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Abstract: An anomalous lateral bathymetric protrusion [Alleppey–Trivandrum Terrace Complex (ATTC)] in the form of two contiguous terrace-like features exists in the mid-continental slope off southwest coast of India. This bathymetric protrusion and a bathymetric notch in the Northern Madagascar Ridge (NMR) have been postulated as conjugate features related to India–Madagascar separation in Late Cretaceous. However, geoscientific studies aimed to understand the crustal structure and genesis of the ATTC or its postulated conjugate region are meagre and ambiguous. In this context, the present study, based on recently acquired as well existing bathymetry, gravity, magnetic and multi-channel seismic reflection data, was carried out to understand the morphotectonic architecture of the ATTC. The bathymetric data suggest an escarpment [Chain-Kairali Escarpment (CKE)] to demarcate the westward limit of the ATTC and another escarpment [Quilon Escarpment (QE)] to demarcate the boundary between the southerly, larger ‘Trivandrum Terrace (TT)’ and northerly, smaller Alleppey Terrace (AT). The multichannel seismic reflection data suggests a block-faulted basement and presence of a nearly N–S trending wide basement high in the central part of the Trivandrum Terrace. Forward modelling of gravity data constrained by seismic reflection information suggests that the crustal structure of the ATTC region is comparable to thinned continental crust. Forward modelling of prominent high amplitude magnetic anomalies suggest that the thinned continental crust of the ATTC region also contains volcanic bodies as intrusives/extrusives. The CKE is inferred to be a sheared continental margin segment along which the SE coast of Madagascar glided past India and the volcanic emplacements in the ATTC region perhaps relates to the Marion Hotspot volcanism. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Deccan Traps, one of the best known examples of rapid flood basalt, are considered as marking of the inception of a mantle plume on the Indian continental lithosphere. Their emplacement may be associated with the continental break-up of India and the Seychelles block and later formation of a new spreading centre, the Carlsberg Ridge, while spreading progressively ceased in the Mascarene Basin. Whether rifting, continental break-up, and seafloor spreading predated or were the consequence of the Deccan Traps emplacement is still a matter of debate. This issue is further complicated by the presence of a continental sliver, the Laxmi Ridge, and large basins lying landward of the Laxmi Ridge, such as the Laxmi and Gop basins, where nature of the crust is still ambiguous. The present study attempts to decipher the tectonic setting and the imprints of plume–ridge interaction in the Gop Basin, where the crust has been interpreted as either volcanic-intruded thinned continental crust or oceanic crust formed by a now-extinct spreading centre. Based on interpretation of an updated compilation of marine geophysical data, the present study supports the oceanic nature of the crust underlying the Gop Basin and proposes the Palitana Ridge as the extinct spreading centre in this region. The prominent but short sequence of fairly linear magnetic anomalies in the Gop Basin does not allow a unique identification; it can be reasonably explained either as A31r–A25r (∼69.3–56.4 Ma) or as A29r–A25r (∼64.8–56.4 Ma) sequence. The variations of the spreading rates assumed by both these models suggest that spreading in the Gop Basin significantly slowed around 65 Ma, contemporaneous with the magmatic outburst of the Reunion plume on the adjacent western Indian mainland. Subsequently, the Gop Basin spreading centre was waning whereas a new spreading centre was developing further south, close to the (relatively) southward migrating plume. In this last stage, the Gop Basin spreading centre was associated with an abundant magmatism, probably supplied from the plume region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bathymetry of the southwestern continental margin of India reveals the presence of an anomalous terrace like feature in the mid-continental slope region off Trivandrum. The genesis of this terrace of large areal extent (∼9000 sq. km.) is yet to be established. Based on exercises with several existing paleogeographic reconstruction models and updated compilation of identified offshore tectonic elements, this study attempts to identify a plausible model of India–Madagascar juxtaposition in immediate pre-drift scenario, which provides idea about genesis of this terrace. It is inferred that the terrace off Trivandrum and an anomalous bathymetric notch located in the northern Madagascar Ridge are conjugate features related to India–Madagascar separation and the rifted and sheared segments of the pre-drift plate boundary have shaped their outlines. The drifting of India from Madagascar is suggested to have commenced at about 86.5 Ma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]