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Pular

Photo of this volcano
  • Country
  • Volcanic Region
  • Landform | Volc Type
  • Last Known Eruption
  • 24.188°S
  • 68.054°W

  • 6,233 m
    20,449 ft

  • 355107
  • Latitude
  • Longitude

  • Summit
    Elevation

  • Volcano
    Number


Most Recent Bulletin Report: January 1991 (BGVN 16:01) Citation IconCite this Report

April eruption reports probably false

During field observations between 15 and 27 November 1990 no eruptive activity was observed . . . . Reports of miners working SW of Pular (closer than the April witnesses, who were 75 km NE) suggest that the 24 April eruption never took place.

Information Contacts: M. Gardeweg, SERNAGEOMIN, Santiago.

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

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.

06/1990 (BGVN 15:06) Ash emission

01/1991 (BGVN 16:01) April eruption reports probably false




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


June 1990 (BGVN 15:06) Citation IconCite this Report

Ash emission

Witnesses reported that "on 24 April at 1100 on a clear day with no clouds, a small eruption took place from Pular. It produced an explosion heard at El Laco (a Pacific Mining Company iron mine located 75 km NE; figure 3) and a column of black smoke that lasted just a few minutes above the summit, similar to those observed recently from Lascar." [but see 16:01] Geologists noted that the source of the 24 April eruption remains uncertain. Pular is believed to be Pleistocene in age.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 1. Sketch map of a portion of N Chile showing the locations of Pular and nearby volcanoes, and El Laco and other population centers. Courtesy of M. Gardeweg.

The summit and flanks show signs of deep glacial erosion, including lateral moraines as low as 4,100 m. Pular is the northernmost member of the chain of volcanoes that bears the same name (Cordon Pular). None of the chain has had historic volcanic activity. Cerro Pajonales (24.20°S, 68.10°W), a satellite vent of Pular (5 km SW of the summit; figures 2 and 3), is a lava and dome complex believed to be Quaternary in age. Although evidence of glaciation has been noted on Cerro Pajonales, geologists believed it to be a more likely source of the recent activity.

Figure (see Caption) Figure 2. Sketch map of Pular from the Sierra Almeida quadrangle (map SG-19-3-4, 1:250,000, Instituto Geográfico Militar, Chile).
Figure (see Caption) Figure 3. Geology map of Pular and surrounding region. Based on Gardeweg and others (in prep.) and Ramirez (1988).

References. Gardeweg, M., Ramirez, C.F., and Davidson, J., in prep., Hoja Sierra de Almeida, Region de Antofagasta (1:250,000): Carta Geológica de Chile, Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería.

Ramirez, C.F., 1988, Evidencias de Glaciación en el Macizo de los Volcanes Pular y Pajonales, Región de Antofagasta: Actas V Congr. Geol. Chileno, Tomo II, p. D143-D157.

Information Contacts: M. Gardeweg, SERNAGEOMIN, Santiago; Vinicio Travisany, CMP (Pacific Mining Company).


January 1991 (BGVN 16:01) Citation IconCite this Report

April eruption reports probably false

During field observations between 15 and 27 November 1990 no eruptive activity was observed . . . . Reports of miners working SW of Pular (closer than the April witnesses, who were 75 km NE) suggest that the 24 April eruption never took place.

Information Contacts: M. Gardeweg, SERNAGEOMIN, Santiago.

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 0 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

[ 1990 Apr 24 - 1990 Apr 24 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption
1990 Apr 24 - 1990 Apr 24 Evidence from Unknown

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date End Date Event Type Event Remarks
   - - - -    - - - - Explosion Uncertain
   - - - -    - - - - Audible Sounds
1990 Apr 24    - - - - VEI (Explosivity Index)
Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Pular.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Pular.

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

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.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites