History of the extensional deformation of the eastern flank of Mt. Etna: new insights from a detail field mapping

Giuseppe Tortorici (a), Stefano Catalano (a), Francesco Pavano (a) & Gino Romagnoli (a)
(a) Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche, Ambientali – Sezione Scienze della Terra, Università di Catania, Corso Italia, 55, 95129, Catania, Italy. E-mail: g.romagnoli@unict.it

We propose a morphotectonic study, supported by new geological and geophysical data, carried out in the eastern flank of Mt. Etna, in order to define the history of the extensional deformation. The analysis indicates that the still active extensional motions started at about 460 ka B.P.. The evidence of its relation with a huge tectonic uplift of the etnean region strongly suggests to relate the extensional deformation to a crustal doming due to the emplacement of hot Mantle at depth. Our reconstruction could represent a key for the interpretation of the active extensional processes driving the collapse of the eastern flank of Mt. Etna.

crustal doming, extensional deformation, Mt. Etna