Arc-continent collision and mountain building processes of the Taiwan orogeny

The Taiwan orogeny, a notable example of arc-continent collision, features complex geological structures, rapid exhumation, and dynamic deformation. To better understand these processes, we developed advanced thermomechanical models incorporating dehydration and hydration of serpentinite, partial melting and magma migration in the mantle wedge, elasto-visco-plastic rheology, lithology-dependent erosion, and observed boundary geometries. These models successfully replicate key features of the Taiwan orogeny, including fault distributions, seismicity patterns, and metamorphic temperature profiles. They align with thermochronological records, accurately reflecting rates of exhumation and cooling, and reproduce strain distributions and structural complexities consistent with geodetic and geological data. This study highlights the effectiveness of thermomechanical modeling in capturing the evolution of arc-continent collision zones, offering insights into the driving mechanisms of mountain building. These findings provide a valuable framework for exploring similar tectonic settings globally.