Mount Amiata

"Monte Amiata" redirects here. For the housing complex in Milan, Italy, see Monte Amiata Housing.

Mount Amiata
Monte Amiata
View
Elevation	1,738 m (5,702 ft) [1]
Location
Mount Amiata Tuscany,  Italy
Range	Tuscan Antiapennines
Coordinates	42°54′N 11°38′E / 42.9°N 11.633°E / 42.9; 11.633Coordinates: 42°54′N 11°38′E / 42.9°N 11.633°E / 42.9; 11.633[1]
Geology
Type	Lava dome[2]

Mount Amiata is the largest^[2] of the lava domes in the Amiata lava dome complex located about 20 km NW of Lake Bolsena in the southern Tuscany region of Italy.

Geology

Mount Amiata (La Vetta) is a compound lava dome with a trachytic lava flow that extends to the east. It is part of the larger Amiata complex volcano. A massive viscous trachydacitic lava flow, 5 km long and 4 km wide, is part of the basal complex and extends from beneath the southern base of Corno de Bellaria dome. Radiometric dates indicate that the Amiata complex had a major eruptive episode about 300,000 years ago. No eruptive activity has occurred at Amiata during the Holocene, but thermal activity including cinnabar mineralization continues at a geothermal field near the town of Bagnore, at the SW end of the dome complex.^[1]

Economy

The main economical resources of the Amiata region are chestnuts, wood and, increasingly, tourism (ski resorts include the peak area, Prato delle Macinaie, Prato della Contessa, Rifugio Cantore and Pian della Marsiliana). The lower areas are characterized by olive trees and vines. Other vegetation include beech and fir. In ancient times cinnabar was extracted here.^{[citation needed]}

The region is included in the comuni of Abbadia San Salvatore, Arcidosso, Castel del Piano, Piancastagnaio, Santa Fiora and Seggiano, all located between 600 and 800 metres of altitude.

See also

• List of volcanoes in Italy

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Amiata". Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0101001A. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Amiata: Synonyms and Subfeatures". Global Volcanism Program. http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0101001A&volpage=synsub. Retrieved 2009-06-01. 

External links

• Monte Amiata [1] [2]
• Monte Amiata museum of mercury mines