Present-day knowledge on the Palinuro Seamount (south-eastern Tyrrhenian Sea)

In this paper, we present an overview of the Palinuro volcanic complex, in order to have a general outline of the main studies carried out on this seamount. The morphobathymetric studies show that the Palinuro volcanic complex rises from 3000 to 84 m b.s.l., extending about 55 km in the N100oE and 25 km in the N-S direction. The volcanic complex consists of several superimposed volcanic edifices that are basally connected to form a continuous volcanic ridge. Morphological evidence and magnetic data highlight the fact that the seamount is set on the northern edge of the Marsili Basin at the border between the oceanic basin and the continental shore. The presence of volcanic cones in the central sector, one of which shows a pronounced rim not obliterated by erosional events, the major amplitude of the magnetic anomalies with respect to the other sectors and the age of the products sampled on the summit, suggest that this sector is the youngest of the volcanic complex. Morphostructural, hydrothermal and magnetic data suggest that the south-eastern sector of the seamount could be active. The main fault affecting the summit (N65oE) and the E-W deepseated, strike-slip fault system, where the formation of the volcanic complex is hypothesized, may represent the expression of two tectonic lineaments on the seamount, E-W and NE-SW striking, of the Calabrian Arc.