Olca

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Olca
File:Cerro Aucanquilcha, Chile, 2016-02-10, DD 15.JPG
Highest point
Elevation5,407 m (17,740 ft)
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Geography
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LocationBolivia, Nor Lípez Province, San Pedro de Quemes Municipality, Cana Canton
Chile, Antofagasta Region, El Loa Province
Parent rangeAndes
Geology
Mountain typeStratovolcano
Last eruption1867

Olca is a stratovolcano on the border of Chile and Bolivia. It lies in the middle of a 15 km long ridge composed of several stratovolcanos. Cerro Minchincha lies to the west and Paruma to the east. It is also close to the pre-Holocene Cerro Paruma. It is andesitic and dacitic in composition, with lava flows extending several kilometres north of the peak. The only activity from the ridge during historical times was a flank eruption from 1865 to 1867. The exact source of this eruption is unclear.

Gas emissions and composition

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The gasses emission is comprised by a single warm spring at the base[1] and a persistent fumarole field over at the crater's dome for at least 60 years.[2] The fumarolic field is about 0.1 km2 and the emissions measured in situ at the crater show a highly mixed magmatic system between high temperature gasses and hydrothermal fluids.

The gas composition indicates low concentration of H2, CO and acidic gasses, and high concentration of H2S and hydrocarbons.[2] The carbon/sulfur ratios are high and the isotopic values suggest the mixture between magmatic, hydrothermal, and atmospheric fluids.[2] Other techniques used to measure the amount of SO2 includes remote sensing techniques called Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy(DOAS) giving maximum concentration of 35 ppm.m of SO2;[3] and the most recent taken with a UV camera suggesting an average of 18.4 t d−1.[4]

Eruptive history and latest activity

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Different information exists regarding the activity and activity migration of Olca. There is a study dating two flows, which suggest a formation during the Pleistocene,[5] while others suggest to be much older with the appearance of the edifices volcanic activity migrated east over time.[6] There is also evidence that glaciers were on the volcano in the late Pleistocene.[6] The

Unconfirmed historical eruptions are suspected to have occurred in 1865–1867.[7] The last activity has been reported of low-intensity seismicity accompanied with fumarolic activity in November 1989 and March 1990 intense degassing.[8] In 2010, there a campaign conducted seismic activity showing 3 potencial swarms without a clear interpretation.[7]

File:Olca.jpg
Olca volcanic dome with the fumarole, picture taken from the south looking at the plume.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ Clavero J., Soler V., Amigo A. 2006. Caracterización preliminar de la actividad sísmica y de desgasificación pasiva de volcanes activos de Los Andes Centrales del Norte de Chile. XI Congreso Geológico Chileno, Actas II, 443-446 (Spanish)
  4. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  5. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).

Sources

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  • Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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