Cerro Porquesa

Cerro Porquesa (Aymara) is an approximately 4,600 metres (15,100 ft) high (800 metres (2,600 ft) above base) rhyodacite lava dome in the Andes. It has a 1.5 by 3 kilometres (0.93 mi × 1.86 mi) oval outline, and is 800 metres (2,600 ft) high. The lava dome is accompanied by block-and-ash flows and lava flows and the presence of two volcanic cones has been reported. The lava dome is of Pliocene/Pleistocene age with little glacial features on the younger domes indicating young ages. The Quebrada de Piga, which flows to Salar del Huasco, originates at Cerro Porquesa. The dome was formed in at least three different eruption stages, with each stage contributing about two or three different lobes. Further, a rhyolitic ignimbrite with 69.5% SiO2 may be linked to the domes. It fills a valley in the south of the complex about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) thick. This ignimbrite is dated 0.73±0.16 and 0.63 +0.92/-0.63 mya by potassium-argon dating in biotite, although with low precision. Another 0.28 mya

Elevation: 5190 m

Country: Chile

Explore topics:

Cerro Porquesa

Related mountains in Chile