Planchón-Peteroa volcano
Updated: Nov 29, 2023 03:08 GMT -
complex volcano 4107 m / 13,474 ft
Central Chile and Argentina (South America), -35.24°S / -70.57°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Central Chile and Argentina (South America), -35.24°S / -70.57°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
Last update: 10 Dec 2021 (Volcanic Ash Advisory)
Planchón-Peteroa is an elongated complex volcano along the Chile-Argentina border with several overlapping calderas. It is less than 550,000 years old and was formed by 3 different volcanoes representing different generations of the volcano: Azufre, Planchon and Peteroa.
Peteroa has been active into historical time and contains a small steaming crater lake. Historical eruptions from the Planchón-Peteroa complex have been dominantly explosive, although lava flows were erupted in 1837 and 1937.
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Planchón-Peteroa volcano eruptions: 2018, 2010-2011, 1998, 1991, 1967, 1962, 1960, 1959, 1938, 1937, 1889-94 (?), 1878, 1872 (?), 1869 (?), 1860, 1842 (?), 1837, 1835, 1762, 1660
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Azufre volcanoThe first volcano began its growth in the Pleistocene and constructed the basaltic-andesite to dacitic Volcán Azufre volcano.
Planchon volcano
After Azufre volcano was built, another basaltic and basaltic-andesite volcano grew 6 km to the north of it, Volcán Planchón volcano. Planchon is the northernmost basaltic volcano of the volcanic front of the Southern Volcanic Zone. It has a volume of ca. 25 km3 mainly of lava flows and very few pyroclastic rocks.
The lavas are exclusively basalt to basaltic andesite, more silica-rich rocks such as andesite or dacite are absent. Most eruptions occurred from the summit vents as there are very few dikes exposed.
Planchón volcano grew very quickly and its growth was not interrupted by glaciation, preventing deep erosion while it was growing. A large sector of Planchón and part of Azufre volcano collapsed 10,000 years ago producing Río Teno debris avalanche, removing 6 km3 of the mountain. The debris flow traveled 95 km distance. After the partial collapse of Planchon, a new edifice known as Planchon II was constructed inside the scar, but most of it was later eroded by summit glaciers and explosive eruptions from Peteroa volcano.
Peteroa Volcano
New scattered vents became active between Azufre and Planchon volcanoes and are called Peteroa volcano, the youngest volcano of the complex and the focus of recent volcanism. Peteroa has erupted a total of less than 1 km3 of lavas and not yet formed a central volcanic cone.
In contrast to Azufre and Planchón, Peteroa's magmas have differentiated more strongly and erupted mixed magmas of andesitic and dacitic composition. Many magmas from Peteroa volcano are andesites formed by magma mixing.
The amphitheater of Peteroa contains 2 phreatomagmatic explosion pits (100 m diameter and 70 m deep) and a possible third explosion pit, suggested by a 100 m diameter spiral crevasse in ice.
Magma evolution and mixing at Planchón-Peteora volcano
The volcanic system has evolved over the past 500,000 years from bimodal basaltic-dacite (primitive to highly differentiated) magmas at Azufre, to alkali-basaltic magmas at Planchón and magma-mixing formed andesite magmas at the present-day active Peteora volcano.
Sources:
- Tormey, D.R. (1989) "Gelogy and Geochemistry of the Active Azufre-Planchon-Peteroa Volcanic Center (35°15'S, Southern Andes): Implications for Cordilleran Arc Magmatism", Massachusetts Institue of Technology (PhD thesis)
- Tormey, D.R. et al (1995) "Geochemistry of the Active Azufre—Planchon—Peteroa Volcanic Complex, Chile (35°15′S): Evidence for Multiple Sources and Processes in a Cordilleran Arc Magmatic System" J. Petrology 36 (2): 265-298
2010 eruption
Continuous strong ash eruptions from Planchón-Peteroa volcano produced an ash plume reaching 25,000 ft (8 km) altitude on 13 January 2010.
Continuous strong ash eruptions from Planchón-Peteroa volcano produced an ash plume reaching 25,000 ft (8 km) altitude on 13 January 2010.
2001 intense fumarolic activity
Intense, increased fumarolic activity occurred at Planchón-Peteroa volcano in Jan-Feb 2001.
Intense, increased fumarolic activity occurred at Planchón-Peteroa volcano in Jan-Feb 2001.
1998 ash eruption
In November 1998 small phreatic eruptions occurred at the volcano. Ash fell on Carrizales town, 8 km to the NW.
In November 1998 small phreatic eruptions occurred at the volcano. Ash fell on Carrizales town, 8 km to the NW.
1991 eruption - ash emission and contamination of water
On 9 February 1991 an explosive eruption occurred at Planchon-Peteroa volcano, producing an ash plume of 1000 m height, and causing ash fall in 30 km distance ESE from the volcano.
Large numbers of fish were killed in the Claro and Teno rivers, and the water supply for Los Queñes (population ~1,200), 35 km NW of the volcano, was contaminated. It is thought that this happened because during the initial phase of the eruption, water was ejected from the crater lake and entered the the Claro and Teno rivers.
(Source: GVP monthly reports)
On 9 February 1991 an explosive eruption occurred at Planchon-Peteroa volcano, producing an ash plume of 1000 m height, and causing ash fall in 30 km distance ESE from the volcano.
Large numbers of fish were killed in the Claro and Teno rivers, and the water supply for Los Queñes (population ~1,200), 35 km NW of the volcano, was contaminated. It is thought that this happened because during the initial phase of the eruption, water was ejected from the crater lake and entered the the Claro and Teno rivers.
(Source: GVP monthly reports)
1937 eruption
An eruption in 1937 built a small cinder cone and lava flow contained entirely within the summit amphitheater.
An eruption in 1937 built a small cinder cone and lava flow contained entirely within the summit amphitheater.
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