Search

The common practice of using subspecies as conservation targets raises the question of whether efforts are focused on preserving conspicuous components of the species' phenotypic variability rather than evolutionarily significant units. To address this question, in this study we performed a comprehensive morphological and genetic assessment on all the subspecies of wall lizard described for the Aeolian Archipelago (Italy) to determine whether they represent distinct evolutionary lineages and/or discrete phenotypic partitions. Further, we applied a monophyly test to 70 subspecies belonging to seven wall lizard species occurring in Italy, based on our results and on previous phylogeographic studies. We found that none of the Aeolian subspecies represents a distinct evolutionary lineage, despite some morphological differentiation of island populations across the archipelago, suggesting a very recent origin of island populations and of the observed phenotype variation. Across seven wall lizard species, tests revealed that lizard subspecies rarely (< 9% of cases) match evolutionary units. This study demonstrates that intraspecific taxonomy of wall lizards is a poor predictor of phylogeographic partitions and evolutionary units, and therefore of limited use (if not dangerous) for defining conservation and management units. A better approach would be relying on the integration of genomic and phenotypic data to assess the evolutionary significance and conservation value of phenotypic and genetic units within species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vulcano is one of the seven volcanic islands composing the Aeolian Islands archipelago (Southern Italy), which also includes three other active volcanoes. The island was originally a stratovolcano like Stromboli; afterwards, its shape turned towards a complex structure composed of several volcanic landforms of different sizes. This is due to the great variability of the tectonic and volcanic phenomena, presently showing a volcano made by two calderas, a lava dome complex and two small active cones. The largest of them is the tuff cone of La Fossa, hosted in the middle of a 3‐km‐wide caldera structure (La Fossa caldera), whose borders are visible on the southern and western sides of the island. Its last eruption occurred in 1888–1890. At present, Vulcano is characterized by weak shallow seismicity and intense fumarolic activity mainly concentrated within the crater of the La Fossa cone and along its rims during a recent unrest phase started in 2021, and measured with a multiparametric monitoring network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inventory of the taxa collected in 2022 during the annual field trip of the Working Group for Floristics, Systematics and Evolution of the Italian Botanical Society is reported. The field trip was held from 19th to 22th April in the islands of Lipari and Panarea (Aeolian Islands, Sicilia). Overall, 1,664 herbarium specimens were deposited in public and private herbaria. The flora documented for the studied area amounts to 386 specific and subspecific taxa, belonging to 241 genera and 74 families. Centaurea aeolica, Helichrysum litoreum (Asteraceae), and Dianthus rupicola subsp. aeolicus (Caryophyllaceae) were the only three Italian endemics found in the study area, whereas 48 alien taxa were recorded. Dimorphotheca ecklonis (Asteraceae), Nassella tenuissima (Poaceae), Solanum torvum (Solanaceae), and Viola wittrockiana (Violaceae) are casual alien species new to Sicilia, whereas Oenothera odorata (Onagraceae) is a new naturalized alien species for the Italian vascular flora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aeolian Islands (Italy) are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea comprising seven main islands, among which are two active volcanoes. The peculiar geological features and the wide variety of environments and soils have an important impact on native plants, and in particular, the Aeolian populations of Dactylis glomerata (a perennial cool-season bunchgrass) exhibit remarkable phenotypic variability. Considering that environmental drivers also strongly affect the production of plant metabolites, this work aimed at comparing the metabolomic profiles of D. glomerata (leaves) harvested at different altitudes on four islands of the Aeolian archipelago, namely: Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli and Panarea. Samples were analyzed by 1H NMR profiling, and data were treated by PCA. Samples collected on Stromboli were very different from each other and from the samples collected in the other islands. Through an Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS) model, using altitude as the y variable, it emerged that the concentration of proline, glycine betaine, sucrose, glucose and chlorogenic acid of D. glomerata growing on Stromboli decreased at increasing altitude. Conversely, increasing altitude was associated with an increment in valine, asparagine, fumaric acid and phenylalanine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research project concerns the study, analysis and dating of obsidian flows on the island of Lipari, in relation to the population of the Aeolian Islands, during the Neolithic period.

We present the first two-dimensional (2-D) spatial distribution of seismic scattering and intrinsic attenuation beneath the Aeolian Islands arc. The Aeolian Islands archipelago represents one of the best examples of a small dimension volcanic island arc characterised by the alternation of different structural domains. Using the seismic wave diffusion model as the basis for the analysis, and using data from an active seismic experiment (TOMO-ETNA), we analysed more than 76,700 seismic paths marked by epicentre-seismic station pairs. Based on frequencies of 4–24 Hz, we identified high regional attenuation, comparable with other volcanic areas of the world. We used two different seismogram lengths, reflecting two different sampling depths, which allowed us to observe two different attenuative behaviours. As in most volcanic regions, scattering attenuation predominates over intrinsic attenuation, but some characteristics are area-specific. Volcanic structures present the highest contribution to scattering, especially in the low frequency range. This behaviour is interpreted to reflect the small size of the islands and the potentially relatively small size of individual magmatic feeding systems. In addition, strong scattering observed in one zone is associated with the northernmost part of the so-called Aeolian-Tindari-Letojanni fault system. In contrast, away from the volcanic islands, intrinsic attenuation dominates over scattering attenuation. We interpret this shift in attenuative behaviour as reflecting the large volume of sedimentary material deposited on the seabed. Owing to their poorly consolidated nature, sediments facilitate intrinsic attenuation via energy dissipation, but in general present high structural homogeneity that is reflected by low levels of scattering. Our results show that this region is not underlain by a large volcanic structural complex such as that beneath nearby Mt. Etna volcano. Instead, we observe dimensionally smaller and isolated subsurface volcanic structures. The identification of such features facilitates improved geological interpretation; we can now separate consolidated marine structures from independent subsurface volcanic elements. The results of this study provide a model for new research in similar regions around the world.

