AIV 2014 International School - Peralkaline volcanism at Pantelleria
“PERALKALINE VOLCANISM AT PANTELLERIA"
AIV (Associazione Italiana di Vulcanologia) hosted the 2014 International School of Volcanism in Pantelleria (Italy) from September 28th to October 1st. The summer school focused on topics specifically relating to peralkaline volcanism at Pantelleria: (i) the petrogenesis and pre-eruptive conditions of pantellerite magmas inferred from experimental petrology and petrological considerations; (ii) the chemical and physical properties of peralkaline magmas and their crystallization kinetics; (iii) the emplacement of pyroclastic density currents and the architecture of rheomorphic ignimbrites; (iv) methods for stratigraphic correlation of welded ignimbrites; acidic Strombolian eruptions, and (v) geodetic and geochemical monitoring at Pantelleria.
The School was organized and led by Dr. Patrizia Landi (INGV Pisa, IT) and Prof. Silvio Rotolo (University of Palermo, IT), and supported with funding from IAVCEI. Sponsorship and logistic support were offered by the local Authorities and INGV.
Sixteen postgraduate students and early career scientists attended the School, coming from Canada, USA, UK, Greece and Italy. The program consisted of two and a half days of presentations and discussions, as well as one and a half days in the field looking at the geology of the Pantelleria caldera system.
First Day
The first day was devoted to introducing the tectonic and geodynamic framework of the Strait of Sicily and the island and volcanism at Pantelleria. Stefano Catalano (University of Catania, IT) started the day with an introduction to the tectonic evolution of the Sicily Channel Rift. Silvio Rotolo introduced the volcanological evolution of the volcano, discussing possible stratigraphycal correlations based on new age determinations. Sandro De Vita closed the session of the morning speaking about the mechanisms of resurgence in calderas, and the formation of Montagna Grande resurgence block.
In the afternoon the Field Trip 1 was held, which focused on the general volcano-stratigraphy of the island, the relationships between the caldera collapses, and the related ignimbritic deposits.
Second day
The morning of the second day was concentrated on the characteristics of the petrogenesis of the peralkaline magmas and the pre-eruptive conditions of the pantellerites. Silvio Rotolo and John White (Eastern Kentucky University, USA) introduced the geochemical characteristics of the mafic volcanism in the Sicily Strait, and Joan White discussed the origin of the peralkaline magmas and their evolution in the shallow crust, on the basis of petrological, mineralogical and chemical data. This subject was also discussed by Riccardo Avanzinelli, on the basis of Sr-Nd-Pb and U-series isotopic analyses. Patrizia Landi closed this session speaking about the pre-eruptive volatile contents of the pantelleritic magma chambers, thus the possible pre-eruptive confined pressure.
The afternoon was devoted to the FieldTrip 2, which was focused on the acidic strombolian. The pumice cone of Cuddia del Gallo and Cuddia Randazzo were visited in order to discuss the characteristics of the deposits and the eruptive dynamics associated with these weakly explosive eruptions. The occurrence of abundant trachytic enclaves in these deposits promoted a discussion on possible mixing processes in the pre-eruptive magma chamber.
Third day
The morning of the third day was devoted to the experimental petrology results of crystallization kinetics and the physical properties of peralkaline magmas. M.R. Carroll (University of Camerino, IT) spoke about experimental constraints on peralkaline magmas and on the crystallisation kinetics and time-scales of magmatic processes. C. Romano (University of Roma 3, IT) discussed the transport properties of magmas and their eruptive dynamics. P. Landi presented a case study of rapid crystallization under high undercooling in trachytic enclaves hosted in pantellerite magmas.
The lessons of the afternoon were focused on the characteristics of the peralkaline deposits and stratigraphycal correlations. F. Speranza discussed the application of paleomagnetism and magnetic anisotropy to volcanology, in particular its use for dating volcanic deposits, correlating ignimbrites, and dating caldera collapse at Pantelleria. M. Branney focused his lessons on the emplacement mechanisms of pyroclastic density currents and on the welding and deformation of rheomorphic ignimbrites.
Fourth day
Field Trip 3 was held in the morning of the fourth day and focused on the characteristics of the Green Tuff and pre-Green Tuff rheomorphic ignimbrites and possible stratigraphic correlations.
In the afternoon of the fourth day, M. Mattia (INGV Catania) discussed the present–day status of the volcano and the volcanic hazard at Pantelleria based on geophysical and geodetic data and G. Pecoraino (INGV Palermo, IT) discussed the same based on data from geochemical monitoring.
