Pyroclastic Flow, Journal of Geology Vol.

4, n° 1
Bustillos et al, 2014 ISSN° 0719-0565

Geological Note Nota Geológica

New field data on the Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) ~ 900

AD Subplinian eruption and its eruptive parameters
J. E. Bustillos1,2 ▪ J. E. Romero3 ▪ G. Guerrero4
1
Instituto Geofísico, Escuela Politécnica Nacional de Quito. Calle Ladrón de Guevara E11-253. Casilla Postal 17-2759, Quito, Ecuador.
2
Escuela de Geología, Facultad de Geología, Minas, Petróleos y Ambiental (FIGEMPA), Universidad Central del Ecuador Quito, Ecuador.
3
Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Atacama. Av. Copayapu 485, Copiapó, Chile.
4
Sala Situacional Coca, Secretaria Nacional de Riesgos – Ecuador.

Contact e-mail: jbustillos@igepn.

Abstract: The Guagua Pichincha is a volcano of explosive nature. As in historical times,

moderate-to-large eruptions have occurred in the past at GPV. One of those events (~900 AD)
is associated with a pumice fall deposit. Recently, new field data provides an idea about the size
and eruptive parameters of this subplinian eruption, and give us new information useful for
volcanic hazard purposes.

Palabras Clave: Guagua Pichincha, depósito de pómez, erupción subpliniana

Resumen: El Guagua Pichincha es un volcán de naturaleza explosiva. Tal como en tiempos

históricos, erupciones moderadas-grandes han ocurrido en el pasado del GP. Uno de esos
eventos (~900 AD) es asociado con un depósito de caída de pómez. Recientemente, nuevos
antecedentes de terreno proveen una idea sobre el tamaño y los parámetros eruptivos de esta
erupción subpliniana, y nos dan nueva información útil para propósitos de peligros volcánicos.

Keywords: Guagua Pichincha, pumice fall deposit, subplinian eruption

INTRODUCTION been interpreted as a series of dome-forming and

subplinian to Plinian eruptions (Samaniego et al.,
Guagua Pichincha Volcano (GPV) is an active
2006). For this event, Robin et al. (2008) had
(Fig.1A) composite volcano located 12 km toward
estimated a minimum bulk volume 0.6 km3 using
the West from Quito (Fig.1B). Its Holocene
54 proximal measurements, but we suspect that
activity has been mainly explosive and includes
it could have been underestimated by the lack of
phreatic explosions, dome growth and collapse,
distal data. Based in field campaigns, we present
Vulcanian and Plinian eruptions, and pyroclastic
new data on the volume and distribution of the
flows (Barberi et al., 1992; Hall, 2001, Wright et
~900 AD fallout deposit using 29 new thickness-
al., 2007). Two moderate eruptions occurred at
largest clast measurements which are mainly in
25-125 and ~900 AD at GPV. The latter
the proximal-medial regime (0-40 km downwind)
generated a thick pumice fall deposit reaching 30-
of ash fall for purposes of new eruptive
40 cm thickness in the flanks of GVP and has
parameters estimations.

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New field data on the Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) ~900 AD Subplinian eruption and its eruptive parameters
 Pyroclastic Flow, Journal of Geology Vol. 4, n° 1
Bustillos et al, 2014 ISSN° 0719-0565

Fig. 1: Guagua Pichincha Volcano. A: The active craters with gas emissions and historical lava domes are nested inside a
collapse caldera. Source: IGEPN. B: Pichincha Volcanic Complex (PVC) seen from Quito. Source: Jorge Romero M.

STRATIGRAPHY AND DISTRIBUTION 3 characteristic levels: a) a fine grayish ash layer

OF THE 900 AD PUMICE FALLOUT
The ~900 AD pyroclastic sequence is deposited
between two bituminous horizons which are
underlying and overlaying the 1660 and 1st
century eruption deposits, respectively. The last 2
ky of explosive activity are clearly recognizable in
outcrops following the road between "Lloa" and
"El Refugio" sites (Fig. 2A), the latter located at
Guagua Pichincha volcano. These outcrops show
(1-2 cm thickness at El Refugio); b) a white-cream
pumice ash fall layer. Pumices in this layer
presents elongated fiber-shape to subrounded
vesicles. This layer also contents plagioclase and
hornblende crysts, dacite fragments, rusty rock
fragments and allocthonous lithics. The size of
the fragments varies from 3 to 11 cm. c) A
Pyroclastic Density Current layer with fine
laminations and cross stratification (Fig. 2A).

