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Etna's flank cones
Geological map of Mount Etna, highlighting the pyroclastic cones dotting the flanks of the volcano (in brown color with black outlines). The pre-Etnean sedimentary basement is shown in grey color, whereas volcanic products older than Holocene are shown in pink. Holocene but prehistoric lava flows of Etna are light yellow, lavas erupted between during the early historical period through 1600 are shown in full yellow, and flows starting from 1600 are shown in various shades of orange over red to purple, with one color applied per century. The lavas of the 20th century are thus shown in red, and those of the 2001 and 2002-2003 eruptions in purple color

Mamma Etna's countless children
The craters and cones on the flanks of Mount Etna

 

Among the various superlatives that apply to Mount Etna is the enormous quantity of eruptive centers on its flanks, which occur as cones, craters, and fissure vents. No less than 319 individual flank cones on Etna's flanks were identified by Mazzarini and Armienti (2001), occurring between 475 and 2990 m elevation. These do not include the new cones formed during the 2001 and 2002-2003 eruptions - three large (>100 m tall) and four smaller (a few tens of meters tall; one of these, formed in 2001, has been buried by pyroclastics of the 2002-2003 eruption) as well as about 40 smaller vents ranging in size from a few meters and sometimes crowning hornitos, to tens of meters wide but lacking significant pyroclastic edifices.
Flank cones occur on all sides of Etna but their concentrations vary strongly from one area to another. Three sectors are particularly rich in such cones, namely the middle to lower southern to southeastern sector, the middle western flank, and the northeastern flank, including the Northeast Rift. It seems that larger cones tend to occur in the lower portions of these areas whereas higher upslope smaller cones, hornitos or craters without cones are more common. The large cones formed during the 2001 and 2002-2003 eruptions are a notable exception for they formed above 2500 m altitude, where until then flank cones had been extremely rare - only a single significant older cone, Monte Frumento Supino, on the upper southern flank, lies at about 2850 m elevation.
A peculiar feature of these eruptive centers on the flanks is that each erupts only one single time during its lifetime. This is due to the fact that none of them is fed by a long-lived conduit (differently from the summit craters, whose conduits are permanently supplied with magma). They form during instantaneous intrusive events that end when magma supply ceases. On the other hand, new eruptions may occur by coincidence at the site of a previously existing cone, once a new dike intrudes in that site, but this is not a reactivation of the conduit that once fed the old cone. A rare case of this type occurred in 1923 when a short eruptive fissure opened across the lower portion of the huge pyroclastic cone of Monte Nero, on the Northeast Rift, and formed during an eruption in 1646-1647. Equally, the enormous Monti Rossi cone of the 1669 eruption was built up on the side of an older, much smaller cone, of which now only about one half is protruding from the flank of the Monti Rossi.
The main physical parameters (base and summit elevation, basal diameter and age) of the 170 most conspicuous of Etna's flank cones, craters and eruptive fissures are shown in the table that follows. The cones are listed starting arbitrarily from the northern flank, and going more or less clockwise around the mountain. Historically active cones are shown in red font. By clicking on the name of a cone, you may see photos and read more information regarding that specific cone.
The photos shown on these page are the result of more than 250 hikes to nearly every spot on the volcano in the years since 1997, including more than 120 visits to the summit area. These were made with the intention of documenting as completely as possible the enormous and extremely diverse environment that Etna is, and obtaining photography of all of the cones and craters on its flanks. Besides these cones and craters themselves, you will see much of the landscapes surrounding them, forests, older and younger lava flows, and the mountains, towns and Ionian Sea in the distance. And maybe you will understand that Etna is not just a volcano. It is a small universe on its own, a microcosmos of startling beauty, of which most visitors get only a very, very faint idea.

