A volcano in Greece that had not erupted for over a century remains active inside. Methana, near Athens, kept magma moving despite its long pause. The finding, published in Science Advances, forces a revision of the classification of volcanoes thought to be extinct. 🌋
Zircon crystals reveal hidden magmatic activity 🔬
The study analyzed zircon crystals in rock samples from the Methana volcano. These minerals act as geological time capsules. By measuring their composition, scientists detected that magma continued to accumulate in the magma chamber during the period of inactivity. This suggests the volcano was not dormant, but in a state of active latency. Uranium-lead dating technology was key to tracking these processes invisible from the surface.
So much for being extinct 😅
It seems some volcanoes take their time deciding whether to erupt or not. Methana had shown no signs for 100,000 years, but inside it kept building up pressure like a teenager who won't let go of their phone. Scientists now warn that classifying a volcano as extinct can be as reliable as believing a cat won't knock over a vase when you stare at it.