Paleo-environmental and volcano-tectonic evolution of the southeastern £ank of Mt. Etna during the last 225 ka inferred from the volcanic succession of the ‘Timpe’, Acireale, Sicily

The tectonic escarpments locally known as ‘Timpe’ cut a large sector of the eastern flank of Etna, and allow an
ancient volcanic succession dating back to 225 ka to be exposed. Geological and volcanological investigations carried
out on this succession have allowed us to recognize relevant angular unconformities and volcanic features which are
the remnants of eruptive fissures, as well as important changes in the nature, composition and magmatic affinity of
the exposed volcanics. In particular, the recognition in the lower part of the succession of important and unequivocal
evidence of ancient eruptive fissures led us to propose a local origin for these volcanics and to revise previous
interpretations which attributed their westward-dipping to the progressive tectonic tilting of strata. These elements led
us to reinterpret the main features of the volcanic activity occurring since 250 ka BP and their relationship with
tectonic structures active in the eastern flank of Etna. We propose a complex paleo-environmental and volcanotectonic
evolution of the southeastern flank of Mt. Etna, in which the Timpe fault system played the role of the
crustal structure that allowed the rise and eruption of magmas in the above considered time span.