NAME
SECTOR
BASE ELEV*
SUMMIT ELEV**
BASE DIAMETER**
AGE and COMMENTS
N
ca 1530 m
1632 m
0.32 x 0.42 km
Holocene
Nameless S Monte S. Maria
N
1610 m
1639 m
0.18 x 0.19 km
Holocene (same as M. S. Maria)
N
560 m
703 m
0.74 x 0.94 km
Holocene; this is the only cone of Etna that lies outside the province of Catania
Nameless ca 0.7 km S M. Pizillo
NNE
2415 m
2430 m
0.1 x 0.11 km
Historic but date unknown
NNE
ca 2300 m
2390 m
0.86 km
1809; about 10 main vents
NNE
ca 2330 m
2413 m
0.35 x 0.47 km
Holocene, strongly faulted
NNE
ca 2350 m
ca 2380 m
0.14 x 0.17 km
May-June 1879
NNE
ca 2290 m
2335 m
0.25 x 0.36 km
May-June 1879
Monte Corbara SW
NNE
ca 2230 m
2272 m
0.28 x 0.31 km
Holocene
Monte Corbara NE
NNE
ca 2200 m
2272 m
0.24 x 0.27 km
Holocene
"Crateri Umberto e Margherita (1879)"
NNE
ca 2120 m
2159 m
0.19 x 0.29 km
Holocene; clearly older than the 1879 eruption
NNE
ca 2220 m
ca 2230 m
0.13 x 0.18 km
Holocene; cone almost absent
NNE
ca 2180 m
2186 m
0.12 x 0.16 km
Holocene; cone almost absent
NNE
2130 m
ca 2170 m
0.18 x 0.23 km
Holocene; cone almost absent
NNE
ca. 1920 m
2093 m
0.52 x 0.56 km
very early Holocene or older
NNE
ca 1990 m
2017 m
0.2 x 0.3 km
1646-1647; two main vents
NNE
ca 1850 m
2055 m
0.55 x 0.56 km
1646-1647
NNE
ca 1980 m
1990 m
0.058 x 0.06 km
June-July 1923
NNE
ca 1860 m
ca 1900 m
0.58 km
June-July 1923
NNE
ca 1620 m
1750 m
0.44 x 0.47 km
Holocene
Monte Dolce
NNE
ca 770 m
861 m
0.34 x 0.42 km
Holocene, partially buried
Monte Tanaurpi
NNE
ca 1850 m
1926 m
0.3 x 0.62 km
early (?) Holocene; two craters
Monte Conca
NNE
ca 1810 m
1864 m
0.28 x 0.36 km
early (?) Holocene; partially buried
Monte Nero delle Concazze
NNE
ca 2100 m
2191 m
0.26 x 0.31 km
Holocene
Monte Corvo
NE
ca 1750 m
1865 m
0.32 x 0.51 km
early Holocene, strongly eroded
Monte Baracca
NE
ca 1680 m
1755 m
0.33 x 0.47 km
Holocene
Monte Santo
NE
ca 630 m
706 m
0.41 x 0.61 km
Holocene
Monte Pomiciaro
NE
ca 580 m
650 m
0.35 x 0.5 km
Holocene
Monti Conconi
NE
ca 1700 m
1802 m
0.32 x 0.35 km
Holocene
Monte Zappinazzo
NE
ca 1800 m
1907 m
0.32 x 0.52 km
Holocene; several craters
I Due Monti I
NE
ca 1600 m
1657 m
0.32 x 0.33 km
Holocene
I Due Monti II
NE
ca 1550 m
1636 m
0.4 x 0.41 km
Holocene
Monte Frumento delle Concazze
ENE
ca 1800 m
2151 m
0.86 x 0.89 km
Holocene
Monti Sartorius
ENE
ca 1650 m
ca 1770 m
1.27 km
January-June 1865; about 20 distinct vents
Monte Concazza
ENE
ca 1670 m
1745 m
0.26 x 0.37 km
Holocene
Nameless NE M. Concazza
ENE
ca 1650 m
ca 1670 m
0.15 x 0.25 km
Holocene; two small craters
Upper 1928 fissure
ENE
ca 2070 m
ca 2300 m
0.73 km
November 1928; partially coincides with 1979 fissure
Nameless NW M. Rinatu
E
ca 1600 m
1700 m
0.24 x 0.27 km
early Holocene (?), strongly eroded
E
ca 1530 m
ca 1675 m
0.45 x 0.46 km
Holocene
Monte Simone
E (VdB)
1980 m
2086 m
0.38 x 0.46 km
1811-1812
Monte Rittmann
E (VdB)
ca 2300 m
ca 2360 m
0.24 x 0.3 km
October 1986-February 1987
Monte Lepre
E (VdB)
ca 1850 m
ca 1950 m
0.232 x 0.32 km
Holocene
Monti Centenari
ESE (VdB)
ca 1750 m
1806 m
0.34 x 0.46 km
1852-1853
SE
ca 440 m
559 m
0.53 x 0.62 km
