US EditionSuper magma reservoirs discovered beneath Tuscany
Using more than 60 seismic sensors, researchers mapped a deep reservoir that may help explain Tuscany’s geothermal activity and future mineral prospects.
- A Swiss-Italian team discovered approximately 6,000 km³ of magma reservoirs buried 8 to 15 kilometers beneath Tuscany, revealing a system comparable in size to supervolcanoes like Yellowstone.
- Using ambient noise tomography, scientists analyzed natural ground vibrations from ocean waves and wind recorded by more than 60 seismic sensors to map the hidden magma beneath the crust.
- "We did not realize it contained such a large volume of magma," said Matteo Lupi, associate professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at UNIGE. The reservoir lies near geothermal regions like Larderello and Mount Amiata, where temperatures exceed 932 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The findings enable faster, cost-effective exploration of geothermal reservoirs and lithium deposits, supporting the energy transition. Research published in Communications Earth & Environment demonstrates how ambient noise tomography can locate hidden resources.
- Although comparable to supervolcanic systems like Yellowstone, the magma body poses no current volcanic threat. The discovery demonstrates how massive magmatic systems can remain hidden deep underground without producing obvious surface signals.
11 Articles
11 Articles
A Quiet Region of Italy Is Hiding a Vast Reservoir of Magma
Scientists have discovered a vast reservoir of magma bubbling beneath the Tuscan soil that may not yet have erupted. With no obvious volcano to mark the spot, the immensity of the system and its extreme heat had gone unmeasured until now. The Tuscany region is home to only sparse volcanic activity, and yet, 8 to 15 kilometers (5-9 miles) deep, scientists estimate that more than 5,000 km3 of magma and partial melt roils and churns. That's a volum…
Massive Magma Reservoir Comparable in Volume to Yellowstone Discovered Beneath Tuscany
Learn how ground vibrations revealed a hidden magma reservoir beneath Tuscany, comparable in size to systems beneath Yellowstone and Lake Toba, and what it could mean for geothermal energy and critical minerals.
Super magma reservoirs discovered beneath Tuscany
How can magma buried 5, 10, or even 15 km underground be detected without any surface indicators? The answer lies in ambient noise tomography, a technique that analyzes natural ground vibrations with high precision. A team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources (CNR-IGG), and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) has identified a vast reservoir containing approximately 6,000 …
Hidden glow: Under Tuscany lies a huge magmareservoir hidden, as geologists have discovered during seismic measurements. This previously unrecognized magma chamber contains more than 6,000 cubic kilometers of liquid rock melt – that is as much as the Yellowstone supervolcano. The strange thing, however, is that the Tuscan magmareservoir does not seem to have caused a major eruption. The reason for this is that the researchers can only speculate …
Researchers from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and Italian institutes have identified a magmatic reservoir of 6,000 km3 under Tuscany, between 8 and 15 km deep. This discovery was made thanks to an innovative seismic technique. Although its size is comparable to that of Yellowstone, scientists are reassuring: no imminent eruptive risk is to be expected.
Under the peaceful hills of Tuscany, far from the spectacular volcanoes like Etna or Vesuvius, researchers have made a surprising discovery: an immense reservoir of magma buried at great depth. Thanks to the analysis of the natural vibrations of the soil, they were able to map this...
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