Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mud volcanoes and evaporite seismites in a tidal flat of northern Kuwait—implications for fluid flow in sabkhas of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf

  • Original
  • Published:
Geo-Marine Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper reports the first interpretative field map and stable isotope geochemistry of an exhumed Miocene inlier with conical mud volcanoes in a Persian (Arabian) Gulf salt flat (sabkha). In Kuwait, the siliciclastic low-heat flow margin of the northern gulf sector produced sedimentary conditions with numerous multilayered, unstable density gradients that were highly susceptible to recording liquefaction effects. The geotechnical characteristics of the sabkhas and the effects of local seismic activity resulted in ideal conditions in marginal sediments of Kuwait Bay, well suited for the development of deformation features. Three-dimensional, pseudo-biohermal exposures exhibit ellipsoidal pillows with craters separated by fluidized channels of chaotic orientation. The size and morphology of these structures together with co-genetic mud volcanoes are strongly influenced by sedimentary factors such as density gradients and tectonic events such as localized seismic activity, which caused mixing of fluids. Diapirs emerged concurrently with syn-sedimentary deformation, and the mud injection responded to episodic seismic activity. Interpretation based on previously published reflux models such as evaporative pumping and seawater flooding of coastal sabkhas is not applicable in this case. Rather, a model of focused ascent of brine initiated by episodic seismicity is proposed. Swarms of mud volcanoes represent new abiotic sedimentary features in sabkhas, but the per-ascensum nature of the fluid offers some comparisons to siliceous hot-water vents in south-eastern Brazil.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen JRL (1986) Earthquake magnitude-frequency, epicentral distance, and soft-sediment deformation in sedimentary basins. Sediment Geol 46:67–75

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Al-Shuaibi A, Duane MJ, Mahmoud H (2012) Microbial-activated sediment traps associated with oncolite formation along a peritidal beach, northern Arabian (Persian) Gulf, Kuwait. Geomicrobiology J 29:679–696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ambraseys NN (1988) Engineering seismology. Earthquake Eng Struct Dynamics 17:1–105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Authemayou CD, Chardon D, Bellier O, Malekzadeh Z, Shabanian E, Abbassi MR (2006) Late Cenozoic partitioning of oblique plate convergence in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt (Iran). Tectonics, Am Geophys Union 25, TC3002

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonini M (2009) Elliptical mud volcano caldera as stress indicator in an active compressional setting (Nirano, Pede-Appenine margin, northern Italy). Geology 36:131–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown KM (1990) The nature and hydrogeologic significance of mud diapirs and diatremes for accretionary systems. J Geophys Res 95:8969–8982

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell KA, Farmer JD, Des Marais D (2002) Ancient hydrocarbon seeps from the Mesozoic convergent margin of California: carbonate geochemistry, fluids and palaeoenvironments. Geofluids 2:63–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Castilla RA, Audemard FA (2007) Sand blows as a potential tool for magnitude estimation of pre-instrumental earthquakes. J Seismol 11:473–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chafetz HS, Rush PF (1995) Two-phase diagenesis of Quaternary carbonate, Arabian Gulf: insights from δ13C and δ18O data. J Sediment Res A65:294–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Chafetz HS, Imerito-Tetzlaff A, Zhang J (1999) Stable isotope and elemental trends in Pleistocene sabkha dolomites: descending water vs. sulfate reduction. J Sediment Res 69:256–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiba H, Sakai H (1985) Oxygen isotope exchange rate between sulfate and water at hydrothermal temperatures. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 49:993–1000

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Claypool GE, Holser WT, Kaplan IR, Sakai H, Zak I (1980) The age curves of sulfur and oxygen in marine sulfate and their mutual interpretation. Chem Geol 28:199–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davies R, Stewart SA (2005) Emplacement of giant mud volcanoes in the South Caspian Basin: 3D seismic reflection imaging of their root zones. J Geol Soc Lond 162:1–4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deville E, Battani A, Griboulard R, Guerlais SH, Herbin JP, Houzay JP, Muller C, Prinzhofer A (2003) Mud volcanism origin and processes. New insights from Trinidad and the Barbados Prism. In: Van Rensbergen P, Hillis RR, Maltman AJ, Morley C (eds) Subsurface sediment remobilization. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 216:475–490

