Unraveling tectonic evolution of Greater Maldive Ridge in western Indian Ocean can reconstruct Gondwanaland break up & dispersal

What is the news?

Researchers have traced the tectonic evolution of the Greater Maldive Ridge(GMR).

What is Greater Maldive Ridge (GMR)?

Greater Maldive Ridge (GMR) is located in the western Indian Ocean, southwest of India.

The ridge is aseismic which means that it is not associated with earthquake activities. 

The ridge largely remains uninvestigated but is of paramount importance to gain knowledge on the structure and geodynamics of aseismic ridges

What did the scientists find out about Greater Maldive Ridge (GMR)?

Maldive Ridge and Deep Sea Channel (DSC) region may probably be oceanic in nature with the presence of underplated materials associated with the Reunion hotspot volcanism. 

Maldive Ridge might have formed in the close vicinity of the Mid-Oceanic Ridge (where creation of a new ocean floor occurs due to divergent motion of lithospheric plates or spreading center). 

On the other hand, the DSC region was under a long transform fault (offset between the spreading centers, which neither create nor destroy lithosphere), which hindered melt production and gave rise to the gap between Chagos and Maldive Ridge.

What is the significance of this study?

The study can help reconstruct the original Gondwanaland break up and dispersal that led to the present-day configuration of continents, continental fragments, and formation of ocean basins in the Indian Ocean.

Source: This post is based on the article “Unraveling tectonic evolution of Greater Maldive Ridge in western Indian Ocean can reconstruct Gondwanaland break up & dispersal” published in PIB on 17th Feb 2022.