Abstract
INITIAL surveys1–3 of the palaeomagnetism of the Deccan traps showed that there is an apparent decrease of palaeomagnetic inclination with altitude above sea level. This was interpreted2,4 as indicating a continuous northward movement of India during the time when the traps were being extruded. It was pointed out, however, that the observations could also be explained in terms of partial magnetic instability causing the directions to be pulled towards the present geomagnetic field. Sahasrabudhe5 has now made a very extensive palaeomagnetic study of the Deccan traps using magnetic cleaning techniques. His aim was to try to use the palaeomagnetic directions for stratigraphic purposes and he did not attempt to analyse his data for normal palaeomagnetic purposes. I have made a complete analysis of his data and the purpose of this communication is to demonstrate that the earlier results are more likely explained in terms of viscous magnetization. This conclusion leads to some consequences regarding the northward drift of India during the Tertiary.
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