Thermessaite-(NH4), ideally (NH4)2AlF3(SO4), is a new mineral found as a medium- to high-temperature (~250–300°C) fumarole encrustation at the rim of La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. The mineral deposited as aggregates of minute (<0.2 mm) sharp prismatic crystals on the surface of a pyroclastic breccia in association with thermessaite, sulfur, arcanite, mascagnite, and intermediate members of the arcanite–mascagnite series. The new mineral is colourless to white, transparent, non-fluorescent, has a vitreous lustre, and a white streak. The calculated density is 2.185 g/cm3. Thermessaite-(NH4) is orthorhombic, space group Pbcn, with a = 11.3005(3) Å, b = 8.6125(3) Å, c = 6.8501(2) Å, V = 666.69(4) Å3 and Z = 4. The eight strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction data [d in Å (I)(hkl)] are: 5.65 (100)(200), 4.84 (89)(111), 6.85 (74)(110), 3.06 (56)(112), 3.06 (53)(221), 3.08 (47)(311), 2.68 (28)(022) and 2.78 (26)(130). The average chemical composition, determined by quantitative SEM-EDS (N by difference), is (wt.%): K2O 3.38, Al2O3 25.35, SO3 36.58, F 26.12, (NH4)2O 22.47, O = F –11.00, total 102.90. The empirical chemical formula, calculated on the basis of 7 anions per formula unit, is [(NH4)1.85K0.15]Σ2.00Al1.06F2.94S0.98O3.06. The crystal structure, determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data [R(F) = 0.0367], is characterised by corner-sharing AlF4O2 octahedra which form [001] octahedral chains by sharing two trans fluoride atoms [Al–F2 = 1.8394(6) Å]. Non-bridging Al–F1 distances are shorter [1.756(1) Å]. The two trans oxygen atoms [Al–O = 1.920(2) Å] are from SO4 tetrahedra. NH4+ ions occur in layers parallel to (100) which alternate regularly with (100) layers containing ribbons of corner-sharing AlF4O2 octahedra and associated SO4 groups. The NH4+ ions are surrounded by five oxygen atoms and by four fluorine atoms. The mineral is named as the (NH4)-analogue of thermessaite, K2AlF3(SO4), and corresponds to an anthropogenic phase found in the burning Anna I coal dump of the Anna mine, Aachen, Germany. Both mineral and mineral name have been approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA2011-077). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The football ascidian Diazona violacea was observed in three different sites in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea), from 53 to 116 m depth. A large population of this ascidian was found on rocky habitat, enhancing its three-dimensionality and constituting a peculiar facies. Colonies of D. violacea showed a mean density of 0.87 ± 0.09 colonies m−2 and a maximum of 4 colonies m−2. The number of zooids was used as a proxy of colony size and age (assuming that the higher the number of zooids, the larger and older is the colony), and the population showed a leptokurtic distribution with the dominant presence of colonies with fewer than 100 zooids. Large aggregations of this species proved to play an important role in terms of seabed complexity, influencing the underwater landscape and worth of being recognized as a relevant type of biogenic habitat (although ephemeral) that can characterize mesophotic rocks in the Mediterranean Sea.

We present the preliminary results of the ongoing investigation of the obsidian from the Bronze Age village of San Vincenzo, Stromboli, Aeolian Islands, for the purpose of providing technological and typological characterization, and also provenance of the raw material, the latter with non-destructive p-XRF. Regarding provenance, the source of the raw material is likely to be neighbouring Lipari. It was transported to Stromboli and used mostly in a highly opportunistic manner and for the production of blade(let), non-bladelike tools (mainly scrapers) and micro bladelets. The obsidian distribution around the site shows concentration in both domestic and production areas.

The Aeolian Islands (Italy) are a volcanic archipelago in the Tyrrhenian Sea comprising seven main islands, among which are two active volcanoes. The peculiar geological features and the wide variety of environments and soils have an important impact on native plants, and in particular, the Aeolian populations of Dactylis glomerata (a perennial cool-season bunchgrass) exhibit remarkable phenotypic variability. Considering that environmental drivers also strongly affect the production of plant metabolites, this work aimed at comparing the metabolomic profiles of D. glomerata (leaves) harvested at different altitudes on four islands of the Aeolian archipelago, namely: Lipari, Vulcano, Stromboli and Panarea. Samples were analyzed by 1H NMR profiling, and data were treated by PCA. Samples collected on Stromboli were very different from each other and from the samples collected in the other islands. Through an Orthogonal Partial Least Squares (OPLS) model, using altitude as the y variable, it emerged that the concentration of proline, glycine betaine, sucrose, glucose and chlorogenic acid of D. glomerata growing on Stromboli decreased at increasing altitude. Conversely, increasing altitude was associated with an increment in valine, asparagine, fumaric acid and phenylalanine.

This study provides a critical and interdisciplinary review of the archaeological record of the Aeolian Islands (Italy), from their earliest settlement in the mid-sixth millennium BC (Middle Neolithic) to the establishment of trans-Mediterranean networks at the end of the second millennium BC (Final Bronze Age). We combine archaeological, archaeometric, bioarchaeological and environmental data to explore the interplay between different prehistoric practices and their spatial settings, revisiting old evidence and presenting new data. The resulting picture reveals different levels of interaction and the critical role of these small island communities in establishing and/or facilitating networks at the local and (inter)regional scale. Ceramic networks allow us to trace connections between the islands and their neighbours, underscoring the centrality of the island of Lipari, which is further supported by the spatial analysis of the settlement data, in particular concerning the growing web of intervisibility between contemporary settlements on the Aeolian Islands, Sicily and Calabria. We also highlight significant environmental factors, such as arid phases and volcanic events, and assess their impact in light of the islanders' responses, underscoring their long-term adaptability to the challenges of insularity. The study is supported by a new and up-to-date database of 50 prehistoric sites, incorporating unpublished results of ongoing archaeological investigations by the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The football ascidian Diazona violacea was observed in three different sites in the Aeolian Archipelago (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea), from 53 to 116 m depth. A large population of this ascidian was found on rocky habitat, enhancing its three-dimensionality and constituting a peculiar facies. Colonies of D. violacea showed a mean density of 0.87 ± 0.09 colonies m−2 and a maximum of 4 colonies m−2. The number of zooids was used as a proxy of colony size and age (assuming that the higher the number of zooids, the larger and older is the colony), and the population showed a leptokurtic distribution with the dominant presence of colonies with fewer than 100 zooids. Large aggregations of this species proved to play an important role in terms of seabed complexity, influencing the underwater landscape and worth of being recognized as a relevant type of biogenic habitat (although ephemeral) that can characterize mesophotic rocks in the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Islands are fascinating study systems for biogeography, allowing researchers to investigate patterns across organisms on a comparable geographical scale. They are also often important for conservation. Here, we present the first bio-inventory of the ant fauna of the Aeolian Islands, a Sicilian volcanic archipelago formed within the last million years. We documented a total of 40 species, including one first record for Italy (Lasius casevitzi). Mitochondrial DNA barcodes were obtained for all 40 taxa sampled on the islands, 13 of which were studied genetically for the first time. Mitochondrial DNA sequences of island specimens were compared with those of conspecific samples from other Aeolian Islands, Sicily and mainland Italy. Standardized photographical documentation of all sequenced specimens is provided. All but one currently recognized species (97.5%) were recovered as monophyletic. Genetic divergence within species ranged up to 12.4% in Pheidole pallidula, although most species had much lower levels of intraspecific divergence. At the scale of the Aeolian Islands, intraspecific genetic divergence varied significantly between subfamilies, with species of the subfamily Myrmicinae showing higher intraspecific divergences than the Formicinae. Comparison of specimens from the Aeolian Islands with conspecific ones from the putative source populations (Sicily and mainland Italy) suggested that the island of Panarea has the genetically most derived myrmeco-fauna among the seven focal Islands. Overall, DNA barcoding is a useful-albeit not perfect-method for classifying poorly studied groups of organisms and ants in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological excavations in the S-F area of Piani della Corona settlement have affected a portion of 2200 m2 of a large plateau (490 m asl). The researches, conducted between 2007 and 2008 by the Superintendence of the Museo Preistorico Etnografico “L. Pigorini” with the Archaeological Superintendence of Calabria, have revealed traces of a large village from the EBA. Before settling in the EBA, human groups belonging Recent Neolithic frequented the plateau. Two burials located near the Bronze Age ditch belong to this period, and there are also sporadic ceramic fragments recovered from the huts. The importance of Piani della Corona is mainly due to its strategic location, serving as a bridge between Calabria, Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, as proven by the archaeological record. A very important role was provided by the obsidian industry, dated after the most distinctive archaeological ceramics class, to the EBA. Out of the 238 obsidian tools found in the S-F area (blades, cores and amorphous splinters), 88 artifacts were analyzed by pXRF. Their chemical determination made it possible to clarify the procurement dynamics and exchange routes with the Aeolian Islands for the EBA, integrating new data in an on-going research.

