Palaeomagnetic results on the Deccan trap lavas of the Aurangabad region and their tectonic significance

Detailed palaeomagnetic measurements have been carried out on a 600 m sequence of Deccan trap lava flows sampled in a 300 km long, NW-SE traverse through the trap country between Aurangabad (19°51′N 75°16′E) and Diglur town (19°48′N 77°36′E) which is located on the eastern margin of the traps. From 28 basalt flows between altitudes of 344 m to 927 m were collected 175 oriented block samples. Stable remanent magnetic directions obtained after alternating field demagnetisation tests indicate that all the lava flows are reversely magnetised. The mean value for the remanent directions was found to be: azimuth 150° and inclination 48° downwards; the palaeomagnetic pole position corresponding to this direction is 33°N 73°W.