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This paper is devoted to study of the issues of the seismic hazard and danger of mud volcanism in the Taman Peninsula in Krasnodar krai. The tectonic structure and the active tectonics directly responsible for strong earthquakes in the region are considered. Ruins of the ancient Greek city of Hermonassa and the city of Tmutarakan located above—the Saltovo–Mayak (Khazar) archaeological section have been studied. Traces of strong seismic events have been found in the ruins of both cities; some of them led to the abandonment of settlements by ancient inhabitants. The study results obtained for some volcanoes of the Taman Peninsula and their relation to certain active tectonic structures are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the study of the tectonic stress field of Southern Sakhalin on the basis of seismological, geological, tectonophysical, GPS and remote (satellite) methods. The most characteristic type of stress state for the South of Sakhalin is latitudinal — sublatitudinal horizontal compression. The field forming the morphology of the Pugachev and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcanoes, as well as the shape of their lithoclastite fields, fully corresponds to the nature of this state, which is confirmed by the analysis of satellite images.The images were used to supplement the results of previous researchers on the study of the directions of the gryphon bands and to measure deformation of volcano lithoclastite fields. The Pugachev volcano lithoclastite fields bend strikes 25°, and that of the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk mud volcano strikes 30°, which well corresponds to the regional tectonic stress field. The expediency of using remote (satellite) methods as an supplement to geological and geophysical methods, in particular borehole caliper, is shown.

The article in the journal "Frontiers in Earth Science" explores contemporary studies on cold seeps, hydrothermal vents, mud volcanoes, and related seafloor features. These features provide insights into deep processes that are typically inaccessible to scientists. The research emphasizes multidisciplinary approaches to studying seafloor fluid emissions, highlighting the importance of geologic, physical, chemical, and biological processes in these environments. The studies cover a wide range of topics, including microbial processes, fluid dynamics, mineralization, and the role of seafloor emissions in global biogeochemical cycles. [Extracted from the article]

We present new data on mud volcanism accompanied by gas emissions in Lake Baikal. Rupture deformations of the bottom with traces of erupted liquefied sediments were found at depths of 105.0–163.6 m in Malaya Kosa Bay and Goryachinskaya Bay in the North Baikal depression. The deposits, outcropped in the extended scarps and mud craters, are mainly represented by highly porous clays. Scarps of boulder–pebble sediments are occasionally encountered. The areas of mud volcanism are attributed to the zone of the North Baikal fault, indicating its current activity. Clays and the soft sediments covering them are disturbed, which indicates the recent eruption of gas-saturated fluid and mud. Cone-shaped edifices about 5 × 5 cm in size with a crater in a top were found in sediments at depths of 157–162 m in Goryachinskaya Bay. Similar gas plumes were revealed in Solontsovaya Bay along straight-line faults opposite the paleoseismic dislocation of the same name. It is necessary to continue studying the revealed shallow-water manifestations of mud volcanism and rupture deformations of the bottom by integrated geological and geophysical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediments deposited into foreland basins can provide valuable insights related to the geological evolution of their hinterlands. Located in the peripheral foreland of the South Sistan Suture Zone (SE Iran), the Karvandar Basin exhibits a several‐kilometer‐thick shallow‐marine to continental clastic sedimentary sequence forming elongated sub‐circular synclines. These synclines overlie a mud‐dominated formation with exotic volcanic blocks that hosts one of Iran's largest mud volcano, known as Pirgel. In this study, we present a ∼3.5‐km‐thick magnetostratigraphic section and U‐Pb zircon ages of interlayered tuffs that constrain a depositional age of the Karvandar Basin of ∼24–17 Ma. Sandstone and microconglomerate framework analyses and paleocurrent directions suggest a first‐cycle active volcanic arc source to the northeast of the basin. We interpret the mud‐dominated lithology with volcanic blocks as an