Main Himalayan Thrust

Main Himalayan Thrust
LocationHimalayas
Characteristics
Length>2,000km
Strikenorthwest-southeast
Tectonics
StatusActive
TypeThrust fault
A geological map of the Himalaya region. The Main Himalayan Thrust underlies the rock units.
Diagram showing a décollement

The Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT) is a décollement under the Himalaya Range. This thrust fault follows a NW-SE strike, reminiscent of an arc, and gently dips about 10 degrees towards the north, beneath the region. It is the largest active continental megathrust[1] fault in the world.[2]

  1. ^ Sieh, Kerry (2007). "The Sunda megathrust - Past, present and future" (PDF). Journal of Earthquake and Tsunami. 1. California Institute of Technology: 1-19. doi:10.1142/S179343110700002X. ISSN 1793-4311.
  2. ^ Liu, Y.; Hubbard, J.; Almeida, R.V.; Foster, A.; Liberty, L.; Lee, Y.S.; Sapkota, S.N. (2020). "Constraints on the Shallow Deformation Around the Main Frontal Thrust in Central Nepal from Refraction Velocities". Tectonophysics. 777: 228366. Bibcode:2020Tectp.77728366L. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2020.228366. hdl:10356/143621 – via Boise State University.