Cordon de Puntas Negras
Stratovolcano(es) in Chile
Key Facts
Elevation
5,852 m (19,199 ft)
Type
Stratovolcano(es)
Location
-23.743°, -67.534°
Region
Central Andean Volcanic Arc
Rock Type
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Tectonic Setting
Subduction zone
Location
Loading map...
Overview
Two intersecting volcanic chains, the Cordón de Puntas Negras and Cordón Chalviri, trend roughly SE from Chiliques volcano to Volcán Puntas Negras stratovolcano and SW from there to Cerro Tuyajto, respectively. The chain of small cones, lava domes, lava flows, and maars covers an area of about 500 km2 and contains at least 25 different vents. The Cordón de Puntas Negras is situated along the southern margin of the 35 x 70 km Pliocene La Pacana caldera.
The pristine morphology of many of the volcanic features indicates a Holocene (de Silva and Francis, 1991) or historical (González-Ferrán, 1995) age. Small cones such as Cerros Cenizas, Aguas Calientes, Laguna Escondida, and Chinchilla have well-preserved summit craters and produced short lava flows. A distinct maar-type vent is present, as well as a 13 km2 silicic lava flow and dome complex.
A volcanic center immediately SE of Cerro Laguna Escondida appears to be the youngest vent of the complex.
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: 355101
- •Evidence: Evidence Credible
- •Epoch: Holocene
About the Photo
The Cordón de Puntas Negras, a NW-SE-trending chain of small cones, lava domes, and lava flows, extends from SE of Cerro Chiliques to the Volcán Puntas Negras stratovolcano. This view of the southern end of the chain shows multiple vents that fed pristine-looking lava flows with prominent flow levees. The Cordón de Puntas Negras chain is situated along the southern margin of the 35 x 70 km Pliocene La Pacana caldera.
Photo by Instituto Geográfico Militar, courtesy of Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).
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.