  • Dupré S, Mascle J, Foucher J-P, Harmegnies F, Woodside J, Pierre C (2014) Warm brine lakes in craters of active mud volcanoes, Menes caldera off NW Egypt: evidence for deep-rooted thermogenic processes. Geo-Mar Lett 34:153–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feseker T, Brown KR, Blanchet C, Scholz F, Nuzzo M, Reitz A, Schmidt M, Hensen C (2010) Active mud volcanoes on the upper slope of the western Nile deep-sea fan—first results from the P362/2 cruise of R/V Poseidon. Geo-Mar Lett 30:169–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaillard C, Rio M, Rolin Y, Roux M (1992) Fossil chemosynthetic communities related to vents or seeps in sedimentary basins: the pseudobioherms of Southwestern France compared to other world samples. Soc Econ Paleontol Mineral 7:451–465

    Google Scholar 

  • Gerdes G, Krumbein WE (1987) Biolaminated deposits. Lecture Notes in Earth Sciences 9. Springer-Verlag, Berlin

  • Grasby SE, Bezys R, Beauchamp B (2009) Silica chimneys formed by low-temperature brine spring discharge. Astrobiology 9:931–941

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graue K (2000) Mud volcanoes in deep water Nigeria. Mar Petrol Geol 17:959–974

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunatilaka A (1989) Spheroidal dolomites – origin by hydrocarbon seepage? Sedimentology 36:701–710

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hanafy H, Holail MN, Mohammad A, Shabaan AS, Mansour AS, Rifai I (2005) Diagenesis of the middle Eocene upper Dammam subformation, Qatar: petrographic and isotopic evidence. Carbonates Evaporites 20:72–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Horita J (2014) Oxygen and carbon isotope fractionation in the system dolomite-water-CO2 to elevated temperatures. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 129:111–124

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubbert MK, Willis DGW (1957) Mechanics of hydraulic fracturing. Trans Am Inst Min Eng 210:153–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Jolly R, Lonergan L (2002) Mechanisms and controls on the formation of sand intrusions. J Geol Soc Lond 159:605–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Judd A, Hovland M (2007) Seabed fluid flow – The impact on geology, biology, and the marine environment. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall CG, Skipwith PA (1968) Recent algal mats of a Persian Gulf lagoon. J Sediment Petrol 38:1040–1058

    Google Scholar 

  • Kopf A (2002) Significance of mud volcanism. Rev Geophys 40(2):1005–1052

    Google Scholar 

  • Leeder MR (1987) Sediment deformation structures and the palaeotectonic analysis of sedimentary basins, with a case-study from the Carboniferous of northern England. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 29:11–24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loncke L, Mascle J, Fanil J (2004) Mud volcanoes, gas chimneys, pockmarks and mounds in the Nile deep-sea fan (Eastern Mediterranean): geophysical evidences. Mar Petrol Geol 21:669–689

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu FH, Meyers WJ, Schoonen MA (2001) S and O (SO4) isotopes, simultaneous modeling, and environmental significance of the Nijar Messinian gypsum, Spain. Geochim Cosmochim Acta 65:3081–3092

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKenzie JA (1981) Holocene dolomitization of calcium carbonate sediments from the coastal sabkhas of Abu Dhabi, UAE: a stable isotope study. J Geol 89:185–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morley CK (2002) Structural Geology of the Berakas Syncline - Regional Reservoir Scale Perspectives. University Brunei Darussalam, Department of Petroleum Geosciences, Report (Field trip guide) Brunei Shell, Brunei

  • Morley CK (2003) Outcrop examples of mudstone intrusions from the Jerudong Anticline. In: Van Rensbergen P, Hillis RR, Maltman AJ, Morley CK (eds) Subsurface sediment remobilization. Geol Soc Lond Spec Publ 216:381–394

  • Morley CK, Crevello P (1998) Shale tectonics associated with active diapirism; the Jerudong Anticline, Brunei Darussalam. J Geol Soc Lond 155:1154–1170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mount JF (1993) Formation of fluidization pipes during liquefaction: examples from Uratanna Formation (Lower Cambrian), South Australia. Sedimentology 40:1027–1037

