MUD VOLCANO FIELD SEAWARD OF THE BARBADOS ACCRETIONARY COMPLEX - A DEEP-TOWED SIDE SCAN SONAR SURVEY

A 30km2 diapiric field has been identified near 13°50′N up to 12km seaward of the deformation front of the Barbados accretionary complex. This field has been active for 200 000yr and that it is a transient feature triggered by the seaward propagation of the high pore fluid pressure associated with the decollement beneath the accretionary complex. The venting results in the formation of a stiff carbonate crust and of large subsiding basins around the mud pies. Continuous active fluid explusions through these structures indicates that an efficient piping system still connects them to the zone of anomalously high pore pressure below the protodecollement. -from Authors