Comparison between Mud Volcanoes from the NW Moroccan Atlantic and Moroccan Mediterranean Margins Using Seismic and Bathymetric Data, Morocco

Abstract

This work compares mud volcanoes from the NW Moroccan Atlantic Margin and the Ceuta Drift in the Mediterranean Moroccan Margins. Through the analysis and interpretation of high-resolution seismic data combined with existing research, the study explores the distinct formation mechanisms and the structural characteristics of mud volcano systems in these regions. The NW Moroccan Atlantic Margin, influenced by the accretionary wedge and the strike-slip faulting associated with the Rif-Betic Arc tectonic movement, exhibits mud volcanoes formed primarily through the upward movement of mud diapirs along faults. In contrast, the Ceuta Drift is characterized by mud volcanoes formed on top of the seafloor-piercing mud diapirs, resulting from compressional-extensional tectonics and the Middle Miocene shale diapirs. This study highlights the key factors driving mud volcano formation, such as rapid subsidence and strike-slip fault activity on the NW Moroccan Margin, compared to tectonic compression and subsequent extension in the Ceuta Drift. By comparing these two different tectonic and geological environments, the article provides insights into the dynamics of mud volcano systems, their implications for hydrocarbon exploration, and their significance in understanding tectonically active regions.