Scientists locate magma chamber beneath Tenerife near Mount Teide (with video)

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Researchers at Involcan have discovered a large magma chamber beneath Pico Viejo on Tenerife, at a depth of between ten and 30 kilometres.
To produce the first three-dimensional image of this deep structure, the scientists analysed 785 distant earthquakes recorded between 2017 and 2024.
The location of the chamber coincides with the area where monitoring networks have been recording an increased number of earthquakes over the past ten years.

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Researchers at the Canary Islands Volcanological Institute (Involcan) have discovered a gigantic magma chamber beneath Pico Viejo. These deposits of molten rock are located in the north-west of Tenerife, at a depth of between 10 and 30 kilometres. Involcan published the findings on Friday in a study in the journal *Scientific Reports*.

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To develop the model, the scientists analysed more than 785 distant earthquakes recorded on the island by the Canary Islands seismic network between 2017 and 2024. The work was led by Víctor Ortega-Ramos, a researcher at Involcan and a PhD student at the Complutense University of Madrid.

Using tomography, the data produced the first three-dimensional image of Tenerife’s deep structure. «We have now used a different technique that allows us to analyse earthquakes occurring at great distances in order to find out what lies at greater depths,» said Luca D’Auria, Director of the Volcano Monitoring Division at Involcan. A video shows a model of the magma chamber beneath Tenerife:

Increased earthquakes beneath Tenerife and Mount Teide

Beneath a crust approximately ten kilometres thick, the researchers identified four major anomalies. On average, these are located at a depth of 15 kilometres. The main anomaly lies to the west of the Canary Islands. In the areas with the lowest velocities, the model estimates the proportion of molten material to be as high as 79 per cent by weight. It is not yet clear whether this is a single chamber or several interconnected magma chambers. However, there is a model showing what the deposit looks like.

́ ́ https://t.co/VAdfcdkAwS pic.twitter.com/8jnf8GfH30

– INVOLCAN (@involcan) August 28, 2026

The location of the magma reservoir coincides with the area in which the Canary Islands‘ monitoring networks have recorded an increasing number of earthquakes over the past ten years. According to Involcan, a significant proportion of these earthquakes are concentrated above or on the edge of the main magma zone.

The institute attributes this to the accumulation and migration of magma, as well as to the movement of gases and magmatic fluids towards areas closer to the surface. This means that gases and fluids appear to rise very slowly.

In August, the National Geographic Institute recorded 700 small earthquakes at Mount Teide within a short space of time. IGN director Itahiza Domínguez said at the time that it was conceivable that a magma chamber at a depth of around ten kilometres was filling up.

The researchers interpret the low seismic velocities as indicating zones of elevated temperature and possible changes in rock composition. This may be caused by magma from the upper mantle accumulating beneath the crust. In geology, this process is known as ‚magmatic underplating‘.

«There are also other smaller magma chambers in the area, but we haven’t focused on them yet,» said D’Auria. The model that has now been published is regarded as a milestone in our understanding of the region beneath Tenerife and Mount Teide. The next investigations are to take place soon and will aim to determine the geometry, extent and interconnections of these deep zones more precisely. To this end, Involcan is planning to rapidly expand its seismic network.