Purico Complex
Shield(pyroclastic) in Chile
Key Facts
Elevation
5,703 m (18,711 ft)
Type
Shield(pyroclastic)
Location
-23.000°, -67.750°
Region
Central Andean Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Dacite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
The Purico volcanic complex consists of two ignimbrite sheets, separated by a short erosional interval, that were erupted about 1. 3 million years ago, along with several stratovolcanoes and lava domes that define a postulated 10 x 20 km ring fracture. Cerro Toco volcano overlies the vent area of the Cajón Ignimbrite.
A sulfur mine on its SE flank was mined until the early 1990s. The youngest lava domes, Cerro Chascón de Purico and Cerro Aspero are of Holocene age (de Silva and Francis, 1991). Both domes differ morphologically from many other flat-topped silicic Andean volcanic domes and have conical profiles.
The Cerro Chascón de Purico dacitic dome was formed by a series of viscous lava flows and has a well-preserved summit crater and lava flows that show no evidence of glacial modification. The Cerro Aspero appears to be a single Pelean-type dome. The dacitic-to-andesitic Macon stratovolcano of Holocene age lies at the southern end of the complex, and the Alitar maar at the SE end displays constant solfataric activity.
Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment
Primary Hazards
Risk Level
Geological Composition & Structure
Rock Types
Tectonic Setting
Age & Formation
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
Current Status
Nearby Volcanoes in South America Volcanic Regions
Quick Info
- •Smithsonian ID: 355094
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
Erosional furrows cut outflow sheets of Pleistocene ignimbrites of the Purico Complex that were erupted from a postulated 10 x 20 km ring fracture. The light-colored dome at the top center is Pleistocene in age, but the youngest lava domes, Cerro Chascón de Purico (center) and Cerro Aspero (the small dome at the bottom center) are of Pleistocene-Holocene age. The dacitic-to-andesitic Macon stratovolcano of Holocene age lies at the SW end of the complex (far left-center). The Guayaques volcanic chain lies at the upper right.
NASA Landsat image, 1999 (courtesy of Hawaii Synergy Project, Univ. of Hawaii Institute of Geophysics & Planetology).
Authority Sources
Related Volcanoes
Basic Information
This page shows basic data from the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. For more detailed information, visit the official Smithsonian page.