Chapter 3: Development of the Santorini volcanic field in space and time

Geological Society, London, Memoirs
By: , and 

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Abstract

Santorini is one of the largest Quaternary volcanic centres of the Aegean Region. The caldera cliffs preserve well-exposed sequences of lavas and pyroclastic deposits, which record the long development of the volcano in space and time. These include the products of 12 major explosive eruptions and the dissected remains of several ancient lava shields, stratovolcanoes, and lava-dome complexes. The former existence of multiple eruptive centres scattered over the present-day islands shows that Santorini is best considered as a volcanic field, which probably also continues under the sea (Heiken & McCoy 1984). Santorini is best known for the Minoan eruption of the late Bronze Age (Bond & Sparks 1976; Heiken & McCoy 1984; Sparks & Wilson 1990), but some of the previous explosive eruptions may have been as large (Druitt et al. 1989). The occurrence of repeated explosive eruptions has triggered formation of at least four large calderas, such that the present-day caldera is a composite structure (Druitt & Francaviglia 1992). Santorini is potentially one of the most dangerous volcanoes in Europe, having had numerous eruptions in historic times, some of them with significant explosive components (Fytikas et al. 1990a).

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Chapter 3: Development of the Santorini volcanic field in space and time
Series title Geological Society, London, Memoirs
DOI 10.1144/GSL.MEM.1999.019.01.03
Volume 19
Issue 1
Year Published 1999
Language English
Publisher Geological Society of London
Description 47 p.
First page 13
Last page 59
Country Greece
Other Geospatial Santorini
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