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Home , Acamarachi, Aguilera (volcano), Alitar, Antuco (volcano), Apagado, Calabozos

Land of the living

A geo-referenced visual guide to 70 Chilean volcanoes Photography by Gerard Prins Mission Impossible Corcovado (p. 98) Ever since, in 1990, I laid eyes on “my first volcano” – Vol- that will likely take the rest of my life and still be grossly in- Additional handicaps are that I’m no mountaineer nor an ex- cán in the Chilean South – I have been impressed by complete. pert by any measure and, thus, constantly fear to be wrong. their beauty as well as by the imposing forces that lie behind Especially because even detailed maps of the Chilean In- their creation, and have, willingly or unwillingly, pointed In the process, I have picked up some passing knowledge stituto Geográfico Militar – or Google for that mat- my camera at them over and again. on geology and . However, “passing” is the opera- ter – provide precious little info on names and Unwillingly, because in a country that is part of the Pacific tive word here, which is why I am relying on shameless (but locations. and counts with over 600 volcanic phenomena, often edited) copy/paste from the Global Volcanism Program Moreover, I have been chasing the González-Ferrán Chil- it is virtually impossible to look towards the Cordill- Web site to textually accompany the images, and generate at ean volcano “Bible” for the last ten years or so, to no avail. era and not capture something that is somehow related with least some sort of context. Still, I hope this document will be a source of entertain- the incessant of the under the South Although this presentation visually documents roughly ment and reason enough for travellers to either get a good tour American- and Plates. 70 Chilean volcanoes, only a fraction of the country’s geo- guide or ask for a window seat to contemplate the remark- Willingly, because about twenty years ago I realized that, graphic wealth and slightly over half of those recognized by able geological phenomena of the 4.270 km of the central while written documentation of their existence is rather ex- the Smithsonian Institution, quite a few images are not up to southern Andes contained within that skinny tensive, even though not exhaustive, visual documentation to par technically – especially the aerials – which is a mere strip of territory called . is, photographically speaking, “good-willing” at best. reminder of the task pending. Which is why since I made it my mission to visually doc- That said, in some cases aerials are the only way to docu- While my visual documentation of these living mountains ument Chilean “Living Mountains”, wherever I walked, ment certain mountains, because they are virtually inacces- is as abundant on some as scarce on others, funny as it may drove or flew. sible by any other means; most notably the volcanoes of the seem, the – active – Villarrica volcano is still conspicuously Even though the mission is to photograph only those vol- southern Chilean archipelago, but also some that are hidden absent in the collection. canoes catalogued as such by the Smithsonian Institution’s deep inside the Andes Cordillera, such as Haliaque (p. 93), Global Volcanism Program, this is already a Herculean task which is very hard to visualize even from the air. Enjoy! Northern Chile From the Nevados de to volcán Copiapó

Tacora Deslinde Cordón de Puntas Negras Nevados de Putre - Tatio Miñiques Nevados de Paya Chata - Cerro La Torta Tujle Nevados de Quimsa Chata Cerros de Tuyac to Caichinique Colorado El Negrillar Curiquinca Cerros - Pajonales -Paruma () Miño Ojos del Toro Aucanchilca Azufrera Saciel Cerro Escorial Ollagüe Saire Cábur Lican Cabur Cordón del Azufre Pabellón (Chanca) Cerro Bayo complex Aguilucho complex Sierra Nevada complex San Pedro & Puricó complex complex Incaliri Nevado de Tres Cruces Apagado Norte El Solo Cerro del León Aguas Calientes Nevadas Copiapó Geyseres del Tatio Miscanti Nevados de Putre, volcán Taapacá. 18.08ºS 69.43ºW Nevados de Paya Chata, volcán Parinacota 18.17ºS 69.15ºW

The Parinacota volcano is the southernmost and youngest eruptive activity has subsequently reconstruct- of a pair forming the Nevados de (Ayamara: Two ed the Parinacota , which contains a pristine, sisters) volcanic group along the Chilean-Bolivian border. 300-m-wide summit crater and youthful flows on the The symmetrical, 6.348 m. Parinacota (Flamigo ) western flanks. Taapacá (5.861 m picture right) is part E-W, with Taapacá located on the eastern side and Nevados A lava flow from the youngest eruptive phase was Ar-Ar volcano forms a twin volcano with the dominantly Pleis- Although no historical eruptions are known from Pari- of the Nevados de Putre volcanic chain, which towers to the de Putre itself on the west. The town of Putre is built on top dated at about 38.000 years (Wörner et al., 2000). tocene, 6.222 m. volcano, which towers above a nacota, surface-exposure dates have been obtained NE over the northern Chilean of town of Putre. of debris-avalanche deposits from Taapacá. The Nevados de Putre volcanic center to the WSW also low saddle to the NE. for eruptions during the past two thousand years, both from The elongated volcanic massif consists of a dacitic lava- Taapacá was considered to be of probable Holocene age displays vigorous hot springs and solfataras. Collapse of Parinacota less than 8.000 years ago produced the main cone and the Ajata group of cones and complex. and contains hot springs and deposits that were mined a 6 cu km debris avalanche that traveled 22 km. to the west flows on the south and SW flanks. It overlies deposits and trends roughly from 1933 to 1956 (González-Ferrán, 1974, 1995). and blocked , forming Lake Chungará. Nevados de Quimsa Chata and volcán Guallatiri Nevados de Quimsa Chata. 18.37°S 69.05°W Volcán Guallatiri (active). 18.72ºS 69.14ºW

Volcán , along with Volcán Humarata to the north high Humarata (L), and 5.990-m-high Cerro Capurata (R) Humarata, with a summit crater breached to the ESE, Guallatiri , one of northern Chile’s most active volcanoes, complex, with the active vent situated at its southern side. Intense fumarolic activity with “jet-like” noises continues, and Cerro Capurata to the south, comprises the Nevados de they straddle the Chile- boundary along a roughly and Capurata, a complex of lava domes and associated py- is a symmetrical -clad stratovolcano that lies at the SW end Thick lava flows are prominent on the lower northern and and numerous solfataras extend more than 300 m down the volcanic group, Quimsachata meaning Three N-S line. roclastic-flow deposits, may also have been active during of the Nevados de Quimsachata volcanic group. western flanks of the andesitic-to-rhyolitic volcano. west flank. in the Andean . Acotango is in a fairly advanced stage of dissection, but the Holocene. The 6.071-m-high Guallatiri lies just west of the border Minor eruptions have been reported from Gual- The 6.052-m-high Acotango stratovolcano is the central a morphologically youthful lava flow on its northern flank with Bolivia and is capped by a central dacitic dome or lava latiri since the beginning of the 19th. Century. and highest of three stratovolcanoes; together with 5.730-m- suggests Holocene activity (de Silva and Francis, 1991). Cerro Paniri. 21.08ºS 68.25ºW

Cerro Paniri is a complex stratovolcano located about 30 olitic ignimbritic fields and voluminous domes of dacitic-to- Between Paniri and Cerro de León, 13.5 km to the SE, km SE of San Pedro volcano and forms, together with Cerro rhyolitic composition (de Silva, 1989). lies the gigantic Chao lava dome. de León and Cerro Toconce, part of the 65 km-long San The summit of 5.946-m-high Paniri contains three The age of andesitic-to-dacitic Paniri was considered to Pedro-Linzor volcanic chain. craters separated by about 4 km, along a NW-SE trend. be Pleistocene-Holocene (González-Ferrán, 1995). This chain is characterized by extensive rhyodacitic-to-rhy-

Cerro Paniri Cerro de León Cerro Toconce Vn. San Pedro

Chao lava dome Cerro del León, cerro Toconce. 21.08ºS 68.25ºW

Cerro del León (L) is a 5.760-m-high andesitic stratovol- The massive Chao lava dome and flow is the world’s larg- 1991). The eruption of less than 1 cu km of dacitic pyroclastic cano which lies immediately north of the Toconce compos- est of its type. The 14.5-km-long dacitic lava flow has dis- flows preceded the initial lava extrusion, which formed the ite volcano (5.435 m). González-Ferrán (1995) considered El tal margins that are 350-400 m high and features dramatic 22 cu km compound main flow. León to be of Pleistocene-Holocene age. 30-m-high flow on its surface. Eruption of a small amount of rhyolitic airfall and growth The volcano is flanked by two massive dacitic lava domes, The age of the flows was considered to be post-glacial of a cone was followed by effusion of the final 3 cu 2,6 cu km Chillahuita to the SE and 26 cu km Chao to the (Guest 1981, pers. comm.), but -Argon dates indicate km of lava. NW, in the saddle between Cerro del Leon and Paniri. only that it is less than 100.000 years old (de Silva and Francis, Volcán Linzor. 22.18ºS 67.95ºW Cerro Deslinde. 22.33°S 67.97°W

Volcán Linzor is a 5680-m-high stratovolcano along the north of the geothermal field, and forms part of the This andesitic volcano was considered to be Pleistocene- Cerro Deslinde or El Volcán (R) is one of several stratovolcanoes Lava flows at the base of the volcano are dacitic, while El Volcán was considered by González-Ferrán (1995) to Chile/Boliva border, located west of Laguna Colorada and San Pedro-Linzor volcanic chain. Holocene age by González-Ferrán (1995). located east of the vigorous Geyseres del Tatio geothermal field. those at the upper part are andesitic-to-dacitic. be of Pleistocene-Holocene age. La Hoyada de los Geyseres del Tatio geothermal field 22.33ºS 68.01ºW

A chain of dominantly -to-Pleistocene volcanoes Although no Holocene eruptions are known from El Tatio, extensive sinter terraces. exploration was including volcán Linzor, Cerro Deslinde, Cerro el Volcán, it was included in the Catalogue of Active Volcanoes of the first tried in the 1960’s, while recent efforts have met – after Cerros del Tatio, and volcán Tatio is flanked on the west by a World (Casertano, 1963) based on this geothermal activity. failed exploratory drilling – with fierce opposition from the depression that contains some of the most dramatic thermal The 30 sq km geothermal field contains 85 and local population, mainly because el Tatio is one of the top features of the Andes. solfataras, 62 hot springs, 40 , 5 mud volcanoes, and attractions of nearby . Volcán Tatio, cerros de Tatio. 22.43ºS 68.01ºW Volcán Tatio, cerros de Tatio, cerro la Torta, cerros de Tocorpuri

From volcán Putana to Saire Cabur Cerros de Tocorpuri. 22.43ºS 67.92ºW

Cerros de Tocorpuri (or volcán Tocorpuri) is a 5.808-m- The complex lies at the virtual centre of an intricate vol- The Chile-Bolivia border swings around the eastern rim of high stratovolcano complex on the Chile-Bolivia border. canic chain that borders the high plain around the Machuca the 1,4-km-wide crater that truncates the summit of Cerros de A youthful-looking rhyolitic lava dome, Cerro la Torta (next humedal () and includes the Tatio geothermal field, Tocorpuri; the crater lies wholly within Chilean territory. page), lies at its western foot, in a depression between Tocor- volcán Tatio, volcán Putana and the Saire Cabur volcanic The complex was considered by González-Ferrán (1995) puri and northernmost Cerros de Tatio and Volcán Tatio. complex, among others. to be of Pleistocene-Holocene age. Cerro la Torta. 22.44ºS 67.95ºW Volcán Putana (active). 22.57ºS 67.87ºW

Volcán Putana, also known as Jorgencal or Machuca, is part of a large, roughly N-S-trending volcanic complex that covers an area of 600 sq km. Vigorous fumarolic activity is visible at the 5890-m-high summit of Putana volcano from long distances, while its large solfatara (yellow) is easily visible. The main edifice, which formed primarily by lava effusion, consists of ac- cumulated postglacial dacitic lava domes and -flows, mantling an older pre- Holocene volcano. The circular, roughly 5 cu km Cerro la Torta (Cake Hill) -Argon dating indicates only that it is less than a The youngest basaltic lava flows are viscous and rarely extend was erupted from a central vent and is surrounded by a flat- million years old. more than 3 km. topped surface with wrinkled flow ridges. The flow terminates in steep, talus-covered margins about A major eruption of unspecified character was reported in the early 19th It has been considered to be of Holocene age due to its 150 m high. Lava extrusion was preceded by minor silicic century (Rudolph, 1955; Guest 1981, pers. comm.), even though González- youthful morphology, but its age is not known precisely and explosive eruptions. Ferrán (1995) indicated that no historical eruptions had occurred. Saire Cabur volcanic complex. 22.72ºS 67.88ºW

