Field trip to Maule valley, Southern Volcanic Zone of the Andes
October 31 – November 3, 2024

 

In the pre-conference field trip to the Andean region of Maule valley, participants will visit monogenetic volcanoes occurring in two different contexts:

i) Los Hornitos is a pair of mafic monogenetic volcanoes emplaced in the arc front, at the foothills of Descabezado Grande and Azul stratovolcanoes. At this site, participants will be guided through the different units emplaced during the eruptive event, based in stratigraphy and bulk-rock and mineral chemistry. In addition, participants will be involved in the details on textural and mineral chemistry that support an alternative growth model of olivine described in this locality, that can be extrapolated to other mafic monogenetic eruptions. Hiking around Los Hornitos will allow splendid views to the surrounding stratovolcanoes as well as other monogenetic vents in the area.

ii) Laguna del Maule is a large distributed volcanic field with more than a hundred of different vents occurring in an area of 500 km2 in the reararc, with erupted compositions ranging from basalt to rhyolite and that experienced a high deformation rate during the last years. Here, participants will have the opportunity to see vents and volcanic products of different compositions together with an overview of the volcanic field from different viewpoints during the field trip.

The pre-conference field trip to Maule valley is scheduled in three days, starting from and ending at Santiago de Chile, with transportation included in the fees. The fees also cover the costs for two nights of hosting in cabins and all meals/beverages during the field trip.

General itinerary
• Thursday 31 October: Transportation Santiago de Chile – Maule valley. Welcome and description of the structure of the field trip.
• Friday 1 November: Brief scientific discussion and hiking traverse through Los Hornitos volcanoes, with designed stops for group observations.
• Saturday 2 November: Excursion to Laguna del Maule and travel back to Santiago de Chile.

Registration fees
• Duration: three days – two nights.
Minimum 15 participants.
Maximum 25 participants.
• Post-conference fees: 350.000 CLP.
Post-conference fees includes: breakfast, snacks, dinner, accommodation in Maule (in cabins for six people), transportation by vehicle during the field trip, and field guides. Does not include personal equipment (clothes, boots, medicine, etc).

Registration for the Pre -and Post- Conference field trips will be done through the payment of the registration fee for each field trip. Payment system is available here: https://www.webpay.cl/form-pay/199523 y https://www.webpay.cl/form-pay/199525.

Places available for each excursion until out of stock.

Field trip leader:

Inscriptions or questions for pre- and post- conference field trips must be by email to monogeneticconference2024@ckelar.org, writing in the subject line: Pre Conference Fieldtrip.

INTRA CONFERENCE FIELD TRIP (Inscription still open)
6TH NOVEMBER 2024
*Departure location: Copec Gas Station (for confirmation)

The field trip will be mostly carried out by car; however, to be close, some stops/outcrops must be made on foot. The maximum altitude will be at 4,555 m a.s.l. Walking shoes, sunscreen, hat, cloth for the cold, and wind clothes are highly recommended. Picnic/snack lunch will be provided by the organization. All the attendees to the conference will visit the Indigenous Community of Talabre. This area is characterized by monogenetic centers as the maar Cerro Overo and La Albondiga Grande dome, and two active stratovolcanoes: Chiliques and Lascar, of which the latter is the most active volcano in northern Chile. The first stop of the field trip is a wonderful view of Lejía lagoon, where it is possible to see the reflection of the Lascar volcano (mirror effect on the water; only in the morning).

Then, participants will be visiting one of the most basic composition (~54 wt.% SiO2) volcanoes of northern Chile, the maar Cerro Overo located at 4,555 m a.s.l. and the deposit of the Lascar 1993 eruption, which was characterized by at least nine eruptive pulses of different intensities, generating tephra fall and pyroclastic density current deposits due to the partial collapse of the eruptive column. The eruption lasted approximately 32 hours and reached over 20 km above the crater level. In addition, during the different stops/outcrops of the area, the relationship between monogenetic volcanoes from mafic to felsic compositions with polygenetic systems will be discussed, considering the evolution of the network conduit feeders (e.g., type of magma) and the role of the basement (e.g., inherited structures and basement configuration) to determine different eruptive dynamics. The field trip will finish visiting Talabre Viejo town and the current village of Talabre to see the cultural heritage of the Indigenous Community of Talabre.

Field-trip leaders

 

Field trip to Ollagüe volcanic area, Northern Volcanic Zone of the Andes
November 9-13, 2024

 

Ollagüe is a small and isolated border town with Bolivia located 215 km northeast of Calama at 3,700 m a.s.l. with a hot high-altitude desert climate, extreme aridity and temperatures with a strong dairly thermal oscillation. The field trip will visit the San Pedro-San Pablo and Ollagüe volcanoes, two active stratovolcanoes in the Chilean Altiplano and some salars and sulfur mining camps. The trip will concentrate on visiting the La Poruña and La Poruñita scoria cones, San Pedro-San Pablo and Ollagüe stratovolcanoes, SC2 shield lava-like, Luna de Tierra tuff cone, among others minors centers.

