Age of Deccan Volcanism Across KTB in Krishna-Godavari Basin: New Evidences

The latest Paleontological data suggest that the duration of Deccan trap eruption in Krishna-Godavari basin varies from place to place and could be anywhere between <0.5 Ma and 6 Maacross KTB. Three groups of fossils viz., Planktic foraminifera, Nannoplanktics and Dinoflagellate cysts suggest that the initiation of volcanism was during latest Maastrichtian within the upper part of Abathomphalus mayaroensis Zone, Micula murus Zone and Triblastula utinensis Zone between 67 and 66.5 Ma. There are conflicting evidences in dating the upper age limit of the volcanics probably due to diverse methods employed in calibration of forarniniferal and nannoplanktic scales or selective retrieval of very small sized planktics of zones P0 and P1 in well cuttings.