olistostrome originating from a similar source as the overlying clastic sequence. The deposition of the olistostrome is dated at ∼24.5 Ma by a U‐Pb calcite age from a coral block. The absence of large‐scale anticlines and the occurrence of angular unconformities suggest that the sub‐circular synclines in the Karvandar Basin formed by gravity‐driven downbuilding into the unconsolidated fluid‐saturated olistostrome, resembling salt‐related minibasins. Integrated results indicate that a late Oligocene to early Miocene Makran volcanic arc represents the source of the clastic sequence. Hence, our results provide new constraints on the initiation of arc volcanism related to the Makran subduction zone, predating earliest reported ages from the Mirabad pluton (19 Ma) to the northeast of the Karvandar Basin by ∼5 Myr. Key Points: A ∼3.5‐km‐thick section in the Karvandar foreland basin was sampled for magnetostratigraphy and sandstone framework analysisThe shallow‐marine to continental sequence (24–18 Ma) consists of first‐cycle volcanic lithics and overlays an olistostrome depositThe late Oligocene to early Miocene sequence represents the erosion product of a volcanic arc related to the Makran subduction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present geochemical and mineralogical datasets for five new mud volcanoes in continental Azerbaijan (Hamamdagh and Bendovan) and the adjacent Caspian Sea (Khara-Zire, Garasu and Sangi-Mughan). The fluid ejects have a Na–Cl-type composition and are generated by the mixing of evaporated Caspian seawater and low- to high-salinity pore waters, as indicated by Br–B and Cl–B systematics and Na–K and SiO2 geo-thermometers. The fluids contain high concentrations of As, Ba, Cu, Si, Li, Sr and Zn (60 to 26,300 ppm), which are caused by surface evaporation, pyrite oxidation, ion exchange reactions and hydrocarbon maturation in Oligocene-Miocene 'Maykop' shales. The solid ejects comprise liquid, oily and brecciated mud, mud/claystones and sandstones. The mud heterogeneity of the volcanoes is related to the geological age and different sedimentological strata of the host rocks that the mud volcanoes pass through during their ascent. All ejects show evidence of chemical alterations via water–rock–gas reactions, such as feldspar weathering, smectite illitization and the precipitation of Fe-(hydr)oxides, calcite, calcian dolomite, kaolinite and smectite. The studied localities have petrographic similarities to northern extending mud volcano systems located on Bahar and Zenbil islands, which suggests that mud volcanoes in the Caspian Sea region are sourced from giant shallow mud chambers (~1–4 km depth) located in Productive Series strata. Our results document the complex architecture of the South Caspian Basin—the most prolific hydrocarbon region in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Self‐ignition during the explosive eruption of mud volcanoes can create flames that in some cases reach heights that exceed hundreds of meters. To study the controls on electrical discharge in natural mud, we performed laboratory experiments using a shock‐tube apparatus to simulate explosive eruptions of mud. We vary the water content of the mud and proportions of fine particles. We measure electric discharge within a Faraday cage and we use a high‐speed video camera to image the eruption of mud and some of the electric discharge events. We find that (a) decreasing the proportion of fine particles and (b) increasing water content each suppress the number and magnitude of electric discharge events. Experimentally observed mud volcano lightning occurs where particles exit from the vent and within the jet of erupting particles. Plain Language Summary: Vigorous mud volcano eruptions are often accompanied by large flames, which are the result of the self‐ignition of natural gas blasted with the erupting mud. The mechanisms for this gas ignition are not yet understood. We study a potential self‐ignition mechanism: volcanic lightning. We erupt mud in a laboratory setting and measure the conditions that promote lightning. We find that dry mud and mud with abundant fine particles create more lightning. For safety reasons, we studied mud samples with argon as the carrier gas for the eruption but expect that if a flammable gas was used, the lightning could ignite the gas. Key Points: Laboratory experiments show that jets of erupting mud can create electric dischargeDecreasing the proportion of fine particles and increasing water content suppress number and magnitude of electric discharge eventsElectric discharge is one mechanism that may enable self‐ignition of hydrocarbons during