The Late Cretaceous-Paleogene Deccan Traps: a Potential Global Heritage Stone Province from India

Abstract

The Late Cretaceous/Palaeogene Deccan Traps, spread over half a million square kilometres in west-central parts of the Indian Peninsula, comprises predominantly basalts and subordinate felsic rocks (rhyolite, trachyte, tinguaites and spilites). The use of Deccan basalts and trachyte in the range of Indian architectonic heritage, from antiquity to current times, is quite fascinating. The abundance and ease of workability of Deccan Trap rocks render them the most preferred building material in all the architectonic heritage structures that document various cultural and ethnic habitations in the west central India. The Buddhist, Hindu and Jain temples of Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta are the oldest in-situ basalt cave temples, dating back to second century. A contemporary iconic architectonic heritage ‘The Gateway of India’ personifies a majestic edifice built in buff coloured trachyte. In the present times, the Deccan basalts are being quarried for a variety of purposes such as masonry stone for buildings, road metal and as raw material for corrosion-resistant basaltic pipes and basalt wool that are also in great demand internationally. The trachyte quarries are almost extinct and relict trachyte outcrops are preserved in some places in and around Mumbai. The Deccan Trap rocks basalt and trachyte bear testimony to India’s cultural and architectonic heritage, are therefore, the most suitable candidates for according the status of Global Heritage Stone Resource (GHSR) as they fulfil all the requisite criteria specified by the IUGS subcommission on Hertaiage stones referred to as the Heritage Stone Subcommission (HSS). It is worthwhile to mention that both basalt and trachyte of the Deccan Traps are in geographic and geological proximity with each other and this qualifies Deccan Trap province to be recognised as a Global Heritage Stone Province (GHSP) from this subcontinent in consonance with the criteria for GHSP mentioned in the terms of reference given by HSS.