This chain of andesitic-dacitic volcanoes along the Chile- Postglacial activity began south of the summit, but most In the main image FLTR: Ojos del Toro (5.627 m), cerro Bolivia border contains at least 10 postglacial centres and recently produced a pristine lava flow to the NW. Saciel and volcán Saire Cabur (5.971 m). stretches from the Escalante volcano at the north end to Saire- A, now abandoned, sulphur mine is located north of the In the inset image the northern end of the complex, with, cabur or Saire Cabur ( mountain) volcano at the south. volcano. Escalante, slightly older than , has a summit FLTR, , volcán Curiquinca, volcán Escalante Nomenclature reflecting local usage results in conflict- crater lake and youthful lava flows on its flanks, while other and cerro El Apagado. ing names applied to these features on Chilean and Bolivian eruptive centres have also produced Holocene lava flows. topographic maps. Curiquinca, a volcano of Pleistocene-Holocene age, lies at The highest peak, Sairecabur, is located on the northern the NE end of the complex and the cerro Colorado volcano margin of a 4.5-km-wide . at the NW end. Valle Arcoiris (Rainbow ). 22.64ºS 68.24ºW

Although Rainbow Valley can not be found in any vol- The colours are related with the types of present This location is, together with the petroglyphs at Hierbas canic catalogue, according to certain locals it is a collapsed at the time of collapse, which go from (light coloured; Buenas, probably one of the best kept secrets of the San Pedro caldera or , which explains the presence of white, beige, pink, purple) to intermediate (dark coloured; de Atacama touristic circuit. the eroded, strangely shaped and multicoloured brown, orange), mavic and ultra-mavic (very dark coloured; formations that give the location its name. coffee, green, grey, black). Volcanes Lican Cabur and Juriques. 22.83ºS 67.88ºW

The symmetrical, 5.916-m-high strato volcano and the surrounding areas. The most recent activity from Young, blocky andesitic lava flows with prominent (L) was constructed primarily during the Holocene. Licancabur produced flank lava flows, which are clearly vis- extend up to 6 km down the NW-to-SW flanks; older flows Its 400-m-wide summit crater contains a shallow freshwa- ible on the inset image. extend to up to 12 km from the summit crater. ter lake of 90 by 70 m., which is among the world’s highest. The Pleistocene Juriques (R) volcano is located immediately Archaeological ruins can be found on the volcano’s crater rim to the SE and is capped by a 1.5-km-wide summit crater. Guayaques volcanic complex. 22.88ºS 67.58ºW

The Cerros de Guayaques group of N-S-trending rhyo- There is some evidence of Holocene activity, while the lava flows, which traveled 3 km to the SW. There are no dacitic lava domes straddles the Chile-Bolivia border. youngest domes appear to be located north of the summit records of historical activity from Guayaques. The 10-km-long chain is located immediately east of the crater of the dome complex (de Silva and Francis, 1991). Purico pyroclastic shield. A well-defined summit crater was the source of the largest Cerro Puricó, cerro Rayado, volcán Laguna Verde, cerro de Pili, volcán Lascar and cerro Puricó volcanic complex. 23.02ºS 67.84ºW . 22.93ºS 67.78ºW

Cerro Negro, cerros de Macón. 23.03ºS 67.84ºW

The Purico Complex consists of two ignimbrite sheets that The youngest lava domes, cerro Chascón de Purico and ce- type dome. The Chascón de Purico dacitic dome, rising were erupted about 1.3 million years ago, along with several rro Áspero are of Holocene age (de Silva and Francis, 1991). 1.200 m above the ignimbrite shield, has a well-preserved stratovolcanoes and lava domes that define a postulated 10 x Both domes differ morphologically from many other flat- summit crater and lava flows that show no evidence of gla- 20 km ring fracture. topped silicic Andean volcanic domes and have 300-400 m cial modification. The cerro Toco volcano overlies the vent area of the Cajón high conical profiles. The dacitic-to-andesitic Macón stratovolcano, of Holocene Ignimbrite. A sulfur mine on its SE flank was mined until Cerro Chascón was formed by a series of viscous lava age, lies at the southern end of the complex; the maar the early 1990s. flows, whereas cerro Aspero appears to be a single Pelean- at the SE end displays constant solfataric activity. Volcán Laguna Verde. 23.25º S 67.72º W The Atacama volcanic chain

Laguna Verde is a 5.464-m-high stratovolcano located west The Laguna Verde volcano was considered to be of Pleis- to the north, producing a debris avalanche that dammed the Part of the chain of volcanoes, seen from Curiquica to cerro Tumisa – is a volcano or, at least, an ex- Note the emanating from the Lascar volcano at of Colachi volcano and is one of a cluster of young stratovol- tocene-Holocene age (González-Ferrán, 1995). Quebrada Portor, forming a lake. the high plain (± 3.000 m). Virtually every mountain in this pression of the geological events that are the product of the the centre of the image, which is just one visual benchmark canoes north and east of the Lascar volcano. The andesitic volcano, rising 1200 m above its base, collapsed image – covering a 165-km stretch that runs from volcán subduction of the Nazca- under the . of an area that is marked by intense volcanic activity. Volcán Aguas Calientes 23.37ºS 67.68ºW Volcán Lascar (active). 23.37ºS 67.73ºW

