Petrology of ocean floor rocks from Central Indian Ocean Basin

13-16Rocks encountered in Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) are predominantly basalts exhibiting typical basaltic textures. They are composed of plagioclase (either twinned and/or zoned) together with olivine, augite and opaques. Gas cavities are either empty or filled partly with cryptocrystalline materials and dark globules(?). In addition to basalts, acid volcanic fragments represented by pumice of varying shape and sizes have also been observed. Correlation between areas of rocks and nodules is discussed. It is believed that the basalts might have been the product of episodic eruption of submarine volcanoes.IJMS Vol.19(1) [March 1990