explosive mud volcano eruptions [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Nirano Salse, known since the Roman Times, are one of the most beautiful and scenic mud volcanoes areas of Italy with thousands of visitors every year. In this work, we apply novel (for the context) hydrogeological techniques to characterize mud levels in the Salse by means of GPS-RTK positioning and continuous level logging within mud conduits. This is important to quantify the gas–liquid ratio in the conduits and evaluate the potential for dangerous abrupt mud eruptions. The results presented suggest that different mud levels in mud volcanoes clusters are due to the different gas–liquid ratio in the conduits and not necessarily exclude interconnection at depth, a hypothesis, on the other hand, that seems strengthened by mud level time series correlations. The presence of shallow aquifers at a depth of 5 to 30 m is also supported by our field data and allows us to delineate the boundaries of the shallow mud reservoir—pipes system and its overall shape. The shallow aquifers may provide a temporary storage for the ascending gas and when fluid pressure in these aquifers exceeds the tensional strength of the sedimentary rock, leakage of fluids to the surface would occur. In this case, if the gas–liquid ratio is high, mud volcanoes develop into tall gryphons and tend to have a discontinuous activity with sudden eruptions of mud after long periods of quiescence. This, together with the knowledge of shallow conduits localization has an important implication for site safety in proximity to the mud volcanoes. Our inferences based on mud level relationships to mud extrusion dynamics can be applied to lower risk in other mud volcanoes areas of the world with high geo-tourist visits, such as those of Trinidad, Azerbaijan, and Colombia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is a review of our work, an experimental study and simulation of seismic fields in volcanic structures using vibrators as sources of elastic waves. We review the results of experimental studies of mud volcanoes carried out by the Institute of Computational Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics (ICM&MG) of the Siberian Branch (SB), Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS); by the Institute of Physics of the Earth (IPE), RAS; and by the Kuban State University in the Taman mud-volcanic province using vibrators. We have carried out mathematical simulation in heterogeneous geophysical media to refine the information on the structure of the object under investigation, as well as on the distinguishing features of the seismic field. We have developed a mathematical approach to deal with the simulation of vibroseismic probing of mud volcanoes with arbitrary geometries incorporating knowledge of deep-seated faults, overlapping layers, and so on. Numerical techniques were used to solve sets of equations in elasticity theory and to develop parallel algorithms, program packages, as well as carrying out numerical experiments in high-performance computational systems. We present results from calculations of the seismic field for the source zone of the Shugo mud volcano. This paper describes 3D and 2D geophysical models developed for this study and the results of simulation for the seismic field of the Karabetova Gora mud volcano and for the Elbrus magmatic volcano. It is shown that the approach developed here using active vibroseismic techniques can be successfully used in practice to refine the seismic field, the deep structure of geophysical models, and to study the effects exerted by the geometry of a magma chamber and by the presence of erupting channels on data acquired by an observation system on the ground surface. These studies prove that vibroseismic sources with high accuracies of periodic excitation can be used to study volcanic structures and to conduct active monitoring of volcanic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mud volcanoes in the Mediterranean Sea have been subject of scientific research since the 1970s and contributed to the understanding of these seafloor features and their role in the subduction budgets worldwide. Recently, the need to better characterize the connection of these mud volcanoes with the deeper lithologies of the accretionary prism and its implications led to expedition POS410 (2011) and SO278 (2020). During these expeditions, mud volcanoes which had been investigated in ODP Leg 160 (1996) were resampled and complemented with new sites along the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex. We present pore water data from six mud volcanoes and two brine pools in