Premium Featured Accommodation

Aeolian Islands - Geology

From a tectonic point of view, the Aeolian archipelago derives from Tyrrhenian subsidence during the Pliocene period. This geological event corresponds with the final phase of Apennine orogenesis along its internal side. A later phase allowed deep magma to run along fissures and create Aeolian volcanism. This volcanic system rests on the Tyrrhenian sea-bed, whose depth ranges from 1000 to 3000 metres. It was once thought that the volcanic activity of the Aeolian Islands had begun in the Miocene or Lower Pliocene periods, although modern research has shown that it began more recently, probably less than a million years ago – i.e., during the Pleistocene period. It has also been established that the islands of Panarea, Filicudi and Alicudi, as well as parts of Salina and Lipari, were formed during the first phase of activity. The formation of Lipari and Salina was completed in the Upper Pleistocene period, when Vulcano and Stromboli were also formed. Carbon-dating carried out on vegetable species has shown that there were three periods of activity.

The first period (between 330,000 and 160,000 years ago) saw the formation of the volcanoes on Panarea and the dome of Capo Graziano. The second period (betwen 160,000 and 130,000 years ago), which was the period of most intense activity, saw the formation of Monte Chirica on Lipari, Monte Rivi, Capo and Pizzo Corvo on Salina, Fossa delle Felci on Filicudi, and Montagnola on Alicudi. The third period (from 130,000 years ago to the present day) saw the formation of Monte Sant’Angelo, Monte Guardia and Monte Pelato on Lipari, Fossa delle Felci, Monte dei Porri and Pollara on Salina,, and Montagnola and Torrione on Filicudi, while there was acid lava expansion on Alicudi. Panarea is the oldest volcanic system in the archipelago. Vulcano dates back 100,000 years, with subsequent formation of the southern volcanic strata of Caldera, Fossa and Vulcanello. Volcanic activity began on Stromboli (40,000 years ago) at Vancari; the roof and finally the crater formed at a later stage. Aeolian volcanism is characterised by evolution of the nature of the magma.

Articles