The approach to volcanic stratigraphy and mapping in the Aeolian Islands has found the concept of Unconformity-Bounded Units (UBUs) extremely useful for purposes of stratigraphic classification and correlation. Volcanic unconformities (erosive and collapse unconformities) relative to processes of internal modification of a volcano are classified separately from sea level-driven unconformities. The erosive unconformities formed during periods of volcanic quiescence are generally characterized by angular relationships and lithological change between the products below and above an unconformity, and may be associated with paleosols or epiclastic horizons. The collapse unconformities related to calderas and lateral collapses represent surfaces of structural truncation along the collapse borders, passing outside of the collapse to erosive unconformities developed during the corresponding repose periods. Instead, the sea level-driven unconformities are marine and subaerial erosive surfaces bounding in pairs the depositional cycles relative to sea level highstands, which are recorded in raised marine terraces. Most unconformities can be correlated on a variable scale from local (volcanic island) to regional (inter-island) by means of careful stratigraphic analysis targeted to identify the corresponding stratigraphic hiatus in the volcanic successions in different points of observation. This helps to solve the problems arising from the difficult recognition of the unconformities in the field moving away from the type locality due to their variable features. A practical nomenclature scheme for a hierarchy of UBUs to be applied in volcanic areas can be established on the basis of the areal magnitude of the bounding unconformities and their importance in the volcano history, passing through a slight modification of the International Stratigraphic Guide's rules. Combined with lithostratigraphic units (mapped rock bodies) and lithosomes (eruptive centres), the UBUs provide a useful stratigraphic synthesis of a volcanic area by means of a framework of time-stratigraphic unconformable surfaces. Moreover, UBUs can be directly interpreted in terms of volcanic activity units with a time-stratigraphic significance, thus providing the key elements for the eruptive history of a volcano and the definition of its event stratigraphy. • UBUs are valuable tools for correlations in volcanic areas • UBUs group together distinct lithostratigraphic units (and lithosomes) within key stratigraphic discontinuities • Unconformities are key elements for the definition of the geologic history of a volcanic area [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We conducted a study to describe food profile, health status and stroke risk factors in the population of the Aeolian Islands.Design: Self-administrated questionnaires regarding eating habits, health status and stroke risk factors were obtained from a sample of the general Aeolian population. We analysed the difference from common healthy eating habits indicated by the Italian Institute of Nutrition.Setting: Current evidence finds the Mediterranean diet is a protective factor for cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases. The Aeolian Islands are an interesting study setting because of their peculiarity in the epidemiology of cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.Participants: Individuals (n 586; age range 15-93 years; mean 52 (sd 18) years) living in the Aeolian Islands.Results: We found low fish consumption in 13·3% and vitamin intake deficiency in 5·8% of participants. A marked excess of saturated fats was observed in 71·0% of participants. Sodium excess was reported almost in half of participants (49·0%). Eating habits were characterized by high consumption of fruits and vegetables, consistent use of olive oil and scanty use of cured meat. Health status as evaluated by the General Health Questionnaire was characterized by 'normal distress' level in the majority of participants.Conclusions: Study findings show the eating habits and health status of the Aeolian people in an interesting setting of low incidence of cerebrovascular disease. This nutrition regimen has been proved to be protective against cerebrovascular disease. Nutrition is likely to contribute to the low incidence of stroke in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With Vincenzo Cabianca, planner of Aeolian Islands landscape, we talk about scientific knowledge and landscape planning in small islands. In particular, when natural system is so strongly giving shape from the viewpoint of geophysics and vulcanology. During the discussion we carry out deep reflections upon significant of cultural heritage and insularity in this geographical contest, so unique like an insular Vulcan arc can be. Before partially lived in, then place of permanent and productive life, today archipelago’s landscape plan challenges the strong tourist pressure and business to protect his cultural scientific heritage, subject of specific international research.

