Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Lava flow transition in pāhoehoe-dominated lower pile of deccan traps from Manmad-Chandwad area, western Maharashtra

  • Published:
Journal of the Geological Society of India

Abstract

Morphological evolution of classical pāhoehoe to transitional flow-type in a compound basalt flow occurring in the lower pile of Deccan traps is described here from the southern slope of Mesan Dongar in Manmad-Chandwad area, western part of Maharashtra plateau, India. The transitional flow lobes, largely identified as rubbly pāhoehoe-type, are characterized by a crust of breccias, with thickness ranging from 10 to 20 m. The breccia is generally a welded one and consists of mm to m-size, angular to sub-angular basaltic clasts that vary in vesiculation (vesicle size, shape and population). The crust, at times, is supported by an inner vesicular zone coherently developed above a persistent core that varies in thickness from 10 to 15 m. Base of these lobes is smooth, sparsely vesicular, without any basal breccia.

Many of the transitional lobes of Mesan Dongar, however, shared a few common morphological traits with slabby pāhoehoe and this inherent uncertainty in classifying them as rubbly pāhoehoe has been greatly reduced using the semi-quantitative tool of Keszthelyi (2002). Moreover, it is also proposed that this morphological evolution of flow lobes in Mesan Dongar represents a NW-SE trending, southerly propagating and at least four kilometre long flow-front of pāhoehoe lava. Identification of flow fronts is important, even in this ~65 Ma old, dissected Deccan flood basalt province, as these can reveal vital information on flow dynamics, slope and cooling histories of individual flows/lobes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Beane, J.E., Turner, C.A., Hooper, P.R., Subbarao, K.V. and Walsh, J.N. (1986) Stratigraphy, composition and form of the Deccan Basalts, Western Ghats, India. Bull. Volcanol., v.48, pp.61–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bondre, N. R., Dole, G., Phadnis, V.M., Duraiswami, R. A. and Kale, V.S. (2000) Inflated pahoehoe lavas from the Sangamner area of the western Deccan Volcanic Province. Curr. Sci., v.78, pp.1004–1007

    Google Scholar 

  • Bondre, N.R., Duraiswami, R.A. and Dole, G., 2004. Morphology and emplacement of flows from the Deccan volcanic province, India. Bull. Volcanol., v.66, pp.29–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, R.J., Blake, S., Bondre, N.R., Phadnis, V.M. and Self, S. (2011) A’a lava flows in Deccan Volcanic Province, India and their significance for the nature of continental flood basalt eruptions. Bull. Volcanol., v.73 (6), pp.737–752.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deshmukh, S.S. (1988) Petrographic variations in compound flows of Deccan Traps and their significance. In: Subbarao, K.V. (ed) Deccan flood basalts. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, no.10, pp.305–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duraiswami, R.A., Bondre, N. and Dole, G, (2002) Morphology and structure of flow-lobe tumuli from Pune and Dhule areas, western Deccan Volcanic Province. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.60, pp.57–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duraiswami, R.A., Bondre, N.R. and Managave, S. (2008) Morphology of rubbly pahoehoe (simple) flows from the Deccan Volcanic Province: implications for style of emplacement. Jour. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., v.177, pp.822–836.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duraiswami, R.A., Dole, G. and Bondre, N. (2003) Slabby pâhoehoe from the western Deccan Volcanic Province: evidence for incipient pâhoehoe-‘a‘â transitions. Jour. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., v.121, pp.195–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duraiswami, R.A., Dole, G. and Bondre, N.R. (2004) The Songir Structure: Inflated Lava Flow or Tube? Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.65, pp.357–365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duraiswami R.A., Gadpallu, P., Shaikh, T.N. and Cardin, N. (2014) Pahoehoea’a transitions in the lava flow fields of the western Deccan Traps, Indiaimplications for emplacement dynamics, flood basalt architecture and volcanic stratigraphy. Jour. Asian Earth Sci., v.84, pp.46–166.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giordano, D., Russel, J.K. and Dingwell, D. B. (2008) Viscosity of magmatic liquids: a model. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., v.271, pp.123–134.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Godbole, S.M., Rana, R.S. and Natu, S.R. (1996) Lava stratigraphy of Deccan basalts of western Maharashtra. Gond. Geol. Mag. Spec. Publ., v.2, pp.125–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffiths, R.W. (2000) The dynamics of lava flows. Annu. Rev. Fluid. Mech. v.32, pp.477–518.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GSI (1994a) Quadrangle Geological Map of Dhule Quadrangle, Maharashtra (46L), Geological Survey of India, Government of India.

