Palomo

Stratovolcano in Chile

Key Facts

Elevation

4,860 m (15,945 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

-34.608°, -70.295°

Region

Southern Andean Volcanic Arc

Rock Type

Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone

Location

Loading map...

Overview

Palomo is a small stratovolcano that is somewhat dissected by glaciers. A NE-flank cone, Andres, is postglacial in age and has produced andesitic lava flows. The volcano lies W of the massive Caldera del Atuel and was constructed within double calderas 3 and 5 km in diameter.

The largely ice-covered volcano has erupted basaltic andesite to dacitic lava flows; the double crater indicates migration of activity to the NE. The youthful morphology suggests a very recent, perhaps pre-Hispanic, age.

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

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 Credible

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: 357022
•Evidence: Evidence Credible
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

Palomo is a small, 4850-m-high stratovolcano that is seen here from the NNE rising above ruggedly dissected basement rocks. Palomo was constructed within double calderas, 3 and 5 km in diameter, respectively. A flank cone, Andres, is postglacial in age and has produced andesitic lava flows. Palomo has erupted basaltic andesite to dacitic lava flows. No historical eruptions are known from Palomo, although its youthful morphology suggests a very young age.

Photo by Wolfgang Foerster, courtesy of Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).