This field trip will discuss emplacement mechanisms for monogenetic volcanoes, the relationship between individual volcanoes and volcanic fields, tectonic links to monogenetic volcanism, and the interplay between volcanism and the landscape. In addition, it will also consider the link between humans and volcanism, with geoheritage, and present-day cultural links to volcanism and their associated risks.

The field trip will start from San Pedro de Atacama and return to Calama, visiting different viewpoints/spots during the field trip such as:

General itinerary

Saturday 9 th November
During the travel from San Pedro de Atacama at 2,400 m a.s.l. to Ollagüe town at 3,700 m a.s.l., we will visit some spots as Valle de La Luna, Chiu-Chiu, different ignimbritic plateaus and volcanic centers, finishing with welcome dinner in Ollagüe.

Sunday 10th November
We will visit the main deposits generated in the eruptive history of the San Pedro stratovolcano and a n ignimbrite deposit of the Upper Miocene, ca. 12-10 Ma. In this area, we will visit the La Poruña scoria cone, a relatively mafic and extremely well-preserved parasitic center from the San Pedro volcano. During this day we will observe the deposits of the most recent explosive eruptions (Upper Pleistocene-Holocene) of the San Pedro volcano, including the pumiceous pyroclastic flow El Encanto Ignimbrite (ca. 11 ka), plinian activity, and youngest activity comprising blaock and ash deposits. Finally, we will visit the Polapi Station, ancient ruins close to a cemetery and an abandoned bus that illustrates a historical period in Chile’s memory.

Monday 11th November
During this day, we will focus on the long-term volcanic history of the andesitic to dacitic Ollagüe volcano. We will discuss the repeated edifice growth and catastrophic failure of the volcanic edifice and the spatial-temporal reconstruction following flank collapses.

We will visit the La Celosa pancake dome, which is the most evolved product of the Ollagüe volcano, and the occurrence of silicic domes in the edifice flanks. Additionally, we will observe the last activity from the Ollagüe volcano and its reconstruction following the major flank collapse with initial post-collapse less evolved lava flows and youngest activity with repeated cycles of dome growth and collapse with related block and ash deposits.

We will discuss the migration of the volcanic activity, and reactivation and propagation of pre-existing fractures as preferential ascent paths.

Finally, the Buenaventura debris avalanche deposit will be observed with the classical hummocky topography. We will discuss the trigger factors of flank collapse and the effect of a salt flat-derived substrate on the transport and emplacement mechanisms of debris avalanches and post-depositional fluctuations of the ancient Carcote paleolake.

Tuesday 12th November
We will visit the town of Amincha, a sister community of Ollagüe, whose small population of eighty-year-old represents the worldview associated with the volcano. We will analyze the legacy and consequences of past economic activities around the volcano.

During this day we will visit different monogenetic centers in the Salar de Carcote Basin, including the Poruñita scoria cone, SC2 lava shield-like, and Luna de Tierra tuff ring. We will discuss the relationship of the basaltic-andesite monogenetic volcanism with polygenetic volcanism and their relationships with the debris-avalanche deposit from the Ollagüe volcano. In addition, we discuss the internal and external factors that affected the formation of these monogenetic centers and the relationship between them and the concept of monogenetic volcanic fields.

In addition, we will visit the Buenaventura mining camp, which was built in 1916 and was operational until 1976. It was dedicated to sulfur extraction from the Ollagüe volcano, where the train that connects Chile and Bolivia still passes.

Wednesday 13th November
During the last day, we will tour the town of Ollagüe, visiting Salar de Carcote and Salar de Ascotan. We will visit various heritage buildings, developing a story about their history and importance for the community. We will discuss recent research focused on analyzing social, physical, territorial, and economic vulnerability and how this type of study contributes to evaluating volcanic risk and disaster prevention.

Registration fees
•Duration: five days – four nights.
Minimum 8 participants.
Maximum 16 participants.
• Cost: 600.000 CLP (shared room for two people).
The post-conference field trip will be carried out in a high-altitude location (average altitude of 3,700 m a.s.l.). The registration fees include breakfast, snacks, dinner, accommodation in Ollagüe (simple place with basic services), transportation by vehicle during the field trip, and field guides. Does not include personal equipment (clothes, boots, medicine, etc).

Registration for the Pre -and Post- Conference field trips will be done through the payment of the registration fee for each field trip. Payment system is available here: https://www.webpay.cl/form-pay/199523 y https://www.webpay.cl/form-pay/199525.

Places available for each excursion until out of stock.

Field trip leader:

 

Inscriptions or questions for pre- and post- conference field trips must be by email to monogeneticconference2024@ckelar.org, writing in the subject line: Post Conference Fieldtrip.