Volcanism and mantle–crust evolution: The Etna case

Mount Etna is located in a particular region of convergence of African and Eurasian plates where intense post-collisional tectonics caused considerable uplift. However we present arguments supporting the hypothesis that volcanism and associated seismic activity would result from a local mantle uprise leading to a “horst”, probably linked to a deep-rooted hot spot. It ensued deformation and fracturing of the overlying crust with emission of aphyric tholeiitic basalts directly from their mantle source, and subsequent development of a “deep reservoir” (or complex of intrusions) at the top of a mantle diapir near 30 km depth. This is advocated by the appearance of porphyritic alkaline lavas whose mineral equilibria and differentiation processes are consistent with an 8–10 kbar pressure, and by the development of central volcanoes. The horst itself appears to have begun in the SW sector of the present volcanic area. Its uplift was greater westward, as seen from the trend of the terraces along the Simeto river, and became later obvious toward the SE. These differential movements produced fractures and faults which are to day evident in the southern area of Mt Etna. The growth of the horst then proceeded in a NE direction, following the regional tectonic lines and with a greater intensity along the side facing SE, crossed by the regional NNW–SSE line (Aeolian–Maltese escarpment).The seismicity and ground deformation registered over the last twenty years support the proposed model. Earthquakes are unfrequent in the lower southern and western areas of the volcano, whereas they are numerous and stronger to the north-east, in the summit area above 1600 m a.s.l., and in the eastern sector along the NW–SE faults and fractures. Finally, a digital elevation model recently published reveals the existence of two tectonic domains. The first one is associated with the horst and contains prevalently NE–SW oriented faults, whereas the second is mainly linked to regional tectonics with NNW–SSE and NW–SE faults and fractures.