Fig. 2: Pyroclastic sequence ~900 AD A: Volcano-

sedimentary deposits of the last 2 ky BP. . B: ~900 AD fallout
and flow deposits sequence. (Source: Jorge Bustillos)

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New field data on the Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) ~900 AD Subplinian eruption and its eruptive parameters
 Pyroclastic Flow, Journal of Geology
Bustillos et al, 2014
The deposit is mainly distributed in NW direction
from the vent, shaping a parabolic distribution.
These shapes suggests a slow wind condition
during sedimentation (Fig. 3). A maximum of 70
cm in thickness was documented 2.1 km SE from
the active vent, almost in the caldera rim, in
contrast with 3 cm measured at East of Pintag
town, 37.6 km at SE form the vent. Near the
volcanic edifice measurements indicates thickness
varying from 7 to 35 cm. At distance of 15 km to
the WSW (La Victoria Site) the average thickness
reaches 20-25 cm, while 30 km to the NNW
(Mindo Site) it varies from 10 to 15 cm thickness.
ERUPTIVE VOLUME AND MAGNITUDE
OF THE ERUPTION
Volumes of tephra deposits were calculated in
use of exponential thinning model proposed by
Pyle (1989;1995) and the Weibull method
(Bonadonna and Costa, 2012), yielding respective
volumes of >0.7 km³ and >0.5 km³, which are
consistent with the previously obtained by Robin
et al (2008). While the addition of proximal-
medial data makes not larger difference in results
and the isopachs are quite regular in shape, the
Fig. 3: Isopachs map ~900 AD, suggesting a slow wind condition during tephra sedimentation.
New field data on the Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) ~900 AD Subplinian eruption and its eruptive parameters
Vol. 4, n° 1
ISSN° 0719-0565
lack of <10 cm isopachs could underestimate the
final volume as consequence of thin ash
sedimentation currently covers wide areas. This
allow us to think that volume could tend to >1
km³. In addition, using of the maximum lithic (ML)
distribution (Carey and Sparks, 1986), the
calculated column height was 25-29 km, with an
eruption duration of 5-10 hours. These
parameters are typical for a Plinian-type event,
but the Weibull fit and the magnitude <5
calculated with the method of Pyle (2000) suggest
a subplinian event. On the other hand, phreatic
eruptions were observed on 1981 and 1998, plus
two small subplinian and several vulcanian
eruptions on 1999 (Villagómez, 2000; Hall, 2001;
Wright et al., 2007), being historical indicators of
an explosive behavior. Considering that GPV is
located only 12 km to the W of Quito, the
knowledge of the characteristics and distribution
of this deposit can be very valuable for volcanic
hazard estimations, especially with the observed
isopach distribution and the calculated eruptive
parameters. Future works must be focalized in
the modeling of both, old explosive events and
the hypothetical eruptions forecasting with similar
eruptive conditions.
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 Pyroclastic Flow, Journal of Geology Vol. 4, n° 1
Bustillos et al, 2014 ISSN° 0719-0565

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Authors are glad to acknowledge the constructive comments of Dr. Pablo Samaniego (IRD) and the fruitful
reviews of Dr. Benigno Godoy Neira.

REFERENCES

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hazard assessment of Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) based on past behaviour and numerical models. J Volcanol
Geotherm Res 49:53–68

Bonadonna C, Costa A (2012) Estimating the volume of tephra deposits: A new simple strategy. Geology,
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Carey, S. and Sparks R.S.J., 1986. Quantitative models of the fallout and dispersal of tephra from
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Hall, M., 2001. Guagua Pichincha. In: GVN: Bull Global Volcan Network. http://volcano.si.edu/world/ Cited
30 July 2001

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Robin, C., Samaniego, P., Le Pennec, J.L., Mothes, P., van der Plicht, J., 2008. Late Holocene
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Samaniego, P., Robin, C., Monzier, M., Mothes, P., Beate, B., García, A., guide, 2006. Field trip
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Villagomez, D., 2000. Sismicidad del volcan Guagua Pichincha, 1998–1999. Escuela Politecnica Nacional,
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Submitted: 2013-03-31
Reviewed: 2013-04-02
Accepted: 2014-05-08
Published: 2014-05-09
Number of reviewers: 2

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New field data on the Guagua Pichincha (Ecuador) ~900 AD Subplinian eruption and its eruptive parameters