Global Volcanism Program

Cerro Azul

Country	Chile
Volcanic Region	Southern Andean Volcanic Arc
Landform \| Volc Type	Composite \| Stratovolcano
Last Known Eruption	1967 CE
Coordinates	35.653°S, 70.761°W
Elevation	3,788 m (12,428 ft)
Volcano Number	357060
Google Earth Placemark with Features
Cite Volcano Profile

Latest Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports available for Cerro Azul.

Latest Bulletin Report

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Cerro Azul.

Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports

The Global Volcanism Program has no Weekly Reports available for Cerro Azul.

Bulletin Reports

The Global Volcanism Program has no Bulletin Reports available for Cerro Azul.

General Information

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

357060

1967 CE

3,788 m / 12,428 ft

35.653°S
70.761°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Pyroclastic cone(s)
Maar(s)

Rock Types

Major
Dacite
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite

Minor
Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

Within 5 km
Within 10 km
Within 30 km
Within 100 km

9
158
3,832
720,948

Geological Summary

The Cerro Azul stratovolcano is at the southern end of the Descabezado Grande-Cerro Azul eruptive system. It is a steep-sided edifice with a 500-m-wide summit crater open to the north. The three basaltic andesite "La Resoloma Craters" scoria vents are located below the W flank and the two "Los Hornitos" scoria cones on the lower SW flank. Quizapu, a major vent on the northern flank of Cerro Azul, formed in 1846 during the first historical eruption, accompanied by the emission of voluminous dacitic lava flows that traveled both east into the Estero Barroso valley and west into the Río Blanquillo valley. Quizapu was later the source of one of the world's largest explosive eruptions of the 20th century in 1932, which created a 600-700 m wide, 150-m-deep crater and ejected 9.5 km³ of dacitic tephra.

References

The following references have all been used during the compilation of data for this volcano, it is not a comprehensive bibliography.

Casertano L, 1963. Chilean Continent. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World and Solfatara Fields, Rome: IAVCEI, 15: 1-55.

Gonzalez-Ferran O, 1972. Distribucion del volcanismo activo de Chile y la reciente erupcion del Volcan Villarrica. Instituto Geog Militar Chile, O/T 3491.

Gonzalez-Ferran O, 1995. Volcanes de Chile. Santiago: Instituto Geografico Militar, 635 p.

Hildreth W, Drake R E, 1992. Volcan Quizapu, Chilean Andes. Bulletin of Volcanology, 54: 93-125.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 9 confirmed eruptive periods.

1967 Aug 9 Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1967 Aug 9 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 5 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash	weak or small
- - - -	- - - -	Audible Sounds
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)
1967 Aug 9	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1949 Apr 15 ± 5 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1949 Apr 15 ± 5 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash	weak or small
1949 Apr 15 ± 5 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1933 Jul 2 ± 182 days - 1938 Jul 25 (?) Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1933 Jul 2 ± 182 days - 1938 Jul 25 (?)

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
	1933	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1916 Jul 2 ± 182 days - 1932 Apr 21 Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 5

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1916 Jul 2 ± 182 days - 1932 Apr 21

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 11 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Eruption cloud
- - - -	- - - -	Pyroclastic flow
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
- - - -	- - - -	Pumice
- - - -	- - - -	Lightning
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)
- - - -	- - - -	Property Damage
1916	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)
1932 Apr 10	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1914 Sep 8 Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1914 Sep 8 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Eruption cloud
1914 Sep 8	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1913 Jan 15 ± 45 days ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1913 Jan 15 ± 45 days - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Volcanic "smoke"
1913 Jan 15 ± 45 days	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1912 Feb 16 ± 15 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1912 Feb 16 ± 15 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
1912 Feb	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1907 Jul 28 Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1907 Jul 28 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
1907 Jul 28	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1906 Jul 2 ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1906 Jul 2 ± 182 days - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
1906	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1903 Jan 16 ± 15 days ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1903 Jan 16 ± 15 days - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity	Uncertain
	1903 Jan	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1846 Nov 26 - 1853 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quizapu

1846 Nov 26 - 1853 Jul 2 (?) ± 182 days

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1 at Quizapu

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	weak or small
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow	violent, strong, or large
- - - -	- - - -	Lightning
1846 Nov 26	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

Synonyms and Subfeatures

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.

Synonyms

Quizapu

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Hornitos, Los

Cone

2000 m

35° 43' 30.00" S

70° 48' 27.00" W

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Caracol

Crater

Casitas, Volcán

Fissure vent

2581 m

35° 41' 0.00" S

70° 48' 0.00" W

Quillayes, Crater los

Crater

2397 m

35° 40' 0.00" S

70° 51' 0.00" W

Quizapu
Medio, Cerro del
Nuevo, Volcán

Crater

3292 m

35° 37' 59.00" S

70° 45' 22.00" W

Resolana, Crater la

Crater

2467 m

35° 38' 0.00" S

70° 51' 0.00" W

Sin Nombre, Crater

Crater

2271 m

35° 39' 0.00" S

70° 50' 0.00" W

Photo Gallery

Descabezado Grande (center) and Cerro Azul (middle right), seen here from the NW, are the most prominent features of a large volcanic field. The most active of the two large stratovolcanoes is 3810-m-high Cerro Azul. Quizapú, a vent that formed in 1846 on the northern flank of Cerro Azul, was the source of one of the world's largest explosive eruptions of the 20th century in April 1932. The eruption created a 600-700 m wide crater and ejected 9.5 cu km of dacitic tephra. The only historical eruption of Descabezado Grande took place later in 1932.

