Multiple magma mingling in a Lipari sample (Southern Italy)

A hand specimen from Lipari belonging to the Aeolian calc-alkaline/shoshonitic series provides evidence that the phenomenon of mingling takes place both repeatedly and frequently in magmatic processes. The term «multiple magma mingling» (MMM) describes this repeated mingling, which occurs between primitive and evolved magmas of both mantle and crustal origin. The single sample from Lipari examined here shows how MMM can simultaneously generate all the magma types of the Aeolian magmatic system. There is strong evidence that the genetic mechanism is of dynamic type (forced mechanical mixing). Given the particular phenomenon involved, evidence of MMM normally is obliterated rapidly by ionic diffusion, and a hybrid magma is obtained. © 1991 Accademia nazionale dei Lincei.