MAGMATIC AND STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE "VALVERDE CENTER" (MT ETNA, SICILY)

Abstract

On the southeastern slope of M.te Etna (Sicily) a small­sized eruptive center ("Valverde Center") has been identified. It formed during the early stage of activity of M.te Etna (150-100 Kyr). Stratigraphical and volcanological data allow to distinguish three main eruptive cycles of the ''Valverde Center". Cycle I is characterized by the emission of lava flows of basaltic to hawaiitic composition. The products of Cycle Il show compositions similar to Cycle I and are related to phreatomagmatic, effusive and strombolian activities. The products of Cycle III (pumice fall and flow deposits) show evolved compositions (high-SiO2 benmoreites and trachites). The petrochemical characters of the erupted products are the result of crystallization and mixing of melts generated from a heterogeneous source. [...]