Gatan Mud Volcanoes, Oman Sea Coast in Southwestern Hormozgan, Iran

Iran''s mud volcanoes are clearly visible on the coastal plains of the Oman and Caspian Seas. There are 30 Gatan Mud Volcanoes located in the southeast of Iran: 15 of which are located between Jask and Minab in Hormozgan province, nine are between Chabahar and Jask Ports, and another six are between Chabahar and the Iran-Pakistan border in Sistan and Balouchestan Province. After some studies and investigations, research was performed on some of the mud volcanoes in the western Jask city located in the west of lower Gatan village. Gatan is located in the eastern coast of Hormozgan Province between the counties of Jask and Minab and on the coastal region of Makran. Being located on the entrance of the Strait of Hormuz and due to marine currents, it has certain sedimentology circumstances. Formation of Gatan Mud Volcanoes is a result of rising muddy water along the faults and cracks in the crust to the earth''s surface. Results of mineralogical studies indicate that clay and limestone samples contain fossils and abundant minerals include quartz, albite, illite, calcite and dolomite.