Carachipampa is a Pleistocene volcanic cone in Argentina. Part of a wider, regional volcanic field, it has produced lava flows consisting of andesite. It is surrounded by a lake and a salt flat, the former of which features an ecosystem formed by microbes.
Carachipampa lies in the Catamarca Province [1] of northwestern Argentina. [2] It is a black volcanic cone with its summit on the southeastern crater rim, surrounded by a field of lava flows that were fed from the northwestern side of the cone. [3] Part of the southeastern flank of the cone is collapsed. [4] The occurrence of eroded scoria cones and lava domes has been reported. [5] The lava flows reach thicknesses of 2–6 metres (6 ft 7 in – 19 ft 8 in) and lengths of 8 kilometres (5.0 mi), [6] and consist of mafic andesite [7] that defines a calc-alkaline suite. Phenocrysts are mostly amphibole, clinopyroxene and olivine. [8] Rock samples from the volcano have been analyzed. [9]
The volcano erupted 750,000 years ago [10] and is part of the fourth volcanic stage in the region. [7] There are a number of mafic volcanic centres in the southern Puna, including Antofagasta de la Sierra north of Carachipampa. [11] Cerro Blanco farther southwest produced ignimbrites, which cover the terrain southwest of Carachipampa, [12] and is still active. [2] Seismic tomography has identified a low-speed anomaly underneath Carachipampa, which connects to it and to several neighbouring volcanoes like Galán and Ojos del Salado. [13] The so-called "Cerro Galán Magmatic Body" lies north of Carachipampa; the volcano lies above its margin. [14] There is evidence of neotectonic activity at Carachipampa. [15]
The cone lies at the centre, and the lowest point, of a [16] 149 by 64 kilometres (93 mi × 40 mi) wide [17] deserted, vegetation-free [a] plain [19] that is one of the lowest-elevation areas in the Puna. [20] To the west, across a ridge, lies the Incahuasi basin, [21] to the east there is a sharp demarcation with [22] the Campo de Piedra Pomez [2] with numerous yardangs carved into ignimbrites. Permian red beds and Paleogene sediments crop out close to Carachipampa. [2] Other rock formations around the Carachipampa plain range in age from Neoproterozoic over Devonian. The basin is filled with sediments, reaching thicknesses of 700 metres (2,300 ft). [17] The basin is notable for the giant (up to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high), wind-formed megaripples; [23] they are found southwest of Carachipampa in the valley that runs to Cerro Blanco. [24] Winds have removed fine materials, leaving only granular material on the plain, [19] and eroded sediments from wetlands. [25]
The region has a cold and arid climate, [22] as the Andes prevent moisture from the Atlantic. Winds blow mostly from the northwest and can be intense, explaining the widespread aeolian landforms at Carachipampa. [26] Other traits of the climate are high UV radiation, large daily temperature fluctuations and frequent drying, which make the environment similar to that experienced on Mars. [1]
There are two major waterbodies at Carachipampa, [27] which surround the volcano: [28]
Several watercourses, many of which are ephemeral, flow into the Carachipampa waterbodies. These include the Pirica and Colorado rivers and the creek at El Peñón. [27] At least one creek feeds the waterbodies. [45] The Pirica and Colorado rivers may still flow to Carachipampa. [46] Wetlands are found mainly north of Carachipampa [47] and cover an area of about 0.361 square kilometres (0.139 sq mi). [48]
It is probable that in the past, the basin extended to Fiambalá, before it was separated by volcanic activity. [49] Later, activity of the Antofagasta de la Sierra volcanoes farther north removed inflow from the north [50] although it is possible that water still flows underground from Antofagasta to Carachipampa. [51] Until 1905 years ago, the climate was wetter and a terrace formed at Laguna Carachipampa. [52] Active wetlands [53] and beach environments developed around 644 years ago. [52]
The town of El Peñón is east of Carachipampa, [2] and the volcano/lake is a tourism destination. [48] National Route 53 [54] [c] from Belen to Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca passes by Carachipampa. [41] There is no evidence of agriculture or archeological sites around Carachipampa, [57] but the inhabitants of Peñón used the wetlands as pastures. [47] In 1978, there was a habitation named Carachi Pampa. [58] Bolivia briefly claimed the southern Puna including Carachipampa during the Puna de Atacama dispute in the early 20th century. [59]
Owing to its extreme environmental conditions, Carachipampa has been used as an Earth-based analogue to Mars. [1] Alum and salt were extracted from Carachipampa, [60] and presently the company Lake Resources owns rights about a lithium extraction project at Carachipampa. [61] The name may refer to Quechua pampa, "plain"; the first component may be a reference to either kachi, "salt", or kachina, a type of white ground, or Qáranpampa, "Erial sterile field". [62]
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: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)Carachipampa is a Pleistocene volcanic cone in Argentina. Part of a wider, regional volcanic field, it has produced lava flows consisting of andesite. It is surrounded by a lake and a salt flat, the former of which features an ecosystem formed by microbes.
