Experimental study of the tectonic of Mount Etna

The influence of regional tectonic and internal spreading upon the stabilit y of the Etna volcano has been studied using scaled models. Experimental re sults reveal that active structures observed on the volcanic edifice result from the interaction between purely gravitational effects and regional tec tonic linked to the subduction zone. Strike-slip components on active fault s, Visible both in the field and in analogue models, are caused by the inte raction of the regional stress field (i.e, subduction that generates an E-W mininal horizontal stress) with the one associated with the Volcano mass ( i. e. spreading of the volcano). We demonstrate that a structure analoguous to the Valle del Bove can be triggered in scaled models as a result of bot h gravitational spreading of the volcano and the sinking of the dipping Ion ian slab along major faults.