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Lastarria

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 25.168°S
  • 68.507°W

  • 5706 m
    18720 ft

  • 355120
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

Most Recent Bulletin Report: February 2007 (BGVN 32:02) Citation IconCite this Report

Intense fumarolic emissions typical of activity since at least 1940

The rarely visited Lastarria has not erupted in historical time, but has displayed strong fumarolic activity (figure 1) for at least 67 years. This is the first Bulletin report ever issued on this volcano; it presents new images of the steaming edifice. On 2 February 2007, a group of scientists from the Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) and the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) observed the fumarolic activity from a distance. The scientists were on a field trip to count flamingos and other Andean birds at Ramsar sites. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (http://www.ramsar.org/), named after a city in Iran, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The group noted steam plumes blowing NE at mid-day from ~ 47 km SW. Fumarolic gases were again seen, from ~ 35 km WSW, slowly moving down the W slope of the cone (figure 2). Steam plumes were seen intermittently throughout the afternoon.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Lastarria imaged by satellite on an unknown date. Fumaroles can be seen on the SW and SE crater rims. Crater width (E-W) is ~600 m. Courtesy of Google Earth and DigitalGlobe.
Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Photograph showing Lastarria from ~35 km WSW, 2 February 2007. Fumarolic gases can be seen rising above the cone and moving down the W flank. Courtesy of Héctor Cepeda.

Jose Antonio Naranjo, who has worked at Lastarria since 1983, is very familiar with its spectacular fumarolic activity. He confirmed that the observations of February 2007 reflect Lastarria's normal intense fumarolic emissions. Such activity has continued since at least 1940, when observed by Danko Slozilo. Naranjo noted that in 2007 he saw the same fumarole locations as those he observed in 1983 and in October 2002 (figure 3). The temperatures of these fumaroles were unchanged between 1983 and 2002.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Photograph of the Lastarria cone showing the lava dome overlapping the N crater rim and fumaroles along the rim, October 2002. View is from the N. Courtesy of Jose Antonio Naranjo.

References. Naranjo, J.A., 1985, Sulphur flows at Lastarria volcano in the North Chilean Andes: Nature, v. 313, no. 6005, p. 778-780.

Naranjo, J.A., 1986, Geology and evolution of the Lastarria volcanic complex, north Chilean Andes: Unpublished M Phil. Thesis, The Open University, England, 157 p.

Naranjo, J.A., and Francis, P., 1987, High velocity debris avalanche at Lastarria volcano in the north Chilean Andes: Bull. Volcanol., v. 49, p. 509-514.

Naranjo, J.A., 1988, Coladas de azufre de los volcanes Lastarria y Bayo en el norte de Chile: reologia, genesis e importancia en geologia planetaria: Revista Geologica de Chile, v. 15, no. 1, p. 3-12.

Naranjo, J.A., 1992, Chemistry and petrological evolution of Lastarria volcanic complex in the north Chilean Andes: Geol. Magazine, v. 129, p. 723-740.

Information Contacts: Héctor Cepeda and Margaret Mercado, Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN), Chile; Jorge Carabantes, Cristian Rivera, Eric Díaz, and Juan Soto, Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), Chile; Jose Antonio Naranjo, Volcano Hazards Programme, Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria, Chile.

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Lastarria.

Bulletin Reports - Index

Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.

02/2007 (BGVN 32:02) Intense fumarolic emissions typical of activity since at least 1940




Information is preliminary and subject to change. All times are local (unless otherwise noted)


February 2007 (BGVN 32:02) Citation IconCite this Report

Intense fumarolic emissions typical of activity since at least 1940

The rarely visited Lastarria has not erupted in historical time, but has displayed strong fumarolic activity (figure 1) for at least 67 years. This is the first Bulletin report ever issued on this volcano; it presents new images of the steaming edifice. On 2 February 2007, a group of scientists from the Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN) and the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF) observed the fumarolic activity from a distance. The scientists were on a field trip to count flamingos and other Andean birds at Ramsar sites. The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (http://www.ramsar.org/), named after a city in Iran, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The group noted steam plumes blowing NE at mid-day from ~ 47 km SW. Fumarolic gases were again seen, from ~ 35 km WSW, slowly moving down the W slope of the cone (figure 2). Steam plumes were seen intermittently throughout the afternoon.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Lastarria imaged by satellite on an unknown date. Fumaroles can be seen on the SW and SE crater rims. Crater width (E-W) is ~600 m. Courtesy of Google Earth and DigitalGlobe.
Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Photograph showing Lastarria from ~35 km WSW, 2 February 2007. Fumarolic gases can be seen rising above the cone and moving down the W flank. Courtesy of Héctor Cepeda.

Jose Antonio Naranjo, who has worked at Lastarria since 1983, is very familiar with its spectacular fumarolic activity. He confirmed that the observations of February 2007 reflect Lastarria's normal intense fumarolic emissions. Such activity has continued since at least 1940, when observed by Danko Slozilo. Naranjo noted that in 2007 he saw the same fumarole locations as those he observed in 1983 and in October 2002 (figure 3). The temperatures of these fumaroles were unchanged between 1983 and 2002.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Photograph of the Lastarria cone showing the lava dome overlapping the N crater rim and fumaroles along the rim, October 2002. View is from the N. Courtesy of Jose Antonio Naranjo.

References. Naranjo, J.A., 1985, Sulphur flows at Lastarria volcano in the North Chilean Andes: Nature, v. 313, no. 6005, p. 778-780.

Naranjo, J.A., 1986, Geology and evolution of the Lastarria volcanic complex, north Chilean Andes: Unpublished M Phil. Thesis, The Open University, England, 157 p.

Naranjo, J.A., and Francis, P., 1987, High velocity debris avalanche at Lastarria volcano in the north Chilean Andes: Bull. Volcanol., v. 49, p. 509-514.

Naranjo, J.A., 1988, Coladas de azufre de los volcanes Lastarria y Bayo en el norte de Chile: reologia, genesis e importancia en geologia planetaria: Revista Geologica de Chile, v. 15, no. 1, p. 3-12.

Naranjo, J.A., 1992, Chemistry and petrological evolution of Lastarria volcanic complex in the north Chilean Andes: Geol. Magazine, v. 129, p. 723-740.

Information Contacts: Héctor Cepeda and Margaret Mercado, Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería (SERNAGEOMIN), Chile; Jorge Carabantes, Cristian Rivera, Eric Díaz, and Juan Soto, Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF), Chile; Jose Antonio Naranjo, Volcano Hazards Programme, Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria, Chile.

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 Lastarria. If this volcano has had large eruptions (VEI >= 4) prior to 10,000 years ago, information might be found on the Lastarria 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 data available for 2 deformation periods. Expand each entry for additional details.


Deformation during 2000 - 2008 [Uplift; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 2000 Stop Date: 2008 Direction: Uplift Method: InSAR
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: 6.00 km Latitude: -25.000 Longitude: -69.000
Figure (see Caption)

Inversion of the Lastarria signal using a finite spherical source showing (d) the observation data (InSAR), (e) the synthetic model, and (f) residuals that highlight three fumarolic areas (black circles). Dashed lines indicate flank movements (FM), which act on the western flank of the Lastarria volcano.

From: Ruch et al. 2009.


Model Solutions

Model Solution Type Min Depth Max Depth Min Volume Change Max Volume Change Remarks Citation
Sphere 1 1 8000 18000 Ruch et al. 2009

Reference List: Froger et al. 2007; Ruch et al. 2009.

Full References:

Froger, J. L., D. Remy, S. Bonvalot, and D. Legrand, 2007. Two scales of inflation at Lastarria-Cordon del Azufre volcanic complex, central Andes, revealed from ASAR ENVISAT interferometric data. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 255, 148-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2006.12.012

Ruch J, A Manconi, G Zeni, G Solaro, A Pepe, M Shirzaei, T R Walter, R Lanari, 2009. Stress transfer in the Lazufre volcanic area, central Andes. Geophysical Research Letters, 36, L22303. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL041276

Deformation during 1998 - 2011 [Uplift; Observed by InSAR]

Start Date: 1998 Stop Date: 2011 Direction: Uplift Method: InSAR
Magnitude: Unknown Spatial Extent: 40.00 km Latitude: -22.000 Longitude: -68.000

Remarks: Uplift centered at ""Lazufre"" region between Lastarria and Cordon del Azufre volcanoes. Deformation rate accelerated from 2 cm/yr to 3.5 cm/yr from 1998 to 2005, and has been constant from 2005 to 2011.

Figure (see Caption)

Stack of track 282 interferograms showing average LOS uplift at Lazufre between 1995 and 2011. Profiles along the approximate semi-major and semi-minor axis of the surface uplift pattern show the diameter of uplift varies between 50 and 70 km, with no evidence for a moat of subsidence.

From: Henderson and Pritchard 2013.


Model Solutions

Model Solution Type Min Depth Max Depth Min Volume Change Max Volume Change Remarks Citation
Point 6 8 6000000 8000000 Pritchard and Simons 2002
Plane 12 13 2000000 11800000 Ruch et al. 2009

Reference List: Pritchard and Simons 2002; Pritchard and Simons 2004a; Froger et al. 2007; Ruch et al. 2009; Henderson and Pritchard 2013.

Full References:

Froger, J. L., D. Remy, S. Bonvalot, and D. Legrand, 2007. Two scales of inflation at Lastarria-Cordon del Azufre volcanic complex, central Andes, revealed from ASAR ENVISAT interferometric data. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 255, 148-163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2006.12.012

Henderson, S. T., and M. E. Pritchard, 2013. Decadal volcanic deformation in the central Andes volcanic zone revealed by InSAR time series. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, 14: 1358–1374. https://doi.org/10.1002.ggge.20074

Pritchard, M. E., and M. Simons, 2002. A satellite geodetic survey of large-scale deformation of volcanic centres in the central Andes. Nature, 418, 167-171. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature00872

Pritchard, M. E., and M. Simons, 2004. Surveying volcanic arcs with satellite interferometry: The central Andes, Kamchatka, and beyond. GSA Today, 14(8), 4-9. https://doi.org/10.1130/1052-5173(2004)014<4:SVAWSR>2.0.CO

Ruch J, A Manconi, G Zeni, G Solaro, A Pepe, M Shirzaei, T R Walter, R Lanari, 2009. Stress transfer in the Lazufre volcanic area, central Andes. Geophysical Research Letters, 36, L22303. https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL041276

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Lastarria.

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

There are no samples for Lastarria in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites