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A seismic swarm at the Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes, called the Chiles-Cerro Negro volcanic complex (CCNVC), began on 9 March according to the Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico de Pasto (OVP-Colombia). A noted increase in the intensity of seismic signals occurred at 0430 and was followed by an increase in the number of volcano-tectonic events (indicating fracturing rock) at 0900. By 1630, there were around 2,200 earthquakes recorded by the seismic network, and 520 of those events had epicenters located within 2.5 km S of Chiles at depths of 1-6 km below the summit (4,700 m elevation). The swarm was accompanied by deformation which was first detected on 28 February. The swarm intensified during 9-10 March, and 86 earthquakes were above M2. At 2010 on 9 March a M 3.4 earthquake was felt by residents in nearby towns in both Colombia and Ecuador; earthquakes recorded at 0137 and 0526 on 10 March were also felt. On 10 March earthquakes were occurring at a rate of around 200 events per hour and were mostly comprised of volcano-tectonic events (indicating fracturing rock) and very-low-frequency earthquakes (indicating fluid movement). At least 4,500 events had been recorded by 1214 on 10 March. There were 4,244-4,915 daily earthquakes during 11-13 March. The Alert Level remained at 3 (Yellow; the second lowest level on a four-color scale).
Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN), Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
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H2S-rich hot springs at Pleistocene volcano
"In April 1988 and again on 3 April 1990 we visited two hydrothermal springs [on Chiles] and collected samples. The first, La Calera, is a developed hot spring with baths just W of the town of Chiles and 8 km E of the crater of Chiles volcano, at 3,180 m elev. The maximum temperature was 40°C and pH was 6.2. No significant sulfur deposition was observed at the natural source of hot water, ~ 100 m uphill from the commercial baths. The second site, La Hedionda, was unsuccessfully developed as a tourist bath area, reputedly failing because of deadly levels of H2S. It is 3.5 km E of the crater, at 3,470 m elevation. The uppermost hot spring, with a temperature of 54°C and pH of 5.1, was sampled. These acid sulfate springs were actively depositing native sulfur and had an almost overwhelming odor of H2S. Fumarole samples were collected at both springs. No observations were made, on either visit, of the summit area, which was always covered by clouds. The observations at Chiles are consistent with a stable system, dominated by hydrothermal processes."
Information Contacts: S. Williams, Louisiana State Univ; J. Stix and E. Fontaine, Univ de Montréal.
2023: March
2022: June
| July
2019: July
2018: November
2014: October
| November
Cite this Report
A seismic swarm at the Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes, called the Chiles-Cerro Negro volcanic complex (CCNVC), began on 9 March according to the Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico de Pasto (OVP-Colombia). A noted increase in the intensity of seismic signals occurred at 0430 and was followed by an increase in the number of volcano-tectonic events (indicating fracturing rock) at 0900. By 1630, there were around 2,200 earthquakes recorded by the seismic network, and 520 of those events had epicenters located within 2.5 km S of Chiles at depths of 1-6 km below the summit (4,700 m elevation). The swarm was accompanied by deformation which was first detected on 28 February. The swarm intensified during 9-10 March, and 86 earthquakes were above M2. At 2010 on 9 March a M 3.4 earthquake was felt by residents in nearby towns in both Colombia and Ecuador; earthquakes recorded at 0137 and 0526 on 10 March were also felt. On 10 March earthquakes were occurring at a rate of around 200 events per hour and were mostly comprised of volcano-tectonic events (indicating fracturing rock) and very-low-frequency earthquakes (indicating fluid movement). At least 4,500 events had been recorded by 1214 on 10 March. There were 4,244-4,915 daily earthquakes during 11-13 March. The Alert Level remained at 3 (Yellow; the second lowest level on a four-color scale).
Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN); Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
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Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto del Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC OVSP) both monitor the Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes, called the Chiles-Cerro Negro volcanic complex (CCNVC), and both issued reports on the seismic swarm that began on 27 May. This seismicity was mainly characterized by VT earthquakes, typically indicating rock fracturing events. The swarm continued during 12-26 July, though the number and size of events were variable. The earthquakes were located along a fracture zone on and as far as 3.5 km S of Chiles volcano, at depths less than 6 km. The number of long-period (LP) and very-long-period (VLP) earthquakes, low-energy events indicating fluid movement, had increased in the previous two weeks; 60 of such events were recorded on 17 July, the highest daily number of events recorded since the beginning of permanent monitoring in November 2013, and 64 were recorded in 20 July. During 12-23 July a total of 43 earthquakes had local magnitudes greater than 2; four of those events, a M 3.3 recorded at 1038 on 16 July, a M 2.8 at 0816 on 22 July, a M 3.5 at 1746 on 22 July, and a M 3 at 2247 on 23 July were all felt in surrounding areas, including in the municipality of Cumbbal, in the department of Nariño. At 0833 on 25 July a M 5.6 was recorded, with a hypocenter located about 10 km S of Tufiño (Carchi province, Ecuador). Building damage was reported in San Gabriel, Tulcán, and El Ángel (Ecuador) and in the Municipalities of Túquerres and Cumbal (Colombia).
