The Ratnagiri Fracture Zone

This chapter presents seismic section from the Mumbai/Bombay offshore region, in the western continental margin of India (WCMI) which shows a paleo oceanic fracture zone. It describes faults based on transparent fault shadows, bending of horizons and displacement of horizons. The chapter also presents a figure to show Mid-Oceanic Ridge (MOR) and fracture zone-transform fault (in thick brown) set up. Although the MOR segments appear to be displaced dextrally, the transform fault slipped sinistrally. On the schematic section, the plate at right is older with more subsidence than the plate at left. To maintain the elevation difference 'h' due to the initial thermal age variation, the higher and lower edges of the plate flex, causing the reverse drag appearance on the fracture zones. The trends of the fracture zones indicate the spreading direction.