Abstract
Data for major, minor and trace elements in groundwaters from Mt. Etna volcano collected in 1994, 1995 and 1997 were analyzed using Cluster Analysis (CA). Two groups of sampling sites were identified (named clusters A and B), mainly on the basis of their different salinity and content of dissolved CO2. The highest levels of both of these parameters were observed in the sites of cluster A, located in the lower southwestern and central eastern flanks of the volcano. For both of the statistical groups CA was repeated, taking into account the mean values of each parameter in time, and the results allowed us to recognize four distinct groups of parameters for each group of sites on the basis of their temporal patterns. Four different types of temporal patterns were recognized: concave, convex, increasing, decreasing. The observed changes were basically interpreted as a result of the different response of dissolved chemical elements to changes in the aqueous environment and/or in their solubility/mobility in water due to different rates of input of magmatic gases to Etna’s aquifers. The main changes occurred in 1995, when Etna’s volcanic activity resumed after a two-year period of rest. The temporal changes of the majority of the studied parameters (water temperature, water conductivity, Eh, pH, Al, Mg, B, Ca, Cl−, Hg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Se, Si, Sr, Cr Zn and pCO2) were not cluster-dependent, therefore they were not apparently affected by differences in water salinity between the two groups of sampling sites. A limited number of parameters (Ti, K, Li, HCO −3 , As, Fe, SO 2−4 , Cu and V), however, manifested different behaviors, depending on the cluster of sites to which they belonged, thus suggesting their apparent dependency on water salinity.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Acocella, V. and Neri, M. (2003), What makes flank eruptions? The 2001 Etna eruption and its possible triggering mechanisms, Bull. Volcanol. 65, 517–529, doi.: 10.1007/s00445-003-0280-3.
Aiuppa, A., Allard, P., D’Alessandro, W., Michel, A., Parello, F., Treuil, M., and Valenza, M. (2000), Mobility and fluxes of major, minor and trace metals during basalt weathering and groundwater transport at Mt. Etna volcano (Sicily), Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 64, 1827–1841.
Aiuppa, A., Allard, P., D’Alessandro, W., Giammanco, S., Parello, F., and Valenza, M., Magmatic gas leakage at Mount Etna (Sicily, Italy): relationships with the volcano-tectonic structures, the hydrological pattern and the eruptive activity, In Mt. Etna: Volcano Laboratory (eds. Bonaccorso, A., Calvari, S., Coltelli, M., Del Negro, C., and Falsaperla, S.) (Am. Geophys. Union, Washington, D.C. 2004) pp. 129–145, doi.: 10.1029/143GM09.
Allard, P., Carbonelle, J., Dajlevic, D., Le Bronec, J., Morel, P., Robe, M.C., Maurenas, J.M., Faivre-Pierret, R., Martin, D., Sabroux, J.C., and ZETTWOOG, P. (1991), Eruptive and diffuse emissions of CO 2 from Mount Etna, Nature 351, 387–391.
Allard, A., Jean-Baptiste, P., D’Alessandro, W., Parello, F., Parisi, B., and Flehoc, C. (1997), Mantle-derived helium and carbon in groundwaters and gases of Mount Etna, Italy, Earth Planet, Sci. Let. 148, 501–516.
Allard, P. (1997), Endogenous magma degassing and storage at Mount Etna, Geophys. Res. Lett. 24, 2219–2222.
AnzÀ, S., DongarrÀ, G., Giammanco, S., Gottini, V., Hauser, S., and Valenza, M. (1989), Geochimica dei fluidi dell’Etna: Le acque sotterranee, Miner, Petrogr. Acta 32, 231–251.
AnzÀ, S., Badalamenti, B., Giammanco, S., Gurrieri, S., Nuccio, P.M., and Valenza, M. (1993), Preliminary study on emanation of CO2 from soils in some areas of Mount Etna (Sicily), Acta Vulcanol. 3, 189–193.
APHA, AWWA, and WEF, Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 18th Edition, (Am. Public Health Assoc., Washington, DC 1992).
Armienti, P., D’Orazio, M., Innocenti, F., Tonarini, S., and Villari, L. (1996), October 1995–February 1996 Mt. Etna explosive activity: Trace element and isotopic constraints on the feeding system, Acta Vulcanol. 8 (1), 1–6.
Aureli, A. (1973), Idrogeologia del fianco occidentale etneo. Proc. 2nd Intl Congress on Underground Waters, Palermo, Italy, pp. 425–487.
Barnes, H.L., Seward, T.M., Geothermal systems and mercury deposits, In Geochemistry of Hydrothermal Ore Deposits (ed. Barnes, H.L.) (Wiley and Sons, New York 1997), pp. 699–736.
Bauer, H.H., Christian, J.E., and O’Reilly, J.E., Instrument Analysis (Allin and Bacon, Inc. 1985).
Bonfanti, P., D’Alessandro, W., Dongarra, G., Parello, F., and Valenza, M. (1996), Mt. Etna eruption 1991–93: Geochemical anomalies in groundwaters, Acta Vulcanol. 8(1), 107–109.
Bruno, N., Caltabiano, T., and Romano, R. (1999), SO2 emissions at Mt. Etna with particular reference to the period 1993–1995, Bull Volcanol. 60, 405–411.
