C.N.R - Istituto per la Dinamica dei Processi Ambientali,

An updated geological evolution model is presented for the composite basaltic stratovolcano of Mount Etna. It was developed on the basis of the stratigraphic setting proposed in the new geological map that was constrained by 40Ar/39Ar age determinations. Unconformitybounded stratigraphy allows highlighting four main evolutionary phases of eruptive activity in the Etna region. The Basal Tholeiitic Supersynthem corresponds to a period, from about 500 to 330 ka, of scattered fissure-type eruptions occurring initially in the foredeep basin and then in a subaerial environment. From about 220 ka, an increase in the eruptive activity built a lava-shield during the Timpe Supersynthem. The central-type activity occurred at least 110 ka ago through the Valle del Bove Supersynthem. The earliest volcanic centres recognized are Tarderia, Rocche and Trifoglietto and later Monte Cerasa, Giannicola, Salifizio and Cuvigghiuni. During the Stratovolcano Supersynthem, from about 57 ka ago, the intense eruptive activity of Ellittico volcano formed a roughly 3600 m-high stratocone that expanded laterally, filling the Alcantara and Simeto paleovalleys. Finally, effusive activity of the last 15 ka built the Mongibello volcano. Its eruptive activity is mainly concentrated in three weakness zones in which the recurrent magma intrusion generates flank eruptions down to low altitude. The four main evolutionary phases may furnish constraints to future models on the origin of Etna volcano and help unravel the geodynamic puzzle of eastern Sicily.

The new geological map of Etna volcano at 1:50,000 scale represents a significant progress in the geological studies of this volcano over the last 30 years, coming after Waltershausen’s map published around the mid of 19th century, the first geological map of a large active volcano, and the ROMANO et alii (1979) map published about a century later, both at 1:50,000 scale. Lithostratigraphy was used for mapping volcanic units and then Unconformity Bounded Units were applied to group lithostratigraphic units into synthems. In addition, lithosomes were exploited to better represent the spatial localization of different eruptive centres according to their morphology. On the whole, we identified 27 lithostratigraphic units, grouped into 8 synthems, and 9 volcanoes. In detail, effusive and explosive deposits generated by each eruption of Mongibello and, partially, Ellittico volcanoes were mapped as flow rank. This stratigraphic framework represents the best synthesis of the geological evolution of Etna volcano using the main unconformities recognized within its complex volcanic succession. In addition, we constrain the Etna volcanic succession and its lithostratigraphic units chronologically by radioisotope age determinations. On the basis of the outlined synthemic units, it was possible to divide Etna’s volcanic succession into 4 supersynthems, which correspond to 4 well-defined and spatially localized phases. The detailed reconstruction of the past eruptive activity allowed compiling the most accurate dataset in particular of the Holocene eruptions of Etna volcano, which will enable significantly improving the volcanic hazard assessment, together with petrological interpretation of erupted magmas and geophysical modelling of the volcano plumbing system.