Calabozos

Caldera in Chile

Key Facts

Elevation

3,508 m (11,509 ft)

Type

Caldera

Location

-35.558°, -70.496°

Region

Southern Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Dacite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The composite late-Pleistocene Calabozos caldera (14 x 26 km) produced major rhyodacitic-to-dacitic ashflow sheets of ~200-500 km3 each, collectively referred to as the Loma Seca Tuff, at 800,000, 300,000, and 150,000 years ago. Eruptive activity has continued into the Holocene, forming the 20-25 km3 and the four clustered vents of Descabezado Chico near the western caldera rim. The late-Holocene 2.

5 km3 Escorias dacitic lava flow from Descabezado Chico traveled more than 30 km S. Several hot-spring clusters are present along the margin of the central resurgent uplift within the caldera.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows and surges
Large explosive eruptions (VEI 4+)
Ash fall and tephra deposits
Lahars and debris flows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskModerate

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Dacite

Silica Content

Varied composition

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Formed by oceanic plate subduction, typically producing explosive eruptions due to water-rich magmas.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Evidence Credible

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

Metric	Value	Global Ranking	Significance
Total Recorded Eruptions	Unknown	Low	Moderately active volcano
Maximum VEI	VEI Unknown	Minor	Local impact potential
Recent Activity	Unknown	Historical	Historically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in South America Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The South America Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

•Smithsonian ID: 357042
•Evidence: Evidence Credible
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The 26 x 14 km late-Pleistocene Calabozos caldera contains several post-caldera vents of Holocene age. The Descabezado Chico group (mid right-center) was constructed over the buried western rim of the caldera. The Cerro de Medio group (mid extreme-right) grew within the southern part of the caldera. No historical eruptions are known, but hot-spring clusters occur within the caldera.

Photo by Hugo Moreno (University of Chile).