Volcanology and Archaeology for Better Understanding the History of Campi Flegrei: Post-NYT Bradyseisms and More Rapid Deformation

The Campi Flegrei volcanic district includes insular (Ischia and Procida Islands) and peninsular volcanic activity (Campi Flegrei volcanic field) with the link to older activity till Ponza Island. The history of this area has been studied in detail since the eruption of the Campanian Ignimbrite (CI, age: 39 ky BP, volume: 200 - 300 km3), which makes this one of the most powerful eruptions in Europe. In the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (NYT: age: 15.0 ky BP, volume: 50 km3), another powerful eruption occurred. Activity younger than the NYT can be subdivided in three epochs which include 70 recognized ephemeral eruptions. The volume of these individual eruptions is between 0.4 and 1 km3 (DRE). Probably, the long-lasting magma reservoirs (i.e., CI and NYT) represent eruptions that are fed by deep magma reservoirs. In deep reservoirs (>10 km), magmas stagnate, differentiate and are probably modified by crustal components (Hercynian basement). The long-lasting reservoirs are also the ones that feed the ephemeral shallow magmatic system (2 - 5 km) that gave rise to the post-caldera magmatic epochs. However, the magmas of the post-caldera epochs are isotopically heterogeneous and made by several components (i.e., least evolved (as an example the Minopoli eruption, 9500 y BP), CI, and NYT components). Mixing between ephemeral shallow reservoirs occurs. Mixing of long lasting reservoirs also occurs; and also during explosive eruptions. The concentration of earthquakes and the deformation history suggest that Campi Flegrei could erupt again with an ephemeral eruption, especially if the uplift will reach 5 - 6 m like Monte Nuovo eruption, given existing uplift of 1970-72 and 1983-84.