Scientists have identified a vast body of magma hidden beneath Tuscany, according to ScienceDaily. The underground system was found even though the region shows few of the surface clues that usually reveal volcanic activity.
The international research team used ambient noise tomography, a seismic imaging method, to map about 6,000 cubic kilometers of volcanic fluids buried between 8 and 15 kilometers below the surface. The study was led by Matteo Lupi of the University of Geneva and involved researchers from UNIGE, the Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, and the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology.
Researchers said the magma extends across Tuscany and is similar in scale to systems associated with well-known volcanic areas such as Yellowstone, though they emphasized that it does not currently pose a threat. Over very long geological periods, a magma body of this size could theoretically contribute to the development of a supervolcano, but that is not seen as an immediate concern.
Beyond the geology of Tuscany, the findings may also have practical value. According to the researchers, the same technique could help identify geothermal reservoirs as well as deposits containing lithium and rare earth elements, which are important for technologies such as electric vehicle batteries.
