Global Volcanism Program

Maipo

Google Earth Placemark with Features

Cite Volcano Profile

Chile - Argentina
Southern Andean Volcanic Arc
Composite | Caldera
1912 CE

Country
Volcanic Region
Landform | Volc Type
Last Known Eruption

34.164°S
69.832°W
5,323 m
17,464 ft
357021

Latitude
Longitude
Summit
Elevation
Volcano
Number

The Global Volcanism Program has no activity reports available for Maipo.

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

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

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.

Synonyms

Maipu

Cones

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Don Casimiro, Volcán

Pyroclastic cone

3917 m

34° 12' 0" S

69° 55' 0" W

Listado, Volcán Cerro

Stratovolcano

4250 m

34° 18' 0" S

69° 56' 0" W

Nicanor, Cerro

Pyroclastic cone

Riso Patrón

Pyroclastic cone

Craters

Feature Name

Feature Type

Elevation

Latitude

Longitude

Diamante

Pleistocene caldera

Basic Data

Volcano Number

Last Known Eruption

Elevation

Latitude
Longitude

357021

1912 CE

5,323 m / 17,464 ft

34.164°S
69.832°W

Morphology

Volcano Landform
Composite

Volcano Types
Caldera
Stratovolcano
Pyroclastic cone(s)
Lava dome

Rock Types

Major
Trachyandesite / Basaltic Trachyandesite
Dacite
Trachyte / Trachydacite
Andesite / Basaltic Andesite
Rhyolite

Tectonic Setting

Subduction zone
Continental crust (> 25 km)

Population

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

3,916
3,916
8,221
1,684,481

Geological Summary

Maipo, a conical stratovolcano that straddles the Chile-Argentina border SE of Santiago, partially fills the 16 x 20 km Pleistocene Diamante caldera, which formed about 450,000 years ago during an eruption that produced an about 350 km³ of rhyolitic ignimbrite. The Pleistocene cones of Volcán Don Casimiro and Cerro Listado were formed on the SW rim and SW flank of the caldera, respectively. The post-caldera Maipo rises about 1,900 m above the caldera floor, and has several cones on the E flank along a series of en échelon NE-trending fractures. Lava flows from one of these cones blocked drainages in 1826 inside the caldera, forming Lake Diamante on the eastern caldera floor.

References

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

Gonzalez-Ferran O, 1995. Volcanes de Chile. Santiago: Instituto Geografico Militar, 635 p.

Harrington R, Amini H, Stern C R, Charrier R, 1984. The Maipo stratovolcano-caldera complex in the southern Andes of central Chile (abs). Eos, Trans Amer Geophys Union, 65: 1136.

Hildreth W, Moorbath S, 1988. Crustal contribution to arc magmatism in the Andes of central Chile. Contr Mineral Petr, 98: 455-489.

IAVCEI, 1973-80. Post-Miocene Volcanoes of the World. IAVCEI Data Sheets, Rome: Internatl Assoc Volc Chemistry Earth's Interior.

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.

Newhall C G, Dzurisin D, 1988. Historical unrest at large calderas of the world. U S Geol Surv Bull, 1855: 1108 p, 2 vol.

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

Sruoga P, Llambias E J, Fauque L, Schonwandt D, Repol D G, 2005. Volcanological and geochemical evolution of the Diamante caldera-Maipo volcano complex in the southern Andes of Argentina (34° 10' S). J South Amer Earth Sci, 19: 399-414.

Stern C R, Amini H, Charrier R, Godoy E, Herve F, Varela J, 1984, 1984. Petrochemistry and age of rhyolitic pyroclastics flows which occur along the drainage valleys of the Rio Maipo and Rio Cachapoal (Chile) and the Rio Chaucha and Rio Papagayos (Argentina). Rev Geol Chile, no 23: 39-52.

Eruptive History

There is data available for 4 confirmed Holocene eruptive periods.

1912 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

1912 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Volcanic "smoke"
1912	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1908 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1908 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	1908	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1905 Oct 28 - 1905 Oct 30 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

1905 Oct 28 - 1905 Oct 30

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 3 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)
1905 Oct 28	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1881 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1881 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

[ 1869 Aug 24 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1869 Aug 24 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Audible Sounds
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)
1869 Aug 24	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1837 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1837 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

[ 1835 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1835 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain

[ 1833 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1833 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 2 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
	1833	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1831 Feb 16 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1831 Feb 16 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 5 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Avalanche
- - - -	- - - -	Ash	Uncertain
- - - -	- - - -	Lahar or Mudflow	weak or small
1831 Feb 16	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1829 Sep 26 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2 (?)

Episode 1 | Eruption

1829 Sep 26 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 4 Events for Episode 1

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Volcanic "smoke"
- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)
1829 Sep 26	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

1826 Mar 1 Confirmed Eruption VEI: 2

Episode 1 | Eruption

East flank (Riso Patrón)

1826 Mar 1 - Unknown

Evidence from Observations: Reported

List of 6 Events for Episode 1 at East flank (Riso Patrón)

Start Date	End Date	Event Type
- - - -	- - - -	Explosion
- - - -	- - - -	Lava flow
- - - -	- - - -	Cinder Cone
- - - -	- - - -	Tephra
- - - -	- - - -	Ash
1826 Mar 1	- - - -	VEI (Explosivity Index)

[ 1822 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 | Eruption

1822 - Unknown

Evidence from Unknown

List of 1 Events for Episode 1

	Start Date	End Date	Event Type	Event Remarks
	- - - -	- - - -	Earthquakes (undefined)

[ 1788 ] Uncertain Eruption

Episode 1 \| Eruption
1788 - Unknown				Evidence from Unknown

Deformation History

There is no Deformation History data available for Maipo.

Emission History

There is no Emissions History data available for Maipo.

Photo Gallery

The NW rim of Diamante caldera in the center of the image rises above the caldera floor in the foreground. The caldera was formed during voluminous rhyolitic explosive eruptions about 450,000 years ago that produced ashflows that extended radially more than 100 km from the caldera, covering much of the Central Valley of Chile and extending into Argentina. The conical snow-capped peak on the center horizon beyond rugged intervening peaks of the Andes is San José volcano.

Photo by Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Maipo volcano, seen here from the west, partially fills the Pleistocene Diamante caldera. The floor of the large 15 x 20 km caldera, which formed about 0.45 million years ago during an eruption that produced a 450 cu km ignimbrite, is visible below Maipo. The 5264-m-high basaltic-andesite stratovolcano has a relatively simple structure, but has a flank rhyodacitic lava-dome complex and pyroclastic cones on its eastern flank. Lava flows from these cones extend into Laguna Diamante on the eastern side of the caldera.

Photo by Wolfgang Foerster, courtesy of Oscar González-Ferrán (University of Chile).

Conical Maipo volcano rises above the floor of Diamante caldera in this NASA International Space Station view (with north to the top). A series of flank vents on the eastern side of the volcano produced lava flows that give the western shoreline of Laguna Maipo and irregular outline; a lava flow in 1826 blocked drainages on the caldera floor, forming the lake. The 15 x 20 km Diamante caldera was formed during a major explosion eruption about 450,000 years ago.

NASA International Space Station image ISS009-E-7182, 2004 (http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/).

GVP Map Holdings

Maps are not currently available due to technical issues.

Smithsonian Sample Collections Database

There are no samples for Maipo 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.

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 Maipo. 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 Maipo. 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 Maipo

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).