Delineation of Subtrappean Mesozoic Sediments in Deccan Syneclise, India, Using Travel-Time Inversion of Seismic Refraction and Wide-Angle Reflection Data

Abstract

2-D shallow velocity structure is derived by travel-time inversion of the first arrival seismic refraction and wide-angle reflection data along the E–W trending Narayanpur–Nandurbar and N–S Kothar–Sakri profiles, located in the Narmada–Tapti region of the Deccan syneclise. Deccan volcanic (Trap) rocks are exposed along the two profiles. Inversion of seismic data reveals two layered velocity structures above the basement along the two profiles. The first layer with a P-wave velocity of 5.15–5.25 km s−1 and thickness varying from 0.7–1.5 km represents the Deccan Trap formation along the Narayanpur–Nandurbar profile. The Trap layer velocity ranges from 4.5 to 5.20 km s−1 and the thickness varies from 0.95 to 1.5 km along the Kothar–Sakri profile. The second layer represents the low velocity Mesozoic sediments with a P-wave velocity of 3.5 km s−1 and thickness ranging from about 0.70 to 1.6 km and 0.55 to 1.1 km along the E–W and N–S profiles, respectively. Presence of a low-velocity zone (LVZ) below the volcanic rocks in the study area is inferred from the travel-time ‘skip’ and amplitude decay of the first arrival refraction data together with the prominent wide-angle reflection phase immediately after the first arrivals from the Deccan Trap formation. The basement with a P-wave velocity of 5.8–6.05 km s−1 lies at a depth ranging from 1.5 to 2.45 km along the profiles. The velocity models of the profiles are similar to each other at the intersection point. The results indicate the existence of a Mesozoic basin in the Narmada–Tapti region of the Deccan syneclise.