Photo by Jeff Post, 1988 (Smithsonian Institution). Thumbnail Photo (see caption)

The gaping crater of the 1932 Quizapú eruption (left-center) lies below the summit of Cerro Azul stratovolcano. Cerro Azul was constructed to the south of its twin volcano Descabezado Grande, where this photo was taken. Steep-sided Cerro Azul has a 500-m-wide summit crater that is open to the north. Quizapú was the source of one of the world's largest explosive eruptions of the 20th century in 1932. This eruption created a 600-700 m wide, 150 m deep crater and ejected 9.5 cu km of dacitic tephra.

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

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

External Sites

Copernicus Browser

The Copernicus Browser replaced the Sentinel Hub Playground browser in 2023, to provide access to Earth observation archives from the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem, the main distribution platform for data from the EU Copernicus missions.

MIROVA

Middle InfraRed Observation of Volcanic Activity (MIROVA) is a near real time volcanic hot-spot detection system based on the analysis of MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data. In particular, MIROVA uses the Middle InfraRed Radiation (MIR), measured over target volcanoes, in order to detect, locate and measure the heat radiation sourced from volcanic activity.

MODVOLC Thermal Alerts

Using infrared satellite Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, scientists at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, University of Hawai'i, developed an automated system called MODVOLC to map thermal hot-spots in near real time. For each MODIS image, the algorithm automatically scans each 1 km pixel within it to check for high-temperature hot-spots. When one is found the date, time, location, and intensity are recorded. MODIS looks at every square km of the Earth every 48 hours, once during the day and once during the night, and the presence of two MODIS sensors in space allows at least four hot-spot observations every two days. Each day updated global maps are compiled to display the locations of all hot spots detected in the previous 24 hours. There is a drop-down list with volcano names which allow users to 'zoom-in' and examine the distribution of hot-spots at a variety of spatial scales.

WOVOdat
   Single Volcano View
   Temporal Evolution of Unrest
   Side by Side Volcanoes

WOVOdat is a database of volcanic unrest; instrumentally and visually recorded changes in seismicity, ground deformation, gas emission, and other parameters from their normal baselines. It is sponsored by the World Organization of Volcano Observatories (WOVO) and presently hosted at the Earth Observatory of Singapore.

GVMID Data on Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure The Global Volcano Monitoring Infrastructure Database GVMID, is aimed at documenting and improving capabilities of volcano monitoring from the ground and space. GVMID should provide a snapshot and baseline view of the techniques and instrumentation that are in place at various volcanoes, which can be use by volcano observatories as reference to setup new monitoring system or improving networks at a specific volcano. These data will allow identification of what monitoring gaps exist, which can be then targeted by remote sensing infrastructure and future instrument deployments.

Volcanic Hazard Maps

The IAVCEI Commission on Volcanic Hazards and Risk has a Volcanic Hazard Maps database designed to serve as a resource for hazard mappers (or other interested parties) to explore how common issues in hazard map development have been addressed at different volcanoes, in different countries, for different hazards, and for different intended audiences. In addition to the comprehensive, searchable Volcanic Hazard Maps Database, this website contains information about diversity of volcanic hazard maps, illustrated using examples from the database. This site is for educational purposes related to volcanic hazard maps. Hazard maps found on this website should not be used for emergency purposes. For the most recent, official hazard map for a particular volcano, please seek out the proper institutional authorities on the matter.

EarthScope Consortium SAGE seismic stations/networks

EarthScope Consortium operates the NSF Geodetic Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (GAGE) and NSF Seismological Facility for the Advancement of Geoscience (SAGE). The linked map shows the location of seismic stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 0.18° (about 20 km at mid-latitudes) from the given location of Cerro Azul. Users can customize a variety of filters and options in the left panel. Note that if there are no stations are known the map will default to show the entire world with a "No data matched request" error notice.

Large Eruptions of Cerro Azul

Information about large Quaternary eruptions (VEI >= 4) is cataloged in the Large Magnitude Explosive Volcanic Eruptions (LaMEVE) database of the Volcano Global Risk Identification and Analysis Project (VOGRIPA).

EarthChem

EarthChem develops and maintains databases, software, and services that support the preservation, discovery, access and analysis of geochemical data, and facilitate their integration with the broad array of other available earth science parameters. EarthChem is operated by a joint team of disciplinary scientists, data scientists, data managers and information technology developers who are part of the NSF-funded data facility Integrated Earth Data Applications (IEDA). IEDA is a collaborative effort of EarthChem and the Marine Geoscience Data System (MGDS).

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