Global Volcanism Program | Chaine des Puys

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Chaine des Puys.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Chaine des Puys.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Chaine des Puys.

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

210020

4040 BCE

1464 m / 4802 ft

45.775°N
2.97°E

Volcano Types

Lava dome(s)
Pyroclastic cone(s)
Maar(s)

Rock Types

Major
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Trachybasalt / Tephrite Basanite

Minor
Trachyandesite / Basaltic Trachyandesite
Trachyte / Trachydacite

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

323,392
323,392
427,221
1,577,243

Geological Summary

The Chaîne des Puys, prominent in the history of volcanology, form a N-S-trending chain of basaltic and trachytic cinder cones, basaltic maars, and trachytic lava domes in France's Massif Central that has been active into the Holocene. Construction of the present-day Chaîne des Puys began about 70,000 years before present (BP), and was largely completed by the beginning of the Holocene. Holocene eruptions constructed lava domes such as the Puy de Dôme, whose growth was accompanied by pyroclastic flows, cinder cones that fed lengthy lava flows, and maars. The latest well-documented activity took place about 6000 BP near Besse-en-Chandesse and included the powerful explosions that formed the Lac Pavin maar. The dating of younger tephras has not yet been confirmed, and reports of historical eruptions as late as 1000 BP have been discredited.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Brousse R, 1973. Le volcanisme Quaternaire en France-chronologie des differentes phase eruptives de la Chaine des Puys au Quaternaire recent. Internatl Quat Assoc (INQUA) Cong, 9: 105-109.

de Goer A, Boivin P, Camus G, Gourgaud A, Kieffer G, Mergoil J, Vincent P M, 1991. Volcanologie de la Chaine des Puys. Paris: Inst Geog Natl, 127 p and 1:25,000 geol map.

Geunet P, 1986. Datation par l'analyse pollinique de l'explosion des volcans du groupe Pavin (Besse-en-Chandesse, Puy-de-Dome, France). 11 Reun Ann Sci Terre, Clermont-Ferrand, Ed Soc Geol France, p 85.

Guerin G, 1989. La thermoluminescence des plagioclases, methode de datation du volcanisme. Application au domaine volcanique Francais: Chaine des Puys, Monts-Dore, Cezallier, Bas-Vivarais. Unpublished PhD thesis, Univ Pierre et Marie Curie, 253 p.

Hetier J M, Guillet B, Brousse R, Delibrias G, Maury R C, 1983. 14-C dating of buried soils in the volcanic Chaine des Puys (France). Bull Volc, 46: 193-202.

Juvigne E, Bastin B, Beaulieu J L de, Etlicher M, Gewelt M, Gilot E, Goeury C, Janssen C R, Milcamps V, Van Leeuwen J, 1990. Tephrostratigraphy of the late glacial and the Holocene of the French Massif Central based on investigations in peat-bogs. IAVCEI 1990 Internatl Volc Cong, Mainz, Abs, (unpaginated).

Krafft M, 1974. Guide des Volcans d'Europe. Neuchatel: Delachaux & Niestle, 412 p.

Pelletier H, Delibrias G, Labeyrie J, Perquis M T, Rudel A, 1959. Mesure de l'age d'une des coulees volcaniques issues du Puy de la Vache (Puy de Dome) par la methode du carbone 14. CR Acad Sci Paris, Series-D, 214: 2221.

Rutten M G, 1969. The Geology of Western Europe. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 520 p.

Eruptive History

Summary of Holocene eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

Start Date	Stop Date	Eruption Certainty	Evidence	Activity Area or Unit
4040 BCE ± 150 years	Unknown	Confirmed	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Montcineyre, Estivadoux, Pavin
5760 BCE (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	Thermoluminescence	Puy de Come, Puy Montchier
6020 BCE ± 150 years	Unknown	Confirmed	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Puy de Lassolas, Puy de la Vache
6250 BCE (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	Thermoluminescence	Puy de Pariou
6550 BCE (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Puys Chopine, Vasset, Cratère Kilian
7020 BCE ± 100 years	Unknown	Confirmed	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Taphanel tephra
7740 BCE (?)	Unknown	Confirmed	Thermoluminescence	Puy Mey
7840 BCE ± 200 years	Unknown	Confirmed	Radiocarbon (uncorrected)	Western Puy de Dôme

This compilation of synonyms and subsidiary features may not be comprehensive. Features are organized into four major categories: Cones, Craters, Domes, and Thermal Features. Synonyms of features appear indented below the primary name. In some cases additional feature type, elevation, or location details are provided.

