An insight into the “Fifty-Fathom-Flat” off India's west coast

The multibeam bathymetry images suggest that the western boundary of the Fifty-Fathom-Flat (FFF) coincides with the shelf break, with a fall much sharper than other places along the west coast. This break also coincides with the western extremity of the carbonate platform. The stratigraphic succession and petrology of the FFF bear strong resemblance to that of the Seychelles and Mascarene Plateau. We discuss the tectonic implications of such resemblance, and the possible reasons for the remarkably low bathymetric relief of the FFF.