Tecapa

El Salvador


SUMMARY:

Type: composite cone
Activity: dormant
Last Eruption: <10,000 yrs BP
Rock Type: ?
Eruptive Volume: ? cu km
Location Map from Xerox PARC
Latitude: 13.50 N
Longitude: 88.50 W


Geologic Background:

Tecapa is a complex stratovolcano at the northern end of a cluster of volcanoes west of San Miguel volcano. Tecapa contains a summit crater lake below a deep notch in the east crater rim. Several youthful lava flows and cones, such as Cerro Alegria and Berlin, occur on the flanks of Tecapa. The Holocene lava cone of Cerro Oromontique is located at the SE base along a fissure trending SE from Cerro Alegria. The volcano currently displays fumarolic activity and contains a producing geothermal plant.

Historic Activity:

  • No historical activity.

Recent Activity:

  • An earthquake swarm during late April, 1985 resulted in an 8-km-long graben forming on the NW flank of the volcano. The N40W striking graben is 800 to 1000 m wide, with a vertical offset of 30 cm.

Data Sources:

  • Smithsonian's SEAN Bulletin (V. 10, No. 5).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION


Last Update: 12/19/00