Purico Complex
Summit Elevation: 5703 m
Latitude: 23.00°S
Longitude: 67.75°W
The Purico volcanic complex consists of two
ignimbrite sheets, separated by a short
erosional interval, that were erupted about 1.3
million years ago, along with several
stratovolcanoes and lava domes that define a
postulated 10 x 20 km ring fracture. Cerro
Toco volcano overlies the vent area of the
Cajón Ignimbrite and a sulfur mine on its SE
flank was mined until the early 1990s. The
youngest lava domes, Cerro Chascón de
Purico and Cerro Aspero are of Holocene age
(de Silva and Francis, 1991). Both domes differ morphologically from many other flat-topped
silicic Andean volcanic domes and have 300-400 m high conical profiles. Cerro Chascón
was formed by a series of viscous lava flows, whereas Cerro Aspero appears to be a single
Pelean-type dome. The Chascón de Purico dacitic dome rising 1200 m above the ignimbrite
shield has a well-preserved summit crater and lava flows that show no evidence of glacial
modification. The dacitic-to-andesitic Macon stratovolcano of Holocene age lies at the
southern end of the complex, and the Alitar maar at the SE end displays constant solfataric
activity. (Global Volcanic Program)
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ignimbrite sheets, separated by a short
erosional interval, that were erupted about 1.3
million years ago, along with several
stratovolcanoes and lava domes that define a
postulated 10 x 20 km ring fracture. Cerro
Toco volcano overlies the vent area of the
Cajón Ignimbrite and a sulfur mine on its SE
flank was mined until the early 1990s. The
youngest lava domes, Cerro Chascón de
Purico and Cerro Aspero are of Holocene age
(de Silva and Francis, 1991). Both domes differ morphologically from many other flat-topped
silicic Andean volcanic domes and have 300-400 m high conical profiles. Cerro Chascón
was formed by a series of viscous lava flows, whereas Cerro Aspero appears to be a single
Pelean-type dome. The Chascón de Purico dacitic dome rising 1200 m above the ignimbrite
shield has a well-preserved summit crater and lava flows that show no evidence of glacial
modification. The dacitic-to-andesitic Macon stratovolcano of Holocene age lies at the
southern end of the complex, and the Alitar maar at the SE end displays constant solfataric
activity. (Global Volcanic Program)
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