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Cayambe

Compound volcano · Ecuador · 5790m

The massive compound Cayambe stratovolcano, seen here from the SW across Ecuador's Interandean Depression, is the northernmost of a chain of large, glacier-covered Holocene volcanoes along the western edge of the Cordillera Real. No historical eruptions are known from 5790-m-high Cayambe, although lava flows on the flanks of the volcano have very young morphologies. Pyroclastic-flow deposits of possible Holocene age are present.
The massive compound Cayambe stratovolcano, seen here from the SW across Ecuador's Interandean Depression, is the northernmost of a chain of large, glacier-covered Holocene volcanoes along the western edge of the Cordillera Real. No historical eruptions are known from 5790-m-high Cayambe, although lava flows on the flanks of the volcano have very young morphologies. Pyroclastic-flow deposits of possible Holocene age are present. · Photo: Photo by Minard Hall, 1982 (Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito). · Wikimedia Commons
Type
Compound volcano
Country
Ecuador
Region
South America Volcanic Regions / Northern Andean Volcanic Arc
Elevation
5790m
Coordinates
0.029, -77.986
Last eruption
1786
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

The massive compound andesitic-dacitic Cayambe stratovolcano is located on the western edge of the Cordillera Real, east of the Inter-Andean Valley. The volcano, whose southern flank is on the equator, is capped by extensive glaciers. The modern Nevado Cayambe, constructed to the east of older Pleistocene volcanic complexes, contains two summit lava domes about 1.5 km apart. Several other lava domes on the upper flanks have been the source of pyroclastic flows that reached the lower flanks. A prominent Holocene pyroclastic cone on the lower E flank, La Virgen, fed thick andesitic lava flows that traveled about 10 km E. Nevado Cayambe has also produced frequent explosive eruptions beginning about 4,000 years ago, with the most recent known activity during 1785-86.

From Wikipedia

Cayambe or Volcán Cayambe is a volcano in Ecuador, in the Cordillera Central, a range of the Ecuadorian Andes. It is located in Pichincha Province, some 70 km (43 mi) northeast of Quito. It is the third-highest mountain in Ecuador, at an elevation of 5,790 m (18,996 ft) above sea level.

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article →

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1800 BCE~1601 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?1402 BCE~1202 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?605 BCE~406 BCE · 3 eruptions · max VEI ?406 BCE~207 BCE · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?207 BCE~7 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?7 BCE~192 · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?192~391 · 2 eruptions · max VEI ?789~988 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?988~1188 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 41188~1387 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 41387~1586 · 2 eruptions · max VEI 41586~1785 · 3 eruptions · max VEI 21800 BCE1003 BCE7 BCE7891586

Detailed timeline

  1. 1785VEI 2Observed
    1785-02 – 1786-03
    Upper SE flank
  2. 1700VEI ?Geological estimate
    1700 – Ongoing
  3. 1590VEI ?Geological estimate
    1590 – Ongoing
    North flank of main summit
  4. 1570VEI 4Geological estimate
    1570 – Ongoing
    North flank of main summit
  5. 1440VEI ?Geological estimate
    1440 – Ongoing
  6. 1290VEI 4Geological estimate
    1290 – Ongoing
    Tarugo Corral lava dome (NE flank)
  7. 1270VEI ?Geological estimate
    1270 – Ongoing
  8. 1040VEI 4Geological estimate
    1040 – Ongoing
    Lava dome near eastern summit
  9. 880VEI ?Geological estimate
    880 – Ongoing
  10. 260VEI ?Geological estimate
    260 – Ongoing
  11. 200VEI ?Geological estimate
    200 – Ongoing
  12. 170VEI ?Geological estimate
    170 – Ongoing
  13. 10VEI ?Geological estimate
    10 – Ongoing
  14. 180 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 180 – Ongoing
  15. 230 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 230 – Ongoing
  16. 260 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 260 – Ongoing
  17. 460 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 460 – Ongoing
  18. 510 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 510 – Ongoing
  19. 560 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 560 – Ongoing
  20. 1300 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1300 – Ongoing
  21. 1650 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1650 – Ongoing
  22. 1800 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 1800 – Ongoing

External links

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