    Google Scholar 

  • GSI (1994b) Quadrangle Geological map of Phaltan Quadrangle, Maharashtra (47 K), Geological Survey of India, Government of India.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hon, K., Gansecki, C. and Kauahikaua, J. (2003) The transition from‘a‘â to pâhoehoe crust on flows emplaced during the Pu‘u ‘Ô‘ô-Kûpaianaha eruption. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 1676.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hon, K., Kauahikaua, J., Denlinger, R. and Mackay, K. (1994) Emplacement and inflation of pahoehoe sheet flows: Observations and measurements of active lava flows on Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull., v.106, pp.351–370.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jay, A. E., Mac Niocaill, C., Widdowson, M., Self, S. and Turner, W. (2009) New palaeomagnetic data from the Mahabaleshwar Plateau, Deccan Flood Basalt Province, India: implications for the volcano-stratigraphic architecture of continental ûood basalt provinces. Jour. Geol. Soc. London., v.166, pp.13–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keszthelyi, L. (2002) Classification of the mafic lava flows ODP Leg183. In: Frey, F.A., Coffin, M.F., Wallace, P.J., and Quilty, P.G. (Eds.) Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program Scientific Results, v.183, pp.1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keszthelyi, L., and Thordarson, TH(2000) Rubbly pahoehoe: a previously undescribed but widespread lava type transitional between a’a and pahoehoe. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. Progr., 32: 7. (Abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Keszthelyi, L., Self, S. and Thordarson, TH(2006) Flood lavas on Earth, Io and Mars. Jour. Geol. Soc. London, v.163, pp. 253–264.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keszthelyi, L., Thordarson, TH.and Self, S. (2001) Rubbly pahoehoe: implications for flood basalt eruptions and their atmospheric effects. Eos, Trans. Amer. Geophys. Union, 82:F1407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keszthelyi, L.P., Thordarson, Th., MCEwan, A., H‘a’ack, H., Guilbaud, M.-N., Self, S. and Rossi, M.J. (2004) Icelandic analogs to Martian flood lavas. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. v.5(11), pp.1–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kilburn, C.R.J. (1981) Pâhoehoe and ‘a‘â lavas; a discussion and continuation of the model of Peterson and Tilling. Jour.Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., v.11, pp.373–383.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lipman, P.W. and Banks, N.G.(1987) A’a flow dynamics, Mauna Loa 1984. US Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper-1350, pp.1527–1568.

    Google Scholar 

  • Loock, S., De Vries, B. V.W. and Hénot J-M (2010) Clinker formation in basaltic and trachybasaltic lava flows; Bull. Volcanol., v.72, pp.859–870.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, G. A. (1953) Pahoehoe, a’a, and block lava. Amer. Jour. Sci., v.251, pp.169–191.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, G.A. (1972) Volcanoes: Englewood Cliffs (Prentice-Hall).

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, K.S. (2002) Arterial system of lava tubes and channels within Deccan Volcanics of western India. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.59, pp.115–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Misra, K.S., Sabale, A.B. and Bhutani, R. (2001) Lava channels and tubes in the western part of the Deccan Volcanic Province. Geol. Surv. India, Spec. Publ., no.64, pp.503–510.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, C. and Widdowson, M. (1991) A geological map of the southern Deccan Traps, India and its structural implications. Jour. Geol. Soc. London, v.148, pp.495–505.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nair, K.K.K. and Bhusari, B. (2001) Stratigraphy of Deccan Traps: A review. Geol. Surv. India, Spec. Pub., no.64, pp.477–492.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, D.W. and Tilling, R.T. (1980) Transition of basaltic lava from pâhoehoe to ‘a‘â, Kilauea volcano, Hawaii; field observations and key factors. J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. v.7, pp.271–293.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Phadke, A.V. and Ghate, N.S. (1984) The occurrence of lava tunnels in pahoehoe basalt flows of Pune area. Geol. Surv. India, Spec. Pub. no.14, pp.18–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajarao, C.S., Sahasrabuddhe, Y. S., Deshmukh, S.S. and Raman, R., (1978) Distribution, Structure and petrography of the Deccan Traps, India. In: Subbarao, K.V. (Ed.), Excerpts. Deccan Volcanic Province. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, v.43, pp.401–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajarao, C.S. (1984) The thickness of Deccan Trap. Geol. Surv. India. Spec. Publ. no.14, pp.1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowland, S.K. and Walker, G.P.L. (1987) Toothpaste lava: Characteristics and origin of a lava structural type transitional between pahoehoe and a’a. Bull. Volcanol., v.49(4), pp.631–641.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rowland, S.K., and Walker, G.P.L. (1990) Pahoehoe and aa in Hawaii: volumetric flow rate controls the lava structure. Bull. Volcanol., v.52, pp.615–628.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Self, S., Keszthelyi, L. and Thordarson, Th. (1998) The importance of pâhoehoe. Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci., v.26, pp.81–110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, B. and Sabale, A.B. (2011) Flow-types and Lava Emplacement History of Rajahmundry Traps, West of River Godavari, Andhra Pradesh; Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.78, pp.457–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen, B., Sabale, A.B. and Sukumaran, P.V. (2012) Lava Channel of Khedrai Dam, Northeast of Nasik in Western Deccan Volcanic Province: Detailed Morphology and Evidences of Channel Reactivation. Jour. Geol. Soc. India, v.80, pp.314–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, R.K. and Vaddadi, S. (1996) Report on lava tubes/channels from Deccan Volcanic Province, Pune and Ahmednagar Districts, Maharashtra. Gond. Geol. Mag. Spl. v.2, pp.449–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheth, H.C. (2006) The emplacement of pahoehoe lavas on Kilauea and in the Deccan Traps. Jour. Earth Sys. Sci., v.115, pp.615–629.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheth, H.C., Ray, J.S., Kumar, A., Bhutani, R. and Awasthi, N. (2011) Toothpaste lava from the Barren Island volcano (Andaman Sea); Jour. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res., v.202, pp.73–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soule, S. A. and Cashman, K. V. (2005) Shear rate dependence of the pâhoehoeto- ‘a‘â transition:analog experiments. Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., v.33, pp.361–364.

    Google Scholar 

  • Srinivasan, V. and Vishwakarma, L. L. (2001) Nature of Deccan Volcanism in Western part of Maharashtra; Indian Jour. Geomorphol., v.6, pp.123–136.

    Google Scholar 

  • Subbarao, K.V. and Hooper, P.R., (1988) Reconnaissance map of the Deccan Basalt Group in the Western Ghats, India. In: Subbarao, K.V. (Ed.) Deccan Flood Basalts. Mem. Geol. Soc. India, no.10, enclosure.

  • Thorat, P.K. (1996) Occurrence of lava channels and tubes in the western part of Deccan volcanic province. Gond. Geol. Mag., Spec. v.2, pp.449–450.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, G.P.L. (1971) Compound and simple lava flows and flood basalts, In: Aswathanarayana, U. (Ed.), Deccan Trap and Other Flood Eruptions, Part I. Bull. Volcanol., v.35, pp.579–590.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wentworth, C. K. and Macdonald, G.A. (1953) Structures and forms of basaltic rocks in Hawaii. U.S. Geol. Surv. Bull.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Survey of India, NER, Nongrim Hills, Shillong, 793 003, India

    Bibhas Sen

Authors
  1. Bibhas Sen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bibhas Sen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sen, B. Lava flow transition in pāhoehoe-dominated lower pile of deccan traps from Manmad-Chandwad area, western Maharashtra. J Geol Soc India 89, 281–290 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0600-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12594-017-0600-4

Search

Navigation