Fluid seepage in mud volcanoes of the northern Apennines: An integrated geophysical and geological study.

An integrated geophysical and geological study of small mud volcanoes occurring along the external compressive margin of the chain in the northern Apennines has beenwas carried out in order to investigate the fluid pathways and the mud reservoir. Results obtained by tomographic inversion of first arrivals of 3D seismic data, and models obtained by 2D geo-electrical data, have permittedmade it possible to determine the geometry of the buried shallow structures, and the details of the fluid seepage until down to 50 m below the mud volcano surface.A mud chamber has beenwas identified at a depth of 25 meters. This shallow reservoir could represent the last phase of mud accumulation before the final emission.The comparison Comparison with other mud volcanoes of the northern Apennines suggests a close relationship between extruded materials and substratum typology