Dashgil MV is one of the structures with the strongest seepage activity during dormant period. Its crater has a subcircular shape and irregular morphology. Numerous are the currently active gryphons, pools, and salsae distributed throughout the crater. Gryphons appear to be grouped in fields forming in the central part of the crater forming a ridge oriented NS that bends towards the east. Here fluids with different viscosity seep vigorously with constant flow or with episodic bursts with frequency that can vary from seconds up to one minute. On the southern side evidence of ancient gryphon fields can be observed with orientation W-E; at this site burned and melted mud breccia indicates previous sustained burning of seeping methane. Inactive and eroded gryphons can be observed on the eastern side of the volcano. The northern side is characterised by the presence of eroded gryphons and seepage features some of which are still active (mainly pools with gas oil-seepage). On the eastern side two large pools show vigorous seepage of  fluids

Bakar MV  is situated few kilometres east from Dashgil MV. Unlike Dashgil MV that shows strong seepage but no evidence of recent eruptions, Bakhar MVshows also relatively fresh mud breccia flows on the eastern side of the volcano. Presumably the two mud volcanoes are part of the same large scale plumbing system. Isolated gryphons and pools are scattered inside the crater, locally grouped in few units; some isolated gryphons are significantly high (several tens of meters). Seepage activity was observed at all these sites as well as microbial colonies forming mats on the rim of the pools. Microbial colonies show large diversity in colour thickness and consistency at different pools. Blocks of carbonate cemented bioclast have been observed throughout the crater.

Lokbatan, Shongar, Akhtarma Puta, Gushkhana MVs are situated on the crest of an anticline that continues offshore with E-W direction. The southernmost mud volcano is Lokbatan that has been broadly studied by academia and by oil companies because of its relatively frequent eruptive activity (every 8-10 years approx) and because of the large oil field that is situated beneath and around it. More then 1000 wells are currently active around this structure and numerous are the publications that tried to describe the dynamics of this mud volcano. No evidence of seepage activity was observed during our visit (October 2005). The volcano has elongated EW graben shape along the direction of the main flow of the last eruption. The crater consists of two main ridges interrupted by the main mud breccia flow that forms a tongue directing towards W-SW. In the crater, burned mud breccia shows the effects of the last methane eruption (October 2001) that saw the gas burning for more then a year. Circular collapse structures are visible framing the crater. Fewer structures were observed in 2002 suggesting an ongoing subsidence of the volcano is still ongoing. The faults along the elongated graben defining the mud breccia flow support this hypothesis. Supposedly a shallow chamber slowly started the process of collapse after mud breccia eruption. Up to 15 cm wide degassing features have been observed throughout the most recent mud breccia flows (last eruption October 2001) clearly indicating that a large amount of gas was still present in the mud during the mud breccia eruption. Circular craters up to 2 m in diameter were observed around the main crater demonstrating that smaller scale blasts were ongoing at the time of mud breccia release. It appears obvious that in the budget of gas released should be taken in account both the first explosive methane blast and the following gassified mud breccia eruption.

Moving west Akhtarma Puta is the second structure positioned on the crest of the anticline. No active seepage activity was observed and evidence of strong erosion of the old mud breccia flows was observed. Partly eroded hollows were observed throughout the volcano, presumably representing collapse structures.

Further to the west Gushkhana MV doesn’t show any evidence of seepage activity. Erosion appears strong throughout the crater where the altered mud breccia appears rather poor in clasts content. Steep up to 2-3 m high faults and collapse walls were observed in the crater resembling the features observed in Lokbatan MV. The volcano is recorded to be inactive since the last 200 years.

SHANGAR

The anticline hosting the mud volcanoes rotates from west to north direction and the next feature aligned with Lokbatan, Akhtarma Puta, Gushkhana MVs is Shongar MV. The volcano reveals the presence of two superimposed conic features presumably representing two different eruption events. The top most conic feature has a subcircular crater that is characterised by concentric collapse features converging towards the central part. Up to four metres steep walls are characterizing the crater. Similarly to what observed for Lokbatan, even in this case a gradual subsidence of the crater is suggested. The mud breccia didn’t reveal significant alteration indicating relatively “recent” eruption. Degassing features similar to the one observed in Lokbatan MV were also seen. No evidence of active seepage was observed.

Garadag MV presents a circular shape with gently dipping flanks and a wide crater with flat morphology. In the central part of the crater is present a large salsa (approx 6 m wide) where large amount of gas is bubbling from focused locations. The size of the bubbles can reach 60-70 cm in diameter. Oil forms a biofilm in defined areas of the salsa. Microbial colonies are also observed in the surface and were sampled. Inside the crater caldera-like features were observed. Up to 1 m high internal walls of the crater and large fractures observed along the rim suggest a gradual collapse and subsidence of the internal part of the crater. This can be considered as evidence of the deflation of the structure following to the eruption. No evidence of mud breccia flows was observed. The local flows consist of fluidized mud.

PIREKESHKYUL

   Pirekeshkyul MV shows elongated structure with a ridge of active gryphons that extends along the western flank of the crater. Pools are usually situated at the foot of the active gryphons. In several instances, different types of fluids where observed seeping from sites located few centimetres away, indicating a complex plumbing system even in the close subsurface.

KEYREKIE

Keyrekie MV is situated ~25 km east of Pirekeshkyul MV. Here is visible the emplacement of the different mud breccia flows that clearly appear superposed to each other. The crater has an almost perfectly circular shape open towards the eastern side where the last mud breccia flow erupted. Walls up to 1 m high frame the crater indicating gradual collapse and compaction of the mud breccia following the last eruption. On the internal SW side of the crater large blocks of mud breccia appear to have slide towards the centre of the crater supposedly after the cooling and the contraction of the mud breccia. Various tongues of mud breccia flows are observed especially on the eastern side. Mud breccia flows are thicker in their central and thinner on the edge before reaching the steep and thick walls that contain the boundaries of the flows. Degassing features where locally observed and appear to be highly concentrated on the surfaces of isolated “gryphon like” structures.