The Rapid Convergence of the Indian Plate with the Eurasian Plate Resulted in the Fracture of Musandam Mountains Leading to the Formation of the Strait of Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow and strategically vital maritime corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, is one of the most critical chokepoints for global oil transportation. The Strait of Hormuz facilitate the transit of millions of barrels of crude oil daily, and it is indispensable to global energy security. Despite its immense geopolitical importance in the modern world, the geological processes that shaped the Strait of Hormuz remain only partially understood. The region’s origins can be traced back approximately 120 million years ago to the breakup of the Gondwana supercontinent, which set the Indian plate on a rapid northward trajectory. This movement culminated in its collision with the Eurasian plate around 55 million years ago, an event that profoundly altered the region's geology. The impact of this collision not only led to the dramatic uplift of the Himalayan mountain range and the formation of the Tibetan Plateau but also exerted tectonic forces on the Arabian Plate. During or prior to the early stages of Himalayan formation, the Arabian Plate collided with the Eurasian Plate. This tectonic interaction involved the subduction of the oceanic portion of the Arabian Plate beneath the Eurasian Plate, leading to the development of the Makran Range. Eventually the Musandam Peninsula of Arabia collided with the Makran Range, near the southern Zagros Mountains, giving rise to the Musandam Mountains. However, the rapid movement of the Indian Plate toward the north disrupted the nascent Musandam Mountains from the Eurasian plate. This tectonic activity fractured the developing landscape, contributing to the formation of the Strait of Hormuz. The geological processes in this region highlight the dynamic interplay of plate tectonics that shaped its distinctive features. This paper explores the tectonic processes associated with the Indian Plate's trajectory and their role in shaping the Strait of Hormuz, a geological feature of enduring significance to global trade.