Vulcano is part of the Aeolian volcanic arc in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea. Its products were emplaced through multiple episodes of edifice building and collapse since about 120 ka B.P. to present. A major discontinuity in the activity occurred after about 28 ka, while the focus of volcanism moved from SE to NW. The older products are basalts to shoshonites, and have lower K2O than the younger ones, shoshonites to rhyolites. Between these two groups, Lentia latites-rhyolites, Spiaggia Lunga basalts, and Quadrara shoshonite-trachytes, erupted along the western side of Vulcano Island. The Spiaggia Lunga basalts (i) are the most primitive magmas erupted at Vulcano after 28 ka (ii) mark the change between older and younger phases, and (iii) overlap geochemically with a monzogabbroic intrusion of similar age. This work focuses on the Spiaggia Lunga products, discussed within a large dataset of geochemical and radiogenic isotope analyses on the entire Vulcano sequence. Older products have more primitive geochemical and isotope characteristics, and lower incompatible element contents, than younger ones. The Spiaggia Lunga basalts exhibit intermediate geochemical characteristics between the older and the younger groups, and can likely be regarded as a third magmatic phase, which represents a distinct mantle reservoir active during the magmatic history of Vulcano. Significant variations of Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios, and isotopic disequilibrium between phenocrysts and groundmass, are present among the Vulcano products. This variability suggests crustal assimilation in shallow-level magma chambers, which also accounts for the formation of evolved products by combined assimilation and fractional crystallization, particularly in the younger series. Considering only the mafic products, incompatible element patterns with high LILE/HFSE and enriched signatures of Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios, indicate enriched mantle sources. Besides, chemical and isotope variability among older, younger, and Spiaggia Lunga mafic rocks, suggests an origin from geochemically diverse primary melts, derived from distinct mantle reservoirs. Their parent magmas, based on geochemical and isotope patterns, were from both MORB- and OIB-type mantle sources, subject to variable degrees of metasomatism by subducted sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated petrological and geochemical study on plagioclase crystals erupted at Vulcano Island (Aeolian Islands, Southern Italy) over the past 1000 years allowed us to draw a detailed model of the internal structure of the volcanic system, in which modes of magma interaction and timescales of storage at crustal depth are shown. The integration of compositional, textural and temporal record preserved in plagioclase crystals provides evidence for an articulated plumbing system constituted by several reservoirs connected at the crust-mantle boundary. Here, a basaltic-shoshonitic magma resides and is thought to feed the shallow magma reservoir of both La Fossa and Vulcanello centers, finally triggering eruptions throughout injections from depth. Textural and micro-compositional data on plagioclase crystals suggest the presence of three main magma levels located between ca. 17 and 2 km of depth beneath La Fossa Cone, which were intermittently reactivated over the whole period of activity considered. Plagioclase textures and compositional zoning indicate that the shallow (<11 km bsl) portions of the La Fossa plumbing system were particularly active over the last 1000 years, as crystals record the ascent and continuous episodes of magma recharge and mixing that affect the shallower reservoirs. The first stage of activity at Vulcanello (i.e. Vulcanello I eruption) was fed by slightly differentiated melts that directly rose from the deep basaltic-shoshonitic reservoir, residing for a short period of time into the crust before the eruption. Indeed, diffusion modeling calculations on Sr zoning in plagioclase indicate shorter timescales of residence (<2 years) for crystals erupted at Vulcanello compared to those of the La Fossa Cone eruptions (ca. 2–10 years). If compared with the time span between eruptions occurred at La Fossa, our time estimations may suggest that magma feeding the activity at La Fossa resides most of the time in reservoirs located below the plagioclase nucleation depth (~11 km of depth), finally rising up only few years before the eruption onset. According to our model, magmatic eruptions at Vulcano Island are related to the ascent of deep basic (basaltic/shoshonitic) magmas that trigger a sort of “reaction chain” through subsequent episodes of recharge and mixing toward the upper magmatic reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present and discuss temperatures, major and trace element gas geochemistry, radiogenic isotopes (Pb, Sr) and the first Zn isotope data of fumarole condensates and altered rocks from the Vulcano fumarolic field. The fumaroles of the La Fossa cone, sampled on 5th May 2015, have temperatures ranging between 233 and 427 °C. They plot compositionally on the mixing trend between the magmatic and hydrothermal end-members defined by previous studies, but are strongly displaced towards the hydrothermal component. Correlations of radiogenic (Sr, Pb) and stable isotopes of Zn with δ 13 C CO2 and several trace elements of the fumarolic acid condensates support mixing between the above mentioned distinct (magmatic and hydrothermal) fluids. The magmatic end-member has a less radiogenic Sr ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ~0.7045) and heavier Zn isotope composition (δ 66 Zn ~0.3‰). The hydrothermal fluid end-member has a more radiogenic 87 Sr/ 86 Sr signature (>0.7055), which could be due to leaching of radiogenic Sr from the crystalline basement rocks or reflect seawater Sr. It is also characterized by lighter Zn isotope composition (δ 66 Zn < −0.3), most likely reflecting equilibrium fractionation of Zn isotopes during precipitation of sphalerite (ZnS) from the hydrothermal fluid. Nonetheless, some scatter in the correlation trends suggests either the involvement of additional (subordinate) source(s) or temporal variations in isotopic and chemical compositions of the two above end-members. Pb isotope compositions of the fumaroles sampled in this study show a shift towards less radiogenic values compared to pre-2001 fumaroles. This could indicate either a change in the hydrothermal circulation pattern (leading to leaching of rocks with different isotopic compositions) or the involvement of a new, isotopically distinct, magmatic fluid. The alteration zones around the fumarole vents are also characterized by systematic correlations of Pb and Zn isotopes with major and trace elements. We interpret these as the result of the addition onto the substratum volcanic rock of Pb and Zn from the fumaroles. Zn isotope signatures of the alteration zones are significantly heavier than those of the corresponding fumaroles (δ 66 Zn = 0.3–1.6) probably due to equilibrium fractionation occurring during sphalerite precipitation at the vent discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of geographical origin of food products is important for both consumers and producers to ensure quality and avoid label falsifications. The caper plant (Capparis spinosa L., Brassicales Capparidaceae), a xerophytic shrub common in the Mediterranean area, produces buds and fruits that are commercialized in brine at high price. Those grown in Italy in the Aeolian Islands are renowned for their high quality. This study is aimed to establish a correlation between the geological and geochemical features of soil and the chemical composition of caper buds grown in two Aeolian Islands, Lipari and Salina. Major and trace elements were investigated by X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in soil and caper samples from three localities in Lipari and Salina, and data from the three sites were compared by a nonparametric test, a correlation test and multivariate statistics (principal component analysis). The results allowed to discriminate soils according to geolithological characteristics of each area and detect a statistically significant correspondence between soil and caper samples for the elements Co, Fe, Mg and Rb, identifying thus possible geochemical caper fingerprints of origin. These results may also be useful to protect the high quality of Aeolian caper products by a suitable “Made in Italy” trademark and avoid falsifications and frauds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Susceptibility of intrusion-related landslides in an active volcano was evaluated coupling the landslide susceptibility estimation by random forest (RF), and the probabilistic volcanic vent opening distribution, as proxy for magma injection, using the QVAST tool. In order to develop and test the method proposed here, the RF/QVAST approach was adopted for Stromboli volcano (Southern Italy) since it experienced moderate to huge instability events, it is geomorphologically prone to instability events, and it is affected by active intense volcanic activity that can produce slope instability. The main destabilizing factors of the volcanic flanks are the slope, the aspect, the terrain roughness, the land cover and the litho-technical features of the outcropping rocks. Estimation of volcanic susceptibility shows that the areas with high probability of new vent opening are located in the north-western unstable