The Aeolian Islands Volcanoes
This large format memoir provides an encyclopedic account of these scattered islands just to the north of Sicily. Coupled with a wider series of seamounts, the Aeolian Arc curves around the southern margin of the Tyrrhenian Sea for over 200km off Sicily and Calabria. Ongoing volcanism is related to extension above the Ionian slab sinking below the Calabrian Arc, which has migrated southeastwards under what is now the toe of Italy since the Pliocene. Though the oldest rocks dredged from the Sisfo seamount have been dated at 1,300 ka, none of the subaerial eruptions is older than 270 ka.
Introductory chapters about the islands’ tectonic setting and submarine portions could have been extended, though they contain invaluable background information. While chapter 2 includes an innovative 3D map of Moho depth, some of the figures could have been enhanced with some schematic cross-sections and better captioning. Two chapters on the submarine portions of the Aeolian volcanoes, coupled with a set of contoured bathometric morphological maps on disk and other superb images including 3D views, are too narrowly focused to gain an idea of the nature of the seamounts forming the rest of the arc, let alone the Marsili and Palinuro seamounts to the northwest and north of the Marsili Basin. It would be useful to know their minimum depths and sea floor elevation in relation to the islands. However, it is clearly explained how changes in global sea-level driven by glacial cycles have carved distinct benches around these islands with a shelf break at around 90 to 130m.
Another brief chapter explains the methodology underpinning the incredibly detailed geological mapping, reproduced on the disk (including additional data) as a wonderful series of downloadable colour pdf 1:10,000 maps, complete with numerous beautifully drafted inserts and annotations, This is followed by the detailed regional correlations across the archipelago supported by radiometric dating tied into the sea level curve. Then naturally the main chapters focus on the seven main islands and their satellites in exquisite detail, with superbly drafted figures and annotated black and white photographs coupled with geochemical plots and detailed clearly set out tables. The penultimate chapter dwells on the ongoing activity on Stromboli and related volcanic hazards, including localized tsunamis. Finally a chapter brings together how compositional magma variations are related to their petrogenesis and geodynamic setting. Sadly, whoever drafted the truly suburb graphics does not appear to be acknowledged, as this excellent volume can be thoroughly recommended for anybody with a serious interest in volcanism.
David Nowell New Barnet, Hertfordshire
THE AEOLIAN ISLANDS VOLCANOES (Geological Society Memoir No. 37)
Edited by F. Lucchi, A. Peccerillo, J. Keller, C.A. Tranne and P.L. Rossi Published by: Geological Society of London Publication date: 2013 ISBN: 978-1-86239-365-3 List Price £130, GSL members £65, other societies £78 520pp with DVD www.geolsoc.org.uk