Seafloor environments on Madrid and El Cid mud volcanoes (Moroccan continental margin of the Gulf of Cádiz)

Abstract

More than 70 mud volcanoes (MVs) are identified along the continental margin of the Gulf of Cadiz,,although only a few have been thoroughly sampled and direct observed. This work is a contribution to the knowledge of the Gulf of Cadiz MVs Madrid and El Cid, located in the continental slope known as Western Moroccan Field over 1300 m water depth. On Madrid MV extensive crusts and mud breccia were observed. Nevertheless in El Cid MV, the rocky fragments are of smaller size and mud breccia has not been sampled/observed on the surface. In both MVs, coral reefs colonizing rocky fragments and covering seafloor of metric size have been observed.