Summary Activity on Etna is predominantly effusive with eruption of lavas of Hawaiitic composition. However, near Adrano some pyroclastic flow deposits outcrop among prehistoric lavas. The chemistry of the pumiceous fragments in these pyroclastic flows suggests they were erupted from magma of benmoreitic composition. This represents some of the most evolved and differentiated magma that has been produced by Etna. The presence of these deposits indicates that in the past Etna has displayed much more explosive activity than has been observed in historic times.
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Angus Duncan (1976) studied this question.
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