volcano flank (Sciara del Fuoco), in the volcano summit and the north-eastern volcano flank coherent with the possible re-activation of the eruptive fissures related to the regional tectonic setting. The areas with higher probability of intrusion-related landslides are located in the upper part of the Sciara del Fuoco, while the rest of the island show moderate to low probability of intrusion-related landslide occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the Central Mediterranean region, the production of chemically diverse volcanic products (e.g., those from Mt. Etna and the Aeolian Islands archipelago) testifies to the complexity of the tectonic and geodynamic setting. Despite the large number of studies that have focused on this area, the relationships among volcanism, tectonics, magma ascent, and geodynamic processes remain poorly understood. We present a tomographic inversion of P-wave velocity using active and passive sources. Seismic signals were recorded using both temporary on-land and ocean bottom seismometers and data from a permanent local seismic network consisting of 267 seismic stations. Active seismic signals were generated using air gun shots mounted on the Spanish Oceanographic Vessel 'Sarmiento de Gamboa'. Passive seismic sources were obtained from 452 local earthquakes recorded over a 4-month period. In total, 184,797 active P-phase and 11,802 passive P-phase first arrivals were inverted to provide three different velocity models. Our results include the first crustal seismic active tomography for the northern Sicily area, including the Peloritan-southern Calabria region and both the Mt. Etna and Aeolian volcanic environments. The tomographic images provide a detailed and complete regional seismotectonic framework and highlight a spatially heterogeneous tectonic regime, which is consistent with and extends the findings of previous models. One of our most significant results was a tomographic map extending to 14 km depth showing a discontinuity striking roughly NW-SE, extending from the Gulf of Patti to the Ionian Sea, south-east of Capo Taormina, corresponding to the Aeolian-Tindari-Letojanni fault system, a regional deformation belt. Moreover, for the first time, we observed a high-velocity anomaly located in the south-eastern sector of the Mt. Etna region, offshore of the Timpe area, which is compatible with the plumbing system of an ancient shield volcano located offshore of Mt. Etna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonium- and Fe( II)-rich fluid flows, known from deep-sea hydrothermal systems, have been extensively studied in the last decades and are considered as sites with high microbial diversity and activity. Their shallow-submarine counterparts, despite their easier accessibility, have so far been under-investigated, and as a consequence, much less is known about microbial communities inhabiting these ecosystems. A field of shallow expulsion of hydrothermal fluids has been discovered at depths of 170-400 meters off the base of the Basiluzzo Islet (Aeolian Volcanic Archipelago, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea). This area consists predominantly of both actively diffusing and inactive 1-3 meters-high structures in the form of vertical pinnacles, steeples and mounds covered by a thick orange to brown crust deposits hosting rich benthic fauna. Integrated morphological, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses revealed that, above all, these crusts are formed by ferrihydrite-type Fe3+ oxyhydroxides. Two cruises in 2013 allowed us to monitor and sampled this novel ecosystem, certainly interesting in terms of shallow-water iron-rich site. The main objective of this work was to characterize the composition of extant communities of iron microbial mats in relation to the environmental setting and the observed patterns of macrofaunal colonization. We demonstrated that iron-rich deposits contain complex and stratified microbial communities with a high proportion of prokaryotes akin to ammonium- and iron-oxidizing chemoautotrophs, belonging to Thaumarchaeota, Nitrospira, and Zetaproteobacteria. Colonizers of iron-rich mounds, while composed of the common macrobenthic grazers, predators, filter-feeders, and tube-dwellers with no representatives of vent endemic fauna, differed from the surrounding populations. Thus, it is very likely that reduced electron donors (Fe2+ and NH4+) are important energy sources in supporting primary production in microbial mats, which form a habitat-specific trophic base of the whole Basiluzzo hydrothermal ecosystem, including macrobenthic fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volcanic ash (< 2 mm) erupted from the Aeolian Islands is reported distally as layers in sedimentary archives from across the central Mediterranean region. Here we present volcanic glass geochemistry of proximal tephra deposits from explosive eruptions on the islands of Vulcano, Lipari, Salina and Stromboli spanning approximately the last 50 ka using grain-specific EMPA and LA-ICP-MS. This comprehensive database of volcanic glass compositions (> 1000 analyses) provides a basis for proximal-distal and distal-distal tephra correlations. Tephra deposits from the different Aeolian Islands are geochemically diverse; with some individual eruptions showing diagnostic geochemical heterogeneity recognised both stratigraphically and/or spatially. Major element glass analyses reveal that Vulcano (0–21 ka) and Stromboli (4–13 ka) have erupted potassic (shoshonitic and K-series) tephra with broadly overlapping compositions, but data presented here demonstrates that their eruptive products can be distinguished using either TiO 2 contents or their HFSE/Th ratios. Whilst individual volcanic sources often produce successive tephra deposits with near identical major and minor element compositions through time (i.e., Lipari, Vulcano), trace element glass data can help to decipher successive eruptions. Changes in LREE and Th concentrations of volcanic glasses erupted spanning approximately the last 50 ka greatly enhance the potential to discriminate successive eruptive units on Lipari. The new proximal glass database has been used to verify new (Ionian Sea; core M25/4-12) and existing distal occurrences of Aeolian Island derived tephra enabling the reassessments of past ash dispersals. Finally, proximal and distal data have been used to establish an integrated proximal-distal eruptive event stratigraphy for the Aeolian Islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Return to the Aeolian Islands (Fughe e approdi, 2010) chronicles director Giovanna Taviani’s journey to the Aeolian Islands, a volcanic archipelago off the coast of Sicily and setting for a host of films. Return documents the islands’ geological past in a study of ecological, and not just cinematic history. This essay begins to unravel the threads of a magmatic Aeolian landscape where volcanoes, cinema, and memory collaborate in the creation of more-than-human stories.

Since the early 1970s, geodetic networks became a most important tool to monitor the present day deformations of the volcanic arc of the Aeolian Islands. The first benchmarks were installed in this region at Lipari and Vulcano Islands and the number of GPS benchmarks increased in time since the early ’90s. These networks were periodically surveyed in the frame of national and international geodynamic projects and for Civil Protection programs devoted to the mitigation of the volcanic hazard. The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) played a fundamental role in the realization and periodical reoccupation of these networks, with the goal to investigate the tectonic and volcanic processes, still active in this crucial area of the central Mediterranean. An updated GPS velocity map for this region, both for the horizontal and vertical component of land motion, with details for Lipari, Vulcano and Panarea Islands, is provided in this paper. The presented GPS velocity field also includes a set of additional discrete stations located in northern Sicily and Calabria together with data from the available CGPS networks active in southern Italy. Here we show the results from eighteen years of repeated GPS surveys performed in this region in the time span 1995-2013 and the open access AINET-GPS data archive, now freely available for the scientific community. Data will support scientific research and hopefully improve the assessment of volcanic and seismic hazard in this region.

Very high resolution bathymetric map obtained through multibeam echo-sounders data are crucial to generate accurate Digital Terrain Models from which the morphological setting of active volcanic areas can be analyzed in detail. Here we show and discuss the main results from the first multibeam bathymetric survey performed in shallow-waters around the island of Lipari, the largest and the most densely populated of the Aeolian Islands (southern Italy). Data have been collected in the depth range of 0.1-150 m and complete the already existent high-resolution multibeam bathymetry realized between 100 and 1300 m water depth. The new ultra-high resolution bathymetric maps at 0.1-0.5 m provide new insights on the shallow seafloor of Lipari, allowing to detail a large spectrum of volcanic, erosive-depositional and anthropic features. Moreover, the presented data allow outlining the recent morphological evolution of the shallow coastal sector of this active volcanic island, indicating the presence of potential geo-hazard factors in shallow waters.

