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Ceboruco

Stratovolcano in Mexico

Last Eruption: 1875

Key Facts

Elevation

2,280 m (7,480 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

21.125°, -104.508°

Region

Trans-Mexican Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Volcán Ceboruco is the only volcano in the NW part of the Mexican Volcanic Belt with observed eruptions. The complex stratovolcano rises above the floor of the Tepic graben and is truncated by two concentric summit calderas. Eruption of the voluminous rhyodacitic Jala Pumice formed the initial 4-km-wide caldera about 1,000 years ago.

The second caldera, 1. 5 km wide, was formed by collapse of part of the large Dos Equis dacitic lava dome, which partly filled the earlier caldera. About 15 basaltic and andesitic cinder cones and lava flows have erupted along a NW-SE-trending line cutting across Ceboruco.

The massive, sparsely vegetated El Norte lava flow, probably erupted in the past few hundred years, covers the entire N flank. The last eruption took place during 1870-1875 CE. Explosive eruptions from a vent on the upper W flank accompanied extrusion of a 1.

1 km3 dacitic lava flow that covers a large area on the lower W flank.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

  • Pyroclastic flows
  • Lava flows
  • Volcanic bombs and ballistics
  • Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate
Infrastructure RiskModerate
Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Silica Content
Intermediate (57-63% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

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

Age & Formation

Epoch
Holocene
Evidence
Eruption Observed

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
Recent Activity151 years agoHistoricalHistorically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program
International eruption database

Current Status

Normal
No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity
The Middle America-Caribbean 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: 341030
  • Evidence: Eruption Observed
  • Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Volcán Ceboruco is a small, but complex stratovolcano with two concentric summit calderas. The thick lava flow (center) on the western flank was emplaced during an eruption in 1870-75. Eruption of the rhyodacite Jala Pumice formed the initial 4-km-wide caldera about 1,000 years ago. The second caldera was associated with partial collapse of the large Dos Equis dacite lava dome, which partly filled the earlier caldera. About 15 scoria cones and lava flows are across the flanks.

Photo by Jim Luhr, 1980 (Smithsonian Institution).

Basic Information

This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.