Mud volcano in Andaman: A geological marvel

Age of mud volcano samples: The samples collected from India’s only active mud volcano at Baratang in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands belong to the Oligocene age, which was around 23 million years ago.

Composition: The lithoclasts ejected from the crater were found to be composed of sandstone and shale of the Mithakari Group, belonging to this geological period.

Geological significance: The mud volcano’s eruption is attributed to several processes such as:

• Diapiric movement of over-pressured surface shale layers
• Rapid subsidence or lateral tectonic compression
• Hydrocarbon generation in deep subsurface and expulsion of fluid from depth along deep-seated fracture/fault

Characteristics of mud volcano

• Surface temperature: The surface temperature of the mud volcanoes ranged from 29.3 degrees C to 30.07 degrees C.
• pH Level: The pH level of the mud fluid is between 8.0 and 8.3, indicating a weakly alkaline nature.
• Area of eruption: The area of the eruption site has increased to about 500 sqm with a height of about 2 meters.

Safety measures

• Restriction on public access: The GSI has asked the Andaman and Nicobar administration to restrict public access and construct a viewpoint at the end of the approach way.
• Fencing and signage: The GSI has also recommended reinforcing fencing and hazard signage to sensitize the public regarding the unpredictability of violent mud eruptions