Seeking to reassure jittery global markets and several oil tankers currently reversing course at full speed, the Defense Department announced Thursday that Iranian mines scattered throughout the Strait of Hormuz are “clearly marked” by helpful indicators including floating debris, columns of fire, and the occasional secondary explosion.

According to defense officials, the debris field created by earlier explosions has effectively formed a “natural warning system,” guiding ships away from the most dangerous portions of the strait.

“In many ways, the system is self-organizing,” the spokesperson explained.