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Regimes of magma recharge and their control on the eruptive behaviour during the period 2001–2005 at Mt. Etna volcano

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Abstract

Mount Etna volcano (Italy) during the period 2001–2005 has undergone a period of intense eruptive activity marked by three large eruptions (2001, 2002–2003 and 2004–2005). These eruptions encompassed diverse eruptive styles and regimes: from intensely explosive, during 2001 and 2002–2003 eruptions, to exclusively effusive in the 2004–2005 event. In this work, we put forward the idea that these three eruptions are the response of the progressive arrival into the uppermost segment of the open-conduit system of a new magma, which was geochemically distinct in terms of trace element and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope signature from the products previously emitted by the Etnean volcano. The magma migrated upwards mainly through a peripheral tectonic system, which can be considered as eccentric in spite of its relative proximity to the main system. The ingress of the new magma and its gradual displacement from the eccentric system into the uppermost sector of the open-conduit gave rise to different eruptive behaviours. At the beginning, the ascent of the undegassed magma, able to exsolve a gas phase at depth, and its interaction with closed-system magma reservoirs less than 10 km deep gave rise to the explosive events of 2001 and 2002–2003. Later, when the same magma entered into the open-conduit system, it took part in the steady-state degassing and partially lost its volatile load, leading to a totally effusive eruption during the 2004–2005 event. One further consideration highlighted here is that in 2001–2005, migration of the feeding axis from an eccentric and peripheral position towards the main open-conduit has led to the development of a new vent (South East Crater 2) located at the eastern base of the South East Crater through which most of the subsequent Etnean activity occurred.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Michael Clynne for editorial guidance and constructive criticism; Wouter Schellart and an anonymous reviewer contributed to improve an earlier version of the manuscript with their thoughtful revisions. Salvatore Caffo is also greatly acknowledged for granting us permission to work in the area of Etna Park. This work has been supported by research grants from MIUR and INGV-DPC (Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia – Dipartimento per la Protezione Civile), together with research grants to Renato Cristofolini and Marco Viccaro from the University of Catania (Italy). We would also like to thank Mike Wilkinson for his help with the English version of this paper.

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

    Carmelo Ferlito, Marco Viccaro, Eugenio Nicotra & Renato Cristofolini

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  1. Carmelo Ferlito
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  2. Marco Viccaro
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  3. Eugenio Nicotra
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  4. Renato Cristofolini
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Correspondence to Marco Viccaro.

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Editorial responsibility: M.A. Clynne

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Ferlito, C., Viccaro, M., Nicotra, E. et al. Regimes of magma recharge and their control on the eruptive behaviour during the period 2001–2005 at Mt. Etna volcano. Bull Volcanol 74, 533–543 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-011-0537-1

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