DECCAN TRAP. \ 175 



the enormous trap-flows, nor were any true dykes of Decean trap ao«e 

 met with, from which it may perhaps not be unsafe to infer that the 

 volcanic foci whence the southernmost traps issued were situated at 

 some distance north of such parts of the trap area as were visited in 

 surveying the South Mahratta country and Southern Konkan. This 

 view is supported by the great rarity of beds of volcanic ash in the 

 south, though abundant and common in the northern parts. Two in- 

 trusions of basalt of doubtful age were noted by Mr. C. Wilkinson in 

 the Konkan : one is a large dyke occurring at Sundur Wari; the other, 

 apparently also a dyke, at Neoti on the coast north-west of Vingorla. 

 He does not ascribe them to the Decean trap series, but they differ from 

 the ordinary dykes, mostly dioritic, traversing the metamorphic rocks in 

 South India, by showing distinct columnar cleavage into pentagonal 

 prisms. Of the second, he says in his notes, ^^The trap has broken the 

 metamorphics and spread over them for a short distance. It can be 

 traced northwards as far as Shepi (Shepee) in the ravine formed by the 

 small stream which falls into the sea at Neoti." Though this looks very 

 much like a small centre of outflow, the evidence given is insufiicient to 

 enable one to feel certain that the basalt in question really belongs to 

 the Decean trap series. 



The greatest thickness of the trap within the South Kolhapur area 

 Thickness of the trap ^^J ^^ I'oughly estimated at from 2,000 to 2,500 

 ^^^'^^^- feet, but increases northward. Further south the 



trap decreases in thickness, for the beds forming the southern bound- 

 ary of the area near the crest of the ghats are high up in the series and 

 overlap by a wide space many of the underlying flows seen further 

 north in the scarp overhanging the Konkan. 



The question of the circumstances under which the Decean trap 



Subaerial origin of ^^^ poured out, whether subaerial, or subaqueous, 



the Decean trap. ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^ ^^^ further discussion, for it has 



been answered clearly and conclusively by Mr. W. T. Blanford, Deputy 



( 175 ) 