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mukhopadhyay A, Al-Sulaimi J, Al-Awadhi E, Al-Ruwaih F (1996) An overview of the Tertiary geology and hydrogeology of the northern part of the Arabian Gulf region with special reference to Kuwait. Earth Sci Rev 40:259–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murton BJ, Biggs J (2003) Numerical modelling of mud volcanoes and their flows using constraints from the Gulf of Cadiz. Mar Geol 195:223–236

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Negaresh H, Khosravi M (2008) The geomorphic and morphometrics of the Napag Mud Volcano in the south eastern area of Iran. University Isfahan, J Humanities 30:51–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Ohmoto H, Rye RO (1979) Isotopes of sulfur and carbon. In: Barnes HL (ed) Geochemistry of hydrothermal ore deposits. Wiley, New York, pp 509–567

    Google Scholar 

  • Olsen ER (1975) Oxygen and sulfur isotope geochemistry of marine evaporates. Open Access Dissertations and Theses, Paper 849

  • Roberts KS, Davies RJ, Stewart SA (2010) Structure and exhumed mud volcano feeder complexes, Azerbaijan. Basin Res 22:439–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson AHF, Kopf A (1998) Tectonic setting and processes of mud volcanism on the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex: evidence from Leg 160. In: Robertson AHT, Emeis KC, Richter C et al (eds) Proc Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results 160. Ocean Drilling Program, College Station, TX, pp 665–680

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson BW, Al-Ruwaih F (1985) The stable isotope composition of water and sulfate from the Raudhatain and Umm al Aish freshwater fields, Kuwait. Chem Geol 58:29–136

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson BW, Gunatilaka A (1991) Stable isotope studies and the hydrological regime of sabkhas in southern Kuwait, Arabian Gulf. Sediment Geol 73:141–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadek AW (2004) Seismic map for the State of Kuwait. Emirates J Eng Res 9:53–58

    Google Scholar 

  • Seilacher A (1969) Fault-graded beds interpreted as seismites. Sedimentology 13:155–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart SA, Davies RJ (2006) Structure and emplacement of mud volcano systems in the South Caspian Basin. AAPG Bull 90:771–786

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uchupi E, Swift SA, Ross DA (1996) Gas venting and late Quaternary sedimentation in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Mar Geol 129:237–269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Rensbergen P, Morley CK, Ang DW, Hoan TQ, Lam NT (1999) Structural evolution of shale diapirs from reactive rise to mud volcanism: 3D seismic data from the Baram delta, offshore Brunie Darussalam. J Geol Soc Lond 156:633–650

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood WW, Sanford WE, Al Habshi ARS (2002) Source of solutes to the coastal sabkha of Abu Dhabi. Geol Soc Am Bull 114:259–268

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto JK, Fairchild TR, Boggiani PC, Montanheiro TJ, de Araujo CC, Kiyohara PK, de Matos SLF, Soares PC (2005) A record of Permian subaqueous vent activity in southeastern Brazil. Nature 438:205–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yechieli Y, Wood WW (2002) Hydrogeologic processes in saline systems: playas, sabkhas, and saline lakes. Earth Sci Rev 58:343–365

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This is a self-funded project. The authors would like to thank Kuwait University for providing assistance with transport and access to laboratories for sample preparation and analysis. The manuscript has benefited from useful comments by reviewers. Stable isotope analyses were provided by the Environmental Isotope Laboratory at the University of Arizona.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Kuwait University, P.O. Box 5969, Safat, 13060, Kuwait

    Michael J. Duane, Linda Reinink-Smith & Ali T. Al-Mishwat

  2. Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Christopher Eastoe

Authors
  1. Michael J. Duane
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Linda Reinink-Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Christopher Eastoe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ali T. Al-Mishwat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael J. Duane.

Additional information

Michael J. Duane holds a PhD at Kuwait University.

Linda Reinink-Smith holds a PhD at Kuwait University.

Christopher Eastoe holds a PhD at University of Arizona.

Ali T. Al-Mishwat holds a PhD at Kuwait University.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Duane, M.J., Reinink-Smith, L., Eastoe, C. et al. Mud volcanoes and evaporite seismites in a tidal flat of northern Kuwait—implications for fluid flow in sabkhas of the Persian (Arabian) Gulf. Geo-Mar Lett 35, 237–246 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-015-0403-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00367-015-0403-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation