Energy Resources and Mid-Continental (Stable Continental Region) Earthquakes over India: Association with Mantle Plume-Affected Regions

In the context of the Indian lithosphere, it is observed that locations of midplate earthquakes and hydrocarbon energy resources have striking correlation with the zones of influence (or corridors) of mantle plumes and their traces. The two mantle plumes (Kerguelen and Reunion) of the Ceno-Mesozoic period have given rise to the large igneous provinces, viz. the Rajmahal Traps on the eastern and Deccan traps on the western sides of the Indian sub-continent; two more mantle plumes (Marion and Crozet) are also believed to have affected India's continental margin. These plumes rise from different mantle depths, strike the base of the lithosphere and transfer the thermo-magmatic flux upwards, which in turn cause tectonic deformation/ movement, and also affect changes in the geophysical/ geological characteristics of the overlying lithosphere due to magmatic underplating, metasomatism and metamorphism, and thermal cooking and also enhancement of productivity of the basins due to heat and nutrient inputs from the mantle plumes coming up from the mantle. In this context, location of the stable continental region/mid-continental earthquakes and hydrocarbon/energy resources of India falling over the zone of influence of mantle plumes is significant and can be gainfully utilized in zeroing on their occurrence.