What might be the end result of the Brahmaputra valley being subducted to the north below Tibet and to the south-east below Burma (Myanmar )?
The fate of continental crust going into subduction depends largely on decoupling at mid or lower crustal levels (e.g. modeling papers: Doin and Henry, 2001; Yamato et al., 2008; Burov and Toussain, 2007). Beside size, crust thickness (as well as thermal state and rheology) and erosion rate in the mountain belt are important parameters.
In the case of the central Himalaya-Tibet, the upper Indian crust is incorporated into the mountain belt and/or eroded, and it has been suggested that the lower crust is eventually eclogitized and sinks into the mantle (Henry et al., 1997; Nabelek et al., 2009).
Arguably, if the S. Shillong thrust is considered as the currently active Himalayan deformation front... Gauhati may never get subducted.
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