Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sector collapse, sedimentation and clast population evolution at an active island-arc volcano: Stromboli, Italy

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Sciara del Fuoco is the subaerial part of a partially filled sector-collapse scar that extends to 700 m below sea level on Stromboli volcano. The collapse occurred <5000 years ago, involved ≤1.81 km3 of rock and is the latest of a series of major collapses on the north-west flank of Stromboli. A north-east trending arc-axial fault system channels magmas into the volcano and has caused tilting and/or downthrow to the north-west. The slope of the partial cone constructed between the lateral walls of the collapse scar acts as a channelway to the sea for most eruptive products. From 700 m below sea level and extending to >2200 m and >10 km from the shore to the NNW, a fan-shaped mounded feature comprises debris avalanche deposits (>4 km3) from two or more sector collapses. Volcaniclastic density currents originating from Sciara del Fuoco follow the topographic margin of the debris avalanche deposits, although overbank currents and other unconfined currents widely cover the mounded feature with turbidites. Historical (recorded) eruptive activity in Sciara del Fuoco is considerably less than that which occurred earlier, and much of the partial fill may have formed from eruptions soon after the sector collapse. It is possible that a mass of eruptive products similar to that in the collapse scar is dispersed as volcanogenic sediment in deep water of the Tyrhennian basin. Evidence that the early post-collapse eruptive discharge was greater than the apparent recent flux (≈2kg/s) counters suggestions that a substantial part of Stromboli's growth has been endogenous. The partial fill of Sciaria del Fuoco is dominated by lava and spatter layers, rather than by the scoria and ash layers classically regarded as main constituents of Strombolian (‘cinder’) cones. Much of the volcanic slope beneath the vents is steeper than the angle of repose of loose tephra, which is therefore rapidly transported to the sea. Delicate pyroclasts that record the magmatic explosivity are selectively destroyed and diluted during sedimentary transport, mainly in avalanches and by shoreline wave reworking, and thus the submarine deposits do not record well the extent and diversity of explosive activity and associated clast-forming processes. Considerable amounts of dense (non-vesicular) fine sand and silt grains are produced by breakage and rounding of fragments of lava and agglutinate. The submarine extension of the collapse scar, and the continuing topographic depression to >2200 m below sea level, are zones of considerable by-passing of fine sand and silt, which are transported in turbidity currents. Evidently, volcanogenic sediments dispersed around island volcanoes by density currents are unlikely to record well the true spectrum and relative importance of clast-forming processes that occurred during an eruption. Marine sedimentary evidence of magmatic explosivity is particularly susceptible to partial or complete obliteration, unless there is a high rate of discharge of pyroclastic material into the sea.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbruzzese D, Cavallaro C (1956) L'eruzione sottomarina di Stromboli del 28 Febbraio 1955. Stromboli 4:25–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Allard P, Carbonelle J, Métrich N, Loyer H, Zettwoog P (1994) Sulphur output and magma degassing budget of Stromboli volcano. Nature 368:326–330

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson H, Jackson J (1987) The deep seismicity of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Geophys J R Astron Soc 91:613–637

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayres LD (1982) Pyroclastic rocks in the geologic record. Geol Assoc Can Short Course Notes 2:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Barberi F, Gasparini P, Innocenti F, Villari L (1973) Volcanism of the southern Tyrrhenian Sea and its geodynamic implications. J Geophys Res 78:5221–5232

    Google Scholar 

  • Barberi F, Innocenti F, Ferrara G, Keller J, Villari L (1974) Evolution of Aeolian arc volcanism (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea). Earth Planet Sci Lett 21:269–276

    Google Scholar 

  • Barberi F, Rosi M, Sodi A (1993) Volcanic hazard assessment at Stromboli based on review of historical data. Acta Vulcanol 3:173–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Beccaluva L, Gabbianelli G, Lucchini F, Rossi PL, Savelli C (1985) Petrology and K/Ar ages of volcanics dredged from the Aeolian seamounts: implications for geodynamic evolution of the southern Tyrrhenian basin. Earth Planet Sci Lett 74:187–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn EA, Wilson L, Sparks RSJ (1976) Mechanisms and dynamics of strombolian activity. J Geol Soc London 132:429–440

