A syntaxis is an abrupt major change in the dominant orientation of the main fold and thrust structures in an orogenic belt. For example, the Himalayan belt forms a continuous gentle curve in its main part, running almost perpendicular to the motion of the Indian Plate as it collides with the Eurasian Plate. This thrust-dominated plate boundary connects at both ends to the highly oblique, strike-slip dominated boundaries running through Pakistan and Myanmar, forming the Nanga Parbat syntaxis to the west and the Namche Barwa syntaxis in the east.
References
- Bates, R.L.; Jackson, J.A. (1987). Glossary of geology (Third ed.). American Geological Institute. p. 668. ISBN 9780913312896.
- Booth, A.L.; Chamberlain, C.P.; Kidd, W.S.F.; Zeitler, P.K. (2009). "Constraints on the metamorphic evolution of the eastern Himalayan syntaxis from geochronologic and petrologic studies of Namche Barwa". Bulletin of the Geological Society of America. 124 (3–4): 385–407. Bibcode:2009GSAB..121..385B. doi:10.1130/B26041.1.
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