Bruno, N., Caltabiano, T., Giammanco, S., and Romano, R. (2001), Degassing of SO 2 and CO 2 at Mount Etna (Sicily) as indicator of pre-eruptive ascent and shallow emplacement of magma, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 110, 137–153.
Brusca, L., Aiuppa, A., D’Alessandro, W., Parello, F., Allard, P., and Michel, A. (2001), Geochemical mapping of magmatic gas-water-rock interactions in the aquifer of Mount Etna volcano, J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 108, 199–218.
Chester, D.K., Duncan, A.M., Guest, J.E., and Kilburn, C.R.J., Mount Etna: The Anatomy of a Volcano (Chapman and Hall, London 1985).
Chiodini, G., D’Alessandro, W., and Parello, F. (1996), Geochemistry of the gases and of the waters discharged by the mud volcanoes of Paternò, Mt. Etna (Italy), Bull. Volcanol. 58, 51–58.
D’Alessandro, W., Giammanco, S, Parello, F., and Valenza, M. (1997), CO2 output and δ 13C(CO2) from Mount Etna as indicators of degassing of shallow asthenosphere, Bull. Volcanol. 58, 455–458.
DongarrÀ, G., Gottini, V., Valenza, M., and Bonfanti, P. (1993), Progress in hydrogeochemistry surveying, Acta Vulcanol. 3, 318–321.
Ferrara, V. (1975), Idrogeologia del versante orientale dell’Etna. Proc. 3rd Intl Congress on Underground Waters, Palermo, Italy, pp. 91–144.
Ferrara, V. (1990), Carta della vulnerabilitÀ all’inquinamento dell’acquifero vulcanico dell’Etna (C.N.R. Valutazione della VulnerabilitÀ degli Acquiferi), S.E.L.C.A., Firenze.
Giammanco, S., Gurrieri, S., and Valenza, M. (1995), Soil CO2 degassing on Mt. Etna (Sicily) during the period 1989–1993: Discrimination between climatic and volcanic influences, Bull. Volcanol. 57, 52–60.
Giammanco, S., Valenza, M., Pignato, S., and Giammanco, G. (1996), Mg, Fe, Mn and V concentrations in the ground waters of Mount Etna (Sicily), Water Res. 2, 378–386.
Giammanco, S., Ottaviani, M., Valenza, M., Veschetti, E., Principio, E., Giammanco, G., and Pignato, S. (1998), Major and trace elements geochemistry in the ground waters of a volcanic area: Mount Etna (Sicily), Water Res. 32, 19–30.
Giggenbach, W.F., Chemical techniques in geothermal exploration. In Applications of Geochemistry in Geothermal Reservoir Development (ed. D’Amore, F.) (UNITAR/UNDP Centre on small Energy Resources, Rome 1991) pp. 119–144.
Goguel, R.L. (1983), The rare alkalis in hydrothermal alteration at Wairakei and Broadlands geothermal fields, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 47, 429–437.
GÜler, C. and Thyne, G.D. (2004), Hydrologic and geologic factors controlling surface and groundwater chemistry in Indian Wells-Owens Valley area, southeastern California, USA, J. Hydrol. 285, 1–4, 177–198.
Lapukhov, A.S., Simonov, V.A., Melnikova, R.D., and Pavlova, L.K. (2001), The influence of volatile components on the distribution of noble metals in rocks from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Proc. 10th Intl Symposium on Water-Rock Interaction, Villasimius, Italy, pp. 973–975.
La Volpe, L., Manetti, P., Trigila R., and Villari, L. (1999), Volcanology and chemistry of the earth’s interior. Italian research activity (1995–1998) report to IAVCEI, Boll. Geof. Teorica Appl. 40, 163–298.
Lentini, F. (1982), The geology of the Mt. Etna basement, Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 23, 7–25.
Nicholson, K., Geothermal Fluids (Springer-Verlag, Berlin 1993).
Ogniben, L. (1966), Lineamenti idrogeologici dell’Etna, Riv. Min. Sic. 100–102, 1–24.
Parkhurst, D.L. (1995), PHREEQC-a computer program for speciation, reaction path, advective transport, and inverse geochemical calculations, USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report, 95-4227.
Romano, R. (1982), Succession of the volcanic activity in the Etnean area, Mem. Soc. Geol. It. 23, 27–48.
Rose, A.W., Hawkes, H.E., and Webb, J.S., Geochemistry in Mineral Exploration (Academic Press, London 1991).
SchilirÒ, F. (1988), Proposta metodologica per una zonazione geologico-tecnica del centro abitato di Maletto, Geologia Tecnica 3/88, 32–53.
Symonds, R.B., Reed, M.H., and Rose, W.I. (1992), Origin, speciation, and fluxes of trace-element gases at Augustine volcano, Alaska: Insights into magma degassing and fumarolic processes, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 56, 633–657.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Birkhäuser Verlag, Basel
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Giammanco, S., Ottaviani, M., Veschetti, E. (2007). Temporal Variability of Major and Trace Element Concentrations in the Groundwaters of Mt. Etna (Italy): Effects of Transient Input of Magmatic Fluids Highlighted by Means of Cluster Analysis. In: Pérez, N.M., Gurrieri, S., King, CY., Taran, Y. (eds) Terrestrial Fluids, Earthquakes and Volcanoes: The Hiroshi Wakita Volume II. Pageoph Topical Volumes. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8720-4_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7643-8720-4_10
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel
Print ISBN: 978-3-7643-8719-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-7643-8720-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)