Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The dyke swarm of Mount Calanna (Etna, Italy): an example of the uppermost portion of a volcanic plumbing system

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new multidisciplinary study, combining geology, petrography, and geochemistry, on the rocks of the isolated hill of Mount Calanna (Mount Etna, Italy) has provided evidence for the existence of a dyke swarm, formed by more than 200 dykes distributed over an area of ~0.7 km2, with an intensity of intrusion up to 40%. All bodies are deeply altered, and the geological and mesostructural surveying of 132 dykes revealed that they intruded in E–W direction, with an average dip of 60°. The faults affecting the outcrop have in general an E–W strike and dip of ~55°: these have all normal motion and have been interpreted as coeval with the dykes. This interpretation contrasts with the previous hypothesis that considered Mount Calanna as a thrust resulting from compressive deformation resulting from the gravitational spreading of the volcanic edifice. Mount Calanna is here interpreted as the uppermost portion of a vertically extensive magmatic plexus that fed the eruptive activity of one (or more) eruptive center/s sited in the Valle del Bove area. Measurements of the apparent densities on 23 dykes and host rock samples give an average value of 2,420 kg/m3 for the entire complex, ~15% lower than the density expected for hawaiitic magma, placing an important constraint on the geophysical identification of similar structures. Considering that Mount Etna is not an old eroded edifice but an active and growing volcano, the exposure of this subvolcanic structure can be regarded as exceptional. Its geometry and physical characteristics can be thus regarded as an interesting example of the present-day shallow plumbing system of Mount Etna as well as of other basaltic volcanoes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acocella V, Neri M, Scarlato P (2006) Understanding shallow magma emplacement at volcanoes: orthogonal feeder dikes during the 2002–2003 Stromboli (Italy) eruption. Geophys Res Lett 33:L17310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aloisi M, Cocina O, Neri G, Orecchio B, Privitera E (2002) Seismic tomography of the crust underneath the Etna volcano, Sicily. Phys Earth Plan Inter 134:139–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonioli F, Kershaw S, Renda P, Rust D, Belluomini G, Cerasoli M, Radtke U, Silenzi S (2006) Elevation of the last interglacial highstand in Sicily (Italy): a benchmark of coastal tectonics. Quatern Int 145–146:3–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armienti P, Innocenti F, Petrini R, Pompilio M, Villari L (1989) Petrology and Sr-Nd isotope geochemistry of recent etnean lavas from Mt. Etna: bearing on the volcano feeding system. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 39:315–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armienti P, Pareschi MT, Innocenti F, Pompilio M (1994) Effect of magma storage and ascent on the kinetic of crystal growth. The case of the 1991–92 Mt. Etna eruption. Contrib Miner Petrol 115:402–414

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armienti P, Pareschi MT, Pompilio M (1997) Lava textures and time scales of magma storage at Mt. Etna (Italy). Acta Vulcanol 9:1–5

    Google Scholar 

  • Ben Avraham Z, Grasso M (1990) Collisional zone segmentation in Sicily. Ann Tecton 4:131–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Borgia A, Ferrari L, Pasquarè G (1992) Importance of gravitational spreading in the tectonic and volcanic evolution of Mount Etna. Nature 357:231–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boudreau A, Simon A (2007) Crystallization and degassing in the Basement Sill, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. J Petrol 48:1369–1386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Branca S, Coltelli M, Groppelli G (2004) Geological evolution of Etna volcano. In: Bonaccorso A, Calvari S, Coltelli M, Del Negro C, Falsaperla S (eds) Mt. Etna: volcano laboratory, vol 143. AGU Geophysical Monograph Series, Washington, pp 49–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Branca S, Coltelli M, De Beni E, Wijbrans J (2008) Geological evolution of Mount Etna volcano (Italy) from earliest products until the first central volcanism (between 500 and 100 ka ago) inferred from geochronological and stratigraphic data. Int J Earth Sci 97:135–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Calvari S, Groppelli G, Pasquarè G (1994) Preliminary geological data on the south-western wall of the Valle del Bove, Mt. Etna, Sicily. Acta Vulcanol 5:15–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvari S, Tanner LH, Groppelli G (1998) Debris-avalanche deposits of the Milo Lahar sequence and the opening of the Valle del Bove on Etna volcano (Italy). J Volc Geotherm Res 87:193–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Catalano S, Torrisi S, Ferlito C (2004) The relationship between Late Quaternary deformation and volcanism of Mt. Etna (eastern Sicily): new evidences from the sedimentary substratum in the Catania region. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 132:311–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiarabba C, De Gori P, Patanè D (2004) The Mt. Etna plumbing system: the contribution of seismic tomography. In: Bonaccorso A, Calvari S, Coltelli M, Del Negro C, Falsaperla S (eds) Mt. Etna: volcano laboratory, vol 143. AGU Geophysical Monograph Series, Washington, pp 191–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Coltelli M, Garduño VH, Neri M, Pasquarè G, Pompilio M (1994) Geology of the northern wall of the Valle del Bove, Mt. Etna (Sicily). Acta Vulcanol 5:55–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Coltelli M, Del Carlo P, Vezzoli L (2000) Stratigraphic constraints for explosive activity in the past 100 ka at Etna volcano, Italy. Int J Earth Sci 89:665–677

