Cerro Araral

Cerro Araral is an extinct volcano located in the Andes on the border between Chile and Bolivia in the Potosí Department and in the Antofagasta Region. It has a height of 5647 metres, rising over a base of 3900 metres and covers an area of 109.4 km2. The edifice has a volume of 43.4 km3, down from 47.2 km3 due to erosion. Based on the erosion rate, the volcano is 1.9 -2.75 and forms an alignment with Cerro Ascotan. Its formation may be linked to the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body, which appear to have contributed to part of Araral's magmas. The modern snowline on the mountain lies at more than 5700 m altitude. There are archeological sites at its base and on its flanks. The volcanism is at first andesitic and later becomes intermediary between andesite and basalt, with olivine, plagioclase and pyroxene.