Factors controlling the location of compressional deformation of oceanic lithosphere in the Central Indian Ocean

One- and two-dimensional models for the deformation by horizontal compression of an elastic plate containing a preexisting deflection were developed and analyzed in order to explain why the compressionally deformed oceanic lithosphere in the Central Indian-Ocean basin is not located where maximum levels of compressive stress in the Indo-Australian plate were predicted by Cloetingh and Wortel (1985, 1986). It is concluded from the results that the location of the deformed region is controlled by an earlier lithospheric deformation that is attributed to the emplacement of the Afanazy-Nikitin seamount group in Late Cretaceous or early Tertiary time.