Fig. 5
From: Relict subduction initiation along a passive margin in the northwest Indian Ocean
A generalised plate reconstruction model. The diagram depicts the late Cretaceous geodynamic evolution (not to scale) of northwest Indian Ocean15,16,17,23. a ~85 Ma: Sinistral transform motion between Madagascar and Seychelles-Laxmi-ridge-India conglomerate resulted in axial spreading and formation of incipient Mascarene basin. b ~80 Ma: Creation of oceanic crust in Mascarene basin induced an E–W separation across N–S translating plates. The asymmetric spreading rendered triangular geometry within the Mascarene basin and forced the Seychelles-Laxmi ridge-India conglomerate to rotate counter-clockwise as it drifted away from Madagascar. Further spreading and translational motion accompanied by simultaneous ridge reorganisation caused trans-tensional motion between Seychelles + Laxmi ridge conjoined block and India, producing a spreading axis segment along proto-Gop-Laxmi basin. c Continued rotational compressions led to subduction initiation (SI) and forearc magmatism in the Laxmi basin and island arc formation, volcanism and ophiolite complexes along the northwest Indian margin. d A zoomed in view of (c) shows the proposed location of SI. e Later, subduction failed in the Laxmi basin as a result of slab rollback and collision. Subsequent northward dextral motion of Indian plate led to its present day position. The Deccan volcanism (shown in red) occurred while Indian plate interacted with the Reunion plume during its northward journey (~65 Ma)3. Eventually, rifting moved out of Laxmi basin to the west of Laxmi ridge that separated Seychelles from Laxmi ridge that heralded modern Carlsberg ridge (~62 Ma)
