Skip to main content

Irruputuncu

Stratovolcano · Chile-Bolivia · 5163m

Steam rises from the fumarolically active southern summit crater of Irruputuncu, a small stratovolcano that straddles the Chile/Bolivia border.  Irruputuncu, seen here from the WSW, was constructed within the collapse scarp of a Holocene debris avalanche whose deposit extends to the SW.  Levees of viscous lava flows down the western flank of an edifice that was constructed within this scarp are seen at the lower left.  The first unambiguous historical eruption from Irruputuncu took place in November 1995.
Steam rises from the fumarolically active southern summit crater of Irruputuncu, a small stratovolcano that straddles the Chile/Bolivia border. Irruputuncu, seen here from the WSW, was constructed within the collapse scarp of a Holocene debris avalanche whose deposit extends to the SW. Levees of viscous lava flows down the western flank of an edifice that was constructed within this scarp are seen at the lower left. The first unambiguous historical eruption from Irruputuncu took place in November 1995. · Photo: Photo by José Naranjo, 2001 (Servico Nacional de Geologica y Mineria).
Type
Stratovolcano
Country
Chile-Bolivia
Region
South America Volcanic Regions / Central Andean Volcanic Arc
Elevation
5163m
Coordinates
-20.730, -68.550
Last eruption
1995
Tectonic setting
Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km)
Landform
Composite
Major rock type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Geological summary

Irruputuncu is a small stratovolcano that straddles the Chile/Bolivia border. It is the youngest and most southerly of a NE-SW-trending chain of volcanoes. It was constructed within the collapse scarp of a Holocene debris avalanche whose deposit extends to the SW. Subsequent eruptions filled much of this scarp and produced thick, viscous lava flows down the W flank. The summit complex contains two craters, the southernmost of which is fumarolically active. The first unambiguous historical eruption took place in November 1995, when phreatic explosions produced dark ash clouds.

From Wikipedia

Irruputuncu is a volcano in the commune of Pica, Tamarugal Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile, as well as San Pedro de Quemes Municipality, Nor Lípez Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia. The mountain's summit is 5,163 m (16,939 ft) high and has two summit craters—the southernmost 200 m (660 ft)-wide one has active fumaroles. The volcano also features lava flows, block and ash flows and several lava domes. The volcano is part of the Andean Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ).

Wikipedia · CC BY-SA · Read full article

Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
1989~1990 · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?1994~1995 · 1 eruptions · max VEI 219891990199219931994

Detailed timeline

  1. 1995VEI 2Observed
    1995-09-01 – 1995-09-26
  2. 1989VEI ?Geological estimate
    1989-12-16 – Ongoing

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.