Synonyms

Auvergne, Monts d'

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Balmet, Puy

Cone

Bannieres, Puy des

Cone

967 m

45° 53' 0" N

2° 57' 29" E

Barme, Puy de

Cone

1102 m

45° 44' 0" N

2° 56' 0" E

Chalard, Puy

Cone

840 m

45° 58' 0" N

2° 58' 30" E

Charmont, Puy de

Cone

1138 m

45° 41' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Chaumont, Puy de

Cone

1111 m

45° 50' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Combegrasse, Puy de

Cone

1120 m

45° 40' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Come, Puy de

Cone

1253 m

45° 48' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Coquille, Puy de la

Cone

1152 m

45° 50' 31" N

2° 58' 0" E

Espinasse, Puy d'

Cone

952 m

45° 52' 30" N

2° 57' 29" E

Fraisse, Puy de

Cone

1120 m

45° 48' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Gonnard, Puy

Cone

854 m

45° 54' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Goules, Puy de

Cone

1146 m

45° 49' 0" N

2° 59' 0" E

Goulie, Puy de la

Cone

944 m

45° 52' 30" N

2° 58' 0" E

Gouttes, Puy de

Cone

1134 m

45° 50' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Grand Suchet, Le

Cone

1231 m

45° 47' 31" N

2° 57' 0" E

Jumes, Puy de

Cone

1161 m

45° 51' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Lantegy, Puy de

Cone

Laschamp, Puy de

Cone

1255 m

45° 44' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Lassolas, Puy de

Cone

1187 m

45° 43' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Louchadiere, Puy de

Cone

1198 m

45° 51' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Mercoeur, Puy de

Cone

1249 m

45° 43' 0" N

2° 57' 29" E

Mey, Puy de

Cone

1136 m

45° 43' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Montchal, Puy de

Cone

1094 m

45° 42' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Montchier, Puy

Cone

1210 m

45° 45' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Montcineyre, Puy de

Cone

Montenard, Puy de

Cone

Montgy, Puy de

Cone

1131 m

45° 42' 0" N

2° 56' 0" E

Montjugeat, Puy de

Cone

1142 m

45° 42' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Nugere, Puy de la

Cone

988 m

45° 52' 0" N

2° 59' 0" E

Pariou, Puy de

Cone

1209 m

45° 48' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Paugnat, Puy de

Cone

898 m

45° 53' 0" N

2° 59' 0" E

Pelat, Puy

Cone

1208 m

45° 43' 30" N

2° 57' 0" E

Petit Puy de Dome

Cone

1264 m

45° 47' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Petit Sarcoui

Cone

1038 m

45° 50' 0" N

2° 59' 0" E

Poucharet, Puy de

Cone

1164 m

45° 43' 0" N

2° 56' 0" E

Rodde, Puy de la

Cone

1127 m

45° 40' 0" N

2° 57' 29" E

Tartaret

Cone

Taupe, Puy de la

Cone

1074 m

45° 41' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Tenusset, Puy de
Tunisset, Puy de

Cone

1056 m

45° 51' 29" N

2° 58' 0" E

Thiolet, Puy
Verrieres, Puy de

Cone

937 m

45° 54' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Toupe, Puy de la

Cone

Tressous, Puy de
Trois Sols, Puy des

Cone

983 m

45° 52' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Vache, Puy de la

Cone

1167 m

45° 42' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Vichatel, Puy de

Cone

1094 m

45° 42' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Anchal, Maar d'

Maar

750 m

Beauloup, Maar de

Maar

840 m

45° 50' 0" N

2° 54' 0" E

Beaunit, Cratere de

Maar

835 m

45° 54' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Ceyssat, Maar de

Maar

860 m

45° 46' 0" N

2° 54' 0" E

Clermont Chamalieres

Maar

390 m

45° 47' 0" N

3° 5' 0" E

Enval, Maar d'

Maar

911 m

45° 46' 0" N

3° 0' 0" E

Estivadoux, Maar d'

Maar

Montchatre, Maar de

Maar

920 m

45° 48' 0" N

3° 0' 0" E

Narse D'ampoix

Maar

1050 m

45° 40' 0" N

2° 56' 0" E

Narse D'espinsasse

Maar

1086 m

45° 39' 0" N

2° 56' 0" E

Pavin

Maar

Saint-Hippolyte, Cratere de

Maar

501 m

45° 54' 29" N

3° 4' 0" E

Tazenat

Maar

713 m

45° 59' 0" N

2° 59' 31" E

Villars, Maar de

Maar

750 m

45° 47' 0" N

3° 2' 0" E

Volvic, Maar de

Maar

732 m

45° 52' 0" N

3° 2' 0" E

Domes

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Chopine, Puy

Dome

1181 m

45° 50' 0" N

2° 57' 0" E

Clierzou

Dome

1197 m

45° 48' 0" N

2° 58' 0" E

Dome, Puy de

Dome

840 m

45° 46' 30" N

2° 58' 0" E

Grand Sarcoui

Dome

1147 m

45° 49' 0" N

2° 59' 0" E

Kilian Cratere

Dome

l'Aumone, Puy de
Petit Suchet

Dome

1198 m

45° 47' 31" N

2° 58' 0" E

Vasset, Puy

Dome

Photo Gallery

The Chaîne des Puys form a N-S-trending chain of cinder cones, maars, and lava domes in the Auvergne region of France. The Puy de Pariou crater in the foreground is a cinder cone that grew about 8200 years ago within an earlier tuff ring, whose rim appears immediately behind Pariou crater. A lava flow from Puy de Pariou traveled 8 km west to near the edge of the present-day city of Clermont-Ferrand. The sharper peak in the background is Puy de Chopine, whose complex history ended with domal uplift.

Photo by Loïc Jahan (Parc de Volcans, published in Green and Short, 1971).

The southern flanks of 1464-m-high Puy de Dôme, the highest peak of the Chaîne des Puys volcanic chain, rise above farmlands. Puy de Dôme originated during a series of eruptions about 10,000 years ago. Explosive destruction of the eastern side (right) of a massive lava dome was followed by growth of a second dome. Crumbling of a spine capping the second dome formed the low mound of breccia at the summit of Puy de Dôme, which has been covered by a pyroclastic-flow deposit from nearby Killian volcano.

Photo by Ichio Moriya (Kanazawa University).

The central part of the Chaîne des Puys volcanic chain in the Auvergne region of France is seen from the SW. Puy de Dôme is the rounded peak in the center, Puy de Côme is at the left, and Puy de Laschamp is the scoria cone at the right. The N-S-trending chain of basaltic and trachytic cinder cones, basaltic maars, and trachytic lava domes in France's Massif Central has been active into the Holocene. The latest well-documented activity took place about 6000 years ago.

Photo by Ichio Moriya (Kanazawa University).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 12 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections. Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number	Sample Description
NMNH 114971-38	Ultramafic nodule
NMNH 114971-39	Ultramafic nodule
NMNH 114971-40	Ultramafic nodule
NMNH 114971-41	Ultramafic nodule
NMNH 114971-42	Basalt
NMNH 114971-43	Ultramafic nodule
NMNH 114971-44	Ultramafic nodule
NMNH 114971-45	Ultramafic nodule
NMNH 114971-46	Basalt
NMNH 116691-1	Basalt volcanic bomb
NMNH 116691-1	Basalt volcanic bomb
NMNH 60678	Bomb

Affiliated Sites

Large Eruptions of Chaine des Puys

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

WOVOdat

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).

MODVOLC - HIGP MODIS Thermal Alert System

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.