and around the Olimpi Mud Volcano Field (OMVF). The data highlight strong depletion in Cl (<200 mM), Na (∼200 mM), Mg and K (with concentrations ∼0 mM) and striking water isotope ratios (δ18O of +9.79‰ V-SMOW and δD of −26.33‰ V-SMOW), indicating dehydration of clay minerals at depth. At five locations, the interstitial waters are characterized by extremely high salinities (Cl > 5000 mM and Na >6500 mM), therefore drastically expanding the previous reports of highly saline pore waters in the OMVF. The measurements further reveal that Gelendzhik mud volcano, located in the western part of the OMVF along a major strike-slip fault, shows an unusual pore water downcore profile and its water isotopes signature differ strongly from the other structures (δ18O of +13.63‰ and δD of +1.83‰). Upon further investigation through XRF scans and hydrates stability calculations we tied the anomalous low salinity values of the Gelendzhik MV pore waters results from the presence of gas hydrates in the sediments. This is the first, indirect evidence of gas hydrates in the OMVF, several years after this hypothesis was formulated by De Lange and Brumsack (1998) and then quickly discarded. • Major- and minor-elements and water-isotopes of pore waters from six MVs and two brine pools of the OMVF have been analysed. • Three fluid sources (seawater, clay mineral dehydration and highly saline fluids) reveal different mixing processes. • First evidence of highly saline fluids from pore waters of Gelendzhik and Heraklion MVs. • Unusual pore water profiles obtained from Gelendzhik MV clearly point to dissociation of gas hydrates in its sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dongsha waters of the South China Sea are the location of thick Mesozoic deposits and many mud volcanoes that suggest hydrocarbon accumulation. Knowledge of the mechanism, fluid source and evolution of these mud volcanoes, however, remains inadequate. Ferromanganese nodules have been sampled from several deep-water mud volcanoes in waters around Southeast Dongsha island and provide a unique opportunity to study the fluid origin and evolution of the mud volcanoes in the area. In this contribution, the petrology, geochemistry and C–O isotopes of fluid inclusions in the nodules have been analyzed. The ferromanganese nodules are composed of distinct black Fe–Mn crust layers and light-yellow nucleus that contain quartz that hosts fluid inclusions. The outermost layers mainly consist of iron manganese minerals with high Mn/Fe ratios (0.9∼1.57), whereas the nucleus are dominated by siliceous debris. Positive Ce anomalies (δCe: 1.45∼2.13) and negative Y anomalies in growth layers indicate an anoxic environment, which is conducive to hydromanganite precipitation. In contrast, negative Ce anomalies (δCe: 0.27∼0.96) and positive Y anomalies in the nucleus suggest oxidized conditions. The absence of obvious Eu anomalies may be related to low-temperature hydrothermal conditions. The nucleus is enriched in δ13C (−2.59∼1.09‰) and weakly depleted in δ18O (−4.94∼0.89‰), whereas the growth layers are strongly depleted both in δ13C (−16.94∼–12.57‰) and δ18O (−23.05∼–17.48‰). These values indicate that carbon in the nucleus is mainly inorganic carbon from volcanism, whereas the carbon in the growth layers is related to the leakage of deep old hydrocarbon. The fluid inclusions in the quartz from the nucleus show records of at least two periods of CO 2 -rich hydrothermal activity and an origin from deep Mesozoic strata before release by mud volcanism. Given the widespread mud volcanism, the quartz from the nucleus may come from debris carried by mud volcano eruptions; the quartz also experienced diagenesis related with micro-organisms. The growth layers are considered to be hydrogenic and affected by the leakage of mature thermogenic hydrocarbons from deep old strata. These findings provide insights into deep mature hydrocarbon sources and thermogenic activity and improve understanding of mud volcanism and deep oil and gas resources in the southeastern Dongsha waters. • The ferromanganese nodules have been discovered in eruption vent of mud volcanoes developed in northern margin of South China Sea. • The edge crusts of the ferromanganese nodules enriched in Fe2+ and Mn2+ reflecting anaerobic oxidation environment is hydrogenic. • The nucleus of the ferromanganese nodules enriched quartz with multi-stage CO 2 -rich hot fluid inclusions may carried by mud volcano eruption. • Strongly depleted δ13C and δ18O in crusts of the ferromanganese nodules related to the mature hydrocarbon rich fluid ventingof mud volcanoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]