Europe’s Most Active Volcano Just Got Stranger – Here’s Why Scientists Are Rethinking It

Researchers say Mount Etna may be fed by deep mantle magma pockets rather than a typical hotspot or subduction system.

The volcano could fit the rare “petit-spot” category, a formation style linked to tectonic plate bending and deep mantle sources.

If confirmed, the finding would reshape how Etna is classified and help improve eruption forecasting and hazard assessment.