The volcanic activity that built up the Monte dei Porri stratocone (Salina Island) was reconstructed using new stratigraphic data, which allowed seven eruption units to be distinguished. Alternating Strombolian/Vulcanian to sub-Plinian/Plinian explosive and effusive activity emplaced fall and pyroclastic density current deposits and lava flows that formed the volcanic cone. The minimum erupted bulk volumes were assessed at 100 × 10 6 m 3 each for EU1, EU2, EU3 and EU6, while that of EU4 is ca. 200 × 10 6 m 3 . Rough estimation of EU7 volume yields values around 150 × 10 6 m 3 . The calculation of volume was not possible for the EU5 deposits. The magmas that fed the different eruption units of the Monte dei Porri succession range in composition from basalt to andesite, with the exception of dacites erupted in the initial phase of activity. SEM image analyses on coarse ash from the different pyroclastic units suggest that hydromagmatic fragmentation cannot be the cause of the large variations in explosivity observed throughout the stratigraphic succession. Based on the lithic component of pyroclastic deposits and xenolith contents of lava flows, the plumbing system that fed the different eruption units of Monte dei Porri was split into a deep magma storage level (15–20 km) and shallower magma batches (3–5 km). Our calculations indicate that the volumes of erupted material can account for magmatic triggering (injection of new magma) of eruptive units from the shallower feeding system, but they are not sufficient for suggesting magmatic initiation of the eruption units from the deeper feeding system. It is therefore assumed that the eruptions from the deep magma reservoir necessitate a favourable lithostatic stress, likely calling for a reduction of the local tectonic forces. A qualitative model explaining the eruptive style transitions among and within the different eruption units is presented, taking into account the relation between magmatic overpressure and lithostatic stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analysed a widespread, massive ash unit outcropping on the island of Lipari, which belongs to the Intermediate Brown Tuffs (IBT) succession of the Aeolian Islands, Italy. The use of a multidisciplinary approach that integrates textural, petrological and pedological methods, allows us to discriminate between syn-eruptive and post-depositional features. The deposits are dominated by uncrystallised blocky glass fragments of homogeneous shoshonitic composition, confirming a provenance from hydromagmatic eruptions on the island of Vulcano. Many glass fragments are surrounded by a coating separated by a thin void of syn-eruptive origin due to alteration by aggressive acid gases in the eruptive cloud. The lack of this coating in the northern part of Lipari can be explained as a progressive dispersion of the gases far from the vent and/or to post-depositional processes. The degree of soil development significantly increases from south (soil profiles P1 and P2 at Valle Muria) to north (P3 and P4, at Madoro and Chiesa Vecchia sites, respectively) as a response to a decrease in slope steepness, which has brought about a progressive deepening of the pedogenetic front on gentler landforms and conversely its rejuvenation on steep slopes. The relatively poor to moderate degree of pedogenic evolution of the studied IBT unit is consistent with its emplacement during part of the last glacial period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sediment samplings were performed to investigate the microphytobenthic community and photosynthetic activity adaptations to gas emissions and higher temperature in the Aeolian Islands during a three-year period (2012–2014). Higher microphytobenthic densities were recorded at the vent stations and values were even more pronounced in relation with high temperature. The gross primary production estimates strongly depended on microphytobenthic abundance values reaching up to 45.79 ± 6.14 mgC m −2 h −1 . High abundances were coupled with low community richness and diversity. Motile diatom living forms were predominant at all stations and the greatest differences among vent and reference stations were detected on the account of the tychopelagic forms. Morphological deformities and heavily silicified diatom frustules were also observed. A significant influence of the gas emission and high temperature on the phototrophic community was highlighted suggesting the Aeolian Islands as a good natural laboratory for studies on high CO 2 and global warming effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants face many different stress factors in their natural environment and life span. Among numerous abiotic stresses are sulfur containing volcanic gases which are highly hazardous and can enter plants via the stomata. As final consequence, toxic sulfite is formed inside the leaves which has to be detoxified. Controlled laboratory experiments have been performed in the past to identify the detoxification mechanisms of sulfur containing gases using model organisms. However, actual studies which investigate detoxification mechanism of H 2 S/SO 2 in natural environments and include non-model organisms are missing. For this purpose plant material of eight species was sampled on the Aeolian Islands Vulcano and Lipari, at locations with harmful volcanic gases and at control sites. The collected material was analyzed to study the detoxification pathway of sulfur surplus due to exposure to H 2 S/SO 2 . Different reaction strategies of plants can be hypothesized: tight control of gas uptake by regulating stomata, increased synthesis of metabolites by sulfur assimilation via reduction of sulfite and back-oxidation of sulfite to sulfate via the plant molybdoenzyme sulfite oxidase followed by storage in the vacuole. The sampled plants reacted differently towards the exposure of H 2 S/SO 2 with respect to closure of the stomata and overall accumulation of thiols, sulfate and/or total sulfur. Correlation analysis deciphered three different strategies of detoxification within the investigated plants: (i) Channelling of the sulfur surplus by formation of S-metabolites like thiols (reductive detoxification) and the use of mainly (ii) oxidative detoxification into sulfate with increased sulfite oxidase activity or (iii) oxidative detoxification without increased sulfite oxidase activity. One plant species did not react to sulfur surplus at all. Grouping of all tested species is consistent with their phylogenetic classification which must be strengthened in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipari island belongs to the Aeolian archipelago, located in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), which is one of the most active volcanic areas of the Mediterranean basin. Although this region has been settled since prehistory, only during Roman times were coastal installations built in these islands. In this study, we present and discuss data on the relative sea level change estimated from a submerged pier of Roman age dated 2100 ± 100 BP. This structure, about 140 × 60 m, is located along the coast of Marina Lunga, corresponding to the present location of the main harbor of Lipari island. This pier, which was accidentally discovered in 2008 during preliminary excavations for the construction of a new pier, is a valuable indicator of relative sea level changes and vertical land movements. Its top surface is presently located at −9.1 ± 0.05 m, while the foundations at the outer end of the pier are at −11.6 ± 0.05 m, above a shoreline placed at −13.0 ± 0.05 m. We studied this site through direct archaeological investigations and ultra-high resolution multibeam bathymetry. The current submergence of this pier can be explained by the cumulative effect of the relative sea level changes caused by the regional glacio-hydro-isostatic signal, active since the end of the last glacial