Deccantraps

Deccan Traps are a large volcanic province located in the Deccan Plateau of west-central India. They consist of extensive layers of solidified basaltic lava flows that cover an area of approximately 500,000 square kilometers. These lava flows are believed to have erupted over a period of around 30,000 to 600,000 years during the late Cretaceous to early Paleocene epochs, roughly 66 to 65 million years ago.

The formation of the Deccan Traps is associated with volcanic activity linked to the Réunion hotspot, a mantle plume that has contributed to volcanic episodes in the Indian Ocean region. This volcanic event is considered one of the largest volcanic provinces on Earth and is comparable in scale to the Siberian Traps. The lava flows built up in multiple layers, creating the characteristic vast, flat-lying basaltic plains seen today.

The Deccan Traps have significant geological and environmental implications. Their eruption coincides with the mass extinction event that wiped out the non-avian dinosaurs, leading some scientists to investigate the role of volcanic gases, such as sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide, in climate change and environmental stress during that period.

Geologically, the Traps provide valuable insights into large-scale volcanic processes and the Earth's mantle dynamics. The extensive basalt layers visible across the region have been widely studied for their mineral content and as a source of commercial resources.

Overall, the Deccan Traps are an important feature in understanding Earth's volcanic history, mass extinctions, and the geodynamic processes shaping the Indian subcontinent.