CHILE - Guallatiri volcano
June 4th, 2015
OVDAS-SERNAGEOMIN reported that at 0004 and 0517 on 31 May volcano-tectonic events at Guallatiri with local magnitudes of 3.5 and 3.7, respectively, were detected by the seismic network. Very minor deformation was also
detected. No other changes were observed in recent momnths; white plumes continued to rise 200 m. The Alert Level was raised to Yellow (the second lowest level on a four-color scale). One of northern Chile's most active volcanoes, Volcán
Guallatiri is a symmetrical ice-clad stratovolcano at the SW end of the Nevados de Quimsachata volcano group. The 6071-m-high Guallatiri lies just west of the border with Bolivia and is capped by a central dacitic dome or lava complex, with the active vent situated at its southern side. Thick lava flows are prominent on the lower northern and western flanks of the
andesitic-to-rhyolitic volcano. Minor explosive eruptions have been reported from Guallatiri since the beginning of the 19th century. Intense fumarolic activity with "jet-like" noises continues, and numerous solfataras extend more than 300 m down the west flank. (GVN/GVP)
*****************************************************************************************************************************************