an intervening oceanic crust leads to collision orogenic belts and suture zones. Suture zones contain remnants of almost completely consumed intervening oceanic crust in the form of ophiolites. Tectonic exhumation colligated with orogenic belts juxtaposes different grade metamorphic, upper mantle and deep crustal rocks following the closure of the intervening ocean. The 2500 km long E–W trending Himalaya, Kohistan Island Arc and adjacent Karakoram Orogenic Belt that rampart the northern edges of Pakistan provide an ideal opportunity to examine Andean/Cordilleran, Island Arc and continent–continent orogenic belts and diverse geological processes associated with their formation. In this chapter, we communicate to the readers to canvas the Sub-Himalaya, Greater Himalaya, remnants of the southern and northern Neo–Tethys that have been respectively closed along the Main Mantle Thrust/Indus Suture Zone and Main Karakoram Thrust/Shyok Suture Zone, entire Kohistan Island Arc, Main Karakoram Thrust, Karakoram microplate, the most dynamic/active plate boundary processes, regional shear zones, the continent–ocean transition, the influence of mantle dynamics paradigm and the role of tectonic inheritance.