Based on reports in the print and electronic media residents indicated that activity at vents of the Piparo Mud volcano began to increase on Thursday 1st December 2011. With new two cones appearing, loud explosions that increased in frequency at night, cracks in houses, the ground shaking etc.
The author visited the area on 4th December 2011 to investigate these reports. In early February of this year there were also reports in increased activity made to the ODPM by residents, however nothing unusual was noticed by author . As to the presence of two large cones these have been around since 2006 with a third appearing in 2008. It is at this third cone that most of the current activity is taking place.
View looking south , two older cones and new vent on the left
Fractures with subsidence between them, view looking north, photo shows the NE – SW trending fractures that have appeared since the 27th November. Throws on these cracks are down to the west for those on the left side of the photo and down to the east for those on the right. A maximum throw of 1 foot was seen on the eastern side. This has resulted in slight subsidence of the ground between the outer fractures. In only one area along the fractures was gas seen to be escaping.
Photo shows the area of renewed activity, it corresponds to the location of the third cone which destroyed by vandals between May 2011 and November 2011. There were signs of minor activity on the 27th November 2011, the recent activity consists of gas bubbles rising through the mud roughly every 20 minutes, that throws up entrained mud. Contrary to media reports (TV6) there was NO shaking or vibration of the ground when mud and gas was being released. One will also note that on the left side of the vent shows that the area seems to have subsided.
The photo shows the NE – SW trending fractures that have appeared since the 27th November. Throws on these cracks are down to the west for those on the left side of the photo and down to the east for those on the right. A maximum throw of 1 foot was seen on the eastern side. This has resulted in slight subsidence of the ground between the outer fractures. In only one area along the fractures was gas seen to be escaping.
