Skip to main content
Earth, Planets and Space
Download PDF

Trap thickness and the subtrappean structures related to mode of eruption in the Deccan Plateau of India: results from magnetotellurics

Earth, Planets and Space volume 59, pages 75–81 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Deccan trap thickness is an important parameter in understanding the eruption process of flood basalts (65 My). A magnetotelluric study was carried out in Deccan Volcanic Province (DVP) of the Indian Peninsular shield during 1998–1999. Modeling results clearly revealed variations both in the thickness of the Deccan traps and in their resistivity from the west coast to the eastern boundary of DVP. The thickness of the traps in DVP decreases from about 1.8 km in the west to a few hundred meters (approx. 400 m) towards the east. The traps also exhibit considerable variation in resistivity, with higher resistivities (approx. 150–200 ohm-m) in the western half and lower resistivities (approx. 50–100 ohm-m) in the eastern half of DVP. Two significant fissure/fracture zones have been detected in DVP; these may have acted as conduits for the outpouring of Deccan lavas in addition to the primary structures along the west coast and the Narmada-Son lineament (NSL) zones.

References

  • Allegre, C. J., J. L. Birck, Capmas, F. and V. Courtillot, Age of the Deccan Traps using 187Re-187Os systematics, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 170, 197–204, 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baksi, A. K., Geochronological studies on whole-rock basalts, Deccan traps, India: evaluation of the timing of volcanism relative to the K-T boundary, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 121, 43–56, 1994.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beane, J. E., C. A. Turner, P. R. Hooper, K. V. Subbarao, and J. N. Walsh, Stratigraphy, composition and form of Deccan Basalts, Western Ghats, India. Bull. Volcanol., 48, 61–83, 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berdichevsky, M. N. and V. I. Dmitriev, Basic principles of interpretation of magnetotelluric sounding curves, in Geoelectric and Geothermal Studies, pp. 165–221, edited by A. Adam, KAPG Geophysics Monographs, Akademiai Kiado, Budapest, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas, S. K., Rift basins in western margin of India and their hydrocarbon prospects with special reference to Kutch basin, Am. Assoc. Petr. Geol. Bull., 66, 1497–1513, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biswas, S. K., Regional tectonic framework, structure and evolution of the western marginal basins of India, Tectonophysics, 135, 307–327, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodas, M. S., S. F. R. Khadri, and K. V. Subbarao, Stratigraphy of the Jawahar and Igatpuri formations, Western Deccan Province, in Deccan Flood Basalts,edited by K. V. Subbarao, Mem. Geol. Soc. India, 10, 235–252, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crumansonata, Geoscientific studies of the Son-Narmada-Tapti Lineament zone, Geological Society of India, Special Publication 10, 371, 1995.

  • Courtillot, V., J. Besse, D. Vandamme, T. Montigny, J. J. Jaeger, and H. Cappetta, Deccan flood basalts at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary?, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 80, 361–374, 1986.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Courtillot, V., G. Féraud, H. Maluski, D. Vandamme, M. G. Moreau, and J. Besse, Deccan flood basalts and the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary, Nature, 333, 843–846, 1988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, R. A. and D. G. Pyle, Raid eruption of the Deccan Traps at the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary, Nature, 333, 841–843, 1988.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gokarn, S. G., C. K. Rao, B. P. Singh, and P. N. Nayak,. Magnetotelluric studies across the Kurduwadi gravity feature, Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 72, 58–67, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaila, K. L., K. Roy Chowdhury, P. R. Reddy, V. G. Krishna, Hari Narain, S. I. Subbotin, V. B. Sollogub, A. V. Chekunov, G. E. Kharetchko, M. A. Lazarenko, and T. V. Ilchenko, Crustal structure along Kavali-Udipi profile in the Indian Peninsular Shield from deep seismic soundings, J. Geol. Soc. India, 10, 307–333, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaila, K. L., P. R. Reddy, M. M. Dixit, and M. A. Lazrenko, Deep crustal structure at Koyna, Maharashtra indicated by Deep Seismic Soundings, J. Geol. Soc. India, 22, 1–16, 1981a.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaila, K. L., P. R. K. Murty, V. K. Rao, and G. Kharetchko, Crustal structure from deep seismic sounding along the KOYII (Kelsi-Loni) profile in the Deccan trap area, India, Tectonophysics, 73, 365–384, 1981b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kailasam, L. N., Plateau uplift in Peninsular India, Tectonophysics, 61, 243–269, 1979.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishna Brahmam, N. and J. G. Negi, Rift valleys beneath the Deccan trap (India), Geophys. Res. Bull., 11, 207–237, 1973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahadevan, T. M. and K. V. Subbarao, Seismicity of the Deccan Volcanic Province-An evaluation of some endogenous factors, Mem. Geol. Soc. India, 43, 453–484, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, C. and M. Widdowson, A geological map of the southern Deccan traps, India and its structural implications, J. Geol. Soc. London, 148, 495–505, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, W. J., Hotspot tracks and the opening of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, in The Sea, edited by C. Emiliani, Vol. 7, pp. 443–487, John Wiley, New York, 1981.

