Correlated crustal and mantle melting documents proto-Tibetan Plateau growth

A new study reveals that the rapid uplift and magmatism in the Hoh-Xil Basin, part of the northern Tibetan Plateau, are driven by lithospheric mantle removal. Using ambient noise tomography to create a three-dimensional S-wave velocity (VS) model, researchers identified widespread partially molten crust beneath the northern Tibetan Plateau, correlated with strong low-VS anomalies in the uppermost mantle and young magmatic rocks. This suggests that the proto-Tibetan Plateau grew outward through processes involving both crustal and mantle melting. The study fills a critical gap by providing seismic data from an otherwise inaccessible region, offering insights into the dynamic forces shaping the plateau's evolution.

Li, W., He, R., Yuan, X., Schneider, F., Tilmann, F., Guo, Z., & Chen, Y. J. (2024). Correlated crustal and mantle melting documents proto-Tibetan Plateau growth. National Science Review, 11(9). https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nwae257