Sanganguey

Stratovolcano in Mexico

Key Facts

Elevation

2,340 m (7,677 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

21.450°, -104.730°

Region

Trans-Mexican Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Volcán Sangangüey, the highest volcano of the NW-SE-trending Tepic-Zacoalco graben, is an eroded andesitic and dacitic stratovolcano that contains a prominent lava spine at its summit. The NW and SE flanks of the Pleistocene edifice have 45 cinder cones that erupted during the past 300,000 years along five parallel lines. Some of the cinder cones appear morphologically similar to cones on nearby Ceboruco volcano that are known to be less than 1,000 years old.

There are no confirmed historical eruptions from Sangangüey. An incorrect report of an eruption in 1859 from San Juan (a synonym of Sangangüey) refers to the nearby Pleistocene San Juan volcano. An native tradition records an eruption in 1742 (Sapper, 1917), which may refer to activity from one of the flank cinder cones.

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

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 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: 341024
•Evidence: Evidence Credible
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Sangangüey is an eroded stratovolcano that is seen here from the SW across farmlands of the Tepic basin, with a spine visible in the summit crater. The NW and SE flanks contain 45 scoria cones that erupted during the past 300,000 years; some of these NW-flank cones are visible below the left horizon.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1997 (Smithsonian Institution).