Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field
Stratovolcano · 5,451m · Chile-Argentina
About Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field is a stratovolcano rising to 5,451 meters (17,885 feet) in Chile-Argentina's South America Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field is located in Chile-Argentina, within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc of the broader South America Volcanic Regions. Situated at 25.08° S, 68.37° W in the Southern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a subtropical climate zone. At 5,451 meters above sea level, Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field reaches well into the permanent snow and ice zone. Glaciers and snowpack on the upper slopes create the potential for lahars — destructive volcanic mudflows — during eruptions, as heat rapidly melts ice and snow. The volcanic landform is characterized as a composite, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
Geological Context
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field sits in a subduction zone, where one tectonic plate dives beneath another, creating intense heat and pressure that generates magma. Subduction zones are responsible for many of the world's most explosive volcanoes and deadliest eruptions. For communities in Chile-Argentina near Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field, this tectonic setting means the volcano is capable of producing powerful explosive eruptions, pyroclastic flows, and lahars that can threaten populated areas within tens of kilometers of the summit. The dominant rock type is andesite / basaltic andesite, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms from rapidly cooling, low-viscosity lava. Basaltic eruptions tend to be less explosive and produce fluid lava flows that can travel long distances. While less immediately dangerous than explosive eruptions, basaltic lava flows can destroy structures and infrastructure in their path, and volcanic gases released during these eruptions can affect air quality over a wide area.
GVP Reference Summary
Cerro Escorial, a small andesitic-dacitic stratovolcano, has young-looking lava flows and a well-preserved crater. It is the youngest volcanic center of the NW-SE-trending Corrida de Cori range that marks the Chile/Argentina border. Escorial is located 4 km NE of an active sulfur mine in older, extensively hydrothermally altered rocks. Very youthful-looking lava flows extend westward 3-4 km over an ignimbrite deposit on the Chilean side. A 1-km-wide crater caps the summit. Escorial was considered by de Silva and Francis (1991) to be of probable Holocene age based on morphological evidence, but Richards and Villeneuve (2002) obtained an Ar/Ar age of about 0.342 million years on a lava flow. Most of the lava flows extend to the SW into Chile, but a few small lobes traveled NE on the Argentinian side of the volcano. De Silva (2007 pers. comm.) noted that the well-preserved summit crater postdates the lava flow and could be of Holocene age.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field
Is Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field an active volcano?+
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "Evidence Uncertain." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field?+
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field has a summit elevation of 5,451 meters (17,885 feet) above sea level. At 5,451 meters, it stands taller than Mount Rainier (4,392m) and is among the world's major volcanic peaks.
What type of volcano is Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field?+
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field is classified as a Stratovolcano. Stratovolcanoes (also called composite volcanoes) are steep, conical volcanoes built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. They are among the most common and dangerous types, known for explosive eruptions.
Where is Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field located?+
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field is located in Chile-Argentina, in the South America Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central Andean Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are -25.083° latitude, -68.367° longitude.
Is it safe to visit Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field?+
Corrida de Cori Volcanic Field can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. Chile-Argentina may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
