Uturuncu

"Uturunku" redirects here. For the mountain in Peru, see Uturunku (Peru).

Uturuncu
Uturuncu is a cone in a desolate landscape, with an adjacent smaller non-conical mountain.
Uturuncu seen from the northwest
Highest point
Elevation6,008 metres (19,711 ft)
Parent peakAcamarachi
ListingList of mountains in Bolivia
Coordinates22°16′12″S 67°10′48″W / 22.27000°S 67.18000°W / -22.27000; -67.18000[1]
Naming
English translationJaguar
Language of nameQuechua
Geography
A map of Bolivia; the volcano is in the southernmost corner.
A map of Bolivia; the volcano is in the southernmost corner.
Location of Uturunku in Bolivia
LocationSan Pablo de Lípez Municipality, Sur Lípez Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia
Parent rangeCordillera de Lípez
Geology
Age of rockPleistocene
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Volcanic fieldAltiplano–Puna volcanic complex
Last eruption250,000 years ago.
Climbing
First ascent1955 by Friedrich Adolf Ernest Ahlfeld

Uturuncu is a dormant volcano in the Sur Lípez Province of Bolivia. It is 6,008 metres (19,711 ft) high, has two summit peaks, and consists of a complex of lava domes and lava flows with a total volume estimated to be 50–85 km3. It bears traces of a former glaciation, even though it does not currently carry glaciers. Volcanic activity took place during the Pleistocene epoch and the last eruption was 250,000 years ago; since then Uturuncu has not erupted but active fumaroles occur in the summit region, between the two summits.

The volcano rises within the Altiplano–Puna volcanic complex, a larger province of large volcanoes and calderas which over the last few million years (mya) have emplaced about 10000 km3 of ignimbrites[a] in sometimes very large eruptions. Underneath it lies the so-called Altiplano–Puna magmatic body, a large sill[b] formed by partially molten rocks.

Starting in 1992, satellite observations have indicated a large area of regional uplift centered on Uturuncu, which has been interpreted as an indication of large-scale magma intrusion under the volcano. This might be a prelude to large-scale volcanic activity, including "supervolcanic" activity and caldera formation.

  1. ^ Sparks et al. 2008, p. 728.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Springer2020c was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Sill2020 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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