More steam, less ash reported as Planchón-Peteroa quietens

Aerial view of Planchón-Peteroa towards the north-east showing the active double crater. The emission of particulates and gases comes principally from the north-easter edge, where some of the deposited material can be seen. From this angle the acid lake cannot be seen. (This image accompanies the SERNAGEOMIN report of 13 September 2010. Translation of original caption.)

The Chilean state geological service SERNAGEOMIN reports in its latest bulletin (13 September) on Planchón-Peteroa that the current activity at the volcano appears to be quietening. The volcano’s emissions contain more steam and less ash, and there is no evidence of fresh magmatic material: ‘Since last Sunday 10 September the fumarolic activity at Planchón volcano has shown a tendency towards a greater content of water vapour and, apparently, has progressively carried less ash content’. Analysis of ash samples has found ‘no juvenile components, which suggests that fresh magma has played no part in the [eruptive] process’. Seismicity has also been at a low level over the period 9-12 September, and ‘no earthquakes were recorded associated with internal fluid movements. This implies that the activity associated with the processes is very superficial’.

A summary of the previous SERNAGEOMIN report, issued on 8 September, can be found here. SERNAGEOMIN is maintaining Alert Level 4 Yellow for Planchón-Peteroa.

News
Mantienen alerta amarilla por volcán Planchón – La Tercera, 13 September 2010
Sernageomin mantiene alerta amarilla en el volcán Planchón – Cooperativa.cl, 13 September 2010

Information
Global Volcanism Program: Planchón-Peteroa – summary information for Planchón-Peteroa (1507-04=)
Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería – SERNAGEOMIN, the Chilean state geological service