Subaerial Plio-Pleistocene volcanism in the geo-petrographic and structural context of the north/central Iblean region (Sicily)

This paper deals with the petrographic, geological, stratigraphic and structural aspects of subaerial mid-Pliocene to Pleistocene volcanic rocks outcropping in the northern sector of the Iblean Plateau. In the examined area, almost the entire Iblean sedimentary and eruptive sequence, from Late Cretaceous to Holocene, outcrops. Three main sedimentary cycles are identified. A detailed field survey has revealed the link between magmatism and extensional-transtensional tectonics the latter principally connected to the structural NE-SW direction and characterised by both strike-slip and vertical movements. In particular, the late Miocene volcanic products (Lower Volcaniclastic Deposits) are connected with the mid-Miocene tectonic phase and represent a revival of basic eruptive activity after the late Cretaceous-early Tortonian hiatus. Similarly, the mid-late Pliocene/early Pleistocene volcanic activity is linked to the mid-Pliocene tectonic phase. On the whole, the composition of the volcanic products ranges from nephelinite - ankaratrite to tholeiite, without any correlation with spatial distribution or age. Subaerial Plio-Pleistocene volcanism emitted 10-15 km ' of products. Subalkaline products prevail over alkaline ones (tholeiite 62%; basanite 22%;