  • Negi, J. G., P. K. Agrawal, and K. N. N. Rao, Three-dimensional model of the Koyna area of Maharashtra state (India) based on the spectral analysis of aeromagnetic data, Geophysics, 48, 964–974, 1983.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patro, B. P. K., H. Brasse, S. V. S. Sarma, and T. Harinarayana, Electrical structure of the crust below the Deccan Flood Basalts (India), inferred from magnetotelluric soundings, Geophys. J. Int., 163, 931–943, 2005a.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patro, B. P. K., T. Harinarayana, R. S. Sastry, M. Rao, C. Manoj, K. Naganjaneyulu, and S. V. S. Sarma, Electrical imaging of Narmada-Son Lineament Zone, Central India from magnetotellurics, Phys. Earth Planet. Inter, 148, 215–232, 2005b.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Peng, Z, X., J. Mahoney, P. Hooper, C. Harris, and J. Beane, A role for lower continental crust in flood basalt genesis? Isotopic and incompatible element study of the lower six formations of the western Deccan Traps, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 58, 267–288.

  • Radhakrishna, B. P., An excursion into the past-„The Deccan volcanic episode”, Curr. Sci., 61, Nos 9/10, 641–647, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  • Radhakrishna, B. P., Neogene uplift and geomorphic rejuvenation of the Indian peninsula, Curr. Sci., 64, Nos. 11/12, 787–793, 1993.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ranganayaki, R. P., An interpretive analysis of magnetotelluric data, Geophysics, 49, 1730–1748, 1984.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray, S., Petrologic evolution of the Deccan traps, Sci. Cult., 33, 252–256, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sarma, S.V.S. etal., Magnetotellurics studies, (in) Integrated Geophysical Studies For Hydrocarbon Exploration Saurashtra, India, NGRI Technical Report No: NGRI-98-EXP-237, pp. 181–262, 1998.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sen, G., Generation of Deccan Trap magmas, Proc. Indian Acta. Sci (Earth Planet. Sci.), 110, 409–431, 2001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, T., M. Hoversten, E. Gasperikova, and F. Morrison, Sharp boundary inversion of 2D magnetotelluric data, Geophys. Prospect., 47, 469–486, 1999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Subbarao, K. V., C. Mitchell, and M. Widdowson, Latur continental earthquake from the southeastern Deccan Basalt Province, India. Abstract. IUGG Meeting 1995. Section of SW7 Intracontinental Earthquakes, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subbarao, K. V. and P. R. Hooper, Reconnaissance map of the Deccan basalt group in Western Ghats, India, in Deccan Flood Basalts, edited by K. V. Subbarao, Mem. Geol. Soc. India, No. 10, 1988.

  • Subbarao, K. V., D. Chandrasekharam, P. Navaneethakrishnan, and P. R. Hooper, Stratigraphy and structure of parts of the central Deccan Basalt province: Eruptive models, in Volcanism, edited by K. V. Subbarao, Wiley Eastern Ltd., pp. 321–332, 1994.

  • Subbarao, D. V., Zero-free air-based gravity anomaly (preliminary) map of South India-A refined and redefined Bouguermap, Curr. Sci., 82, No. 11, 2002.

  • Tiwari, V. M., M. B. S. Vyaghraswara Rao, and D. C. Mishra, Density inhomogeneties beneath Deccan volcanic province, India, as derived from gravity data, J. Geodyn., 31, 1–17, 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • West, W. D., The Deccan Trap and Other Flood Eruptions-a comparative study, Mem. Geol. Soc. India, 43, 129–144, 1999.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, India

    B. P. K. Patro

  2. New Nallakunta, Hyderabad, India

    S. V. S. Sarma

Authors
  1. B. P. K. Patro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. V. S. Sarma
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. P. K. Patro.

Rights and permissions

Open Access  This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made.

The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder.

To view a copy of this licence, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Patro, B.P.K., Sarma, S.V.S. Trap thickness and the subtrappean structures related to mode of eruption in the Deccan Plateau of India: results from magnetotellurics. Earth Planet Sp 59, 75–81 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352679

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352679

Key words

  • Deccan traps
  • resistivity
  • magnetotellurics
  • fissures