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonasia V, Yokoyama I (1972) Rilevamento gravimetrico di Stromboli (Isole Eolie). Riv Ital Geofis 21:109–113

    Google Scholar 

  • Capaldi G, Guerra I, Lo Bascio A, Luongo G, Pece R, Rapolla A, Scarpa R, Del Pezzo E, Martini M, Ghiara MR, Lirer L, Munno R, La Volpe L (1978) Stromboli and its 1975 eruption. Bull Volcanol 41:259–285

    Google Scholar 

  • Caputo M, Panza GF, Postpischl D (1972) New evidences about deep structure of the Lipari arc. Tectonophysics 15:219–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Carracedo JC (1994) The Canary Islands: an example of structural control on the growth of large oceanic-island volcanoes. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 60:225–241

    Google Scholar 

  • De Fino M, La Volpe L, Falsaperla S, Frazzetta G, Neri G, Francalanci L, Rosi M, Sbrana A (1988) The Stromboli eruption of December 6th, 1985-April 25th, 1986: volcanological, petrological and seismological data. Rend Soc Ital Mineral Petrol 43:1021–1038

    Google Scholar 

  • Duffield WA, Stieltjes L, Varet J (1982) Huge landslide blocks in the growth of Piton de la Fournaise, La Réunion, and Kilauea volcano, Hawaii. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 12:147–160

    Google Scholar 

  • Dupuy C, Dostal J, Girod M, Liotard M (1981) Origin of volcanic rocks from Stromboli (Italy). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 10:49–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellam RM, Menzies MA, Hawkesworth CJ, Leeman WP, Rosi M, Serri G (1988) The transition from cale-alkaline to potassic orogenic magmatism in the Aeolian Islands, Southern Italy. Bull Volcanol 50:386–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabbri A, Ghisetti F, Vezzani L (1980) The Peloritani-Calabria Range and the Gioia Basin in the Calabrian Arc (Southern Italy): relationships between land and marine data. Geol Rom 19:131–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Fabbri A, Rossi S, Sartori R, Barone A (1982) Evoluzione neogenica del margini marini dell'arco Calabro-Peloritano: implicazioni geodinamiche. Mem Soc Geol Ital 24:357–366

    Google Scholar 

  • Falsaperla S (1991) Stromboli. Acta Vulcanol 1:272–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Falsaperla S, Schick R (1993) Geophysical studies on Stromboli volcano— a review. Acta Vulcanol 3:153–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferrari L, Manetti P (1993) Geodynamic framework of the Tyrrhenian volcanism: a review. Acta Vulcanol 3:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Fiske RS, Jackson ED (1972) Orientation and growth of Hawaiian volcanic rifts: the effect of regional structure and gravitational stresses. Proc R Soc London A 329:299–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornari DJ, Campbell JF (1987) Submarine topography around the Hawaiian Islands. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 1350:109–124

    Google Scholar 

  • Francalanci L, Manetti P, Peccerillo A (1989) Volcanological and magmatological evolution of Stromboli Volcano (Aeolian Islands): the roles of fractional crystallization, magma mixing, crustal contamination and source heterogeneity. Bull Volcanol 51:355–378

    Google Scholar 

  • Francalanci L, Manetti P, Peccerillo A, Keller, J, (1993) Magmatological evolution of the Stromboli volcano (Aeolian Arc, Italy): inferences from major and trace element and Sr isotopic composition of lavas and pyroclastic rocks. Acta Vulcanol 3:127–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis P, Oppenheimer C, Stevenson D (1993) Endogenous growth of persistently active volcanoes. Nature 366:554–557

    Google Scholar 

  • Francis PW, Wells GL (1988) Landsat Thematic Mapper observations of debris avalanche deposits in the Central Andes. Bull Volcanol 50:258–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabbianelli G, Gillot PY, Lanzafame G, Romagnoli C, Rossi PL (1990) Tectonic and volcanic evolution of Panarea (Aeolian Islands, Italy). Mar Geol 92:313–326

