Newer paleomagnetic results of the Deccan traps, India

Abstract

The paleomagnetic results are presented from a number of sections of the Deccan traps, distributed all over the area. All samples were subjected to partial progressive demagnetization with alternating magnetic fields and were measured with astatic magnetometers. From c. 14% of the collected material no characteristic directions of magnetization could be obtained. In the ultimate analyses the material of 84 individual flows with a total number of 470 samples is included. The virtual magnetic pole position computed by combining the virtual pole positions of the sections is located at 34.8° N, 80.3° W with A 95 = 7.2°. Combined with the results of earlier obtained paleomagnetic data a preliminary paleomagnetic stratigraphy has been set up, where a subdivision into four paleomagnetic epochs has been proposed. The paleomagnetic results of the Deccan traps suggest that there was a fairly rapid drift of several tens of cm/year of the subcontinent during the period of extrusions; this seems to be compatible with the interpretation of the magnetic anomalies in the Indian Ocean, where a rapid N-S spreading took place from anomaly 30 through anomaly 21.