possibly Roman age (ca 2000 BP)
SE
ca 480 m
ca 500 m
0.31 x 0.45 km
unknown
SE
ca 530 m
632 m
0.45 x 0.73 km
early Holocene
SE
ca 660 m
725 m
0.32 x 0.38 km
Holocene, occupied by "Villaggio Tre Monti"
SE
ca 690 m
746 m
0.32 x 0.37 km
Holocene, crater rim partly removed for construction work
SE
ca 670 m
755 m
0.37 x 0.39 km
Holocene
SE
ca 600 m
678 m
0.26 x 0.72 km
Holocene; three N-S aligned vents
SE
550 m
683 m
0.46 x 0.5 km
early (?) Holocene
SE
ca 600 m
851 m
0.7 x 0.8 km
probably formed around 100 BC
SE
ca 550 m
643 m
0.37 x 0.42 km
early Holocene, strongly degraded
SE
ca 520 m
596 m
0.42 x 0.48 km
1329; area is now densely populated
SE
ca 700 m
907 m
0.77 x 0.9 km
probably formed around A.D. 1060
SE
ca 1160 m
1269 m
0.26 x0.45 km
early (?) Holocene, partially buried
SE
ca 1330 m
1425 m
0.4 x 0.46 km
Holocene
SE
ca 1600 m
1715 m
0.46 x0.52 km
early Holocene, strongly eroded
SSE
ca 1410 m
1488 m
0.4 x 0.58 km
youthful, dated 2960 ±60 BP
SSE
no base
ca 2630 m
0.17 x 0.21 km
1792-1793; large pit crater
SSE
no base
2040 m
0.13 x 0.18 km
1792-1793; simple pit crater
SSE
ca 1940 m
ca 1960 m
0.148 km
1792-1793; short row of hornitos
SSE
ca 1700 m
1835 m
0.26 x 0.43 km
Probably formed around A.D. 600
SSE
ca 1550 m
ca 1705 m
0.48 x 0.61 km
Holocene
SSE
ca 2050 m
ca 2200 m
0.44 km
1634-1638; row of spatter cones
Monte Difeso
SSE
ca 810 m
932 m
0.42 x 0.46 km
Holocene
Monte Serra di Falco
SSE
ca 580 m
776 m
0.46 x 0.49 km
Holocene
"1381" eruptive fissure ("Cavòli")
SSE
ca 350 m
ca 550 m
3.6 km
Medieval (A.D. 1160 ±30, possibly 1169); eruptive fissure now extensively covered with buildings
S
ca 820 m
943 m
0.51 x 0.63 km
post-dates 122 BC pyroclastic deposit, probably erupted A.D. 252-253
S
ca 750 m
ca 830 m
0.67 km
post-dates 122 BC pyroclastic deposit, probably erupted A.D. 252-253
S
ca 850 m
1035 m
0.58 x 0.82 km
youthful, but uncertain age
S
ca 880 m
986 m
0.4 x 0.49 km
younger than A.D. 252-253
Nameless SW Monpeloso
S
ca 780 m
827 m
0.33 x 0.34 km
Holocene, partially buried
S
ca 860 m
943 m
0.45 x 0.47 km
Holocene
S
ca 920 m
1041 m
0.48 x 0.55 km
Holocene
Nameless on W side of Monti Rossi
S
ca 750 m
858 m
0.34 x 0.48 km
Holocene, partially buried by Monti Rossi (1669)
S
ca 630 m
773 m
0.64 x 0.71 km
Holocene
S
ca 740 m
946 m
0.78 x 0.83 km
March-July 1669; two summit vents
S
ca 850 m
902 m
0.33 x 0.41 km
Holocene
S
ca 930 m
953 m
0.23 x 0.3 km
Holocene; largely buried by younger lavas
S
ca 1050 m
1197 m
0.56 x 0.57 km
Holocene; two summit vents
S
1030 m
1065 m
0.28 x 0.4 km
Holocene; several small vents
S
ca 1090 m
1099 m
0.092 x 0.13 km
1883
S
ca 1070 m
1169 m
0.37 x 0.35 km
Holocene
S
ca 1090 m
1178 m
0.28 x 0.36 km
Holocene
Monte Concilio
S
ca 1180 m
1274 m
0.37 x 0.4 km
Holocene
Monte Albero
S
ca 1150 m
1246 m
0.33 x 0.42 km
Holocene
S
ca 1270 m
1382 m
0.33 x 0.36 km
Holocene
Monte Ardicazzi
S
ca 1320 m
1391 m
0.35 x 0.4 km
Holocene
Monte Ardicazzi lower vent
S
ca 1300 m
1323 m
0.17 x 0.22
Holocene
S
ca 1240 m
1394 m
0.43 x 0.47
Holocene
S
ca 1240 m
1340 m
0.4 x 0.41 km
Holocene
S
ca 1330 m
1456 m
0.49 x 0.5 km