Volcan Aguas Calientes (L) is a symmetrical cone with a flows on the lower flanks. Still, the lava flows in the summit youngest activity of the volcano. There are no records of Following the eruption of the Tumbres flow, ap- 7 km circular basal plan, and appears to form part of a short region and the well developed summit crater may have been historic activity. proximately 9.000 years ago, activity shifted back to the east- east-west volcanic chain of which Lascar, to the west, is the formed by more recent, probably Holocene activity. ern edifice, where three overlapping craters were formed. most active member. An, apparently unfrozen, shallow crater lake is present in Lascar (R) registers some 30 explosive eruptions since Frequent small-to-moderate explosive eruptions have been Short stubby lava flows in the summit region have resulted the summit crater. A large arcuate rampart to the north-east the XIX Century, making it the most active volcano of the recorded from Lascar in historical time since the mid-19th in steep slopes of 45° in the upper parts of the volcano. The of the volcano is possibly the margin of a debris flow deposit northern Chilean Andes. The andesitic-to-dacitic stratovol- century, along with periodic larger eruptions that produced gentler slopes of the lower flanks of the volcano are mantled which resulted from failure of the north-eastern part of the cano contains six overlapping summit craters and prominent ash fall hundreds of kilometres away from the volcano. by fine grained detritus, partly erosional material resulting ancestral volcano. lava flows descend its NW flanks. The largest historical eruption of Lascar took place in 1993, from freeze-thaw action and partly ash from Lascar. In this were the case, Aguas Calientes would have to be Lascar consists of two major edifices; activity began at the producing pyroclastic flows that extended up to 8.5 km NW Much of the history of Aguas Calientes is pre-Holocene, re-classified as a composite cone. The several short stubby eastern volcano and then shifted to the western cone. The of the summit. The most recent minor eruptions took place since there is little evidence of morphologically youthful lava lava flows rimming the summit region appear to be the largest eruption of Lascar took place about 26.500 years ago. between 2005 and 2006 and in 2007. Cerro Lejía. 23.56°S 67.76°W Volcán Chiliques. 23.58°S 67.70°W

Volcán Chiliques is a structurally simple stratovolcano, Older lava flows reach up to 10 km from the summit on upper flanks. The solitary Holocene maar is located immediately south of Laguna Lejía. The 5.778-m- the north flank. This volcano had previously been consid- located on the lower NE flank of Chiliques volcano, west of high summit contains a 500-m-wide crater. ered to be dormant; however, in 2002 a NASA nighttime the Salar de Aguas Calientes. Several youthful lava flows, some of which are considered thermal satellite image from the Advanced Space- The 600-m-wide, 80-m-deep maar produced the to be of Holocene age (de Silva and Francis, 1991), descend borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (AS- least silicic youthful volcanic rocks found in this part of the its flanks. The largest of these extends 5 km to the NW. TER) showed low-level hot spots in the summit crater and central Andes. Volcán Chiliques, laguna & Cordón de Puntas Negras Cerro Miscanti. 23.68°S 67.71°W Volcán & laguna Miñiques. 23.82°S 67.77°W

VolcánVolcán MiñiquesMiñiques isis aa largelarge basaltic-andesitebasaltic-andesite toto daciticdacitic TheThe stratovolcanostratovolcano andand lava-domelava-dome complexcomplex hashas beenbeen acac-- volcanicvolcanic complex,complex, locatedlocated easteast ofof thethe homonymhomonym lagoonlagoon andand tivetive fromfrom thethe PliocenePliocene toto thethe HoloceneHolocene (González-Ferrán,(González-Ferrán, southsouth ofof LagunaLaguna Miscanti.Miscanti. TheThe 5.910-m-high5.910-m-high summitsummit ofof thethe 1995).1995). AA prominentprominent lavalava flowflow extendsextends NW-wardNW-ward fromfrom thethe volcanovolcano isis cutcut byby threethree overlapping,overlapping, E-W-trendingE-W-trending craters.craters. summitsummit toto thethe lowerlower flanks,flanks, separatingseparating LagunaLaguna MiñiquesMiñiques LargerLarger craters,craters, partiallypartially filledfilled byby lavalava domesdomes andand flows,flows, fromfrom LagunaLaguna MiscantiMiscanti (inset(inset image).image). areare locatedlocated westwest andand NENE ofof thethe summit.summit. Cordón de Puntas Negras. 23.75ºS 67.53ºW

Two intersecting volcanic chains, the Cordón de Puntas The Cordón de Puntas Negras is situated along the south- mit craters and produced short lava flows. A distinct maar- Negras and Cordón Chalviri, trend roughly SE from ern margin of the 35x70 km Pliocene caldera. type vent is present, as well as a 13 sq km silicic lava flow and Chiliques volcano to volcán Puntas Negras and SW from The pristine morphology of many of the volcanic features dome complex. there to cerro Tuyajto, respectively. indicates a Holocene (de Silva and Francis, 1991) or historical A volcanic center immediately SE of cerro Laguna Escon- The chain of small cones, lava domes, lava flows, and (González-Ferrán, 1995) age. dida appears to be the youngest vent of the complex. covers an area of about 500 sq km and contains at least Small cones such as cerros Cenizas, Aguas Calientes, La- 25 different vents. guna Escondida, and Chinchilla have well-preserved sum- Volcán Llullaillaco (historical). 24.72°S 68.53°W Volcanes , (historical). 33.40°S 69.80°W

The world’s highest historically active volcano, 6.739 m- into and diverges around the north and south sides These two extremely youthful-looking dacitic flows were high Llullaillaco (pronounce youyayaco), sits astride the Chile- of the older cerro Rosado stratovolcano 17 km east of Llull- initially considered to be of Holocene age, but more recent Ar/ Argentina border. aillaco. Ar dating indicates that they are of late Pleistocene age (Rich- The summit is formed by a small, well-preserved cone that Construction of several lava domes and flows was associ- ards and Villeneuve, 2001). was constructed on an older Pleistocene edifice. ated with growth of the modern cone. The two most promi- Two explosive eruptions and another that may have in- A major debris-avalanche deposit produced by collapse of nent flows contain distinct flow levees and ridges and extend cluded lava effusion were reported from Llullaillaco in the the older volcano about 150.000 years ago extends eastward down the northern and southern flanks. 19th Century. Tupung ato Tupungatito San José Volcanic Complex El Palomo Tinguiririca Planchhón-Peteroa complex Cerro Azul-Quizapú San Pedro-Pellado Laguna del Maule Nevado de Longaví Lomas Blancas Central Chile. Resago Nevados de Chillán Sierra Velluda From Volcán Tupungatito to the Laguna Mariñaqui Cerro Chapulul Antillanca Volcanic Group Sierra Nevada , Pichillaima Caburgua-Huelemolle complex Villarrica Quetrupillán Lanín Mocho-Choshuenco Carrán-Los Venados Cordón Caulle Mencheca Puyehue Antillanca - Casa Blanca complex Pantoja Volcanes Tupungato, Tupungatito (historical). Volcán Tupungato 33.40°S 69.80°W