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabbianelli G, Romagnoli C, Rossi PL, Calanchi N (1993) Marine geology of the Panarea-Stromboli area (Aeolian Archipelago, Southeastern Tyrrhenian sea). Acta Vulcanol 3:11–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Gasparini C, Iannaccone G, Scandone P, Scarpa R (1982) Seismotectomics of the Calabrian Arc. Tectonophysics 84:267–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Giberti G, Jaupart C, Sartoris G (1992) Steady-state operation of Stromboli volcano, Italy: constraints on the feeding system. Bull Volcanol 54:535–541

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillot PY (1987) Histoire volcanique des Iles Éoliennes: arc insulaire on complexe orogénique anulaire? Doc Trav IGAL 11:35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillot PY, Cornette Y (1986) The Cassignol technique for potassium-argon dating, precision and accuracy: examples from the Late Pleistocene to Recent volcanics from Southern Italy. Chem Geol 59:205–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillot PY, Keller J (1993) Radiochronological dating of Stromboli. Acta Vulcanol 3:69–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Heiken G, Wohletz K (1985) Volcanic Ash. University of California Press, 246pp

  • Hornig-Kjarsgaard I, Keller J, Koberski U, Stadbauer E, Francalanci L, Lenhart R (1993) Geology, stratigraphy and volcanological evolution of the island of Stromboli, Aeolian arc, Italy. Acta Vulcanol 3:21–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton BF, Wilson CJN (1989) A vesicularity index for pyroclastic deposits. Bull Volcanol 51:451–462

    Google Scholar 

  • Istituto Geografico Militare (1958) Isola di Stromboli (Scala 1:25000)

  • Istituto Idrografico della Marina (1971) Isola di Stromboli (Scala 1:100 000). Carta 1601, Genova

  • Johnson RW (1987) Large-scale volcanic cone collapse: the 1988 slope failure of Ritter volcano, and other examples from Papua New Guinea. Bull Volcanol 49:669–679

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller J (1982) Mediterranean island arcs. In: Thorpe RS (ed) Andesites. Wiley, Chichester, pp 307–325

    Google Scholar 

  • Kieffer G, Pomel RS (1982) Morphologie et volcanologie de Stromboli (Iles Eoliennes). Bull Assoc Géogr Fr Paris 488:211–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Kienle J, Kowalik Z, Murty TS (1987) Tsunamis generated by eruptions from Mount St Augustine volcano, Alaska. Science 236:1442–1447

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokelaar P (1986) Magma-water interactions in subaqueous and emergent basaltic volcanism. Bull Volcanol 48:275–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokelaar P (1992) Ordovician marine volcanic and sedimentary record of rifting and volcanotectonism: Snowdon, Wales, United Kingdom. Geo Soc Am Bull 104:1433–1455

    Google Scholar 

  • Labazuy P (1991) Instabilités au cours de l'évolution d'un édifice volcanique, en domaine intraplaque océanique: Le Piton de la Fournaise (Ile de La Réunion). Thèse d'Univ Blaise Pascal, Clermont Ferrand, 26Opp

  • Lanzafame G, Rossi PL (1984) Evidenze di attività tettonica recente a Panarea (Eolie): implicazione vulcanologische. Geol Rom 23:131–139

    Google Scholar 

  • Lénat JF, Vincent P, Bachèlery P (1989) The off-shore continuation of an active basaltic volcano: Piton de la Fournaise (Réunion Island, Indian Ocean); structural and geomorphological interpretation from sea beam mapping. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 36:11–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale P (1989) A geomorphological reconnaissance of the submarine part of the East Rift zone of Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii. Bull Volcanol 51:123–144

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore JG, Clague DA, Holcomb RT, Lipman PW, Normark WR, Torresan ME (1989) Prodigious submarine landslides on the Hawaiian Ridge. J Geophys Res 94:17465–17484

    Google Scholar 

  • Morelli C (1970) Physiography, gravity and magnetism of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Boll Geofis Teor Appl 12:275–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Morelli C, Giese P, Cassinis R, Colombi B, Guerra I, Luongo G, Scarascia S, Schulte KG (1975) Crustal structure of Southern Italy. A seismic reflection profile between Puglia, Calabria and Sicily. Boll Geofis Teor Appl 17:183–210

