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Burma

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Encyclopedia of European and Asian Regional Geology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Science ((EESS))

Introduction

Burma (Myanmar) ∗ is the westernmost and largest country on the SE Asian peninsula (Fig. 81). The geology of Burma reflects the tectonic growth of this region through amalgamation of several terranes of diverse origin during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Terrane amalgamation in Burma can be related more regionally to the accretion of Gondwanan terranes, including India, to the S margin of Eurasia during closing of one or more ‘Tethyan’ ocean basins (e.g.. Molnar and Tapponnier, 1977; Mitchell, 1981; Audley-Charles, Ballantyne and Hall, 1988; Hutchison, 1989). Each accreted terrane within Burma contains a unique rock assemblage and structural style, reflecting its place of origin, mode of emplacement, and post-emplacement activity. Present-day Burma is tectonically and seismic ally active (Fig. 81), with evidence for continued oblique subduction of the Indian Ocean plate beneath the Indoburman Ranges (Le Dain, Tapponnier and Molnar, 1984; Saikia, Kotoky and Duarah 1987; Mukhopa...

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© 1997 Chapman & Hall

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Varga, R.J. (1997). Burma . In: Encyclopedia of European and Asian Regional Geology. Encyclopedia of Earth Science. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4495-X_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-4495-X_17

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