The Tupungatito volcano is the northernmost historically Tupungatito consists of a group of 12 Holocene andes- and breached to the NW. Lava flows from the northernmost active volcano of the central Chilean Andes, and located along itic and basaltic-andesite craters and a pyroclastic cone at the vent have travelled down the NW flank breach. the Chile-Argentina border, about 90 km east of and NW end of the 4-km-wide, Pleistocene dacitic Nevado sin Tupungatito has produced frequent mild explosive erup- immediately SW of the Pleistocene Tupungato volcano. Nombre caldera, which is filled by at its southern end tions during the 19th and 20th Centuries. San José volcanic complex. 33.78°S 69.90°W

El

La Engorda

Plantat

Volcán San José lies along the Chile-Argentina border at San José (extreme right) is a 5.856-m-high stratovolcano the Holocene. An 8-km-long lava flow traveled to the SW the southern end of a volcano group that includes the Pleis- of Pleistocene-Holocene age with a broad, 2x0.5 km summit from the 1-km-wide summit crater of Espíritu Santo volcano, tocene Marmolejo and Espíritu Santo volcanoes. region containing overlapping and nested craters, pyroclastic overlapping the southern slope of Marmolejo. The glaciated 6.109-m-high Marmolejo stratovolcano cones, and blocky lava flows. Mild phreato-magmatic eruptions were recorded from is truncated by a 4-km-wide caldera, breached to the NW, Volcán la Engorda and volcán Plantat, located SW of Mar- San José in the 19th and 20th Centuries. which has been the source of a massive debris avalanche. molejo and NW of San José, have also been active during San José volcanic complex, seen from the west Volcán Maipo (historical). 34.16°S 69.83°W Volcán el Palomo. 34.36ºS 70.17ºW

Maipo (5.264 m ) is a conical stratovolcano that straddles and SW flank of the caldera, respectively. The post-caldera east flank of Maipo, along a series on échelon NE-trending the Chile-Argentina border SE of Santiago that partially fills basaltic-andesite Maipo stratovolcano rises about 1.900 m fractures. the 15x20 km Pleistocene Diamante caldera. It formed about above the caldera floor and was constructed by strombolian- In 1826, lava flows from one of these cones blocked the El Palomo is a compact, 4.850-m-high stratovolcano that Palomo lies west of the massive Caldera de Atuel and was dacitic lava flows, while a double crater indicates migration 0.45 million years ago, during an eruption that produced a vulcanian explosions. inside the caldera, leading to the formation of lake is somewhat dissected by glaciers. constructed within double measuring 3 and 5 km of activity to the NE. 450 cu km ignimbrite. The Pleistocene cones of volcán Don It has a youthful appearance, and ash fall deposits overlie Diamante on the eastern caldera floor. A NE-flank cone, Andrés, is postglacial in age and has in diameter, respectively. The youthful morphology of Palomo suggests a very re- Casimiro and cerro Listado were formed on the SW rim glacial ice. Several parasitic cones were constructed on the produced andesitic lava flows. Largely ice-covered Palomo has erupted basaltic-andesitic to cent, perhaps pre-hispanic, age. Volcán Tinguiririca (active). 34.81°S 70.35°W

The massive Tinguiririca volcano (4.280 m) is composed Constant fumarolic activity occurs within and on the NW of at least seven Holocene scoria cones west of the Chile- wall of the summit crater of Tinguiririca, while hot springs Argentina border, constructed along a NNE-SSW fissure, and fumaroles with sulfur deposits are found on the western topping an eroded Pleistocene strato volcano. flanks of the summit cones. The complex was constructed during three eruptive cy- A single historical eruption from Tinguiririca was re- cles dating back to the middle Pleistocene. corded in 1917. The latest activity produced a series of youthful small Note that what appear to be “clouds” in the inset- and strato volcanoes and craters, of which the youngest appear right page image are actually vapours emitted by the volca- to be Tinguiririca and Fray Carlos. noes’ fumaroles. Peteroa volcanic complex (active). 35.24ºS 70.60ºW Volcán Planchón. 35.27ºS 70.58ºW

Planchón-Peteroa (3.977 m) is a 4-km-long complex vol- About 11.500 years ago, much of Azufre and part of contains a small steaming crater lake, indicated by a dark grey cano along the Chile-Argentina border, that contains several Planchón collapsed, causing the massive Río Teno river de- “cloud” at the LH third of the image. Historical eruptions from overlapping calderas (inset image, next page). bris avalanche, which reached Chile’s central valley. Subse- the Planchón-Peteroa complex have been dominantly explo- Activity began in the Pleistocene with construction of quently, volcán Planchón II was formed. sive, although lava flows were erupted in 1837 and 1937. the basaltic-andesite to dacitic volcán Azufre, followed by The youngest volcano, andesitic and basaltic-andesite vol- In September 2010, the group erupted on three different formation of basaltic and basaltic-andesite volcán Planchón cán Peteroa, consists of scattered vents between Azufre and occasions, while the latest – and more prolonged – activity (opposite page), 4 km to the north. Planchón. Peteroa has been active into historical time and took place between February and June 2011. The Planchón-Peteroa volcanic complex from the west Volcán Descabezado Grande (historical) Cerro Azul, Quizapú (historical). 35.65°S 70.76°W 35.58°S 70.75°W