Carachipampa lies in the Catamarca Province [1] of northwestern Argentina. [2] It is a black volcanic cone with its summit on the southeastern crater rim, surrounded by a field of lava flows that were fed from the northwestern side of the cone. [3] Part of the southeastern flank of the cone is collapsed. [4] The occurrence of eroded scoria cones and lava domes has been reported. [5] The lava flows reach thicknesses of 2–6 metres (6 ft 7 in – 19 ft 8 in) and lengths of 8 kilometres (5.0 mi), [6] and consist of mafic andesite [7] that defines a calc-alkaline suite. Phenocrysts are mostly amphibole, clinopyroxene and olivine. [8] Rock samples from the volcano have been analyzed. [9]
The volcano erupted 750,000 years ago [10] and is part of the fourth volcanic stage in the region. [7] There are a number of mafic volcanic centres in the southern Puna, including Antofagasta de la Sierra north of Carachipampa. [11] Cerro Blanco farther southwest produced ignimbrites, which cover the terrain southwest of Carachipampa, [12] and is still active. [2] Seismic tomography has identified a low-speed anomaly underneath Carachipampa, which connects to it and to several neighbouring volcanoes like Galán and Ojos del Salado. [13] The so-called "Cerro Galán Magmatic Body" lies north of Carachipampa; the volcano lies above its margin. [14] There is evidence of neotectonic activity at Carachipampa. [15]
The cone lies at the centre, and the lowest point, of a [16] 149 by 64 kilometres (93 mi × 40 mi) wide [17] deserted, vegetation-free [a] plain [19] that is one of the lowest-elevation areas in the Puna. [20] To the west, across a ridge, lies the Incahuasi basin, [21] to the east there is a sharp demarcation with [22] the Campo de Piedra Pomez [2] with numerous yardangs carved into ignimbrites. Permian red beds and Paleogene sediments crop out close to Carachipampa. [2] Other rock formations around the Carachipampa plain range in age from Neoproterozoic over Devonian. The basin is filled with sediments, reaching thicknesses of 700 metres (2,300 ft). [17] The basin is notable for the giant (up to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) high), wind-formed megaripples; [23] they are found southwest of Carachipampa in the valley that runs to Cerro Blanco. [24] Winds have removed fine materials, leaving only granular material on the plain, [19] and eroded sediments from wetlands. [25]
The region has a cold and arid climate, [22] as the Andes prevent moisture from the Atlantic. Winds blow mostly from the northwest and can be intense, explaining the widespread aeolian landforms at Carachipampa. [26] Other traits of the climate are high UV radiation, large daily temperature fluctuations and frequent drying, which make the environment similar to that experienced on Mars. [1]
There are two major waterbodies at Carachipampa, [27] which surround the volcano: [28]
Several watercourses, many of which are ephemeral, flow into the Carachipampa waterbodies. These include the Pirica and Colorado rivers and the creek at El Peñón. [27] At least one creek feeds the waterbodies. [45] The Pirica and Colorado rivers may still flow to Carachipampa. [46] Wetlands are found mainly north of Carachipampa [47] and cover an area of about 0.361 square kilometres (0.139 sq mi). [48]
It is probable that in the past, the basin extended to Fiambalá, before it was separated by volcanic activity. [49] Later, activity of the Antofagasta de la Sierra volcanoes farther north removed inflow from the north [50] although it is possible that water still flows underground from Antofagasta to Carachipampa. [51] Until 1905 years ago, the climate was wetter and a terrace formed at Laguna Carachipampa. [52] Active wetlands [53] and beach environments developed around 644 years ago. [52]
The town of El Peñón is east of Carachipampa, [2] and the volcano/lake is a tourism destination. [48] National Route 53 [54] [c] from Belen to Antofagasta de la Sierra, Catamarca passes by Carachipampa. [41] There is no evidence of agriculture or archeological sites around Carachipampa, [57] but the inhabitants of Peñón used the wetlands as pastures. [47] In 1978, there was a habitation named Carachi Pampa. [58] Bolivia briefly claimed the southern Puna including Carachipampa during the Puna de Atacama dispute in the early 20th century. [59]
Owing to its extreme environmental conditions, Carachipampa has been used as an Earth-based analogue to Mars. [1] Alum and salt were extracted from Carachipampa, [60] and presently the company Lake Resources owns rights about a lithium extraction project at Carachipampa. [61] The name may refer to Quechua pampa, "plain"; the first component may be a reference to either kachi, "salt", or kachina, a type of white ground, or Qáranpampa, "Erial sterile field". [62]
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cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (
link)