The World's Most Mysterious Volcano Can Finally Be Explained

Summary: Mount Etna in Sicily is Europe's most active volcano, and it is over 500,000 years old. For a long time, scientists were puzzled by it. It erupts a special kind of lava called alkaline lava much faster than it should be able to. Usually, volcanoes form in one of three ways, but Etna didn't fit any of those rules.

Now, researchers have finally figured out its secret. Etna is a rare type of volcano called a "petit-spot." Deep underground, the Earth's plates are squeezing trapped magma out of the mantle and up to the surface, just like squeezing water from a sponge. Usually, petit-spot volcanoes are tiny and underwater, making the 3,400-meter-tall Etna a massive, rule-breaking exception!

For more details, see sciencealert at sciencealert.com/the-worlds-most-mysterious-volcano-can-finally-be-explained (opens in new tab)