Volcán Descabezado (Beheaded) Grande is a late-Pleis- A lateral crater that formed on the upper NNE flank in Numerous small late-Pleistocene to Holocene volcanic The Cerro Azul stratovolcano lies at the southern end of scoria cones on the lower SW flank. Quizapú, a major vent Quizapú was, in 1932, the source of one of the world’s tocene to Holocene andesitic-to-rhyodacitic stratovolcano with 1932, shortly after the massive 1932 eruption from nearby centres are located north of the volcano. the Descabezado Grande-Cerro Azul eruptive system. on the northern flank of Cerro Azul, formed in 1846 during largest explosive eruptions of the 20th century, which cre- a 1,4-km-wide ice-filled summit crater. Quizapú volcano – on the north flank of Cerro Azul – was The northernmost of these, Lengua de Volcano (or Mon- Steep-sided, 3.788-m-high Cerro Azul has a 500-m-wide the first historical eruption of Cerro Azul, accompanied by ated a 600-700 m wide, 150-m-deep crater (inset image) and Along with Cerro Azul, 7 km to the south, 3.953-m-high the site of the only historical eruption of the volcano. daca) produced a very youthful rhyodacitic lava flow that summit crater that is open to the north. the emission of voluminous dacitic lava flows that travelled ejected 9.5 cu km of dacitic . Descabezado Grande lies at the center of a 20x30 km volcanic The Holocene Alto de las Mulas fissure, on the lower NW dammed the Río Lentué river. The three basaltic-andesite La Resoloma craters scoria vents both east into the Estero Barroso valley and west into the field, which also includes Descabezado Chico. flank of Descabezado, produced rhyodacitic lava flows. are located below the west flank and the two Los Hornitos Río Blanquillo valley. Nevado de Longaví (active). 35.90°S 70.85°W San Pedro-Pellado complex. 35.90°S 70.85°W

The conical, -clad Nevado de Longaví volcano is a A small lava dome forms the 3.242-m-high summit of A young scoria cone rises above the glacier-filled summit The San Pedro-Pellado complex was constructed within The San Pedro volcano proper is of Holocene age. No late-Pleistocene to Holocene andesitic stratovolcano construct- Longaví. No historical eruptions are known, although fu- crater of the 3.621-m-high San Pedro stratovolcano, viewed the 6x12 km Río Colorado caldera, which formed during an historical eruptions have been recorded from San Pedro- ed over a of sedimentary and granitic rocks. marolic activity continues. here from the W. eruption approximately 0,5 million years ago. Pellado, but fumaroles are found SE of Pellado. Nevados de Chillán compound volcano (active) 36.86°S 71.38°W

7 5 6

2 The Nevados de Chillán compound volcano is one of the The largest stratovolcano, 3.212-m-high tive vent since, growing to exceed volcán Viejo in altitude. 3 4 most active of the Chilean Central Andes. (volcán Nevado), is located at the NW end of the group, Inset image, FLTR: Three late-Pleistocene to Holocene stratovolcanoes were while 3.089-m-high volcán Viejo (volcán Chillán), was the 1 - Volcán Santa Gertrudis; 2 - volcán cerro Blanco; 3 - constructed along a NNW-SSE line within three nest- main active vent during the 17-19th centuries, occupying the volcán Calfú; 4 - volcán Pichicalfú (small Calfú); 5 - volcán 1 ed Pleistocene calderas, which produced ignimbrite sheets SE end. Nuevo; 6 - volcán Arrau; 7 - volcán Viejo; 8 - volcán Para- which extend more than 100 km into the Chilean Central The volcán Nuevo stratovolcano began formation in 1906 dor. Depression. between the two older volcanoes and has been the most ac- 8 Volcán Antuco (historical). 37.41°S 71.35°W Sierra Velluda. 37.47ºS 71.42ºW

The Antuco volcano (L), constructed to the NE of the Construction of the Antuco I volcano was followed by 1.000 m since then; flank fissures and cones have also been Pleistocene Sierra Velluda (opposite page) stratovolcano, rises edifice failure at the beginning of the Holocene. active. dramatically above the SW shore of Laguna de la Laja. The failure produced a large debris avalanche which traveled Moderate explosive eruptions were recorded in the 18th and Antuco has a complicated history, beginning with the con- down the Río Laja to the west and left a large 5-km-wide 19th Centuries from both summit and flank vents, and histori- struction of the basaltic-to-andesitic Sierra Velluda and cerro horseshoe-shaped caldera breached to the west. cal lava flows have travelled into the Río Laja drainage. Condor stratovolcanoes of Pliocene-Pleistocene age. The steep-sided modern basaltic-to-andesitic cone has grown Volcán Callaqui (active). 37.92°S 71.45°W Volcán Llaima (active). 38.69°S 71.73°W

Llaima, one of Chile’s largest and most active volcanoes, Following the end of an explosive stage about 7.200 years contains two historically active craters, one at the summit ago, construction of the present edifice began, characterized and the other, Pichillaima (Small Llaima), to the SE. by strombolian, hawaiian, and infrequent subplinian erup- The late-Pleistocene to Holocene Callaqui stratovolcano Small craters 100-500 m in diameter are primarily found An was reported in 1751, while there The massive 3.125-m-high, dominantly basaltic-to-an- tions. (3.164 m) has a profile of an overturned canoe due to its along a fissure extending down the SW flank. are uncertain accounts of eruptions in 1864 and 1937. A small desitic stratovolcano has a volume of 400 cu km. Frequent moderate explosive eruptions with occasional construction along an 11-km-long, SW-NE fissure above a Intense solfataric activity occurs at the southern part of phreatic ash emission was reported in 1980. A Holocene edifice built primarily of accumulated lava lava flows have been recorded since the 17th Century. 1,2-0,3 million-year-old Pleistocene edifice. the summit; in 1966 and 1978, red glow was observed in flows was constructed over an 8-km-wide caldera that formed Llaima’s most recent mayor eruption took place in January Ice-capped, basaltic-andesite Callaqui contains well-pre- fumarolic areas (Moreno 1985, pers. comm.). about 13.200 years ago, following the eruption of the 24 cu 2008, melting down a large part of the summit glacier (main served volcanic cones and lava flows, which have travelled Periods of intense fumarolic activity have dominated at km Curacautín Ignimbrite. More than 40 scoria cones dot image, taken on 20-01-2008) which produced extensive la- up to 14 km. Callaqui, and a number of historical eruptions are known. the volcano’s flanks. hars (mud- and debris flows) on its NE and W flanks. Volcán Copahue (active). 37.85ºS 71.17ºW Volcán Lanín (historical?). 39.63°S 71.50°W