Data from continuous GPS geodetic bases located in the vicinity of the Chiles volcano showed a trend of inflation at a rate of approximately 28 mm/year that has been recorded since 2016 (the beginning of deformation monitoring) through the end of 2020, when the deformation stabilized. Neither inflation nor deflation was detected during the beginning of 2020 or in 2021. Inflation was again detected in March, at a rate of 32 mm/year. The rate of inflation notably increased during April-July to an average of 106 mm/year, occurring in at least two deformation zones, one S of Chiles and another in the Potrerillos caldera. The Alert Level remained at 3 (Yellow; the second lowest level on a four-color scale).
Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN); Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
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Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto del Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC OVSP) jointly monitor the Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes, called the Chiles-Cerro Negro volcanic complex (CCNVC), and both issued reports on recent increased seismicity that began in May. Earthquakes were first felt on 12 June by residents near the border of Colombia and Ecuador, in the indigenous reservations of Chiles, Panán, and Mayasquer (Colombia), and in Tufiño (Ecuador). Seismicity continued, and from 0205 on 12 June to 0832 on 14 June there were 260 events clustered in two zones, in the S part of CCNVC (at depths of less than 6 km below the CCNVC summit) and about 9 km SE beneath Caldera de Potrerillos (at depths of 7-9 km). The earthquake swarm activity was similar to other swarms recorded since 2013.
A trend of inflation at a rate of approximately 28 mm/year has been recorded since 2016 (the beginning of deformation monitoring) through the end of 2020, when the deformation stabilized. Neither inflation nor deflation was detected during the beginning of 2020 or in 2021. Inflation was again detected in March and was continuing at a rate of 32 mm/year. Data from hydrothermal sites around CCNVC showed variations from previous measurements in gas data, and conductivity, temperature, pH, and morphology of a few of the hot spring locations, though they were a result of changes to the hydrothermal systems and not increased volcanic activity.
Sources: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN); Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
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Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN) and the Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Pasto del Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC OVSP) jointly reported that the most recent seismic swarm below Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes began in September 2018 and continued at least through 1 August. The swarm has consisted of 147,000 earthquakes, recorded up to the time of the report publication, mostly with magnitudes less than 3.6. Notably, at least 91 very-long-period earthquakes and 89 long-period earthquakes have been detected, indicative of a magmatic body at depth. In addition, at 0738 on 25 July a M4 earthquake was located 4 km below the summit of Chiles and felt by residents. About 850 volcano-tectonic events were recorded during 25-28 July.
Source: Instituto Geofísico-Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IG-EPN)
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Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) reported that a seismic swarm below Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes began at 0100 on 3 December. The events were classified as volcano-tectonic, with epicenters located up to 6 km from the summit of Chiles volcano, at depths of less than 8 km (4.7 km a.s.l.). The maximum local magnitude was 2.3. From the beginning of the swarm until the time of the report posting (1640) there were about 5,400 recorded events, making the swarm the largest since 2015. The report also noted that seismicity had gradually been increasing in recent weeks. The Alert Level remained at Yellow (level 2 of 4).
Source: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
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On 4 November Servicio Geológico Colombiano's Observatorio Vulcanológico and Sismológico de Pasto (SGC-OVSP) reported that seismic activity at Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes remained elevated. Since 29 September 2014 about 132,000 earthquakes had been detected, with 3,200 of those events occurring on 4 November. During the previous week hypocenters were located 0.3-6.3 km S and SW of Chiles, at depths of 3-9 km below the summit. Local magnitudes were between 0.7 and 4.6. The Alert Level remained at Orange (level 3 of 4).
Source: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
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Based on reports from Observatorio Vulcanológico and Sismológico de Pasto (SGC-OVSP), and the Instituto Geofísico de la Escuela Politécnica Nacional (IGEPN), on 26 October Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) stated that seismic activity at Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes continued at a high rate. Since 29 September 2014 about 81,000 earthquakes had been detected with 6,300 of those events occurring on 25 October. The epicenter was 2-3.5 km S of Chiles. Interferometry (INSAR) and a high resolution GPS network both showed localized deformation S of Chiles. The Alert Level remained at Orange (level 3 of 4).
A news article from 23 October noted that 3,500 families had been evacuated from the Chiles, Panam, and Mayasquer communities.
Sources: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC); Colombia Reports
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On 20 October Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC) reported that a M 5.8 earthquake, the largest to date, occurred in the vicinity of the Cerro Negro de Mayasquer and Chiles volcanoes at a depth of less than 10 km. The event was felt to the N in Pasto (Colombia) and to the S in Quito (Ecuador). On 21 October SGC raised the Alert Level for the volcanic complex to Orange (level 3 of 4) noting that a seismic swarm characterized by 4,300 earthquakes was detected in an 18-hour period. Hypocenters were located 1-4 km SW of Chiles volcano at depths of 3-5 km and local magnitudes between M 0.2 and 4.5. Inhabitants felt 11 of the events. On 22 October a report noted that the total number of earthquakes recorded on 21 October reached 7,717, which was the largest number of earthquakes recorded on one day since the installation of a local seismic network in November 2013. Several swarms have occurred in the area since February 2013.
