STROMBOLI 387 



possibly identical with one seen by Dolomieu in 1781. The diffuse ex- 

 halations, on the other hand, seem to lack this stability and shift their 

 locations. While the two types are quite distinct in their normal and 

 extreme forms, yet there are intermediate forms, some diffuse exhalations 

 from cracks depositing sulphur needles, and a few of the fumaroles 

 proper being accompanied by salts. 



Stromboli 



This volcano is usually cited, froiu ilio time of I'liny nn, ns lipi'ng in a 

 continuous state of eruption. The record of its activity is. however, inter- 

 rupted and very scanty, and recent investigation leads to tlie conclusion 

 that "Stromboli presents long periods of varied, but for the most part 

 moderate, activity, interrupted by relatively brief periods of repose." ^^ 

 Violent eruptions would seem to be infrequent, the last having taken 

 place in 1907. 



The crater was visited on August 7 and 12, 1914, and it was seen that 

 marked changes had taken place since it was last reported on in 1909.^^ 

 The large gulf or funnel of 1907 has been filled up and the crater plateau 

 forms a plain about 250 meters below the crest above, with a low ellipti- 

 cal, dome-shaped elevation occupying the northwestern part, built up of 

 material ejected from Bocche B and C. On the north the plain ends 

 sharply at the beginning of the Sciarra. The plateau is practically inac- 

 cessible because of the constantly falling stones and the precipitousness 

 of the other three sides. Five active vents were seen." A view of its 

 general features is sho^vn in plate 24, taken from a point above, to the 

 north ( X in figure 1 ) . It was impossible to reach a nearer point below 

 the Filone Baraonda on account of falling stones. 



The most prominent and violent vent was that marked A in the an- 

 nexed sketch map, figure 1, based on Bergeat's map. This is near the 

 head of the Sciarra, just below its upper edge at the eastern end, so that 

 it was not visible. This exploded at short, irregular intervals with a 

 sudden loud roar, like the discharge of a large-caliber gun. Many red- 

 hot fragments of half-molten rock were ejected to a height of several 

 hundred meters, accompanied l)y a tall column of generally brownisb 

 smoke. This vent seems to be the oldest of those now present and was 

 apparently in existence as far back as 1776 and 1782. 



Bocca B, near the lower end of the Filone di Baraonda, an orifice 

 about 10 meters in diameter, was in continuous activity. There was an 



'" Oaetano Platanla : Ann. Uff. Centr. Met, vol. xxx, part 1, 1910, p. R. 

 " P. A. Perrct In Platanla, loc. clt. 



>8 As lliclr detailed description and relations to earlier vents will be taken up In a 

 separate paper, they will be only briefly described here. 



