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Meullin

Volcanic field in Chile

Key Facts

Elevation

1,080 m (3,543 ft)

Type

Volcanic field

Location

-45.220°, -73.050°

Region

Southern Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Meullín volcanic field consists of a chain of well-preserved cinder cones along the Lago Meullín, Lago Yulton, Río Cuervo, and Quitralco fault segments of the regional Liquine-Ofqui fault zone. The cones straddle both sides of the Aisén (Aysén) Fjord and were considered to be of Holocene age (Vargas et al. , 2013).

The cinder cones, a few of which are sub-aquatic, extend to the south along NE-SW, NNE-SSW, and N-S lines from Yulton Lake. The largest concentration of cones lies between Meullín Lake and the older Pleistocene Meullín volcano located west of the volcanic field, and additional forested cinder cones were constructed along the Río Pescado valley south of Aisén Fjord.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

    Risk Level

    Population at RiskModerate
    Infrastructure RiskModerate
    Aviation RiskSignificant

    Geological Composition & Structure

    Rock Types

    Primary
    Basalt / Picro-Basalt
    Silica Content
    Low (45-52% SiO₂)

    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

    MetricValueGlobal RankingSignificance
    Total Recorded EruptionsUnknownLowModerately active volcano
    Maximum VEIVEI UnknownMinorLocal impact potential
    Recent ActivityUnknownHistoricalHistorically 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: 358064
    • •Evidence: Evidence Credible
    • •Epoch: Holocene

    About the Photo

    Scoria cones of the Meullín volcanic field are across this May 2018 Planet Labs satellite image monthly mosaic (N is at the top; this image is approximately 8.5 km across). The field is located in southern Chile and the small cones are vegetated, many with visible summit craters.

    Satellite image courtesy of Planet Labs Inc., 2018 (https://www.planet.com/).

    Authority Sources

    Smithsonian GVP
    Official volcano database
    USGS Volcano Hazards
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Global Volcanism Program
    Smithsonian Institution

    Related Volcanoes

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    By Type:
    Caldera Volcanoes
    Large collapse features
    By Region:
    Kuril Volcanic Arc
    Subduction zone volcanoes

    Basic Information

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