Chinese geologists recently claimed discovery of a new group of mud volcanoes in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The mud volcanoes were found at the Turpan and Hami area in northeastern Xinjiang. Eight volcanoes were spread in an area of one square kilometer. The largest one is five meters high and has a diameter of 10 meters and the smallest is two meters high and has a diameter of four meters.

According to Hu Ting, engineer of the Research Institute of Oilfield in Turpan-Hami Area, these volcanoes were formed one million years ago. Mud, natural gas and petroleum could be seen spewing out of volcano craters when they erupt. At present, all of them are inactive.

Mud volcanoes have been found in the United States, Mexico, New Zealand and Taiwan.

China's largest group of mud volcanoes was found in September 2002.

Experts said the discovery of mud volcanoes is helpful to the geological study of Turpan Basin and Hami Basin and the oil research in that area.

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