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Villarrica Volcano | John Seach
Central Chile
39.42 S, 71.93 W
summit elevation 2847 m
stratovolcano
Villarrica volcano is located in the lakes district of Chile, about 650 km south of Santiago. Villarrica is one of Chile's most active volcanoes.
The volcano is located in the Andes mountains, and is tectonically associated with east-dipping subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American plate. Villarrica has been triggered 5 times to erupt after a large earthquake.
Villarrica is composed of pyroclastic flow and scoria deposits as well as "aa" and pahoehoe lavas. The symmetrical, modern cone is located on the NW rim of a glaciated 6.5 x 4.2 km caldera. Postglacial eruptions at Villarrica included both explosive and effusive activity. At least 14 explosive eruptions have produced pyroclastic flows. Two of these eruptions formed calderas.
Convection of magma in the volcanic conduit with 5 m diameter is an hypothesised mechanism for transporting both the volatiles and heat to produce the observed gas emissions and prevent the lava lake from solidifying.
2018 Eruption
A lava lake was present in the summit crater of Villarrica
volcano in March 2018.
2015 Eruption
A large eruption occurred at Villarrica volcano on 3 March 2015. The
eruption was explosive and included a large lava fountain, ash
emissions 30,000 ft altitude and lava flows.
2010 Eruption
A lava lake was present in the crater of Villarrica volcano in May
2010. On 10th May the lava lake was 100 m below the crater rim.
2008 Update
On 26th October 2008 a dark ash emission occurred from the summit
crater. The plume deposited a thin layer of tephra several
kilometers long on the east flank.
1985-2001 Lava Lake
The volcano contained a long active lava lake in the summit crater
from 1985 until 2001.
1984-85 Eruptions
The last significant explosive eruption occurred between October
1984 and January 1985. It produced a small scoria cone in the summit
crater and lava burrowed through glaciers on the flanks, and
creating lahars in downstream valleys.
Further reading
Van Daele, Maarten, et al. "The 600 yr eruptive history of Villarrica Volcano (Chile) revealed by annually laminated lake sediments." Bulletin 126.3-4 (2014): 481-498.
Brock, Benjamin, et al. "The surface energy balance of an active ice-covered volcano: Villarrica Volcano, southern Chile." Annals of Glaciology 45 (2007): 104-114.
Naranjo, J.A. and Moreno, H., 2004. Laharic debris-flows from Villarrica Volcano. Villarrica Volcano (39.5 S), Southern Andes, Chile. Santiago, Servicio Nacional de Geologia y Mineria, pp.28-45.
Villarrica Volcano Eruptions
2014-2021 continuing, 2010, 2008, 2005, 1985-2001 (lava lake), 1984-85, 1983, 1980, 1977, 1971-72, 1964, 1963, ?1960-61, 1958-59, 1950?, 1948-49, 1938, 1935, 1933, 1929, 1921, 1920-29, 1919?, 1915-18?, 1910?, 1909, 1908, 1907, 1906, 1904, 1897-98?, 1893-94?, 1883, 1879, 1877, 1875-76, 1874, 1869?, 1867-68, 1864, 1859-60, 1853, 1852?, 1837, 1832, 1822, 1815-18, 1806, 1801, 1799, 1796, 1792, 1790, 1787, 1780, 1777, 1759, 1751, 1745, 1742, 1737, 1716, 1688, 1657?, 1647?, 1640, 1594, 1562, 1558.