Earth's crust is collapsing under a hidden force—scientists reveal the shocking reason

Researchers from the University of Göttingen have uncovered a groundbreaking geological phenomenon—the Neotethys oceanic plate, which once lay beneath the Arabian and Eurasian continents, is fracturing horizontally. This immense structural shift is taking place beneath the Zagros Mountains, a sprawling range that extends across southeast Turkey, northwest Iran, and the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
For millions of years now, the Arabian and Eurasian plates have been colliding, which has pushed the oceanic plate downward into the Earth’s mantle. As the process continued, the descending oceanic plate functions like an anchor, dragging down the Earth's crust and forming a vast depression that has accumulated millions of years' worth of sediment.

However, this process is not uniform and thus sections of the sinking plate are breaking apart, altering the region's geological evolution. Researchers have emphasized that these changes have a large implication on for earthquakes, natural resources, and the long-term geological stability of the region.

The Arabian and Eurasian plates are colliding, pushing up the Zagros Mountains and creating the Mesopotamian plains as eroded sediments build up over time. Scientists have long believed that the weight of these mountains is the main reason for the deep depressions in the region. However, new research suggests another major factor—the sinking Neotethys plate beneath the surface is pulling the land downward.
Dr. Renas Koshnaw, the study’s lead author, explains that the amount of sediment found in parts of the Zagros region far exceeds what the weight of the mountains alone is capable of. To understand this, the team of researchers created a downward-bending model of the Earth’s surface. They discovered that the oceanic plate is breaking horizontally, with the tear stretching from southeast Turkey to northwest Iran.

Koshnaw elaborated, “This plate is pulling the region downward from below, making space for more sediment accumulation. Towards Turkey, the sediment-filled depression becomes much shallower, suggesting that the slab has broken off in this area, relieving the downward pull force.”

As per researchers, a redistribution of stress within the Earth’s crust occurs when the plates break apart, thus triggering earthquakes. Regions such as northwest Iran, Iraq, and southeast Turkey could experience shifts in seismic activity over time.
Further research into the bending and breaking of tectonic plates reveals their impact on the movement of heat and fluids deep within the Earth. This process plays a crucial role in shaping underground energy systems and could aid in identifying new geothermal energy sources.