Volcanic conduit migration over a basement landslide at Mount Etna (Italy)

Area of Science:

• Geosciences
• Volcanology
• Geophysics

Background:

• Volcano flank instability is often linked to basement weakness, magma pressure, or tectonic forces.
• The behavior of stratovolcanoes built upon active, pre-existing landslides remains poorly understood.
• Understanding these interactions is crucial for assessing volcanic hazards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between stratovolcano edifice and underlying basement landslide dynamics.
• To model the three-dimensional structure of Etna volcano's clay-rich basement.
• To determine how basement landslide influences volcanic activity and magma pathways.

Main Methods:

• Aeromagnetic data acquisition and processing.
• Three-dimensional geological modeling of the volcano's basement.
• Analysis of flank movement in relation to basement landslide kinematics.

Main Results:

• Evidence of Mount Etna stratovolcano growing on a large, pre-existing basement landslide.
• Coherent movement observed between the eastern flank of Etna and the underlying landslide.
• Formation of a stiffness barrier due to lava infill, influencing magma pathway migration over time.

Conclusions:

• Volcanic edifice and basement landslide interact dynamically, influencing flank stability.
• Lava flow infill can create barriers that redirect magma pathways, explaining long-term conduit migration.
• This study offers new insights into volcanic instability and conduit deflection mechanisms at Etna.