Quaternary Volcanism in India: the tale of two Andaman Volcanoes

"Volcanic eruptions are one of the most spectacular events of nature. They are the most visible proof that our planet is very much alive even after 4.56 billion years of its formation. Volcanoes provide conduits for materials from the deep interior thus acting as windows into the Earth’s mantle. I have been studying ancient volcanism in India and elsewhere in the world in an effort to understand the chemical evolution of Earth’s mantle through time. Currently I am pursing research in the more challenging Quaternary (2.5 million years to present) volcanism. My study is focused on the two known Indian volcanoes of this time, the extinct Narcondam and the active Barren Island. In the talk, I shall discuss the origin and evolution of these volcanoes, and the nature of their mantle source(s)."