Propagation of rotational rifts across rheological heterogeneities: Insights from 3D analogue models

When continents are pulled by moving lithospheric plates they break into pieces that drift apart to form new oceans. This is an integral part of the theory of plate tectonics, but many aspects of this process are still poorly understood. Using different materials, I physically simulate geological processes that last millions of years in nature in the laboratory. Comparison of my models with nature allows me to better understand how and why continents break up, with particular interest in cases when such continents are internally heterogeneous from a mechanical point of view.