Volcán Copahue (2.997 m) is a composite cone construct- line of nine craters – contains a briny, acidic, 300-m-wide dera, about 7 km NE of the summit. Infrequent mild-to- The beautifully symmetrical, 3.737-m-high volcán Lanín verse to the Andean chain. A small lava dome at the summit A postglacial ring – volcán Arenal – is located below ed along the Chile-Argentina border within the 8-km-wide crater lake (also referred to as el Agrio) and displays intense moderate explosive eruptions have been recorded at Copahue (Dead Rock) is a large, conical late-Pleistocene to Holocene fed blocky lava flows to the north. the SW flank of Lanín in Argentina. Trapa-Trapa caldera, which formed 0.6 million years ago near fumarolic activity. since the 18th Century. stratovolcano along the Chile-Argentina border, that rises It is believed that Lanín erupted last around 540 BC, while A younger lava flow from Lanín covers deposits of volcán the NW margin of the 20x15 km, Pliocene-Pleistocene del Acidic hot springs, located below the eastern outlet of the Twentieth-century eruptions from the crater lake have 2.500 m above its base. it was also reported active after an in 1906. Arenal and extends south into Lago Paimún. Agrio caldera. crater lake contribute to the acidity of Río Agrio river, while ejected pyroclastic rocks and chilled liquid sulfur frag- It lies at the eastern end of a NW-SE-trending volcanic However, Sapper (1917) stated that newspaper accounts are The eastern summit crater – part of a 2-km-long, ENE-WSW another geothermal zone is located within the el Agrio cal- ments. group beginning with the Villarrica volcano, and is trans- strongly disputed, and that no historical eruptions are known. Puntiagudo - Cordón Cenizos Monte Cuyutué - La Viguería Cuernos del Diablo Hornopirén Haliaque (Apagado) Michinmávida Corcovado Palena group Southern Chile. Puyuhuapi Maca From Volcán Puntiagudo to Monte Hudson Arenales Volcán Fuegino Palei-Aike Fuegino From the Longaví sound: Osorno, Puntiagudo and Calbuco

Four major volcanoes dominate the landscape around the This image, taken from the Seno de Longaví sound, fea- massive Monte Tronador volcano, which, from this angle, is city of and the , in Chile’s X tures three of them, FLTR: volcanes Osorno, Puntiagudo and hidden just behind Calbuco. Still, its presence can be inferred Region, one currently active and one historically active. Calbuco (last eruption: 04-2015). Conspicuously absent is the through the cloud to the right of Calbuco. From the North: Puntiagudo, Tronador and Osorno Volcán Puntiagudo. 40.97°S 72.26°W Volcán Osorno (historical). 41.10°S 72.49°W

The symmetrical, glacier-clad Osorno volcano forms a Chilean Andes. The conical volcano contains two small dac- renowned landmark that towers over the Todos los Santos itic lava domes on the NW and SSE flanks . and Llanquihue . Flank scoria cones and fissure vents, primarily on the west Osorno is constructed over a roughly 250.000-year-old, and SW sides, have produced lava flows that reached Lago The Puntiagudo-Cordón Cenizos volcanic chain lies be- An 18-km-long fissure system with more than 40 late- The only historical eruption appears to have occurred in eroded stratovolcano, la Picada, which features a, mostly Llanquihue (inset image). tween the lago Rupanco and lago Todos los Santos lakes in Pleistocene to Holocene basaltic scoria cones and small stra- 1850, when ash fall was reported from the Cordón Cenizos buried, 6-km-wide caldera. Historical eruptions at Osorno have originated from both the Chilean lake district. tovolcanoes extends to the NE. chain. La Picada underlies Osorno on the NE and has postgla- summit and flank vents and have produced basaltic and an- Volcán Puntiagudo is a late-Pleistocene andesitic stratovol- Lava flows from these centres descend to the NW and cial maars and scoria cones. desitic lava flows that have entered both the Llanquihue and cano with a prominent 2.493-m-high, sharp-peaked sum- SE, in some cases reaching the shores of both Rupanco and The 2.652-m-high dominantly basaltic to basaltic-andesite Todos los Santos lakes. mit, which is the result of glacial dissection. Todos los Santos, forming irregular peninsulas. Osorno is one of the most active volcanoes of the southern Tronador volcanic group. 41.16°S 71.89°W Volcán Calbuco (active). 41.33°S 72.61°W

Along with its neighbor Osorno, Calbuco is one of the Calbuco is responsible for one of the largest historical led to the evacuation of the population in a 20 km. radius most active volcanoes of the southern Chilean Andes. eruptions in southern Chile, which took place from 1893- around the mountain. The isolated late-Pleistocene to Holocene andesitic vol- 1894 and concluded with lava The massive, glacier clad, 3.478-m-high Tronador volcanic The only possible Holocene activity in the group took cano rises to 2.003 m, and lies south of the Lago Llanquihue dome emplacement. group features 6 prominent peaks and straddles the Chile- place SSE of Monte Tronador, where the Fonck lake in the Chilean lake district. Subsequent eruptions have Argentina border east of the lago de . (also known as cerro Volcánico) overlies rocks of the Steffen Guanahuca, Guenauca, Huanauca, and Huanaque – all enlarged the lava-dome com- It owes its name, “Thunderer”, to the noise originated by volcano group to the SE of Tronador. listed as synonyms of Calbuco – are actually synonyms of plex in the summit crater. large ice shelves released from its hanging glaciers or “ventis- The well-preserved summit cone was the source of a single nearby Osorno. (Moreno 1985, pers. comm.). On April 22, 2015 the vol- queros” crashing into in the surrounding ravines (inset). andesitic lava flow that postdates the last glacial cycle, dat- Calbuco is elongated in a SW-NE direction and capped cano entered in activity for Activity dates back to the early Pleistocene, and the most ing back to 70.000-14.000 years ago and has variously been by a 400-500 m wide summit crater. the first time since 1972 with prominent part of the dominantly basaltic-to-andesitic complex inferred to be, of latest, Pleistocene or Holocene. The complex evolution of Calbuco included edifice col- a massive eruption, followed is the prominent, glacier-covered Monte Tronador volcano, lapse of an intermediate edifice during the late Pleistocene that by two smaller ones on April which formed in three stages during the mid-Pleistocene. produced a 3 cu km debris avalanche that reached the lake. 24 and 30 respectively, which Calbuco (L) and Tronador (R) seen from the west Volcán Yate. 41.75ºS 72.40ºW Volcanes Hornopirén & Hualiaque. 41.86ºS 72.43ºW

