In News:

India’s only mud volcano, located at Baratang Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has erupted again after more than two decades.

About Baratang Island

• Location:Baratang Island lies in the North and Middle Andaman district, approximately 150 km from Port Blair.
• Geological Uniqueness: It is home to India’s only known mud volcanoes, making it a prominent site for geological study and eco-tourism.
• Tribal Presence: The region is also inhabited by the Jarawa tribe, one of the indigenous groups of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
• Previous Activity: The last major eruption occurred in 2005, which was attributed to seismic activity and oceanic tectonic movements in the region.

What are Mud Volcanoes?

• Definition: Mud volcanoes, also known as “mud domes,” are geological structures formed by the eruption of mud slurries, gases, and water rather than molten rock.
• Formation Process:
  • They occur when gases (mainly methane, with traces of carbon dioxide or nitrogen), generated from the decay of organic matter deep underground, force a mixture of mud and water to the surface.
  • This process creates cone-shaped mounds or domes resembling typical volcanoes, but without lava.
• Characteristics:
  • Their temperature is much lower than that of igneous volcanoes.
  • They can range from a few meters to several hundred meters in height and up to 10 km in width.
  • Some mud volcanoes also exist underwater, influencing seabed topography and occasionally forming new landforms or islands.

Comparison with Barren Island Volcano

• Barren Island, another volcanic site in the Andaman region, witnessed minor eruptions in September 2025—on the 13th and 20th.
• It is located about 140 km northeast of Port Blair and is India’s only active volcanic island, lying at the junction of the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates.
• Historical records show eruptions at Barren Island in 1787, 1991, 2005, 2017, and 2022.
• Officials have clarified that the Baratang mud volcano and the Barren Island volcano are distinct geological entities—the former being sedimentary and gas-driven, while the latter is igneous and magma-driven.

Significance and Precautions

• The Baratang eruption underscores the geological dynamism of the Andaman and Nicobar region, which lies in a seismically active zone due to the subduction of the Indian Plate beneath the Burmese Plate.
• Tourism and Safety: The site is a popular tourist attraction, but safety protocols have been enforced to prevent accidents.
• Scientific Importance: Such eruptions provide valuable insights into subsurface gas activity, tectonic movement, and geothermal processes in the region.