A volcano that was thought to be dead and gone after a quarter of a million years might actually still be alive beneath its surface. Uturuncu in Bolivia’s Sur Lípez Province has been showing signs of life despite its long dormancy. Seismic activity and gas emissions have been detected, causing the surrounding landscape to deform into a unique “sombrero-like” shape.
Researchers used data from over 1,700 earthquakes to map the plumbing system beneath the volcano. By analyzing changes in acoustic waves and combining it with previous geophysical imaging data and petrochemical analysis, they found a shallow hydrothermal system with hot water migrating upwards towards the surface. The results show that gas is accumulating at the bottom of the crater, pushing the surface upwards at a rate of 1 centimeter per year.
The discovery reveals the hidden activity beneath seemingly inactive volcanoes and highlights the potential for discovering economically useful minerals like copper. While Uturuncu is unlikely to erupt in the near future, scientists can now track its processes in real-time, providing valuable insights into volcanic hazard assessment and magmatic-hydrothermal systems.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/zombie-volcano-in-bolivia-appears-to-be-stirring-deep-underground