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Sierra la Primavera

Photo of this volcano
  • Mexico
  • Caldera
  • Pleistocene
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 20.62°N
  • 103.52°W

  • 2270 m
    7448 ft

  • 341820
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Sierra la Primavera.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Sierra la Primavera.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Sierra la Primavera.

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.

Eruptive History

The Global Volcanism Program is not aware of any Holocene eruptions from Sierra la Primavera. If this volcano has had large eruptions (VEI >= 4) prior to 10,000 years ago, information might be found on the Sierra la Primavera page in the LaMEVE (Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions) database, a part of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Sierra la Primavera.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Sierra la Primavera.

Photo Gallery

The Sierra La Primavera complex has been the site of extensive geothermal development. The drill rig here is at well PR-5, located near the center of the caldera just south of the Mesa El Nejahuete lava dome. Surface exposures in this location consist of tephra-rich lacustrine sediments.

Photo by Pat Dobson, 1982 (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory).
Steam rises from fumaroles (foreground) of the La Primavera geothermal field along La Azufrera fault, which can be seen in the vertical rock-filled gully in the background. Note the person observing the fault for scale. The geothermal field at La Primavera has been explored by the Mexican Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and exploratory drilling began in 1980.

Photo by Pat Dobson, 1982 (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory).
The small Cerro El Colli lava dome is the easternmost of several emplaced along the Sierra La Primavera volcanic complex eastern caldera rim. Eruption of the Southern Arc lavas began about 60,000 years ago and were accompanied by eruptions of airfall pumice and pyroclastic flows. Southern Arc lavas are generally younger to the east.

Photo by Jim Luhr, 1999 (Smithsonian Institution).
The giant pumice beds at Primavera volcano represent an unusual sedimentation event following formation of La Primavera caldera. Individual pumice blocks from 0.3 to more than 6 m across are enclosed within fine-grained volcanic ash-rich lake sediments. The giant pumice blocks originated by eruption of rhyolitic lava into a caldera lake. The pumice fractured into large blocks that floated to the surface, rafted across the lake, and settled to the bottom after becoming waterlogged. Subsequent deposition of fine-grained lake sediments buried the pumice blocks.

Photo by Jim Luhr, 1979 (Smithsonian Institution).
The small Cerro El Colli is one of the youngest post-caldera domes of the Sierra La Primavera volcanic complex, immediately west of the city of Guadalajara. The dome, seen here from the south, has been dated to about 30,000 years and is the easternmost of several emplaced near the southern caldera rim. An 11-km-wide caldera formed as a result of the eruption of the 20 km3 Tala Tuff about 95,000 years ago. Fumaroles and hot springs are active throughout the volcanic complex.

Photo by Hugo Delgado-Granados, (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México).
GVP Map Holdings

The maps shown below have been scanned from the GVP map archives and include the volcano on this page. Clicking on the small images will load the full 300 dpi map. Very small-scale maps (such as world maps) are not included. The maps database originated over 30 years ago, but was only recently updated and connected to our main database. We welcome users to tell us if they see incorrect information or other problems with the maps; please use the Contact GVP link at the bottom of the page to send us email.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

The following 25 samples associated with this volcano can be found in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences collections, and may be availble for research (contact the Rock and Ore Collections Manager). Catalog number links will open a window with more information.

Catalog Number Sample Description Lava Source Collection Date
NMNH 117551-16 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-17 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-18 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-19 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-20 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-21 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-22 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-23 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-24 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-25 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-26 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-27 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-28 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-29 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-30 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-31 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-32 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-33 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-34 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-35 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-36 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-37 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-38 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-39 Unidentified -- --
NMNH 117551-40 Unidentified -- --
External Sites