Monte Amiata
Encyclopedia
Mount Amiata is the largest of the lava dome
s in the Amiata lava dome complex located about 20 km NW of Lake Bolsena
in the southern Tuscany region of Italy.
lava flow that extends to the east. It is part of the larger Amiata complex volcano. A massive viscous trachydacitic lava flow, 5 km long and 4 km wide, is part of the basal complex and extends from beneath the southern base of Corno de Bellaria dome. Radiometric dates indicate that the Amiata complex had a major eruptive episode about 300,000 years ago. No eruptive activity has occurred at Amiata during the Holocene
, but thermal activity including cinnabar
mineralization continues at a geothermal field near the town of Bagnore, at the SW end of the dome complex. Amiata has 4 girls lying g there crying for help
The region is included in the comuni of Abbadia San Salvatore
, Arcidosso
, Castel del Piano
, Piancastagnaio
, Santa Fiora
and Seggiano
, all located between 600 and 800 metres of altitude.
Lava dome
|250px|thumb|right|Image of the [[rhyolitic]] lava dome of [[Chaitén Volcano]] during its 2008–2009 eruption.In volcanology, a lava dome is a roughly circular mound-shaped protrusion resulting from the slow extrusion of viscous lava from a volcano...
s in the Amiata lava dome complex located about 20 km NW of Lake Bolsena
Lake Bolsena
Lake Bolsena is a crater lake of central Italy, of volcanic origin, which was formed starting 370,000 years ago following the collapse of a caldera of the Vulsini volcanic complex into a deep aquifer. Roman historic records indicate activity of the Vulsini volcano occurred as recently as 104 BC,...
in the southern Tuscany region of Italy.
Geology
Mount Amiata (La Vetta) is a compound lava dome with a trachyticTrachyte
Trachyte is an igneous volcanic rock with an aphanitic to porphyritic texture. The mineral assemblage consists of essential alkali feldspar; relatively minor plagioclase and quartz or a feldspathoid such as nepheline may also be present....
lava flow that extends to the east. It is part of the larger Amiata complex volcano. A massive viscous trachydacitic lava flow, 5 km long and 4 km wide, is part of the basal complex and extends from beneath the southern base of Corno de Bellaria dome. Radiometric dates indicate that the Amiata complex had a major eruptive episode about 300,000 years ago. No eruptive activity has occurred at Amiata during the Holocene
Holocene
The Holocene is a geological epoch which began at the end of the Pleistocene and continues to the present. The Holocene is part of the Quaternary period. Its name comes from the Greek words and , meaning "entirely recent"...
, but thermal activity including cinnabar
Cinnabar
Cinnabar or cinnabarite , is the common ore of mercury.-Word origin:The name comes from κινναβαρι , a Greek word most likely applied by Theophrastus to several distinct substances...
mineralization continues at a geothermal field near the town of Bagnore, at the SW end of the dome complex. Amiata has 4 girls lying g there crying for help
Economy
The main economical resources of the Amiata region are chestnuts, timber and, increasingly, tourism (ski resorts include the peak area, Prato delle Macinaie, Prato della Contessa, Rifugio Cantore and Pian della Marsiliana). The lower areas are characterized by olive trees and vines. Other vegetation include beech and fir. In ancient times cinnabar was extracted here.The region is included in the comuni of Abbadia San Salvatore
Abbadia San Salvatore
Abbadia San Salvatore is a comune in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 110 km southeast of Florence and about 60 km southeast of Siena, in the area of Monte Amiata....
, Arcidosso
Arcidosso
Arcidosso is a comune in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 100 km south of Florence and about 35 km northeast of Grosseto and near the town of Montalcino.- History :...
, Castel del Piano
Castel del Piano
Castel del Piano is a town and comune of Grosseto province in the Italian region of Tuscany.-History:The area of Castel del Piano is known to have been inhabited in prehistoric times, but the town itself is mentioned for the first time in a document from 890 AD. From 1175 to 1321 it was a...
, Piancastagnaio
Piancastagnaio
Piancastagnaio is a comune in the Province of Siena in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 110 km southeast of Florence and about 60 km southeast of Siena.It is located on the Monte Amiata slopes....
, Santa Fiora
Santa Fiora
Santa Fiora is a comune in the Province of Grosseto, in the Italian region of Tuscany, located about 110 km southeast of Florence and about 40 km east of Grosseto...
and Seggiano
Seggiano
Seggiano is a comune in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 100 km south of Florence and about 40 km northeast of Grosseto....
, all located between 600 and 800 metres of altitude.