Stratigraphic constraints for explosive activity in the past 100 ka at Etna Volcano, Italy

The pyroclastic deposits of Etna have been correlated over the whole volcan ic edifice for the first time, allowing the construction of a continuous re cord of tephra-producing events, which extends from approximately 100 ka to the Present. In this interval, five main periods of explosive activity hav e been identified: (a) similar to 100-ka strombolian to subplinian activity ; (b) 80- to 100-ka plinian benmoreitic activity; (c) 16- to 80-ka strombol ian to subplinian from basaltic to mugearitic activity; (d) 15.5- to 15-ka plinian benmoreitic activity accompanying the caldera-forming eruptions of the Ellittico Volcano; and (e) the most recent Ij-ka basaltic explosive act ivity of strombolian and subplinian type of the present edifice that also i ncludes the 122-B.C. plinian eruption. This study results in a semi-quantit ative and in some cases quantitative definition of the intensity and chrono logy of the explosive activity at Etna. Moreover, this work gives a new sig nificance to the volcanic hazards of Etna, a volcano generally considered t o be the site of gentle effusive eruptions.