maximum, and the local volcano-tectonic land subsidence. From our investigations, a relative sea level change at 12.3 ± 0.7 m with a subsidence rate at 5.79 ± 0.01 mm y −1 and an average value of volcano-tectonic contribution at 5.17 ± 0.01 m y −1 for the last 2100 ± 100 years BP, is estimated from comparison against the latest predicted sea level model for the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea. These rates of relative sea level change led to the disuse of the harbor after around the fourth century AD, in agreement with archaeological interpretations. Our results provide new insights on the recent evolution of this active volcanic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The petrography as well as the major and trace element compositions of the Selinunte grinding stones, made of grey vesicular lava, were analysed. By comparison with geochemical data from volcanic rocks in the Mediterranean, we were able to determine that only a minor number of the tools were extracted from the nearest volcanics of Mount Etna and the Hyblean Mountains, while the majority of the grinding stones were most probably imported from the Aeolian Islands, although an origin from the Aegean cannot be excluded entirely. The results are important in order to scrutinize trading connections, especially for the earlier times of settlement during the sixth century BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balićžunićite, ideally Bi2O(SO4)2, is a new mineral found as a high-temperature fumarole sublimate (T = 600°C) at La Fossa crater, Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. It occurs as aggregates of mm-sized prismatic and elongated crystals (~50 mm across and up to 200 mm long) associated with anglesite, leguernite, one other potentially new Bi-oxysulfate mineral, lillianite, galenobismutite, bismoclite, Cd-rich sphalerite, wurtzite, pyrite and pyrrhotite. Balićžunićite is colourless to white or pale brown, transparent and non-fluorescent. It has a vitreous lustre and a white streak. Electron microprobe analysis gives the following average chemical composition (wt.%): Bi2O3 68.68 and SO3 23.73, total 92.41. The empirical chemical formula, calculated on the basis of 9 anions p.f.u., is Bi1.99S2O9. The calculated density is 5.911 g/cm3. Balićžunićite is triclinic, space group P1̅, with a 6.7386(3), b 11.1844(5), c 14.1754(7) Å , a 80.082(2)°, b 88.462(2)°, g 89.517(2)°, V = 1052.01(8) Å3 and Z = 6. The six strongest reflections in the X-ray powder-diffraction data [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 3.146 (100) (033), 3.486 (21) (004), 3.409 (12) (03̅1), 3.366 (7) (200), 5.562 (4) (111), 5.433 (4) (1̅11). Balićžunićite is the natural analogue of the stable low-temperature a form of synthetic Bi2O(SO4)2. The name is in honour of Tonci Balić-Žunić (born 1952), Professor of Mineralogy at the Natural History Museum of the University of Cophenagen. Both the mineral and the mineral name have been approved by the IMA-CNMNC Commission (IMA2012-098). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aeolian Arc (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) is one of the most active volcanic areas of the Mediterranean basin, affected by volcanic/hydrothermal and seismic activity. Ancient populations settled this region since historical times, building coastal installations which currently are valuable archaeological indicators of relative sea level changes and vertical land movements. In this study we show and discuss data on the relative sea level change estimated from a submerged wharf of Roman age dated between 50 B.C. and 50 A.D., located at Basiluzzo Island. This structure has been studied through marine surveys and archaeological interpretations and is presently located at a corrected depth of −4.10 ± 0.2 m. We explain this submergence by a cumulative effect of the relative sea level change caused by the regional glacio-hydro-isostatic signal, active since the end of the last glacial maximum, and the local volcano-tectonic land subsidence. Finally, a total subsidence rate of 2.05 ± 0.1 mm/yr−1, with a volcano-tectonic contribution of 1.43 ± 0.1 mm/yr−1 for the last 2 ka BP, is inferred from the comparison against the latest predicted sea level curve for the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, suggesting new evaluations of the volcano-tectonic hazard for this area of the Aeolian islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of large location uncertainties for seismicity occurring in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea have been partially exceeded during the implementation of the long-term scientific mission of the TYrrhenian Deep sea Experiment (TYDE), which allowed the installation of 14 wide-band Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS) and Hydrophones (OBH) in the period December 2000 May 2001 on the sea-bottom floor around the Aeolian and Ustica Islands. Local events recorded at landstations have been observed also on the seismograms of the Ocean Bottom Seismic Network (OBSN). Moreover, some hundreds of low magnitude events, undetected from the land networks, have been recorded. We combined the readings of body wave arrival times from OBS-OBH with those from landstations to localise seismic events. We focused our study on three clusters of events representative of the seismic activity of the area: (i) deep events, (ii) Ustica (iii) NE-Sicily. The analysis of the integrated data set of the seismicity off-shore and on-shore, obtained from the combined land-OBS seismic network (Ustica sequence and Deep events), has improved locations in terms of RMS residuals, azimuthal gap, epicentral and hypocentral errors. Moreover, further classes of events have been analysed: the first one includes some local events that could be located only by integrating single trigger readings from the few available land-stations with the OBSN-data; the second one comprises local events that have been detected only by the OBS-OBH stations. In particular, the last cluster underlines the importance of an OBSN in the Tyrrhenian deep basin to reveal its unknown intense micro-seismicity, permitting to better understand both the tectonic and geodynamic picture of the area.

On 3rd November 2002, at about 3 km off-shore of Panarea Island (Aeolian Islands, Southern Italy), a series of gas vents suddenly and violently opened from the seafloor at the depth of 10-15 m, with an unusually high gas flux and superimposing on the already existing submarine fumarolic field. Starting from the 12th November 2002 a discontinuous geochemical monitoring program was carried out. The emissions consisted in an emulsion whose liquid phase derived from condensation of an uprising vapor phase occurring close to the fluid outlets without significant contamination by seawater. The whole composition of the fluids was basically H2O- and CO2-dominated, with minor amounts of typical «hydrothermal» components (such as H2S, H2, CO and light hydrocarbons), atmospheric-related compounds, and characterized by the occurrence of a significant magmatic gas fraction (mostly represented by SO2, HCl and HF). According to the observed temporal variability of the fluid compositions, between November and December 2002 the hydrothermal feeding system was controlled by oxidizing conditions due to the input of magmatic gases. The magmatic degassing phenomena showed a transient nature, as testified by the almost complete disappearance of the magmatic markers in a couple of months and by the restoration, since January 2003, of the chemical features of the existing hydrothermal system. The most striking feature of the evolution of the «Panarea degassing event» was the relatively rapid restoration of the typical reducing conditions of a stationary hydrothermal system, in which the FeO/Fe1.5O redox pair of the rock mineral phases has turned to be the dominating redox controlling system.

