Pululahua (Ecuador)

Status Normal Eruption 290 3356m
Caldera (Subduction zone / Continental crust (> 25 km))

Pululahua is a relatively low, forested volcano immediately north of the equator, about 15 km N of Quito. The 5-km-wide summit caldera is narrowly breached to the west and partially filled by a group of dacitic lava domes. Older pre-caldera lava domes are found on the E, SE, and S sides of the caldera, with a group of younger pre-caldera lava domes primarily on the E side. Four post-caldera domes rises up to 480 m above the caldera floor. Large explosive eruptions producing pyroclastic flows took place during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Caldera formation took place during a series of eruptions lasting 150-200 years beginning about 2650 radiocarbon years ago. The latest dated eruption occurred from post-caldera lava domes about 1670 years ago and produced lava flows and pyroclastic flows.

Pululagua is a relatively low, forested volcano immediately north of the equator, 27 km north of Quito. Loma Pondona (left) and the lower Rumiloma (right center) are two of a group of lava domes that partially fill a 3-km-wide summit caldera. They are seen here from the SE caldera rim. The caldera was formed during the latest dated eruption of Pululagua about 2400 years ago. Pululagua produced large explosive eruptions accompanied by pyroclastic flows during the late Pleistocene and Holocene.

Photo by Lee Siebert, 1978 (Smithsonian Institution).

Last updated 2019-08-04 00:28:03