Silicic volcanism in the central Aeolian Islands of Lipari and Vulcano has followed a consistent pattern during the past 22,000 years. Active eruptive cycles generally began with hydrovolcanic breccias, surge beds, and ash-fall deposits. They ended with magmatic effusions that formed lava domes and short coulees. Long repose periods separated shorter active cycles. Eruptions occurred from both isolated vents located along fissures (e.g., domes of southern Lipari) and central vents with a long history of activity and repose (e.g., Fossa cone of Vulcano). The compositions of the juvenile products include leucite tephrite, trachyte, and rhyolite. The average volume of silicic products in an eruptive cycle on Lipari and Lentia was about 5 × 10 8 m 3 of juvenile magma. The repose period between major active periods was about 4,000 years. The production rate for the period of 22,000 years ago to the present was 10 5 m 3 per year. The average volume of erupted material in an active cycle at Fossa (other than the Punte Nere cycle) was about 2 × 10 7 m 3 of juvenile magma. Repose times between cycles range from 300 to 800 years. The rate of magma production for the entire Fossa cone during its 6,000-year growth was 5 × 10 4 m 3 per year. Vulcanello produced about 3 × 10 7 m 3 of tephritic to trachytic magma in the past 2,100 years, a production rate of 1.5 × 10 4 m 3 per year.

Abstract Vulcano is an active NW–SE-elongated composite volcano located in the central Aeolian archipelago. Based on available radiometric ages and tephrochronology, the exposed volcanism started at c. 127 ka and spread through eight Eruptive Epochs separated by volcano-tectonic events and major quiescent stages. Various eruptive centres and two intersecting multi-stage calderas resulted from such evolution. Vulcano geological history displays several changes of eruption magnitude, eruption styles and composition of magmas through time. Vulcano rocks range from basalt to rhyolite and show variable alkali contents, roughly increasing during time. Magmas with low to intermediate SiO 2 contents and high-K to shoshonite affinity prevail in the early Epochs 1–5 ( c. 127–28 ka), whereas intermediate to high-SiO 2 shoshonite and potassic alkaline products dominate the last three Epochs (<30 ka). This sharp increase in silicic products is related to the shallowing of the plumbing system and resulting major role of the differentiation processes in shallow-level reservoirs. Radiogenic isotope compositions are variable ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr=0.70424–0.70587, 143 Nd/ 144 Nd=0.51254–0.51276, 206 Pb/ 204 Pb=19.305–19.759, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb=15.659–15.752, 208 Pb/ 204 Pb=39.208–39.559) as a result of both source heterogeneities and shallow-level interaction of magmas with continental crust. The compositional variations of mafic magmatism with time suggest that the source zone changed from a metasomatized, fertile, ocean island basalt- (OIB-) like mantle to a metasomatized depleted lithospheric mantle. DVD: The 10 000 scale geological map of Vulcano is included on the DVD in the printed book and can also be accessed online at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Memoir37-electronic . Also included is a full geochemical data set for Vulcano.

Abstract Myths and geology are related in several ways. Some myths are the result of man’s attempts to explain noteworthy features of his environment, such as striking landforms or unusual smaller features, whereas others try to account for conspicuous natural processes, such as earthquakes, volcanic phenomena, and floods. Local myths have sometimes proved helpful in solving geological problems, and even the geological nomenclature is indebted to mythology. Examples of each kind of relationship are given.