An ancient volcano on T&T's Southern anticline at Palo Seco is now active, expelling thick flows of mud and oil from a vent.
Unknown to many, the Anglais Point Mud Volcano is situated on Trinidad's south coast, a few miles from Beach camp, Palo Seco.
However, even though the volcano has been actively expelling thick flows from its core, geologists believe there is no danger as the liquid expulsion does not mean the start of an impending eruption.
During an interview Tuesday, senior geologist and member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, T&T Chapter, Xavier Moonan said the recent flows have no bearing to the eruption of the Devils Woodard mud volcano last year.
Moonan, who explored the Anglais volcano last week said the volcano could attract thousands of tourists internationally if marketed properly.
Recognized as one of many prominent mud volcanoes situated along the Southern Anticline, Moonan said the volcano is surrounded by heavily folded deep-water shales and sand rich turbidites which are millions of year old.
"Not many people know about this volcano. The flow of liquid mud and oil has been going on for millions of years. It is a good tool that geologists use to understand that there is oil below the ground," he explained.
He said the multi-coloured flow has reached the beach, flowing downhill from a steep incline.
"Some of the oil is escaping through the mud volcano. It is a natural process. It is is not a new large mudflow. It is not like an eruption but a continuation of the eruption that occurred about 15 years ago," he said.
Saying the volcano should be made into a tourist site, Moonan said there were hundreds of volcanoes across T&T which were unknown to citizens.
"This should be a tourist site. All of our mud volcanoes should be on the frontline for exploration. There should be information available on each site. In our small island, there is an abundance of geological formations that are excellent for study. People will come from all over the world to study our geological, rock formations and volcanoes," Moonan said.
He noted that there were very few places in the world with the rich geology of T&T.
"We have hundreds of mud volcanoes. Only a few have been named and understood. There are lots of volcanoes offshore that occur on the seabed and they affect drilling out there. There are plenty volcanoes onshore that people don't know about," he added.
Moonan said the only volcanoes with a conical vent in T&T were situated at Digity in Penal.
This site has been turned into a tourist attraction and every weekend people use the facilities.
He said the L`eau Michel volcano at the end of Bunsee Trace in Penal has also been attracting hundreds of people.
"The Penal Debe Regional Corporation has developed a walkway and you can hike from the top of the beach. It is free and people have been bathing in the volcano which has a good deal of liquid mud.
They then hike down and wash off at the beach," he said.
Moonan said the corporation should provide running water and toilet facilities at the volcano sites as well as maps and tour guides.
"It will be great if people can book tours online, pay with their card and come to Trinidad to see our volcanoes," Moonan added.
He also said the volcanoes at Marack in Moruga have expelled great quantities of oil deposits so that the area around the volcano is regarded as Trinidad's second pitch lake.
Moonan said the Geological Society of T&T could develop information about each volcanic site and offer it to the public. He recommended that citizens take time to learn about T&T's volcanoes.