This project presents a comprehensive reassessment of submarine volcanism in the Sicilian Channel, a region of continental crust in the central Mediterranean undergoing active rifting and strike-slip tectonism. Despite the presence of numerous submarine volcanic landforms, the origin, distribution, and evolution of volcanism in the channel have remained poorly understood due to limited high-resolution seafloor data. Addressing this gap is key to improving our understanding of rift-related volcanic processes on continental margins.

The main objectives of the study were to: (1) map the spatial distribution of volcanic features across the Sicilian Channel, (2) infer the relative ages and eruptive styles of these structures, and (3) explore the links between volcanism and the regional tectonic framework. To achieve this, we integrated newly acquired multibeam echosounder bathymetry, magnetic data, sub-bottom profiles, and dredged rock samples from across the region. 

The analysis revealed three dominant volcanic alignments, each associated with different tectonic phases. The oldest volcanic structures, found on Nameless Bank and Adventure Bank in the north, are deeply eroded, likely inactive since the Pliocene, and associated with ancient crustal thinning and buried intrusive bodies. A second, younger band of volcanism aligns similarly but lies farther south, within the active grabens near Linosa and Pantelleria. These sites – formed during the Quaternary =host polygenetic volcanoes directly linked to active extensional faulting. A third, and youngest, set of volcanic features occurs at the Graham Volcanic Field and along the Capo Granitola–Sciacca Fault Zone. These small, dispersed cones are the result of low-volume, shallow-water mafic eruptions away from the main rift axis, and may represent a distinct magmatic source. 

Across all volcanic zones, the study documented ongoing active fluid venting, directly associated with shallow magmatic bodies. This finding indicates that magmatic and hydrothermal processes remain active in both ancient and recent volcanic terrains. The study establishes a revised tectono-magmatic framework for the Sicilian Channel, highlighting the structural control on volcanic emplacement and evolution. It sets the stage for future geochronological and geochemical investigations to unravel the timing, sources, and evolution of volcanism in this dynamic rift setting.