Bolivia
Synonyms: Sacabaya
Location: 18º37'S; 68º45'W
Type: Explosive Silicic Center
Summit Elevation: 4215 m
Edifice Height: 265 m
Cerro Quemado is unusual in that it is located well to the east of the main volcanic cordillera, on the flat altiplano of Bolivia. Greeley et al. (1987) made a reconnaissance visit to this volcano during the course of studies on the applications of imaging radar techniques to aeolian deposits. Elliptical in plan, the volcano has a maximum basal diameter of ~6.5 km and an edifice height of some 350 m (Figure M3 a&b). The summit vent area is about 2 x 3.5 km and is a series of coalesced craters with the youngest in the south. The slope of the inner crater walls, which appear to be made up of bedded pyroclastic material, range from ~35° to near vertical. A prominent blocky dome is located in the southernmost and youngest crater and appears to have been the last eruptive product. Cerro Quemado was undoubtedly the result of a major pyroclastic eruption as evidenced by the semi-continous apron of tephra distributed up to 7 km from the volcano. The nature of the eruption is unknown but the morphology of the crater suggests a phreatomagmatic eruption. Tephra derived from Cerro Quemado may form a significant component of prominent aeolian dunes observed on the altiplano south and east of the volcano.
References
Christensen, P.R., and Greeley, R., 1985. A Silicic Shield Volcano in Bolivia. Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program Report, 275.
Greeley, R., Christensen, P.R., & McHone, J.F., 1987. Radar characteristics of small craters - Implications for Venus. Earth, Moon, and Planets, 37:89-111.