Lucabindiite, ideally (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br), is a new mineral found as a medium-temperature fumarole encrustation (T = 170 °C) at "La Fossa" crater of Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. The mineral deposited as aggregates of micrometer-sized hexagonal and platy crystals on the surface of the pyroclastic breccia in association with arsenolite, sal ammoniac, sulfur, and amorphous arsenic-rich sulfurite. The new mineral is colorless to white, transparent, non-fluorescent, has a vitreous luster and a white streak. The calculated density is 3.68 g/cm³. Lucabindiite is hexagonal, space group P6/mmm, with a = 5.2386(7) Å, c = 9.014(2) Å, V = 214.23(7) Å3, and Z = 1. The eight strongest reflections in the X-ray powder-diffraction data [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 3.20 (100) (102), 2.62 (67) (110), 4.51 (52) (002), 4.54 (30) (100), 1.97 (28) (113), 1.49 (21) (115), 1.60 (21) (212), 2.26 (19) (112). Lucabindiite's average chemical composition is (wt%): K2O 5.14, As2O3 84.71, Cl 3.63, Br 6.92, F 0.77, (NH4)2O 2.73, O=F,Cl,Br -1.84, total 102.06. The empirical chemical formula, calculated on the basis of 7 anions pfu, is [K0.51(NH4)0.49]Σ1.00 As4.00O5.93(Cl0.48Br0.40F0.19)Σ1.07. According to chemical analyses and X-ray data, lucabindiite is the natural analog of synthetic phases with general formula MAs4O6X where M = K, NH4 and X = Cl, Br, I. The crystal structure is characterized by neutral As2O3 sheets arranged parallel to (001). The As atoms of two neighboring sheets point at each other and the sheets are separated by interlayer M (=K, NH4) and X (=Cl, Br, F) atoms. The name is in honor of Luca Bindi (b. 1971), Professor of Mineralogy and former Head of the Division of Mineralogy of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence. Both the mineral and the mineral name have been approved by the IMA-CNMNC Commission (IMA 2011-010). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Aeolian archipelago is made up of seven main islands situated in the Tyrrhenian sea (Sicily Italy). They represent a suitable scenario for the development of a sustainable energy production system, that could easily be reproduced on other Mediterranean Islands. The fact that these islands depend on the mainland for energy supplies and the high cost of bringing fuel in tanker boats are factors that should strongly encourage the use of renewable energy source technologies. Taking into account the European Commission guidelines, this paper sets out to evaluate potential energy production using photovoltaic and small scale wind power, in order to verify their contribution to overall estimated energy requirements. The estimate of energy productivity was preceded by a study concerning the management measures in force in the Aeolian Islands in order to formulate technical hypotheses in accordance with natural and cultural values protection. The homogeneity of climatic conditions on the seven islands and the similarity of their economies allowed to focus the analysis on the island of Salina. In this way, a whole year''s productivity was calculated, with particular attention to the period June – September, when the arrival of tourists brings about a surge in energy consumption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Major, minor and trace element analysis of volcanic glass in proximal and distal (<2mm) tephra deposits underpins tephrochronology. This approach has been tested in the Aeolian Islands and the Tyrrhenian Sea using juvenile clasts in pyroclastic fall and flow deposits. Geochemical data are used to link marine tephras in the Marsili Basin (core TIR2000-C01) to explosive eruptions of (1) Lipari (Monte Pilato; 776calAD); (2) Vulcano; and (3) Campi Flegrei (Soccavo 1; 11,915–12,721calyears BP). Whether a polymictic coarse grained volcaniclastic turbidite in the Marsili Basin originated from collapse on Salina remains unresolved because multi-elemental analysis raises doubt about the published correlation to the Pollara region. It is evident that correlation of proximal continental and distal marine tephras, at a high level of confidence, requires a full complement of major, minor and trace element data. In conjunction with considerations of the mineralogy and morphology of juvenile deposits these data help define petrological lineages such that precise provenance can be established. Whilst a precise proximal–distal match must be based on identical major, minor and trace element concentrations it is clear that resurgent activity from a single volcano can produce magmas with identical compositions. In such cases stratigraphic relationships must complement any geochemical study. Occasionally proximal stratigraphies may be unrepresentative of the complete eruptive history because of a lack of exposure due to burial by more recent effusive and explosive activity, or sector collapse which can remove vital stratigraphy particularly on volcanic islands. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Aeolian Islands are an arcuate chain of submarine seamounts and volcanic islands, lying just north of Sicily in southern Italy. The second largest of the islands, Salina, exhibits a wide range of compositional variation in its erupted products, from basaltic lavas to rhyolitic pumice. The Monte dei Porri eruptions occurred between 60 ka and 30 ka, following a period of approximately 60,000 years of repose. The bulk rock composition of the Monte dei Porri products range from basaltic-andesite scoria to andesitic pumice in the Grey Porri Tuff (GPT), with the Monte dei Porri lavas having basaltic-andesite compositions. The typical mineral assemblage of the GPT is calcic plagioclase, clinopyroxene (augite), olivine (Fo72-84) and orthopyroxene (enstatite) ± amphibole and Ti-Fe oxides. The lava units show a similar mineral assemblage, but contain lower Fo olivines (Fo57-78). The lava units also contain numerous glomerocrysts, including an unusual variety that contains quartz, K-feldspar and mica. Melt inclusions (MI) are ubiquitous in all mineral phases from all units of the Monte dei Porri eruptions; however, only data from olivine-hosted MI in the GPT are reported here. Compositions of MI in the GPT are typically basaltic (average SiO2 of 49.8 wt %) in the pumices and basaltic-andesite (average SiO2 of 55.6 wt %) in the scoriae and show a bimodal distribution in most compositional discrimination plots. The compositions of most of the MI in the scoriae overlap with bulk rock compositions of the lavas. Petrological and geochemical evidence suggest that mixing of one or more magmas and/or crustal assimilation played a role in the evolution of the Monte dei Porri magmatic system, especially the GPT. Analyses of the more evolved mineral phases are required to better constrain the evolution of the magma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: La Fossa Caldera (LFC) on Vulcano island, in the Aeolian archipelago (Italy), is a multi-collapse caldera whose north-eastern part lies underwater. Through the integration of marine geophysical surveys and sampling carried out in the last decade, its submarine extension and offshore areas have been reconstructed in unprecedented detail. Strong erosive processes breached the submarine portion of LFC and gradually dismantled the caldera rims and infill, leading to the emplacement of a wide volcaniclastic fan from the base of LFC down to over 1000m. The bathy-morphologic setting, seismoacoustic facies and analyses of sediment samples from the fan, together with volumetric considerations, suggest that this feature is the pathway/deposit of submarine unconfined gravity flows and turbidity currents deriving from the gradual dismantling of LFC. Submarine erosive processes are still active and the progressive erosion of the northern caldera sector threatens the stability of the active La Fossa Cone and the nearby coastal settlements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]