Italy's Volcanoes: The Cradle of Volcanology

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Unnamed cones near Trecastagni
The largest in a cluster of three small, nameless cones that lie about 2.5 km NNW of the center of Trecastagni, is seen here from south on 4 March 2004. These are among the least accessible of Etna's flank cones because most of them is privately owned terrain. Private homes are standing on the slopes of the cones and even within one of the craters. Access is only possible across a privately owned but evidently abandoned terrain on the south side. Note breach in near side of the cone, where lava flowed out during the prehistoric eruption that created these cones

Mamma Etna's countless children
unnamed cones north of Trecastagni
SE flank, 15.075432° E, 37.636119° N (east rim of largest crater)
summit elevation: 667 m

 

In the area between Trecastagni, Nicolosi and Zafferana on the southern and southeastern flank of Etna there are dozens of larger and smaller, younger and older pyroclastic cones. Nearly all of these bear official names. But a cluster of three small and unconspicuous cones that lies 2-2.5 km north of the town of Trecastagni has no name on the topographic maps of the volcano, even at a 1:10,000 scale. These cones, whose age is not known (but probably prehistoric), lie to the west of Monte S. Nicolò and the largest (southern) of them rises only 50 m above the surrounding landscape. The middle and northern cones are merely low, horseshoe-shaped ramparts built asymmetrically around small craters. Access to these cones is virtually impossible because all of the surrounding terrain is privately owned, often being used as fruit gardens and vineyards, although several homes are also present, some of them within the central of the three craters. Some terrains are abandoned and overgrown by thorny plants and thus difficult to traverse. The southern cone has a small forest in its upper portion; on its lower flanks one of the most terrifyingly ugly buildings to be seen on Etna looms through the trees, a hellish, bunker-like concrete fortress that, in addition, does not seem to be inhabited.
The three cones evidently built up along an eruptive fissure at least 0.8 km long, and all three craters are breached on one side, where lava flowed out during the eruption that created the cones. The dense vegetation and intense modification by human (agricultural) activity suggest that these cones are quite old. Although fine panoramic views can be obtained from some places, they offer little of geological interest; a small outcrop of reddish oxidized scoriae is present on the north rim of the central vent.
I visited the cones, in spite of the difficulties in getting acces to them, on 4 March 2004, when all of the photographs on this page were taken.

Unnamed cones near Trecastagni
Although some phantasy is needed to recognize them all, three small cones lie in the central and left portions of this image, of which only the left and southernmost is well visible at left. The small dark green hill actually lies between two craters in the central and northern portion of an eruptive fissure that gave birth to these cones. Monte Gorna, a much larger and more recent pyroclastic cone, is seen at right, and snow-covered main edifice of Etna in the background. Photo taken 4 March 2004; view is to northwest
unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni
Left: view from east of the two northern cones in a cluster of three unnamed small pyroclastic edifices north of Trecastagni. The partial overlapping of these cones renders a distinction in this image difficult, but the two unconspicuous peaks in the center mark the northern rims of the craters of these cones
Center: northernmost cone seen from north, with strong modification of the cone by human activity (terracing) being evident
Right: the northernmost crater in this cluster of eruptive vents is shown here in a view from its southeast rim; the entire crater floor is covered by vineyards and terraces are seen on the inner crater walls in the center of the image. Snow-covered main edifice of Etna in the background. Photos taken 4 March 2004
unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni
Three views of the central crater of the cluster of cones to the north of Trecastagni, taken from slightly differing positions on its north rim and turning from southeast (left) to south (center) and then southwest (right). The largest and southernmost cone of this eruptive fissure is seen in the background in the left and center images, while the right photo shows two of the Tre Monti (northern and southeastern cones) in center background, and Mompeloso in the distance further to the right. Photos taken 4 March 2004
unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni
Left: looking south across the eastern side of the eruptive complex to the north of Trecastagni. The terraced slope in the middle ground is the east rim of the central crater of the complex, and behind it, slightly to the left, lies the largest and southernmost cone of the complex
Center: pyroclastic deposit (reddish scoriae) exposed in a near-vertical section in the north wall of the central crater of the complex
Right: looking north from the southern cone of the complex across the central crater (immediately behind the large building in right center), with the large cone of Monte Gorna and main edifice of Etna in the background
unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni
Different views of the crater of the southernmost cone of the eruptive complex north of Trecastagni. Left image shows view from east rim toward west, with the Tre Monti seen in the background; center image was taken from a position slightly further to the north, and behind the northern cone of the Tre Monti (at left) the large cone of Monte Arso is visible, with the smaller cone of Monte Difeso lying immediately to the right of it. Photo at right is a view to the east from the west rim of the crater; the summit of Monte S. Nicolò (0.8 km to the ENE) can be barely recognized above the opposite crater rim in left central part of the image
unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni unnamed cones north of Trecastagni
Left: breached southern side of the crater of the largest and southernmost cone seen from its northwestern rim; in the distance at right lies the town of Trecastagni, with another small prehistoric cone at extreme right
Center: a horrendous concrete fortress, a bunker rather than a home, looms through trees at the southwest base of the southern cone, one of countless examples of how the marvellous environment of Etna is spoiled by savage, tasteless and often illegal constructions. To make things worse, this monstrous edifice does not even seem to be inhabited since quite some time
Right: compensation for the disgusting sight in the previous photograph can be obtained close nearby - this splendid view of Mount Etna's main edifice and numerous smaller and less horrible buildings on its lower southeast flank was taken from the summit of the southernmost cone. Although this place cannot be easily reached, similar views can be seen from many other nearby locations

About 2 km south of the eruptive complex described above, in the northern part of the town of Trecastagni, lies another small prehistoric cone, which is largely covered by buildings and thus is difficult to study. The summit area of this cone lies at about 610-615 m elevation, rising no more than 20-30 m above its surroundings; its base diameter is presumably little more than 200 m, and thus this is one of the smallest pyroclastic edifices in the area.

unnamed cone in Trecastagni
unnamed cone in Trecastagni
Two views of the small cone that lies in the north part of the town of Trecastagni. In the left image, the cone is visible as a low knob at left skyline, and almost entirely covered by buildings. This photograph was taken on 5 March 2004 from Monte Troina, near the neighboring town of Pedara (of which a part is visible in the foreground), and about 1.5 km to the WSW. A slightly more characteristically volcanic shape is seen in the right image, where the cone lies to the right of the conspicuous tower of the main church of Trecastagni. This photograph was taken from a location about 1.5 km to the NNE, on 4 March 2004

Continue Monte S. Nicolò

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Copyright © Boris Behncke, "Italy's Volcanoes: The Cradle of Volcanology"

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