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New results of 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating constrain the timing of transition from fissure‐type to central volcanism at Mount Etna (Italy)
Author(s) -
De Beni Emanuela,
Wijbrans Jan R.,
Branca Stefano,
Coltelli Mauro,
Groppelli Gianluca
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2005.00614.x
Subject(s) - geology , volcanism , volcano , hiatus , paleontology , geochemistry , tectonics
Recent geological studies performed at Etna allow reassessing the stratigraphic frame of the volcano where distinct evolutionary phases are defined. This stratigraphic reconstruction was chronologically constrained on the basis of a limited number of U–Th and K–Ar age determinations whose uncertainty margins are sometimes too wide. For this reason, we successfully adopted at Etna the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar technique that allowed obtaining more precise age determinations. The incremental heating technique also gives information on sample homogeneity, and potential problems of trapped argon. Five samples were collected from stratigraphically well‐controlled volcanic units in order to chronologically define the transition between the fissure‐type volcanism of the Timpe phase to the central volcanism of the Valle del Bove Centers. Isotopic ages with an uncertainty margin of 2–4% have been obtained emphasizing that this transition occurred (130–126 ka) without significant temporal hiatus.