    Google Scholar 

  • Nappi G (1977) itL'eruzione dello Stromboli del Novembre 1975. Boll Soc Geol Ital 95:991–1008

    Google Scholar 

  • Naranjo JA, Francis P (1987) High velocity debris avalanche at Lastarria volcano in the north Chilean Andes. Bull Volcanol 49:509–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Nemec W (1990) Aspects of sediment movement on steep delta slopes. In: Colella A, Prior DB (eds) Coarse grained deltas. Spec Publ Int Assoc Sedimentol 10:29–73

  • Ntepe N, Dorel J (1990) Observations of seismic volcanic signals at Stromboli volcano (Italy). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 43:235–251

    Google Scholar 

  • Pasquarè G, Francalanci L, Garduno VH, Tibaldi A (1993) Structure and geologic evolution of the Stromboli volcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. Acta Vulcanol 3:79–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Ripepe M, Rosi M, Saccorotti G, Napoleone G (1990) Dynamics of the explosive activity at Stromboli. Proc Int Volcanol Congress (IAVCEI), Mainz, FRG

  • Rittman A (1967) I Vulcani e la Loro Attività. Cappelli Ed., Bologna, 359pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Romagnoli C (1990) Caratterizzazione morfostrutturale e vulcanologica sottomarina delle Isole Eolie (Tirreno meridionale): ipotesi di stadi evolutivi dei complessi. Tesi Dottorato in Scienze della Terra, Univ Bologna, 141pp

  • Romagnoli C, Kokelaar P, Rossi PL, Sodi A (1993) The submarine extension of Sciara del Fuoco feature (Stromboli Isl.): morphologic characterization. Acta Vulcanol 3:91–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosi M (1980) The island of Stromboli. Rend Soc Ital Mineral Petrol 36:345–368

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosi M. Quantitative reconstruction of recent volcanic activity: a contribution to future eruptions forecasing. In: Scarpa R, Tilling RI (eds) Manual of Volcano Monitoring. Unesco-IAVCEI, in press

  • Segre AG (1968) Notizie sulla morfologia submarina di Stromboli. Riv Stromboli 11:3–8

    Google Scholar 

  • Siebert L (1984) Large volcanic debris avalanches: characteristics of source areas deposits and associated eruptions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 22:163–197

    Google Scholar 

  • Siebert L, Glicken H, Ui T (1987) Volcanic hazards from Bezymianny-and Bandai-type eruptions. Bull Volcanol 49:435–459

    Google Scholar 

  • Swanson DA, Duffield WA, Fiske RS (1976) Displacement of the south flank of Kilauea Volcano: the result of forceful intrusion of magma into rift zones. US Geol Surv Prof Pap 963:1–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Ui T (1983) Volcanic dry avalanche deposits —identification and comparison with non-volcanic debris stream deposits. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 18:135–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Ventura G (1994) Tectonics, structural evolution and caldera formation on Vulcano Island (Aeolian Archipelago, southern Tyrrhenian Sea). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 60:207–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Wadge G (1982) Steady state volcanoes. J Geophys Res 87:4035–4049

    Google Scholar 

  • Wohletz K (1983) Mechanisms of hydrovolcanic pyroclast formation: grain-size, scanning electron microscopy, and field studies. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 17:31–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Zanchi A, Francalanci L (1989) Analisis geologico strutturale dell'isola di Stromboli: alcune considerazioni preliminari. Boll GNV 5:1027–1044

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth Sciences Department, University of Liverpool, L69 3BX, Liverpool, UK

    P. Kokelaar

  2. Departimento di Scienze Mineralogiche, Università di Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    C. Romagnoli

Authors
  1. P. Kokelaar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Romagnoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kokelaar, P., Romagnoli, C. Sector collapse, sedimentation and clast population evolution at an active island-arc volcano: Stromboli, Italy. Bull Volcanol 57, 240–262 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265424

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00265424

Key words

Search

Navigation