COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH: Thermal Modelling of Himalayan Geology

9314662 Furlong The Himalayan Orogen is the classic example of an active continent-continent collision and has received considerable study. In addition to major thrust systems, extensional features are present at high structural levels, possibly accommodating gravitational collapse of steep topographic gradients, thus indicating that the Himalaya is a dynamic system that has undergone several episodes of adjustment in response to changes in the stress field, thermal structure or other tectonic parameters. This project will test the hypothesis that syn-compressional collapse was episodic in the orogen by dating appropriate deformational features. The project will also develop linked thermal and mechanical models based on the accumulated geological database for the central Himalaya. This model, specific to this orogen, is expected to have considerable relevance to the understanding of complex dynamics of collisional orogens in general.