Source: Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC)
Reports are organized chronologically and indexed below by Month/Year (Publication Volume:Number), and include a one-line summary. Click on the index link or scroll down to read the reports.
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H2S-rich hot springs at Pleistocene volcano
"In April 1988 and again on 3 April 1990 we visited two hydrothermal springs [on Chiles] and collected samples. The first, La Calera, is a developed hot spring with baths just W of the town of Chiles and 8 km E of the crater of Chiles volcano, at 3,180 m elev. The maximum temperature was 40°C and pH was 6.2. No significant sulfur deposition was observed at the natural source of hot water, ~ 100 m uphill from the commercial baths. The second site, La Hedionda, was unsuccessfully developed as a tourist bath area, reputedly failing because of deadly levels of H2S. It is 3.5 km E of the crater, at 3,470 m elevation. The uppermost hot spring, with a temperature of 54°C and pH of 5.1, was sampled. These acid sulfate springs were actively depositing native sulfur and had an almost overwhelming odor of H2S. Fumarole samples were collected at both springs. No observations were made, on either visit, of the summit area, which was always covered by clouds. The observations at Chiles are consistent with a stable system, dominated by hydrothermal processes."
Information Contacts: S. Williams, Louisiana State Univ; J. Stix and E. Fontaine, Univ de Montréal.
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 |
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| Feature Name | Feature Type | Elevation | Latitude | Longitude |
| Chiles | Stratovolcano | 4698 m | 0° 49' 2" N | 77° 56' 16" W |
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Negro de Mayasquer, Cerro
Oreja, Cerro de la |
Stratovolcano | 4421 m | 0° 49' 28" N | 77° 57' 56" W |
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There is data available for 1 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.
1936 Jul 17 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2
| Episode 1 | Eruption | Volcano Uncertain: possibly Reventador | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1936 Jul 17 - Unknown | Evidence from Observations: Reported | |||||||||||||||||||
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List of 2 Events for Episode 1 at Volcano Uncertain: possibly Reventador
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There is no Deformation History data available for Chiles-Cerro Negro.
There is no Emissions History data available for Chiles-Cerro Negro.
The summit of Cerro Negro de Mayasquer volcano is truncated by a caldera that is breached to the west. This view from the NW shows snow-capped Volcán Chiles at the upper left. Eruptive activity at these twin volcanoes has migrated to the west, with the most recent eruptions occurring from Cerro Negro de Mayasquer. A small crater lake is found at the bottom of the 900 x 1500-m-wide caldera. An eruption that was reported from the volcano in 1936 may actually have been from Reventador volcano to the SE.
Cerro Negro de Mayasquer (Ieft) and snow-capped Volcán Chiles (right), seen here from the south, are twin volcanoes that straddle the Colombia-Ecuador border. Chiles volcano is of Pleistocene age, but has hot springs and an active hydrothermal system on its eastern flank. Cerro Negro de Mayasquer is a stratovolcano with a caldera open to the west. Andesitic and dacitic lava flows are of possible Holocene age. Solfataras are found on the shore of a small crater lake. 
Cerro Negro de Mayasquer is the youngest of a pair of twin volcanoes along the Ecuador-Colombia border. It is seen here from the Ecuadorian side on the south. The long ridge to the left of its summit is the rim of a horseshoe-shaped caldera that is breached to the NW.Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.
There are no samples for Chiles-Cerro Negro in the Smithsonian's NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences Rock and Ore collection.
| 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. |
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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. |
| IRIS seismic stations/networks | Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS) Data Services map showing 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 Chiles-Cerro Negro. 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. |
| UNAVCO GPS/GNSS stations | Geodetic Data Services map from UNAVCO showing the location of GPS/GNSS stations from all available networks (permanent or temporary) within a radius of 20 km from the given location of Chiles-Cerro Negro. Users can customize the data search based on station or network names, location, and time window. Requires Adobe Flash Player. |
| DECADE Data | The DECADE portal, still in the developmental stage, serves as an example of the proposed interoperability between The Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program, the Mapping Gas Emissions (MaGa) Database, and the EarthChem Geochemical Portal. The Deep Earth Carbon Degassing (DECADE) initiative seeks to use new and established technologies to determine accurate global fluxes of volcanic CO2 to the atmosphere, but installing CO2 monitoring networks on 20 of the world's 150 most actively degassing volcanoes. The group uses related laboratory-based studies (direct gas sampling and analysis, melt inclusions) to provide new data for direct degassing of deep earth carbon to the atmosphere. |
| Large Eruptions of Chiles-Cerro Negro | 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). |
