Mud volcanoes are eruption of mud containing hydrocarbon fluids, gases (methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen) and acidic liquids with suspended fine sediment. These are more akin to mud diapirs formed by pressurised mud slarry. The muddy material below ground are squeezed upward by compressive forces and expelled at the surface along zones of weakness. Viscosity of the ejected mud ‘lava’ depends on the content of the water, gas and/or oil content of the source rock/ clay. Mud volcanoes are often associated with accretionary prism in subduction zones, petroleum deposits and in orogenic belt. Internal forces below the earth's surface causing mud volcanoes include tectonic disturbance, compression of clays and differences in density and thickness of sediments. Hydrocarbon gases are often associated. This gas is often the driving force, pushing mud from deep within the earth upwards towards the surface.
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