泥火山的全球分布和研究进展

Global Distribution and Research Progress of Mud Volcanoes

本文系统介绍了泥火山的全球分布特征、分类、成矿、成因特征和机制、生物地球化学和地质灾害。泥火山是盆地地层深部含水的泥质物在高压作用下喷出地表形成的锥状沉积体,主要发育在沉积速率较快和有横向挤压构造作用的盆地中。全球陆地有超过40个泥火山发育区,海底有超过20个泥火山发育区,每个发育区有几座到200多座泥火山不等,陆地和浅海区共有2000多个泥火山。各地泥火山有不同的喷发周期,喷发物也各有不同的形态、成分、来源和年龄。尽管泥火山的成因机制尚颇有争议,但较快的沉积速率和活动大陆边缘横向构造挤压作用无疑是两个最为关键的因素。由于泥火山对大地构造属性、油气勘探、生物地球化学、地质灾害和全球气候变化等问题的研究有着重要的意义,已逐渐成为地球科学一个新的研究热点。

This paper reviews the domestic and international research progress on mud volcanoes.Their formation features and mechanisms,global distribution characteristics,classification,mineralization,biogeochemistry and geological hazards have been systematically reviewed.Mud volcanoes are the vertebral-shaped sedimentary bodies that were formed by the erupting of water containing muddy material from deep buried formations to the surface under high basin pressure.They widely distribute in the basin areas of having both high sediment accumulation rate and lateral tectonic compression.Mud volcanoes are documented at more than 40 onshore locations and more than 20 offshore locations worldwide,and the number of mud volcanoes in the onshore and the shallow water areas is more than 2000.Each of the mud volcanoes may have different eruption cycle and its effusive materials may have different forms,compositions,sources and ages.The formation mechanism of mud volcanoes is still a wide range of arguments,but high sedimentation rate and the lateral tectonic compression from the active continental margins are two key factors.Mud volcano has gradually become a new hotspot of geological science because of its great significance in tectonics study,oil and gas exploration,geological disasters,bio-geochemistry,global climate change,and other major issues.