Monte Amiata

Mount Amiata
Monte Amiata
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Highest point
Elevation	1,738 m (5,702 ft)
Prominence	1,490 m (4,890 ft)
Coordinates	42°54′N11°38′E
Geography
Mount Amiata Italy Mount Amiata Mount Amiata (Italy)
Location	Tuscany,Italy
Parent range	TuscanAntiapennines
Geology
Mountain type	Lava dome

Mount Amiatais the largestof thelava domesin theAmiatalava dome complex located about 20 km northwest ofLake Bolsenain the southernTuscanyregion of Italy. It is located within the provinces ofGrossetoandSiena.

Geology

Mount Amiata (La Vetta) is a compound lava dome with atrachyticlava flowthat 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 the 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 theHolocene,but thermal activity includingcinnabarmineralization continues at a geothermal field near the town ofBagnore,at the SW end of the dome complex.

Economy

The main economical resources of the Amiata region arechestnuts,timber 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 byolive treesandvines.Other vegetation includebeechandfir.From the 1870s until around 1980cinnabarwas extracted here.

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

See also

• List of volcanoes in Italy

External links

• Monte Amiata museum of mercury mines
• Museum of Mines of Mercury Monte Amiata at Google Cultural Institute