Holocene
S
ca 1400 m
ca 1580 m
1.23 km
1536
S
ca 1410 m
1537 m
0.35 x 0.43 km
1886
Monte Capriolo
S
ca 1440 m
1522 m
0.3 x 0.44 km
Holocene, partially buried
Monte Faggi
S
ca 1570 m
1672 m
0.21 x 0.29 km
Holocene, partially buried
S
ca 1660 m
1823 m
0.49 x 0.64 km
Holocene
Nameless W M. Nero
S
ca 1800 m
ca 1835 m
0.13 x 0.19 km
Holocene, almost completely buried before 2001 and probably covred by 2001 lava
S
ca 1800 m
1880 m
0.25 x 0.31 km
July-December 1892
S
ca 1840 m
1912 m
0.26 x 0.31 km
July-December 1892
S
1900 m
1997 m
0.34 x 0.45 km
July-December 1892
S
ca 1940 m
1969 m
0.12 x 0.12 km
July-December 1892
S
1940 m
2064 m
0.22 x 0.31 km
1766
lowest 2001 eruptive fissure
S
2100 m
ca 2200 m
ca 0.35 km
July-August 2001, consisting of a horseshoe-shaped cone about 60 m tall, and about five maar-like explosion craters
Montagnola
S
ca 2400 m
2660 m
0.7 x 0.78 km
June-September 1763; large complex of nested pyroclastic cones
Monte Josémaría Escrivá
S
ca 2570 m
ca 2650 m
0.25 x 0.3 km
July-August 2001, including cluster of smaller vents at south base of main cone
2001 intermediate cone
S
ca 2700 m
ca 2720 m
n.d.
July-August 2001, completely buried by 2002-2003 pyroclastics
Monte Frumento Supino
S
ca 2700 m
2845 m
0.45 x 0.57 km
Holocene
2002-2003 cone cluster
S
ca 2700 m
ca 2950 m
0.6 x 0.79 km
October 2002-January 2003
1971 "Observatory cone"
S
2980 m
3008 m
0.11 x 0.12 km
April-May 1971
Monte Rinatura
SSW
ca 2200 m
2231 m
0.12 x 0.16 km
Holocene
Monte Nero
SSW
ca 2080 m
2184 m
0.38 x 0.4 km
Holocene
Monte Castellazzo
SSW
ca 2150 m
2172 m
0.12 x 0.13 km
Holocene
lower 1910 vent
SSW
ca 1920 m
1945 m
0.08 x 0.09 km
May-June 1910
Monte Nero degli Zappini
SSW
ca 1850 m
1980 m
0.23 x 0.73 km
youthful, allegedly erupted in 1535; two main craters and several smaller fissure vents
Nameless W "Grande Albergo"
SSW
ca 1600 m
1643 m
0.26 x 0.28 km
Holocene (?)
Monte Torcicoda
SSW
ca 1550 m
1617 m
0.21 x 0.29 km
Holocene (?)
Monte Parmentelli
SSW
ca 1400 m
1517 m
0.43 x 0.48 km
Holocene
Monte Elici
SSW
1140 m
1215 m
0.32 x 0.38 km
youthful; post-dates 122 BC pyroclastic deposit
Monte Mazzo
SSW
ca 1070 m
1127 m
0.32 x 0.42 km
Holocene
Monte Arso
SSW
1050 m
1098 m
0.24 x 0.3 km
Holocene
Monte Denza
SW
1740 m
1816 m
0.34 x 0.47 km
Holocene
Monte Scavo
SW
ca 1850 m
1920 m
0.2 x 0.29 km
Holocene
Monte Palomba
SW
ca 1700 m
1753 m
0.33 x 0.4 km
early Holocene (?), partially buried
Monte Fontanelle
SW
ca 1690 m
1774 m
0.37 x 0.41 km
Holocene
Monte Turchio
WSW
ca 1150 m
1291 m
0.63 x 0.71 km
Holocene
Monte Gallobianco
WSW
ca 1300 m
1387 m
0.35 x 0.41 km
youthful, erupted in A.D. 1200 ±30
Monte Intraleo
WSW
ca 1450 m
1563 m
0.48 x 0.62 km
youthful, erupted in A.D. 1200 ±30
Monte Gallo
WSW
ca 1500 m
1568 m
0.29 x 0.35 km
youthful, erupted in A.D. 1200 ±30
Monte Testa
WSW
ca 1520 m
1599 m
0.27 x 0.36 km
youthful, erupted in A.D. 1200 ±30
Monte Forno
WSW
ca 1550 m
1675 m
0.44 x 0.62 km
youthful, erupted in A.D. 1200 ±30
Monte Albano
WSW
ca 1620 m
1739 m
0.49 x 0.57 km
Holocene
Monte Vituddi
WSW
ca 1830 m
1878 m
0.24 x 0.31
early Holocene(?)
Monte Pecoraro
WSW
ca 2150 m
2263 m
0.48 x 0.52 km
Holocene, strongly eroded
Monte Leporello
WSW
ca 1670 m
1749 m
0.24 x 0.3 km
Holocene
Monte Nespole E
WSW
ca 1610 m
1727 m
0.36 x 0.58
Holocene; two vents
Monte Nespole W
WSW
ca 1550 m
1635 m
0.31 x 0.38 km
Holocene; two vents
Monte Sellato
WSW
ca 1150 m
1299 m
0.58 x 0.89 km
Holocene; strongly elongate, horseshoe-shaped cone
Monte Peloso
WSW
ca 1150 m
1271 m
0.5 x 0.84 km
Holocene
Monte Minardo
WSW
ca 1100 m
1304 m
0.88 x 0.89 km
Holocene
W
ca 650 m
758 m
0.4 x 0.65 km
Holocene
W
ca 930 m
1005 m
0.33 x 0.46 km
early Holocene (?), mostly buried
Casa Incognito
W
ca 1090 m
1171 m
0.46 x 0.55 km
early Holocene (?), partially buried
W
ca 1230 m
1413 m
0.79 x 0.83 km
youthful (<5000 years?)
W
1290 m
1386 m
0.37 x 0.44 km
Holocene
W
1325 m
1374 m
0.24 x 0.26 km
Holocene
W
1590 m
1674 m
0.33 x 0.34 km
Feb-Mar 1763
W
ca. 1650 m
1730 m
0.35 x 0.51 km
W
1640 m
1688 m
0.18 x 0.23 km
W
1700 m
1755 m
0.21 x 0.22 km
"Feb-Mar 1763" but different event from Monte Nuovo (# 7) eruption, date unknown
W
1720 m
1878 m
0.57 x 0.68 km
Holocene
W
1780 m
1883 m
0.42 x 0.69 km
Holocene; two craters
Nameless NE M. Capre
W
1840 m
1871 m
0.23 x n.d. km
early Holocene (?), mostly buried
Monte Fornello
W
1890 m
1935 m
0.24 x 0.28 km
early Holocene (?), partially buried
Nameless WSW M. Palestra
W
1925 m
1942 m
0.19 x 0.24 km
Holocene
W
1930 m
2033 m
0.29 x 0.39 km
Holocene
W
ca 1850 m
2037 m
1.06 km
November 1843, numerous vents
W
ca 1780 m
1962 m
0.4 km
October 1832, at least 4 vents
W
ca 1700 m
1811 m
0.49 x 0.5 km
October 1832, several subsidiary vents on E flank
WNW
1440 m
1632 m
0.73 x 0.74 km
youthful (<5000 years?)
WNW
1440 m
1515 m
0.28 x 0.39 km
youthful (<5000 years?)
WNW
1545 m
1611 m
0.23 x 0.33 km
Holocene
Nameless SE M. Scavo
NW
ca 1740 m
1840 m
0.26 x 0.4 km
Holocene
NW
ca 1710 m
1791 m
0.37 x 0.38 km
Holocene
NW
ca 1550 m
1773 m
0.69 x 0.86 km
Holocene
Monte Pomarazzo
NW
1210 m
1250 m
0.19 x 0.22 km
early Holocene (?), partially buried
Monte Piluso
NNW
ca 1300 m
1358 m
0.31 x 0.32 km
early Holocene (?), mostly buried
NNW
ca 1400 m
1547 m
0.54 x 0.6 km
Holocene; subsidiary crater on NE flank
NNW
ca 1430 m
1522 m
0.38 x 0.47
Holocene; subsidiary crater on E flank

*lowest point of the cone base; in case of eruptive fissures lower end of fissure; **in case of eruptive fissures upper end of fissure; ***where only one value is given, this is the length of an eruptive fissure

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

Page set up on 2 December 2003, last modified on 29 February 2004

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