We report the direct observation of a peculiar lava channel that was formed
near the base of a parasitic cone during the 2001 eruption on Mount Etna.
Erosive processes by flowing lava are commonly attributed to thermal erosion.
However, field evidence strongly suggests that models of thermal erosion cannot
explain the formation of this channel. Here, we put forward the idea that the
essential erosion mechanism was abrasive wear. By applying a simple model from
tribology we demonstrate that the available data agree favorably with our
hypothesis. Consequently, we propose that erosional processes resembling the
wear phenomena in glacial erosion are possible in a volcanic environment.Comment: accepted for publication in Physical Review Letter
