Petrology of rift-related basalts at Bombay High waters, Arabian Sea

208-211Tholeiitic basalts obtained in 6 cores from Bombay High region, at depths of 860-2550 m below the seabed, are of low K and high Fe types. SiO2 varies from 45.68 to 50.72%, K2O 0.09 to 0.69%, TiO2 1.06 to 2.39%, and FeO(t) 11.79 to 15.5%. The iron enrichment and the low Mg numbers suggest derivation of these basalts from extensive fractional crystallisation. These basalts are compositionally similar to rift related basaltic rocks associated with the opening of the Indian Ocean