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The subsurface megascopic characteristics of basalt and basement rocks from Koyna-Warna area of Maharashtra, India

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Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Vertical deep boreholes of depth up to 1522.50m have been drilled in Koyna-Warna area of Maharashtra State within the Deccan Volcanic Province to study the most outstanding example of Reservoir Triggered Seismicity (RTS). The drilling of 9 bore-holes in the area has provided a window to earth scientists to peep into geological details available below Deccan Trap.

The 932.50m thick pile of Deccan basalt, consisting of 30 flows at Rasati, near Koyna, which has been physically seen through cores, present a marvellous geological repository for observations. The megascopic characteristics of various flows and variation in composition have been presented in this paper. The microscopic and geochemical characteristics have been kept out of this communication, as the relevant studies are not completed to draw any conclusion. This study records the presence of granite wash (≈1m thick) over basement and below basalt representing Late Archaean to Cretaceous period hiatus. The basement rocks, presumably of Late Archaean age have been described mega-scopically. A fair picture of sub-surface pre-Deccan topography is shown with the help of borehole data, which confirm the nearly flat topography of pre-Deccan surface especially in this part of the area occupied by 30 flows of Deccan basalt. Correlation of 30 flows with the established stratigraphy has also been attempted for subsurface existence of Ambenali (Upper) and Poladpur Formations of Wai Subgroup in Koyna-Warna area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atomic Minerals Directorate, Eastern Region, Jamshedpur, 831 002, India

    D. K. Sinha & Anjan Som

  2. Homi Bhabha National Institute, DAE, Mumbai, India

    D. K. Sinha

  3. Borehole Geophysics Research Laboratory (BGRL), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Karad, 415 114, India

    Sukanta Roy

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  1. D. K. Sinha
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  2. Anjan Som
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Correspondence to D. K. Sinha.

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Sinha, D.K., Som, A. & Roy, S. The subsurface megascopic characteristics of basalt and basement rocks from Koyna-Warna area of Maharashtra, India. J Geol Soc India 90, 761–768 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0788-3

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