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Taapaca

Photo of this volcano
  • Chile
  • Complex
  • 320 BCE
  •  
  • Country
  • Primary Volcano Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  •  
  • 18.1°S
  • 69.5°W

  • 5860 m
    19226 ft

  • 355011
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports for Taapaca.

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

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Taapaca.

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 8 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

0320 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
0320 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

1580 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1580 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

1860 BCE ± 100 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
1860 BCE ± 100 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

2400 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
2400 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

2950 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
2950 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

4620 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
4620 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

5490 BCE ± 50 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
5490 BCE ± 50 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra

7900 BCE ± 75 years Confirmed Eruption  

Episode 1 | Eruption Episode
7900 BCE ± 75 years - Unknown Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (uncalibrated)

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion
   - - - -    - - - - Tephra
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Taapaca.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Taapaca.

Photo Gallery

The snow-capped Taapaca (Nevados de Putre) volcanic complex rises to the north above rhyodacitic pyroclastic deposits in the Pampa del Muerto. Taapaca volcano rises NE of the town of Putre in northern Chile. Putre is built on top of debris-avalanche deposits from Taapaca, which consists of a dacitic lava-dome complex. The latest stage of activity during the Holocene produced the 5860-m-high summit lava dome complex (center horizon).

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).
The Taapaca volcanic complex rises to the NE above the town of Putre, just out of view to the left. The elongated volcanic massif consists of an initial andesitic stratovolcano and a long-term dacitic lava-dome complex. The 5860-m-high dome complex on the right horizon is part of the Holocene Putre unit, formed during the latest eruptive stage. The left-hand dome is part of the late-Pleistocene Socapave unit. A pyroclastic apron from Taapaca, including a late-Pleistocene debris-avalanche deposit, forms the foreground.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 2004 (Smithsonian Institution).
The elongated Taapaca massif rises to the SE above the gentle slopes of block-and-ash flow deposits from the volcano. The steeply dipping lava flow on the left horizon caps hydrothermally altered rocks of a Pleistocene stratovolcano of the Taapaca II complex. The dome complex at the center is of part of the dacitic Pleistocene Taapaca III complex, and the light-colored dome at the right is part of the dacitic Pleistocene-to-Holocene Taapaca IV complex.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 2004 (Smithsonian Institution).
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 Taapaca in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.

External Sites