The Deccan Traps are a large volcanic province located in west-central India. They are a massive and extensive layer of basaltic lava flows that cover an area of approximately 500,000 square kilometers (193,000 square miles), making them one of the largest volcanic provinces on Earth.
The Deccan Traps were formed during the Late Cretaceous period, around 66 million years ago, through a series of volcanic eruptions that lasted for thousands of years. The lava flows from these eruptions piled up layer upon layer, resulting in the thick, extensive basaltic plateau that we see today.
The Deccan Traps are characterized by their distinctive basaltic rock formations, which are typically dark in color and have a columnar jointing pattern. The volcanic rocks of the Deccan Traps are believed to have originated from fissure eruptions, where lava erupted from long cracks or fissures in the Earth’s crust rather than from a single central vent.
The Deccan Traps are associated with the mass extinction event that marked the end of the Cretaceous period, known as the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary event. This mass extinction event is believed to have been triggered by a combination of factors, including the massive volcanic eruptions of the Deccan Traps, asteroid impact (such as the Chicxulub impact in Mexico), and other environmental changes.
The Deccan Traps are an important geological feature and provide valuable insights into the geologic history of India and the processes associated with large-scale volcanic eruptions. They are also an important site for research on the environmental and ecological impacts of massive volcanic eruptions, as well as the effects of volcanic activity on climate and evolution of life on Earth.
.
