Licto

Pyroclastic cone(s) in Ecuador

Key Facts

Elevation

3,322 m (10,899 ft)

Type

Pyroclastic cone(s)

Location

-1.786°, -78.614°

Region

Northern Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

The Licto group of scoria cones lies along the Río Chambo ~25 km SE of the city of Riobamba and just north of the town of Licto. These three basaltic andesite to andesitic cones form the southernmost area of Quaternary volcanism in the Interandean valley of Ecuador. The Cerro Tulabug cone is the largest, with Loma Bellavista ~2 km SE and Licto, the smallest, ~1 km down the WNW flank.

The group was considered to be of late Pleistocene or Holocene age (Hall, 1987, pers. comm; Eissen, 2006, pers. comm.

) based on the relatively youthful morphology of the cones.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

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 Uncertain

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 South America Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The South America 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: 352081
•Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Cerro Tulabug (right-center), part of the Licto group of basaltic andesite to andesitic scoria cones, is seen here from the SW. The cones lie along the Río Chambo about 25 km SE of the city of Riobamba and just north of the town of Licto and form the southernmost area of Quaternary volcanism in the Interandean valley of Ecuador. The cloud-draped conical volcano in the left-center background is Reventador, and the Cordillera Real forms the right horizon.

Photo by Patricio Ramon, 1998 (Instituto Geofisca, Escuela Politecnica Nacional).