Global Volcanism Program

Latest Weekly Volcanic Activity Report

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

Latest Bulletin Report

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Weekly Volcanic Activity Reports

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

Bulletin Reports

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

General Information

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

357121

255 CE

2,360 m / 7,743 ft

39.496°S
71.722°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Stratovolcano
Caldera(s)
Lava dome(s)
Pyroclastic cone(s)

Rock Types

Major
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Dacite

Minor
Basalt / Picro-Basalt
Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

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

129
518
11,191
269,087

Geological Summary

The late-Pleistocene to Holocene Quetrupillán Volcanic Complex is at the center of a group of three volcanoes, with Villarrica and Lanin, trending transverse to the Andean chain. Constructed within a large 7 x 10 km caldera, this glacier-covered volcano contains a 3.5-km-wide caldera and a truncated central cone. Work by Simmons et al. (2020) identified sixteen Holocene vents and their associated lavas around the lower flanks; compositions were dominantly trachyte, with one basaltic andesite eruption and two of trachyandesite. While each vent could represent a distinct eruption, and no absolute dates are available, Simmons et al. (2020) suggested that there had been about 10 eruptive periods associated with the vents, and that evidence of Holocene activity that had constructed the main cone had been removed by ice advances and retreats during the Little Ice Age. Four Holocene pumice lapilli deposits were identified by Fontijn et al. (2016) as originating from Quetrupillán, with compositions ranging from rhyolite to dacite. Other nearby volcanic features include a basaltic scoria cone 12 km NE, a rhyolitic lava dome on the S flank of the caldera, and both scoria cones and basaltic andesite lava flows about 15 km S. An eruption was reported in 1872 (Petit-Breuilh, pers. comm. 2004; Petit-Breuilh Sepúlveda, 2004), but Simmons et al. (2020) noted that there was no corroboration from multiple independent sources for such an event.

References

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

Fontijn K, Rawson H, Van Daele M, Moernaut J, Abarzua A M, Heirman K, Bertrand S, Pyle D M, Mather T A, De Batist M, Naranjo J-A, Moreno H, 2016. Synchronisation of sedimentary records using tephra: A postglacial tephrochronological model for the Chilean Lake District. Quaternary Science Reviews 137: 234-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.02.015

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.

Hickey-Vargas R, Moreno H, Lopez-Escobar L, Frey F A, 1989. Geochemical variations in Andean basaltic and silicic lavas from the Villarrica-Lanin volcanic chain (39.5° S): an evaluation of source heterogeneity, fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 103: 361-386.

Lara L E, Clavero J (eds), 2004. Villarrica volcano (39.5° S), Southern Andes, Chile. Servicio Geol Nac Argentina Bol, 61: 1-66.

Moreno H, 1974. Airplane flight over active volcanoes of central-south Chile. Internatl Symp Volc Andean & Antarctic Volc Problems Guidebook, Excur D-3, 56 p.

Moreno H, Naranjo J A, 1991. The southern Andes volcanoes (33°-41° 30' S), Chile. 6th Geol Cong Chile, Excur PC-3, 26 p.

Petit-Breuihl M E, 1994. (pers. comm.).

Petit-Breuilh Sepúlveda, M E, 2004. La historia eruptiva de los volcanes hispanoamericanos (siglos XVI al XX). Cabildo Insular de Lanzarote. [In Spanish].

Pichler H, Zeil W, 1971. The Cenozoic rhyolite-andesite association of the Chilean Andes. Bulletin of Volcanology, 35: 424-452.

Simmons I C, McGarvie D, Cortes J A, Calder E S, Pavez A, 2020. Holocene volcanism at the Quetrupillán Volcanic Complex (39°30’ S, 71°43’ W), southern Chile. Volcanica 3(1): 115-137. https://doi.org/10.30909/vol.03.01.115137

Eruptive History

There is data available for 4 confirmed eruptive periods.

[ 1872 Jun 6 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

1872 Jun 6 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Phreatic activity
	1872 Jun 6	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

0255 ± 48 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 3 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quet5

0255 ± 48 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Quet5

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)	Magnitude 3 (Fontijn et al., 2016)

0035 ± 35 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 4

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Puesco Pumice

0035 ± 35 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Puesco Pumice

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	0035 ± 35 years	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)	VEI 4

10658 BCE ± 29 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quet3

10658 BCE ± 29 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Quet3

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

11345 BCE ± 932 years Confirmed Eruption (Explosive / Effusive) VEI: 3

Episode 1 | Eruption (Explosive / Effusive)

Quet2

11345 BCE ± 932 years - Unknown

Evidence from Isotopic: 14C (calibrated)

List of 1 Events for Episode 1 at Quet2

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	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.

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Huililco

Pyroclastic cone

1450 m

39° 26' 0.00" S

71° 36' 0.00" W

Llancahue, Volcanes de

Pyroclastic cone

39° 30' 0.00" S

71° 45' 0.00" W

Mocho, Cordillera el

Stratovolcano

1765 m

39° 29' 23.00" S

71° 48' 36.00" W

Quinquilil

Stratovolcano

39° 30' 0.00" S

71° 35' 0.00" W

Reyeheico, Volcanes de

Pyroclastic cone

Photo Gallery

Quetrupillan stratovolcano is seen in this NASA International Space Station image with north to the upper right. The volcano was constructed within a large 7 x 10 km wide caldera. The 2360-m-high Quetrupillan volcano has produced more silicic lavas than its more prominent neighbors Villarrica and Lanín. Clusters of monogenetic vents, including lava domes and pyroclastic cones, are found on the southern side of the volcano.

NASA International Space Station image ISS006-E-40424, 2003 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/). Thumbnail Photo (see caption)

Quetrupillan stratovolcano (left) lies at the center of a group of three volcanoes trending transverse to the Andean chain. It is seen here from the summit of Villarrica volcano (at the western end of the chain), with conical Lanín volcano at the eastern end in the background. The 2360-m-high Quetrupillan volcano was constructed within a large 7 x 10 km wide caldera; a smaller caldera truncates the summit. Some of the most recent activity produced pyroclastic cones along the right-hand flank, near the SW margin of the older caldera.

Photo by Judy Harden, 2004 (University of South Florida).

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Quetrupillán 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 Quetrupillán. 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 Quetrupillán

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).

Country	Chile
Volcanic Region	Southern Andean Volcanic Arc
Landform \| Volc Type	Composite \| Stratovolcano
Last Known Eruption	255 CE
Coordinates	39.496°S, 71.722°W
Elevation	2,360 m (7,743 ft)
Volcano Number	357121
Google Earth Placemark with Features
Cite Volcano Profile