Alicudi

Geological summary

Alicudi, in the Aeolian Island Arc, is a basaltic to andesitic stratovolcano containing a summit caldera, domes, and lava flows that formed over the course of three main stages in its eruptive history (Peccerillo, 2005). The first two stages involved basaltic to basaltic-andesitic lava flows and minor scoria and ash deposits, both followed by a summit collapse, the second of which formed the Dirittusu caldera (Peccerillo, 2005; Guest et al., 2003). Pyroclastic activity increased towards the end of the second stage (Guest et al., 2003). The third stage was dominated by andesite lava flows and the formation of domes within the summit crater and on the southeastern cone flank (Peccerillo, 2005). The youngest K-Ar date from Alicudi is 0.027-0.028 Ma, and the oldest, obtained from the lowest exposed rocks, is about 60-90 ka (Capaldi et al., 1985; Peccerillo, 2005; Guest et al., 2003).