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| Volcanoes of the Antofagasta Region | |
|---|---|
| Name | Antofagasta Region volcanoes |
| Photo caption | Volcanic landscape near San Pedro de Atacama and Licancabur |
| Location | Antofagasta Region, Chile |
| Range | Andes |
| Highest | Ojos del Salado |
| Elevation m | 6893 |
| Type | Stratovolcanoes, shield volcanoes, calderas, lava domes |
Volcanoes of the Antofagasta Region
The volcanoes of the Antofagasta Region form a principal segment of the Central Volcanic Zone of the Andes, hosting high-elevation edifices, volcanic plateaus, and calderas that define landscapes around Calama, San Pedro de Atacama, and the Atacama Desert. These volcanoes influence regional climate of Chile, hydrology of the Atacama, and mineralization that underpins Compañía Minera Antofagasta operations and Chuquicamata mining history. Scientific study involves institutions such as the University of Chile, SERNAGEOMIN, and international teams from USGS, GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences, and Universidad Católica del Norte.
The volcanic belt in Antofagasta Region lies along the eastern margin of the Atacama Desert, adjacent to the Puna de Atacama and bounded by Salar de Atacama, Salar de Punta Negra, and the Bolivian Altiplano. Tectonically, volcanism is controlled by subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate along the Peru–Chile Trench and modified by crustal structures like the Atacama Fault System and the Loa River corridor. The province contains volcanic centers from the Neogene to Holocene epochs, including ignimbrites of the Altiplano–Puna volcanic complex and localized andesitic to dacitic stratovolcanoes. Geomorphology includes steep stratovolcano cones such as Llullaillaco, high lava domes and extensive lava flows near Tocomar and Cerro Falso Azufre.
Prominent edifices include Ojos del Salado (the world's highest active volcano), Llullaillaco (site of Inca archaeological findings), Licancabur (iconic cone on the Bolivian–Chilean border), and the Sairecabur complex. The Salar de Atacama region hosts calderas such as Socompa and volcanic clusters like Cerro Auca, Cerro Colorados, and Cerro Nevada. Other notable systems are Cerro Miscanti, Cerro Miñiques, Cerro Pabellón, and the Aguas Calientes group. Widespread volcanic fields include Pampa del Tamarugal and the Maricunga Belt, overlapping with mineral districts like El Abra and Escondida.
Eruptive records range from ancient Pleistocene ignimbrite eruptions associated with the Altiplano–Puna volcanic complex to documented historical volcanism at centers such as Lascar farther south and Holocene episodes at Lastarria and Sairecabur. Paleovolcanic studies of Llullaillaco and Ojos del Salado reveal glacial interaction and deglaciation-linked eruptions during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Tephrochronology correlates ash layers across the Atacama and Bolivian Altiplano with eruptions recorded by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior-affiliated researchers. Seismic swarms, gas emissions, and fumarolic fields at Punta de Vacas and Láscar are monitored as proxies for unrest.
Magmatic suites span basaltic-andesitic to dacitic compositions with high-K calc-alkaline affinity typical of the Central Volcanic Zone. Magma genesis reflects slab-derived fluids from the Nazca Plate and crustal assimilation within the thickened Andean crust of the Altiplano. Petrological studies at Licancabur, Lastarria, and Cerro Galán (in adjacent provinces) demonstrate crystal fractionation, magma mixing, and volatile-rich melts producing andesite, dacite, and rare mafic compositions. Geochemical fingerprints include elevated strontium, lead, and rare earth element patterns tied to lower crustal sources investigated by teams from Universidad de Concepción and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Hazards include pyroclastic flows, ash fall affecting Calama Airport, lahars in ephemeral drainages toward Loa River, and gas emissions impacting ozone-sensitive ecosystems near Salar de Atacama. Infrastructure at risk encompasses Pan-American Highway segments, mining operations at Chuquicamata and Escondida, and tourism centers in San Pedro de Atacama and Socaire. Monitoring is conducted by SERNAGEOMIN, regional observatories, and collaborations with INGV and USGS using seismic networks, InSAR from European Space Agency satellites, gas spectrometers, and remote sensing from Landsat and TerraSAR-X. Emergency planning references national agencies including the Onemi and municipal governments of Antofagasta and Tocopilla.
Volcanism shaped pre-Columbian settlement evidenced near Llullaillaco and Tatio geothermal sites, influencing Inca ritual landscapes and trade routes connecting Potosí and Atacama. Contemporary impacts derive from geothermal prospects like Cerro Pabellón Geothermal Plant, mineral enrichment forming ore deposits exploited by Codelco and private consortia such as BHP and Antofagasta plc. Tourism to Licancabur, Valle de la Luna, and archaeological museums in Antofagasta boosts regional economies. Volcano-related water resources feed agricultural oases in Salar de Atacama and sustain biodiversity in Quebrada de Puritama.
Several volcanic landscapes fall within protected frameworks including Los Flamencos National Reserve, Llullaillaco National Park, and municipal protected areas near San Pedro de Atacama. Conservation balances scientific research by institutions like CONAF and Corporación Nacional Forestal with indigenous rights of Atacameño communities and cultural heritage preservation under Instituto Nacional de Antropología programs. Cross-border coordination with Bolivia and Argentina addresses shared basins such as the Salar de Atacama and transnational peaks like Licancabur.
Category:Volcanoes of Chile Category:Geology of Antofagasta Region