Mount Etna erupts, unleashing fire—and possibly hidden minerals

Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest and most active volcano, erupted this week in a spectacular display, sending plumes of ash and gas high into the Sicilian sky and captivating onlookers with one of its most dramatic outbursts in years.

The eruption originated from the volcano’s southeast crater, where a combination of a white ash plume and a grey cloud—resulting from a crater collapse and subsequent avalanche—produced a powerful pyroclastic flow. While pyroclastic flows are highly dangerous due to their heat and mobility, the event occurred in an uninhabited area.

Boris Behncke from Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology told The Times of London that the episode, though visually striking, was relatively normal. Regional officials confirmed that lava flows remained within natural containment zones and posed no threat to the public.

Nevertheless, civil protection authorities warned tourists to stay away due to potential eruption developments. Some residents and visitors were unnerved, especially by black smoke that followed the initial plume.

Marked by intensifying explosions, the eruption represents the most significant Mount Etna has had in since 2014.

The timing during Italy’s national holiday, Festa della Repubblica, meant that many tourists were present on the volcano’s slopes. Dramatic images and videos showed visitors running down the slopes while others casually observed and took photographs from nearby vantage points.

Hidden riches beneath

While eruptions like Etna’s can be disruptive, they also reveal the rich mineral composition of the Earth’s interior. Volcanic activity brings to the surface materials from deep within the Earth, offering scientists a unique opportunity to study the planet’s inner workings.

Mount Etna’s lava is particularly intriguing. Unlike many of Italy’s volcanoes, which are formed by the subduction of the Ionian Sea beneath the country, Etna’s origins are more complex.

Geochemists have found that Etna’s lavas are rich in magnesium and iron, elements typically found deep in the mantle, as well as potassium, which is more common in the crust. This unique composition suggests that Etna taps into both deep mantle sources and crustal materials, making it a valuable site for studying the Earth’s geology.

Moreover, volcanic regions like Etna are known to be rich in various minerals and elements. Studies have shown that volcanic materials can contain a range of trace elements. For example, Mount Erebus, one of the world’s most active volcanoes, is said to spew around 80 grams of gold into the frigid air of Antarctica on a daily basis.