Determination of tectonic setting of mud volcanoes in the western part of Golestan Province, using geo-information technology

Investigations on Tectonic setting of Mud Volcanoes show that these located mainly in active convergent margins with high rate of seismicity along fault zones, fault related folds and anticlinal axes. In this research, firstly, investigated on their relationship with geological structures (such a faults and folds) and regional seismicity and then, focused on determination of tectonic setting of mud volcanoes in Western part of Golestan province. This research shown that approximately 45 mud volcanoes spread in study area that five mud volcanoes: Gharnyaregh, Naftalijah, Suficam, Incheh and Gomishan are active. These mud volcanoes have tectonic related indicators such as: alignment along the main faults and seismic trends and also, located on anticlinal axes with hydrocarbour reservoir. In regard to these facts, we can deduced that these mud volcanoes are related to tectonic in a Transcurrent plate boundary which located in western Kopet dagh (with Continental crust) and south Caspian Basin (with oceanic crust) boundaries in a zone with North-South trend and 30 Km width.