Significant Crustal Losses During Mountain Formation Revealed by New Research

Recent research reveals that significant portions of continental crust may have been lost to the mantle during the formation of major mountain ranges, including the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau, European Alps, and Zagros Mountains. Led by Dr. Ziyi Zhu from Monash University, the study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters quantifies this loss, highlighting that up to 64% of the crust in the Zagros Mountains and 50% in the European Alps may have been destroyed. Understanding these geological processes is crucial for interpreting Earth’s tectonic history.