Volcán Yate is a massive, late-Pleistocene, glacially dis- The elongated volcano contains six eruptive centers local- sected, basaltic-andesite stratovolcano with Holocene para- ized along a about 7,5 km long NW-trending fissure. Volcán Hornopirén (the symmetrical mountain above), volcano and overlie the graben floor. The volcano is said to from a second pyroclastic cone, which is supposed to have sitic vents. The most recent activity originated from basaltic-andesite located SSW of Yate volcano, is a morphologically youthful have erupted in 1835, although no details are known. travelled through that same breach, are not prominent on One of these flank vents is labeled volcán Yate on the vol- pyroclastic cones on the NW and western flanks. basaltic-andesite stratovolcano that is mostly forested. Hualiaque (also known as Apagado) is a symmetrical, satellite imagery. cán Hornopirén 1:50.000 quadrangle map. No historical eruptions are known from volcán Yate, al- The 1.572-m-high volcano lies along a graben defined by sparsely vegetated, pyroclastic cone with a well-preserved 400 The volcano (visible as the -rimmed brownish cone, Little is known of the geologic history of this isolated vol- though the fresh morphology of its satellite cones suggests the major regional Liquiñe-Ofqui zone, north of the m wide summit crater, located 13 km west of Hornopirén. above) was estimated to be of Holocene age by González- cano, located NNE of volcán Hornopirén and south of the an historical age (González-Ferrán, 1995). Hornopirén strait and immediately south of Lago Cabrera. A 6-km-wide depression breached to the SW is men- Ferrán (1995), which is consistent with its youthful appear- Seno de Reloncaví sound. Prominent lava flows descend beyond the SW base of the tioned by González-Ferrán (1995) and a small lava flow ance. Volcán (historical). 42.79ºS 72.44ºW Volcán Chaitén in eruption (10-2008)

The glacier-covered, basaltic-to-andesitic volcán Michin- a youthful eruptive centre is located on the ENE side of the nowned voyage that took him to the Galápagos Islands. mahuida (2.404 m), located west of Lago Reñihue, has a sad- complex. The latest known eruption of Michinmahuida, from Feb- dle-shaped summit with an elongated 3-km-wide caldera. An eruption from Michinmahuida was reported in 1742. ruary to March 1835, produced a lava flow from a flank crater The massive edifice is elongated in a NE-SW direction, and Darwin observed the volcano in activity in 1834 on his re- and that reached the coast at Punta Chana. Volcán Chaitén (active). 42.82ºS 72.65ºW

Chaitén is a small, glacier-free caldera with a Holocene sidian lava dome occupied much of the caldera floor. duced major rhyolitic explosive activity and the growth of a lava dome located 10 km NE of the town of Chaitén on cobbles from this dome found in the Blanco River lava dome that fills much of the caldera (inset image). the Gulf of Corcovado and SE of the massive Michinvádiva are the source of prehistorical artifacts from archaeological The resulting ash column rose to over 10 km high and, volcano. sites along the Pacific coast as far as 400 km away. blown by the reining , debris reached the Atlantic A pyroclastic-surge and pumice layer that was considered to The caldera is breached on the SW side by a river that drains Ocean – 800 km to the east – in a matter of days. originate from the eruption that formed the elliptical 2,5x4 km to the bay of Chaitén, and the high point on its southern rim The eruption forced the evacuation of the homonym town wide summit caldera was dated at about 9.400 years ago. reaches 1.122 m. by the Chilean Navy, while nearby towns, such as Villa de Previous to the 2008 eruption, a rhyolitic, 962-m-high ob- The first historical eruption of Chaitén volcano in 2008 pro- Angostura (AR) were buried under well over 30 cm of ash. Volcán Corcovado. 43.19ºS 72.79ºW Volcán Yanteles. 43.48ºS 72.80ºW

Little-known Yanteles volcano is composed of five glacier- Concepción earthquake, the nature of activity is not clear. Little is known of this isolated volcano that was suppos- A series of lakes flank the eastern side of the basaltic to Darwin observed activity from the Corcovado area in capped peaks along an 8-km-long NE-trending . Sapper (1917) reported that previously unseen black areas edly seen in eruption by Darwin. The Corcovado stratovol- basaltic-andesite volcano. 1834, while another eruption was reported to have occurred Historical time from this 2.042-m-high, andesitic volcan- were observed near the crater after the quake. cano, probably of late-Pleistocene age, is eroded by glaciers Eruptions in historical time were considered likely from in November 1835. ic complex is uncertain. Although there were reports of an González-Ferrán (1995) listed no historical eruptions from and surrounded by Holocene cinder cones. these postglacial volcanoes (Moreno 1985, pers. comm.). eruption from Yanteles at the time of the February 20, 1835 this Pleistocene-Holocene volcano. To view this presentation in high resolution, go here: http://gerardprins.com/PDF/70-chilean-volcanoes-geo-referenced.pdf My Flickr Volcanism Album: https://www.flickr.com/photos/gerardprins/sets/72157621756196405

Original texts: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program, edited and updated by the author http://www.volcano.si.edu