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corazzato C, Francalanci L, Menna M, Petrone CM, Renzulli A, Tibaldi A, Vezzoli L (2008) What controls sheet intrusion in volcanoes? Structure and petrology of the Stromboli sheet complex, Italy. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 173:25–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corsaro RA, Cristofolini R (1996) Geology, geochemistry and mineral chemistry of tholeiitic to transitional Etnean magmas. Acta Vulcanol 9:55–66

    Google Scholar 

  • Corsaro RA, Pompilio M (2004a) Buoyancy-controlled eruption of magmas at Mt. Etna. Terra Nova 16:16–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corsaro RA, Pompilio M (2004b) Magma dynamics in the shallow plumbing system of Mt. Etna as recorded by compositional variations in volcanics of recent summit activity (1995–1999). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 137:55–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corsaro RA, Cristofolini R, Patanè G (1996) The 1669 eruption at Mount Etna: chronology, petrology and geochemistry, with inferences on the magma source and ascent mechanisms. Bull Volc 58:348–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cristofolini R, Lentini F, Patanè G, Rasà R (1979) Integrazione di dati geologici, geofisici e petrologici per la stesura di un profilo crostale in corrispondenza dell'Etna. Boll Soc Geol Ital 98:239–247

    Google Scholar 

  • Cristofolini R, Corsaro RA, Ferlito C (1991) Variazioni petrochimiche nella successione etnea: un riesame in base a nuovi dati da campioni di superficie e da sondaggi. Acta Vulcanol 1:25–37

    Google Scholar 

  • De Beni E, Wijbrans JR, Branca S, Coltelli M, Groppelli G (2005) New results of Ar-40/Ar-39 dating constrain the timing of transition from fissure-type to central volcanism at Mount Etna (Italy). Terra Nova 17:292–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Gori P, Chiarabba C, Patanè D (2005) Qp structure of Mount Etna: constraints for the physics of the plumbing system. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 110:B05303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Stefano A, Branca S (2002) Long-term uplift rate of the Etna volcano basement (southern Italy) based on biochronological data from Pleistocene sediments. Terra Nova 14:61–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D'Orazio M, Tonarini S, Innocenti F, Pompilio M (1997) Northern Valle del Bove volcanic succession (Mt. Etna, Sicily): petrography, geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotope data. Acta Vulcanol 9:73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferlito C, Cristofolini R (1989) Geologia dell'area sommitale dell'Etna. Boll Acc Gioenia Sci Nat Catania 22:357–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferlito C, Cristofolini R (1991) Evidenze di corpi subvulcanici poco profondi nella successione etnea lungo le pareti occidentali della Valle del Bove. Mem Soc Geol Ital 47:485–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferlito C, Viccaro M, Cristofolini R (2008a) Volatile-induced magma differentiation in the plumbing system of Mt. Etna volcano (Italy): evidence from glass in tephra of the 2001 eruption. Bull Volc 70:455–473

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ferlito C, Coltorti M, Cristofolini R, Giacomoni PP (2008b) The contemporaneous emission of low-K and high-K trachybasalts and the role of the NE Rift during the 2002 eruptive event, Mt. Etna, Italy. Bull Volcanol. doi:10.1007/s00445-008-0243-9

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari L, Calvari S, Coltelli M, Innocenti F, Pasquarè G, Pompilio M, Vezzoli L, Villa I (1989) Nuovi dati geologici e strutturali sulla Valle di Calanna, Etna: implicazioni per l'evoluzione del vulcanismo etneo. Boll GNV 2:849–860

