solfatara

plural solfataras · plural solfatare

1. An area of volcanic activity that gives off sulfurous steam.First known use 18th c.

   Holmes calls these active vents solfataras, so evidently we are at the type locality for this kind of thing.

   2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 24

   2 more examples

   Under these solfataras, (which, at each eruption from the volcano, emitted greater quantities of hot steams) are several hot wells, close to the high-water mark, which, however, seem not to be in the least sulphureous.

   1778, Johann Reinhold Forster, Observations Made During a Voyage Round the World, on Physical Geography, Natural History, and Ethic Philosophy, page 25

   Vents that produce steam alone are fumaroles, or solfataras if laden with sulphur; impressive, but rarely exciting, they are more common on drier volcanoes than in hydrothermal basins.

   2000, Tony Waltham, “Geyser watching”, in Geology Today, volume 16, number 3, page 97