Copahue

Copahue (Spanish pronunciation: [koˈpawe]) is a stratovolcano in the Andes on the border of Bío Bío Region, Chile and Neuquén Province, Argentina. There are nine volcanic craters along a 2 km (1.2 mi) line, the easternmost of which is historically the most active, and contains a 300 m (1000 ft) wide crater lake with a pH ranging between 0.18 and 0.30.[2] Eruptions from this crater lake have ejected pyroclastic rocks and chilled liquid sulfur fragments.[1] Although the lake emptied during the 2000 eruption, it later returned to its previous levels. Copahue means "sulphur waters" in Mapuche.[3]

Copahue
Copahue Volcano photographed from space
Highest point
Elevation2,997 m (9,833 ft) [1]
Coordinates37°51′S 71°10′W [1]
Geography
Copahue
Argentina-Chile
LocationNeuquén Province,
 Argentina Bío Bío Region,
 Chile
Parent rangeAndes
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruptionJanuary 6, 2016[1]

Copahue sits on a basement of sedimentary and volcanic rocks ranging in age from Eocene to Pliocene.[2] The modern volcano sits in a volcanically active area, with a caldera from the Pliocene, measuring 20 km by 15 km, lying to the east of Copahue. The modern volcano became active roughly 1.2 million years ago (Ma).[2] The modern caldera formed 0.6 to 0.4 Ma, and produced large pyroclastic flows, extending up to 37 km from the volcano.[2]

Satellite image of the December 2012 eruption

The modern structure is an elongated shield volcano, with a maximum thickness of 22 km and a minimum of 8 km.[2] It has erupted ten times since 1900, most recently in March 2016.[1][3][4] On 27 May 2013, it was reported that a red alert had been issued and the evacuation of around 2,000 people was to begin.[5]

Copahue Crater Lake.

See also

References
  1. "Copahue". Global Volcanism Program. Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2005-02-11.
  2. Naranjo, Jose; Polanco, Edmundo (2004). "The 2000 AD eruption of Copahue Volcano, Southern Andes". Revista Geológica de Chile. 31 (2): 279–292. doi:10.4067/S0716-02082004000200007.
  3. "Chile and Argentina on alert over Copahue volcano eruption". BBC News. 23 December 2012.
  5. "Red Alert Issued For Chile Volcano". Sky News. 27 May 2013.

Bibliography
  • González-Ferrán, Oscar (1995). Volcanes de Chile. Santiago, Chile: Instituto Geográfico Militar. ISBN 956-202-054-1. (in Spanish; also includes volcanoes of Argentina, Bolivia, and Peru)
  • Biggar, John (2005). The Andes: A Guide for Climbers (3rd ed.). Andes Publishing (Scotland). ISBN 0-9536087-2-7.
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