    Google Scholar 

  • Finetti I (1982) Structure, stratigraphy and evolution of the Mediterranean Sea. Boll Geof Teor Appl 15:263–341

    Google Scholar 

  • Franzini M, Leoni L, Saitta M (1972) A simple method to evaluate the matrix effect in X-ray fluorescence analysis. X-ray Spectrum 1:151–154

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gautneb H, Gudmundsson A (1992) Effect of local and regional dtress field on sheet emplacement in West Iceland. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 51:339–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gautneb H, Gudmundsson A, Niels O (1989) Structure, petrochemistry and evolution of a sheet swarm in an Icelandic central volcano. Geol Mag 126:659–673

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gillot PY, Kieffer G, Romano R (1994) The evolution of Mount Etna in the light of potassium-argon dating. Acta Vulcanol 5:81–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Gudmundsson A (2006) How local stress control magma-chamber ruptures, dyke injections, and eruptions in composite volcanoes. Earth Sci Rev 79:1–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirn A, Nercessian A, Sapin M, Ferrucci F, Wittlinger G (1991) Seismic tomography of Mt. Etna: structure and activity. Geophys Int 105:139–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirn A, Nicolich R, Gallart J, Laigle M, ETNASEIS Scientific Group (1997) Roots of Etna volcano in faults of great earthquakes. Earth Plan Sci Lett 148:171–191

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holcombe Coughlin and Associates (2008) Georient© v.9.4.0. Holcombe Coughlin and Associates, Australia. Available via: http://www.holcombe.net.au

  • Iuliano T, Mauriello P, Patella D (2002) Looking inside Mont Vesuvius by potential fields integrated probability tomographies. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 113:363–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jolly RJH, Sanderson DJ (1995) Variation in the form and distribution of dykes in the Mull swarm, Scotland. J Struct Geol 17:1543–1557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klausen MB (2004) Geometry and mode of emplacement of the Thverantindur cone sheet swarm, SE Iceland. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 138:185–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klausen MB (2006) Geometry and mode of emplacement of dike swarms around the Birnudalstindur igeaous centre, SE Iceland. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 151:340–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klerkx J (1970) La caldera de la Valle del Bove: sa signification dans l'évolution de l'Etna (Sicile). Bull Volcanol 247:726–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laigle M, Hirn A, Sapin M, Lépine J, Diaz J, Gallart J, Nicolich R (2000) Mount Etna dense array local earthquake P and S tomography and implications for volcanic plumbing. J Geophys Res 105:21,633–21,646

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lanzafame G, Vestch P (1985) Les dykes de la Valle del Bove (Etna, Sicile) et le champ de constraints régionales. Rev Geol Dinam Geogr Phys 26:147–156

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Maitre RW (2002) A classification of igneous rocks and glossary of terms. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lentini F (1982) The geology of the Mt. Etna basement. Mem Soc Geol Ital 23:7–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Lo Giudice E, Patanè G, Rasà R, Romano R (1982) The structural framework of Mount Etna. Mem Soc Geol Ital 23:125–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Lombardo G, Barbano MS, Costanzo S (2000) Anomalies of seismic wave propagation at Mt. Etna Volcano, Italy. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 101:171–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lopez M, Pompilio M, Rotolo SG (2006) Petrology of some amphibole-bearing volcanics of the pre-Ellittico period (102-80 ka), Mt. Etna. Period Min 75:151–170

    Google Scholar 

  • Marinoni LB (2001) Crustal extension from exposed sheet intrusions: review and method proposal. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 107:27–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marinoni LB, Gudmundusson A (2000) Dykes, faults and palaeostresses in the Teno and Anaga massifs of Tenerife (Canary Islands). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 103:83–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mattia M, Aloisi M, Di Grazia G, Gambino S, Palano M, Bruno V (2008) Geophysical investigations of the plumbing system of Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Islands, Italy). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 176:529–540

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire WJ (1982) Evolution of the Etna volcano: information from the southern wall of the Valle del Bove caldera. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 13:241–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGuire WJ, Pullen AD (1989) Location and orientation of eruptive fissures and feeder-dykes at Mount Etna: influence of gravitational and regional tectonic stress regimes. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 38:325–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merle O, Borgia A (1996) Scaled experiments of volcanic spreading. J Geophys Res-Sol Earth 101:13805–13817

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monaco C, Tapponier P, Tortorici L, Gillot PY (1997) Late Quaternary slip rates on the Acireale-Piedimonte normal faults and tectonic origin of Mt. Etna (Sicily). Earth Planet Sci Lett 147:125–139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monaco C, Catalano S, Cocina O, De Guidi G, Ferlito C, Gresta S, Musumeci C, Tortorici L (2005) Tectonic control on the eruptive dynamics at Mt. Etna volcano (Sicily) during the 2001 and 2002–2003 eruptions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 144:211–233

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monaco C, De Guidi G, Catalano S, Ferlito C, Tortorici G, Tortorici L (2008) Morphotectonic map of Mt. Etna (1:75.000). INGV-DPC 2005–2007 Project

  • Morimoto N, Fabries J, Ferguson AK, Ginzburg IV, Ross M, Seifert FA, Zussmann J, Aoki K, Gottardi G (1998) Nomenclature of pyroxenes. Am Mineral 73:1123–1133

    Google Scholar 

  • Murru M, Console R, Falcone G, Montuori C, Sgroi T (1999) Spatial mapping of the b value at Mount Etna, Italy, using earthquake data recorded from 1999 to 2005. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 112:B12303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nazzareni S, Busà T, Cristofolini R (2003) Magmatic crystallisation of Cr-Al diopside and Al-Fe3+ diopside from the ancient alkaline basalts (Mt. Etna, Sicily). Eur J Mineral 15:81–93

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Patanè D, Barberi G, Cocina O, De Gori P, Chiarabba C (2006) Time-resolved seismic tomography detects magma intrusions at Mount Etna. Science 313:821–823

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Porreca M, Acocella V, Massimi E, Mattei M, Funiciello R, De Benedetti AA (2006) Geometric and kinematic features of the dike complex at Mt. Somma, Vesuvio (Italy). Earth Planet Sci Lett 245:389–407

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rollin PJ, Cassidy J, Locke CA, Rymer H (2000) Evolution of the magmatic plumbing system at Mt. Etna: new evidence from gravity and magnetic data. Terra Nova 12:193–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Romano R (1982) Succession of the volcanic activity in the Etnean area. Mem Soc Geol Ital 23:27–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Romano R, Guest JE (1979) Volcanic geology of the summit and northern flank of Mount Etna, Sicily. Boll Soc Geol It 98:189–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Romano R, Sturiale C (1975) Geologia della tavoletta “Monte Etna Sud” (F. 262 – III SO). Boll Soc Geol Ital 94:1109–1148

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanguy JC, Condomines M, Kieffer G (1997) Evolution of the Mount Etna magma: constraints on the present feeding system and eruptive mechanism. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 75:221–250

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trigila R, Spera FJ, Aurisicchio C (1990) The 1983 Mount Etna eruption: thermochemical and dynamical inferences. Contrib Miner Petrol 104:594–608

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viccaro M, Ferlito C, Cortesogno L, Cristofolini R, Gaggero L (2006) Magma mixing during the 2001 event at Mount Etna (Italy): effects on the eruptive dynamics. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 149:139–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Villaseñor A, Benz HM, Filippi L, De Luca G, Scarpa R, Patanè G (1998) Three-dimensional P-wave velocity structure of Mt. Etna, Italy. Geophys Res Lett 25:1975–1978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker GPL (1992) “Coherent intrusion complexes” in large basaltic volcanoes—a new structural model. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 50:41–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wezel FC (1967) I terreni quaternari del substrato dell'Etna. Atti Accad Gioenia Sci Nat Catania 6:271–282

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Renato Cristofolini for the productive discussions and to Carmelo Monaco for the critical reading of the manuscript. Raffaello Cioni, Carles Soriano, Massimo Pompilio, Agust Gudmundsson, and an anonymous referee are greatly acknowledged for their critical and constructive reviews and suggestions that highly contributed to improve the quality of this manuscript. We are also indebted to Elisabetta Giuffrida and Domenico La Rocca for their precious help in performing major element chemical analyses.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Università di Catania, Corso Italia 57, 95129, Catania, Italy

    Carmelo Ferlito & Eugenio Nicotra

Authors
  1. Carmelo Ferlito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Eugenio Nicotra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carmelo Ferlito.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: R. Cioni

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(XLS 503 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ferlito, C., Nicotra, E. The dyke swarm of Mount Calanna (Etna, Italy): an example of the uppermost portion of a volcanic plumbing system. Bull Volcanol 72, 1191–1207 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-010-0398-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-010-0398-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation