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Antuco

Photo of this volcano
  • Chile
  • Stratovolcano
  • 1869 CE
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 37.406°S
  • 71.349°W

  • 2979 m
    9774 ft

  • 357080
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number
Most Recent Weekly Report: 24 April-30 April 2013 Citation IconCite this Report

The Buenos Aires VAAC reported that only gas and steam rose from Antuco on 20 April; although a pilot reported ash emissions, ash was not identified in satellite imagery or by web camera during clear skies.

Source: Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


Most Recent Bulletin Report: May 1992 (BGVN 17:05) Citation IconCite this Report

Fumarolic activity in summit crater's small scoria cone

During a February overflight, fumarolic activity was visible in the small scoria cone nested within the main crater. Weak summit fumaroles had previously been observed during visits in 1969, 1982, and March 1984. Fumarolic activity has apparently been continuous, but of variable intensity, from the cone since the volcano's last eruption in 1869. Lava flows from Antuco dammed Laja Lake's outlet in 1853, causing the water level to rise around 20 m.

Information Contacts: H. Moreno, SAVO, Temuco.

Weekly Reports - Index


2013: April


24 April-30 April 2013 Citation IconCite this Report

The Buenos Aires VAAC reported that only gas and steam rose from Antuco on 20 April; although a pilot reported ash emissions, ash was not identified in satellite imagery or by web camera during clear skies.

Source: Buenos Aires Volcanic Ash Advisory Center (VAAC)


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.

05/1992 (BGVN 17:05) Fumarolic activity in summit crater's small scoria cone




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


May 1992 (BGVN 17:05) Citation IconCite this Report

Fumarolic activity in summit crater's small scoria cone

During a February overflight, fumarolic activity was visible in the small scoria cone nested within the main crater. Weak summit fumaroles had previously been observed during visits in 1969, 1982, and March 1984. Fumarolic activity has apparently been continuous, but of variable intensity, from the cone since the volcano's last eruption in 1869. Lava flows from Antuco dammed Laja Lake's outlet in 1853, causing the water level to rise around 20 m.

Information Contacts: H. Moreno, SAVO, Temuco.

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

There is data available for 11 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1972 Jul 2 ± 182 days ] Discredited Eruption

[ 1929 ] Discredited Eruption

1869 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1869 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1869    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1863 Dec Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1863 Dec - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1863 Dec    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1862 Jan - 1862 Mar 3 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1862 Jan - 1862 Mar 3 Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Fumarolic or Solfataric

1861 Feb (?) - 1861 Aug (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 0

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1861 Feb (?) - 1861 Aug (?) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
1861 Feb
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1852 Nov - 1853 Jan Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode NE flank fissure and summit
1852 Nov - 1853 Jan Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at NE flank fissure and summit

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
1852 Nov    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
1853 Jan    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1848 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1848 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
1848    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1845 Feb 26 - 1845 Mar 1 (in or after) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1845 Feb 26 - 1845 Mar 1 (in or after) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow weak or small
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Bombs
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1845 Feb 26    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1839 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1839 - Unknown Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
1839    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1828 Dec 18 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1828 Dec 18 - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion weak or small
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1828 Dec 18    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1820 - 1821 (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 1

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1820 - 1821 (?) Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion weak or small
   - - - -    - - - - Lahar or Mudflow
1820    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1806 May (?) Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1806 May (?) - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
1806 May
(?)
   - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1752 Jan 31 - 1752 Feb 1 Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1752 Jan 31 - 1752 Feb 1 Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 7 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Lava flow
   - - - -    - - - - Ash
   - - - -    - - - - Lapilli
   - - - -    - - - - Blocks
   - - - -    - - - - Earthquakes (undefined)
1752 Jan 31    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

1750 ± 10 years Confirmed Eruption Max VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1750 ± 10 years - Unknown Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
1750 ± 10 years    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)

7750 BCE (?) Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
7750 BCE (?) - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Phreatic activity
   - - - -    - - - - Avalanche
   - - - -    - - - - Edifice Destroyed Collapse/avalanche
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Antuco.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Antuco.

Photo Gallery

Antuco volcano rises dramatically above the shores of Laguna de la Laja. Edifice failure at the beginning of the Holocene created a large horseshoe-shaped caldera whose NW rim forms the ridge descending diagonally across the photo to the right. The steep-sided modern basaltic cone has grown 1000 m since then, producing fresh-looking lava flows with prominent levees that have overtopped the caldera rim and reached the lake shore in the foreground. The most recent eruptions of Antuco occurred during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Photo by Hugo Moreno (University of Chile).
A somewhat fanciful sketch depicts visitors fleeing a small phreatic explosion from a vent in the summit crater of Antuco volcano on March 1, 1839. Historical eruptions of Antuco have been recorded since the middle of the 18th century. All historical activity has consisted of mild-to-moderate explosive eruptions, with the exception of a flank eruption during 1852-53 that produced a lava flow.

From the collection of Maurice and Katia Krafft.
Antuco volcano, seen here from the NW, has a complicated history beginning with construction of an andesitic stratovolcano during the Pleistocene. Edifice failure at the beginning of the Holocene produced a large debris avalanche that traveled down the Río Laja to the west. The collapse left a large horseshoe-shaped caldera whose NW rim forms the ridge descending to the right. The steep-sided modern basaltic cone (upper right) has grown 1000 m since then. Moderate explosive eruptions were recorded in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Photo by Norm Banks, 1990 (U.S. Geological Survey).
The snow-capped modern summit of 2979-m-high Antuco volcano rises above the rim of a large horseshoe-shaped caldera, whose WNW rim forms the flat ridge just above the snow line. The caldera was formed by collapse of an older Antuco volcano at the beginning of the Holocene. The 1-km-high modern cone subsequently grew at the head of the scarp. Eruptions from both summit and flank vents have occurred during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Photo by Norm Banks, 1990 (U.S. Geological Survey).
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 Antuco in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites