Geological Society of America Annual Meeting 1995, New Orleans, Louisiana

Field Dip Guide Book #1

Quaternary Explosive Volcanism and

Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Future Hazards
Claus Siebe l , Jose Luis Macias l , Michael Abrams 3, Sergio Rodriguez 2, Renato castrol, and Hugo ~ e l ~ a d o

Znstituto & Geoflsica, Universidad Nacional Autdnorna & Mdzico

Znstituto de Geologia, Uniuersidad Nacional Aut6norna de M h k o
3 ~ ePropulsion
t Laboratory, California Institute of Technology

Introduction afternoon we will visit the archaeological site of Cholula, a

This fieldtrip guide describes a five-day trip to
examine Late Pleistocene and Holocene pyroclastic
deposits erupted from volcanoes in the east central part
of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. These deposits have
important implications for volcanic hazards assessment
of an area that has experienced an unprecedented
economic and industrial growth during the past four
decades. We will evaluate the risk that volcanism poses
for life and property and invite participants to discuss
the problems of hazards mitigation in this densely
populated and socially complex region.
The trip begins and ends at the Mexico City
International Airport (figure 1).The first three days are
devoted to Popocatepetl(5,452 m), a stratovolcano that
reawakened during the last three years with increased
seismic and fumarolic activity. It started erupting in the
early morning of December 21, 1994, with the nearly
continuous pulsating emission of gasses and ash
posing enormous potential problems that need to be
resolved (see also the 1994 and 1995 issues of the
Bulletin of the Global Volcanism Network).
During the first day, we will ascend to Tlamacaz
(3,950 m above sea level), the highest point on the
volcano that can be reached by car and examine the
most recent pyroclastic fall and flow deposits at this
proximal location. During the second day, we will drive
around the western, southern, and eastern slopes and
visit areas covered by gigantic Pleistocene debris-
avalanche deposits, as well as associated pumice-fall
and ash-flow deposits. During the morning of the third
day, we will inspect young lahar deposits and Plinian
pumice and ash-fall deposits from Popocatkpetl that
buried peHispanic settlements near Santiago
Xalitzintla, San NicolL de 10s Ranchos, and San
Buenaventura Nealtican on the eastern slope. In the
major pre-Hispanic ceremonial center that was temporarily
abandoned around 800 A.D. presumably because of a large
major Plinian eruption from Popocatkpetl. Then we will
drive northeast and spend the night in Tlachichuca, located
at the southeast margin of the Serdh-Oriental intermon-
tane basin.
The next two days are devoted to other volcanoes and
their deposits located within or at the margins of the
Serdh-Oriental basin. During the fourth day, we will visit
the western slopes of Pico de Orizaba stratovolcano (5,700
m above sea level), the highest volcano in North America.
There we will examine a major Holocene block-and-ash fan
on which several towns are located. To the north is Las
Curnbres volcanic complex. On its western flank is the
remarkable Quetzalapa Plinian pumice-fall deposit, whose
source is still uncertain. The age of this deposit, which
covers at least 2,000 km2, is between 18,000 yr B.P.I. and
25,000 yr B.P. In the afternoon we will visit the Las
Denumbadas rhyolite domes and focus our attention on
their multiple debris-avalanche deposits. We will also visit
the Tepexitl explosion crater and San Luis Atexcac rnaar
crater, two of more than a dozen phreatomagmatic volcanic
features in this region, before driving to Perote at the
northern margin of the Serdh-Oriental basin. On the fifth
day (optional), we will visit Laguna Alchichica explosion
crater as well as Cerro Pinto rhyolite dome. Then we will
drive back southwest towards La Malinche (4,503 m), the
third major andesitedacite stratovolcano to be seen during
this field excursion. On the northeastern slope of La
Malinche, we will inspect Xalapaxco, an unusual tuff cone
with multiple explosion craters, before visiting outcrops at
the northern slopes of La Malinche. This volcano is gener-
ally believed to be extinct, but recent fieldwork and dating
of the youngest products indicate that it should rather be
designated as potentially active. At the end of this day we
will return to the Mexico City InternationalAirport.
2 Claus Siebe ,Jos&Luis Mactaa, Michael Abrams ,Sergio Rodrtguez ,Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado
~ u a k r n aExplosive
r~ Volcanism and Pyroclastic Deposits in Ecast Central Maico:
Implications for Future Hazwds

The Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt: duced from Europe and Africa. Today, almost 500 years
A brief review later, central Mexico is the most densely populated area of
the country and several cities have more than a million of
All the volcanoes to be visited are located within the inhabitants. Mexico City is probably the largest city in the
east central part of the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt world with about 25 million people.
(TMVB).The TMVB is an approximate east-west aligned Unprecedented economic and demographic growth
zone that extends for more than 1,000 km from the Pacific during the last decades have produced an enormous
coast to the Gulf of Mexico coast (figure 2). The belt ecologic stress on the area causing severe pollution of air
consists of a large number of Late Tertiary and and groundwater, vanishing lakes, deforestation, and soil
Quaternary cinder cones, maars, domes, and stratovolca- degradation. Because many of the volcanoes within the
noes, the chemical and mineralogical composition of TMVB have long periods of repose between cataclysmic
which is largely calc-alkaline. Although several eruptions, their lower slopes and adjacent areas have been
hypotheses for the origin of the TMVB have been heavily populated and economically developed.
proposed, most authors &late it to the subduction of the
Cocos plate beneath the North American plate. Several Geologic History of Popocathpetl(5,452 m)
key questions related to this major volcanic belt remain and Its Most Recent Activity
unanswered. In contrast with other subduction-related
volcanic belts, the TMVB does not run parallel to a deep- Although Popocatbpetl ("smoking mountain" in
sea trench, but is oriented obliquely, forming an angle of Nfiuatl, the language spoken by the Aztecs) ranks
circa 15" with the Middle America Trench. Prior to the among the most famous volcanoes in the world (its image
existence of the TMVB, a subduction zone oriented occurs on seals, stamps, and bank notes, and is
roughly north/northwest-south/southeastexisted along surrounded by mysticism and legends), little is known
the western margin of North America. We do not know about its geology and no comprehensive geological maps
the exact sequence of events that led to the present config- exist. The volcano is at the southern end of a 80 km-long
uration with a subduction zone oriented volcanic chain that trends north-south and divides the
west/northwest-east/southeast and the development of Valley of Mexico in the west from the Valley of Puebla in
the TMVB. Another particularity of the TMVB is the abun- the east. Popo is only 60 km southeast of Mexico City and
dance of scoria cones and other monogenetic volcanic 40 km west of the city of Puebla, which together contain
structures, which outnumber by several orders of magni- more than 30 million inhabitants (figure 3). The basement
tude, the much larger stratovolcanoes. In addition, several of the area consists of Cretaceous limestones, sandstones,
areas with alkaline volcanic rocks have been identified in and evaporites that were folded during the Tertiary.
recent decades, and satisfactory answers regarding the Intrusion of Tertiary granodiorites produced contact-
origin of these anomalous lavas are still lacking. Some of metamorphic aureoles in the host rock. These rocks crop
the major stratovolcanoes are roughly aligned in a north- out south of Popocat6petl in the states of Puebla and
south direction, perpendicular to the general trend of the Morelos.
TMVB.The most prominent examples of such alignment Today we know that the present cone is not the first
are the volcanic chains Cofre de Perote-Pico de Orizaba, huge volcanic edifice that evolved at this site, as
Iztaccihuatl-Popocatbpetl, and Nwado de Colima-Volch evidenced by the presence of at least three successive
de Colima. In each of these cases, the older and more debris-avalanche deposits that fan out towards the south.
eroded volcano is located to the north, while the younger These deposits attest to the previous existence of large
and more active one is located to the south at the front of cones that were destroyed by gravitational collapse (Siebe
the TMVB.These relationships also lack consistent expla- et al. 1993).The last collapse probably occurred between
nation. 25,000 and 20,000 yr B.P. The oldest rocks found so far at
The fertility of the volcanic soil, favorable climatic Popocatetl have not been dated, but they are strati-
conditions, and the availability of water in the intermon- graphically younger than rocks from Iztaccihuatl to the
tane lacustrine basins within the TMVB attracted north. This implies that Popocatbpetl is definitely
prehistoric nomadic people and fostered the rise of younger than its northern neighbour Iztaccihuatl, the
ancient civilizations. Urban development gave rise to oldest lavas of which were dated at 900,000 yr B.P. by the
major pre-Hispanic cities during the first 1,300 years A.D., K-Ar method (Nixon 1989). Although Popocatbpetl
such as Teotihuach, Cholula, Tenochtitlh (ancient appears highly symmetrical, a deep amphitheater-shaped
Mexico City) among others, leading to a significant popu- valley, Barranca de Nexpayantla, cuts its northwestern
lation concentration in central Mexico. Conquest by the flank (figures 3 and 4). The headwall of this barranca,
Spaniards temporarily reduced population growth, called Ventorrillo, fonns a prominent topographic high
mostly because of deaths from epidemic diseases inh-o- and represents the remnants of an older destroyed cone.
 4 Claus Siebe ,Josk Luis Macicrs, Michael Abrams ,Sergio Rodrtguez ,Renato Casbro,and Hugo Delgado

llO8 W loo0W WOW

Mexico

Figure 2: General tectonic setting of Mexico and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. Quaternary volcanoes with lcnown debris
avalanche deposits (open triangles) modified from Siebe et al. 1992: CO Colima; PO Popocattipetl; DE Las Derrurnbadas; JO
JocotitlanOtfier Quaternary volcanoes (solidtriangles):SJSan Juan;CE Ceboruco; TE Tequila; PA Paricutfn; TA Tandtaro;JR Jorullo;
TO Nevado de Toluca; M Xitli; IX Ixtacdhuatl; MA Malinche; PE Cofre de Perote; SMT San Martin Tuxtla; CH Chichonal; TA Tacd.
Calderas (open circles): P Primavera; LA Los Azufres; AM Amealco; LH Los Humeros. Cities (solid squares): Tp Tepic; Ga
Guadalajara; Co Colima; To Toluca; Ve Veraauz; Pu Puebla; SAT San Andrb Tuxtla; VH Vila Hermosa. Tectonic features: EPR East
Pacific Rise;TMZTamayo Fracture Zone; RFZ Rivera Fracture Zone.
At the top of the present cone is a large, 250 m-deep Nealtican, and others in virtually every direction from the
crater with vertical walls. Its shape and morphology have volcano. The last two of these explosive eruptions
not changed much since it was first photographed in the occurred within the period of human occupation circa
nineteenth century. 2,300-1,200 yr B.P. with devastating effects, as evidenced
The present cone consists mostly of interlayered lavas by archaeological remains buried by ash-fall beds and
and pyroclastic deposits of andesitic to dacitic composi- pottery shards incorporated by ash-flow units.
tion. Common phenocrysts in a microlithic to glassy Archaeological finds around the volcano are still fragrnen-
matrix include plagioclase, hypersthene, augite, olivine, t a r =and mostly limited to the northeastern sector of the
and, less frequently, biotite and hornblende. During the volcano (Seele 1973, Uruiiuela and Pluncket (pers. com.)
ice ages, Popocatepetl as well as its northern neighbour 1995). However, interesting and enlightening finds are
Iztacchuatl, were heavily glaciated in a series of advances anticipated elsewhere in the near future. This is especially
as evidenced by moraines and striae on bedrock lavas so because we have been able to observe abundant
(White 1981,1984). Dozens of scoria and cinder cones of archaeological material at many other outcrops west of
more basic composition pasalts and andesites) occur west the volcano.
and east of the volcano. The cataclysmic eruptions that so dramatically
During the past 20,000 years, activity was character- affected early inhabitants are not only reflected in myths
ized by at least 7 large Plinian eruptions that produced and legends, but also in the geographic names of towns,
Plinian pumice-fall and ash-flow deposits. Fall deposits barranas, and other topographic features. The names of
from these eruptions have been identified as far as Mexico many places start with either the NAhuatl prefix "nex" or
City, Puebla, Ajusco volcano, and La Malinche volcano. the prefix "xalli." "Nextli," which means "ash", is found
Outcrops of ash-flow deposits produced by Plinian erup- in the names "Nexapa" ("ash flow") and "Nexpayantla"
tions have been identified in the vicinity of many towns ("where the ash breaks apart"). "Xalli", which means
and small cities such as Atlixco, Cuautla, Oaxtepec, "sand" (sand-sized ash) occurs in "Xallitzintla" ("ash-
Ozumba, Atlautla, Amecameca, San Buenaventura stream"), and "Xalliquehuac" ("place where the sand
 -sl!elap 103 11 pue '8 'L 'P sam%yu! sdeu .uq
oz s! ieq ale% .H o q q ) 18uepanqanH 'wuedepqow qqand xv w x v y '21 scuouweyy ap r e 3 'M ~ epnen3 'y eJaure3aq
'3(u~w 1 auqsauq snoajeaar3'1 yuo!mmB mlajawel 'X auw gw o a 2~pad9tedod
:SUMOJ io!epq ;J slnej io[m '
go auor, + p u n s'1 p e n ~ ~ e l q 3@01oa~)
' ( a q paqsep) wnos a q oj q p d a p apmle~e-qiqap Aq paiaAo2 e m yeur~oidde
-
pue qetp 3!treqo~p a d ? 1 d o d penqpejq padJgeqnos-qvou a p %.q~oqsa S p i a d d w Dgeurq jespwq : am8!d
6 Claus Siebe ,Josh Luis Maclas, Michael Abrams ,Sergw Rodriguez ,Remto Cmtro, and Hugo Delgado
Quaternary Explosive Volcanism and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Future Haxards
rises"), among others. During the relatively long intervals
(1,000-2,000 yr) between these major ash-producing e r u p
tions, the area has been repopulated because of the
availability of water and agriculturally productive soil. A
cataclysmic eruption of the same magnitude as those that
o c b at Popocattipetl in the past would have devas-
tating effects of unprecedented dimensions in human
history. Hence, effective disaster preparedness strategies
must be developed by civil protection agencies.
Since the Spanish conquest in the early sixteenth
century, Popocat4petl has erupted several times, but
documentation of these events by witnesses varies in
quality (Waitz 1921). The eruptions seem to have a
common characteristic: Energy was released in a rela-
tively gentle manner, and eruptions produced mostly an
ash plume with an accompanying airfall deposit. Such
activity could last for as long as a few years and no major
damage or casualties were reported.
In the early morning of December 21, 1994,
Popocatkpetl started to erupt again. Initial explosions
were recorded by the seismic network that was installed
around the volcano in previous months. This eruption
created little surprise since increased fumarolic and
seismic activity was recorded during the previous two
years, and the news media had reported the increasing
concern raised by scientists (Siebe et al. 1994, see also
GVN Bulletins, 1994). The seismic records indicate that
the eruption must have started around 1:30 A.M. (local
time) with vent-clearing explosions that threw boulders
as large as 40 cm in diameter out of the 250 mdeep crater.
These boulders were observed and collected by mountain
climbers unaware of the eruption who reached the crater
rim around 8:00 A.M. -Although ebout 25 mountain
climbers spent the night at Tlarnacaz, located only 4 km
north of the volcano's crater, they neither heard the initial
explosions nor felt any earthquake prior to the start of
their ascent amund 4:00 A.M. It was only just prior to
reaching the crater rim that they heard the unusual jet-
engine-like sound and noticed a dense ash plume rising
in pulses from the crater floor. Although strong winds
were blowing, they were not able to see the crater floor at
any time. During the first hours of the eruption, silt-sized
ash reached several towns east and northeast of the
volcano, including the city of Puebla, where a thin coating
of ash was deposited.
In the afterrtoon of the same day, the government
decided prematurely to evacuate about 50,000 people
from towns to the east in the state of Puebla. These people
spent almost two weeks including Christmas and New
Year's Day in shelters provided by the local state govern-
ment in schools that were empty. The governor of Puebla
kindly distributed presents at Christmas to the evacuees
(mostly poor peasants). Notably, there has been friction
between the authorities and the peasants over the use of
water from the volcano. The rapidly growing city of
Puebla has an increasing demand for water from alterna-
tive sources and seeks to supply its needs partly from the
reserves at the eastern slopes of Iztacchuatl and
Popocatkpetl. The peasants in that area also need the
water for irrigating their fields. The struggle for water has
escalated to entail physical violence during the last two
years. After all these experiences, it is doubtful that the
peasants will listen to the authorities' instructions to evac-
uate their towns in the went of real danger.
Since the initial eruption, the volcano has been
spewing ash almost constantly in a "puffing" manner but
at a fluctuating rate. At times the volcano has emitted in
short intervals ( 2 4 min) larger puffs (up to 5 in a row)
that produce small cauliflower-shaped ash clouds that
reach between 1,500 m and 3,500 m above the crater rim.
These clouds have then been dispersed by the wind,
which blew almost exclusively to the northeast, east, and
southeast in the first quarter of 1995.
Almost daily most of the towns to the east receive
very fine ash that produces extremely thin coatings every-
where. However, residents seem to have grown
accustomed to it by now. In many cases they are
convinced that the volcano does not represent a threat.
This belief is in accordance with the eruptions experi-
enced during the last 500 years. 'Why wony so much ?"
they ask. "Doesn't Popocattipetl mean 'smoking moun-
tain?'"
At this writing (March 1995), the scientific committee
advising the government essentially envisages two
scenarios: (1) The present eruption continues with only
minor variations and eventually ceases, or (2) at some
future date it reverts to the violently explosive style
observed in the prehistoric record, producing ash flows,
lahars fed by rain and molten ice from the summit glacier,
and major Plinian pumice fall. The present monitoring
instrumentation is believed to be capable of detecting
major changes in precursory activity at least some days or
hours before an actual cataclysmic eruption occurs. Such
a system is relatively easy to install if enough skilled
scientists with modem equipment and a reasonable
budget are provided. Coordination of civil protection
agencies, health services, police, aviation safety authori-
ties, military p e r s o ~ e l ,etcetera, constitutes a serious
challenge in an area that includes the jurisdiction of three
different federal states and numerous counties totaling
more than a million inhabitants in the immediate
surroundings of the volcano. To reduce volcanic risk
requires resources and capabilities beyond those possibly
furnished by the scientific community.
Popocat4pet1s Late Pleistocene and Holocene
pyroclastic activity
The modem cone of Popocattipetl is built on the
 ,8 . .
Claus Siebe Jos4 Luis Maelas, Michael Abranns Sergio hdr&?uez, Renato Castro, and Hugo D e l h
remnants of previously existing cones that were
destroyed by cataclysmic events of the Bezymianny or Mt.
St. Helens type (Robin and Boudal1987, Siebe et al. 1993).
The last event of this type occurred between 20,000 and
25,000 yr B.P. Since then, the present cone was constructed
by alternating effusive and explosive activity. Most of the
lava flows are restricted to short distances (2-3 krn) from
the summit crater. Since the arrival of the Spanish
conquerors, volcanic activity has been limited to episodic
small eruptions with outbursts of ash clouds. However,
stratigraphic studies at the volcano indicate that many
larger explosive eruptions occurred during the last 20,000
yr. Some produced ash-flow deposits, Plinian pumice-fall
deposits, lahars, and "blast" deposits that cover consider-
able areas and contain abundant charcoal. Carbon-14
dating of the deposits has been carried out (e.g., Heine
and Heide-Weise 1973, Lambert and Valastro 1976, Robin
1984, Boudal 1985, Boudal and Robin 1989, Siebe et al.
1995 [submitted]). Unfortunately, several inconsistencies
regarding C-14 results and lithological descriptionsdo not
allow us to establish a definite eruptive history. We agree
in general with Boudal and Robin (1989) that several cata-
clysmic eruptions with devastating effects occurred
during the last 20,000 yr.
At this point, the eruptive history can be synthesized
in the following way (see also figure 5): Between 18,000
and 14,000 yr B.P., a major sequence of eruptions
occurred. They culminated with the emplacement of a
Plinian fall deposit ("p6mez con andesita" of Mooser
1967; Ta-4 in figures 5 and 6) with a northwest dispersal
axis. This deposit is one of the most distinctive units
around the volcano and represents the most unique strati-
graphic marker in the Valley of Mexico City. It consists of
a heterolithologic fall breccia that includes juvenile dacitic
orange pumice, gray microcrystalline granodiorite, pale
green metamorphic siltstone, bright green contact-meta-
morphic skarns, as well as other fragments from the local
basement. The deposit has been identified unequivocally
in such distant places from its source as downtown
Mexico City (70 km), the southern slopes of Ajusco
volcano (70 km),north of Iztaccihuatl at Rio Frio (30 km),
and on the slopes of Xico tuff cone in the Chalco basin (40
km) (see also figures 1and 3). At Xico tuff cone, an area of
shanty towns on the outskirts of Mexico City, a well-
p r e s e ~ e dsection revealed a thickness of 25 cm with a
maximum diameter of clasts of up to 5 cm; a madcut
located at the highway connecting Xochirnilco with
Oaxtepec, 35 lan west of Popocatbpetl, displays a thick-
ness of 50 cm with maximum dense lithic clast diameters
of 10 cm! These eruptions were most devastating, and
should they m r , their possible effects challenge the
imagination.
Several eruptive periods between 10,000 yr B.P. and
7,000 yr B.P. as well as between 5,000 yr B.P. and 4,000 yr
B.P., are well documented in the stratigraphic record (Ta-
3A and Ta-3B in figures 5 and 6). These periods produced
extensive ash flows from column collapse or ash foun-
tains. The flows were channelized by the pre-existing
topography and spread radially around the volcano,
destroying the vegetation a considerable distance from
the crater. They reached many places beyond the major
slope break at the base of the volcano, such as
Amecameca, Xalitzintla, San Nicolh de 10s Ranchos,
Ozumba, etcetera. These deposits are very similar in
appearance, and individual flow units are not easy to
correlate from place to place. Typically, they are massive
and poorly graded with faint layering and variable
amounts of yellowish brown, subrounded pumice in a
matrix of dark gray, silty-sandy ash. The flows were very
hot and produced abundant charcoal that is disseminated
throughout the matrix. Where weathered, the deposits are
light brown and semi-indurated.
Between 2,000 and 2,600 yr B.P., a major Plinian erup-
tion occurred, causing the first known human catastrophe
in the area. It produced a thick pumice fall with a north-
east dispersal axis (Ta-2 in figures 5,6, and 12). The dacite
pumice-fall deposit is recognizable by its ochre-brown
color and thickness. In addition, it contains minor
amounts (less than 10 % by volume) of dark scoria and
sparse, pale green metamorphic siltstone. The fall was
preceded by a "blast," which produced thin layers of
cross-bedded, well-sorted silt and ash. The blast deposits
are well preserved in the proximal areas immediately
below the Plinian pumice. Accompanying ash-flow tuffs
similar to Ta-3 were emplaced after the pumice fall. This
eruption is sigruficant because it destroyed pre-
Columbian settlements and agriculturally productive
fields in the Xalitzintla valley towards the northeast. Seele
(1973) was the first to report archaeological findings
buried by these deposits and Uruiiuela and Pluncket are
carrying out more systematic excavations in the area.
Preliminary results of these excavations indicate that the
valley dwellers abandoned their settlements shortly
before the eruption but had insufficient time to collect
their belongings.
The Plinian fall deposit measures more than 1 m thick
in the Xalitzintla Valley between San NicolL de los
Ranchos and San Buenaventura Nealtican. It has also
been recognized near Rio Frio, north of Iztacchuatl, as
well as on the southwestern slopes of La Malinche
Volcano. La Malinche is 60 lan northeast and 20 km
beyond Cholula and the present city of Puebla. For this
reason, it seems very probable that the early inhabitantsof
the Xalitzintla valley were trapped by the eruption
despite their initial efforts to escape its lethal effects. After
the peak of the Plinian eruption, lahars swept down the
Xalitzintla valley, the drainage system of which was filled
by the Plinian debris. We believe that future excavations
at Cholula, one of the most important pre-Columbian
ceremonial centers of Central Mexico, will yield signifi-
8uaterrk-y Explosive Ekanism and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Future H a z d
 Stop 1-1 Stop 1-2 Stop 1-3 Stop 14 Stop 1-5
Lat. 19' 03'25' N Lat. 19' 03' 59.N Lat. 19" 05'25"N Lat. 19" 05'20"N Lat lgO 05'13"N
Long. 98O 38' 08"W Long.98' 37'43"W Long.98O 38' 15" W Long.98' 37'00"W Long. 98"38'37" W
A t 3,965m AIL 3.980 m Alt. 3,640 m Alt. 3,525 m Alt. 3,700m

--
Illm

3-
4- -
;=7
mol

4aol

1m

Figure 6: Stratigraphic columns of outcrops at stops 1-1 to 1-10 to be visited during Day 1. The outcrops are located on the road to Tlamacaz at the northern and western
slopes of Popocatepetl.
Quaternary Explosive Volcanism and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico: 11
Implications fir Future Hazards
 12 Claus Siebe ,Jost! Luis M a c h , Michael Abmms ,Sergio Rodriguez ,Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado

cant results regarding the early history of the entire area. the base of the mountain. The direction in which Plinian
Indeed, we suspect its importance as a religious center fall deposits were dispersed will also be evaluated. The
may be strongly linked to Popocat4petl's eruptive activity, locations of the stops en route are shown in figures 1 and
which ultimtely reached and destroyed Cholula. 4, and stratigraphic sections of the outcrops to be visited
The above eruption was not unique, and the stratig- are shown in figure 6.
raphy reveals that a similar eruption occurred between
1,200 yr B.P. and 1,000 yr B.P. Another major Plinian e r u p 00.0 km From the airport follow signs to Freeway 150
tion occurred (Ta-6 in figures 5, 6, and 12), with initial to Puebla and enter the freeway exiting Mexico City
"blast" and subsequent pumice fall, ash flows, and lahars. towards the east.
This time the dispersal axis was east/northeast, which
means that the same area was struck again. By that time 35.0 km Exit freeway to the right and take Highway
the area devastated by the previous Plinian eruption was 115 southeast in the direction of Chalco and
repopulated because of the availabilty of water for irriga- Amecameca.
tion from the volcanoes. The stratigraphic sequence is
almost identical to that deposited during the prior erup- 63.0 km From the main square in Amecameca
tion. The distinguishing difference lies in the coloration of continue south on 115towards Cuautla.
the pumice, which for this went is pinkish gray, instead of
ochre-brown. The thickness of this horizon in the 65.5 krn Take the road on the left to Paso de Cortes
Xalitzintla valley is considerable and fluctuates between and Tlamacaz.
40 cm and 120 cm near San Buenaventura Nealtican.
The pre-Columbian history of Mexico is divided into 91.0 km At Paso de Cortk take the paved road on the
several periods. Around 800 A.D. the Classic period ends right to Tlamacaz (Stop 1-1).
and gives way to the Post-Classic. Although this subdivi-
sion is based mostly on differences in cultural 96.0 km Tlarnacaz mountaneering lodge. 30 m south
development, it seems not merely coincidence that its of the lodge is a trench revealing proximal facies of
dates correspond to the timing of the Plinian eruption that Holocene Plinian deposits (outcrop 1-1).
produced the grayish pink pumice. Not surprisingly,
archaeologists who carried out excavations at Cholula Stop 1-1. View of Popocatkpetl from Tlamacaz
during past decades report that Cholula was abandoned mountaineering lodge
on several occasions and that at least two ash-fall deposits
cover the ruins (e.g., Muller 1970, SuArez and Martinez Popocat4petl's present summit cone is built on the
1993). In addition, they mention that Cholula means remnants of at least three previously existing edifices. One
"water that falls at the place of those who fled." We are of these remnants is Nexpayantla ancestral volcano, a
convinced that future archaeological excavations at the prominent topographic feature rising northwest of the
lower slopes of Popocatbpetl will reveal much pre- present cone. The ages of Nexpayantla ancestral volcano
Columbian history of the area including the exact timing, lavas range between 50,000 yr and 780,000 yr, as constrained
eruptive mechanism, and sequence of the Plinian erup- by paleornagnetic measurements. Its highest point is the
tions. The findings could be comparable in significance to peak called El Ventorrillo (circa 5,100 m). Its steep westem
those at Vesuvius in Italy or at Cedn in El Salvador. wall, consisting of a sequence of strongly dipping
andesitic lavas, can be observed in the right foreground of
Day 1: Late Pleistocene and Holocene the snowtapped main cone of Popocatkpetl. El
deposits at the northwestern slopes of Ventorrillo represents the headwall of a major valley,
Popocat6petl Barranca de Nexpayantla. This deep and narrow barranca
represents the largest drainage on the northwestern sector
The first day is devoted to the Late Pleistocene and of the volcano. The valley becomes abruptly broader
Holocene pyroclastic deposits on the northwestern slopes above the town of San Pedro Nexapa (13 km from the
of the volcano. We will drive from the airport directly to present crater), where a major break in slope occurs. Here
Tlamacaz, the highest point at the volcano that can be it broadens into an alluvial fan inclined west/northwest.
reached by car. After discussing the geology of the The town of Amecameca is located at the far reaches of the
summit cone, we will drive partly back toward P o p fan. Barranca Nexpayantla has the potential for channel-
Park, stopping at 10 outcrops. We will systematically izing lahars and pyroclastic flows in future eruptions.
discuss all the deposits from the youngest to the oldest Popocatbpetl's modem cone also consists of andesitic
and gradually follow the changes in depositional environ- and dacitic lava flows intercalated with pyroclastic
ment from an upslope proximal facies to a medial facies at deposits. Its crater has an elliptical shape with a major
Quahrnary Explosive Volcanism and @roclastic Deposits in East Central Maico:
Implications for Future Hazards
axis of 800 m and a minor axis of 600 m. The major axis is
oriented east/northeast-west /southwest. The highest
crater rim and the summit (5,452 m) are located in the
west/southwest, and the lowest crater rim (5,250 m) is in
the east/northeast. The crater is bounded by steep walls
that are more than 200 m high. At the bottom a turquoise-
green lake (5,000 m) formerly filled a smaller interior
crater produced by the explosive disintegration of a lava
dome during the 192&27 eruption. The present ash
plume visible from Tlamaca2 originates at the spot where
the lake used to be within the crater before the present
eruption commenced in December. In 1992 furnarolic
activity increased substantially in comparison to previous
decades. This suggested a change in the subvolcanic
hydrothermal and magmatic systems. Airborne
Correlation Spectrometer (COSPEC) measurements of
S& discharge during 1994 yielded values ranging
between 680 tons/day and 3,000 tons/day (GVN
Bulletins 1994). This rate puts Popocat6petl among the
five major producers of 502 presently active in the world.
which is another cause for concern.
Late Pleistocene-Holocene glaciers at Popocatkpetl
reached altitudes as low as 3,900 m above sea level
leaving moraines that bounded the ice streams. The glac-
iers of Popocat4petJ are considered to consist of two ice
bodies (Nomudental and Ventomllo) differing in their
distribution, although they could also be considered as
one glacier since they share the same accumulation zone
with a total glaciated area of 0.56 km2. Besides the glac-
iers, there are four permafrost fields with a total area of
0.24 lan2. The amount of water contained on the flanks of
the volcano is equivalent to .017 km3, an amount that
should be taken into account in evaluating lahar risks.
The melt water is currently channeled by Barranca El
Ventorrillo and Barranca Central, which join at an altitude
of 3,400 rn above sea level to form a single stream that
reaches the town of Santiago Xalitzintla at about 2,500 m
above sea level.
96.0 km Take unpaved road northeast from Tlamacaz
mountaneering lodge to Cerro Tlarnacaz radio
station.
97.5 km Stop 1-2at the northern slope of Cerro
Tlamacaz. Immediately below the radio station is
outcrop 1-2.
105.0 km Return to Tlamacaz lodge and drive back on
the paved road to Paso de Cortbs. At Paso de CortQ turn
right on an unpaved road to the east towards Buenavista
and Xalitzintla. Stop 1-3 is the roadcut on the right side of
the road 1 km east of Paso de Cortks.
109.0 km Continue on unpaved road towards
Xalitzintla Stop 1-4 is a roadcut on the left side of the road
to the right of a young lava flow front.
114.0 km Return to Paso de Cortb. This is the saddle
which Hernh Cortb passed on his way to Tenochtitlh,
the Aztec capital. The only monument dedicated to the
Spanish conqueror in the entire country is here. Enjoy the
view of both volcanoes, Iztaccihuatl and Popocat4petl.
Walk 200 m downslope to the northwest along a path in a
small gully that runs in the same direction. Stop 1-5 is an
outcrop in this gully.
114.5 lan Continue west on the paved road towards
Nexapa. After 500 m a roadcut appears on the left side
next to an abandoned building. This is Stop 1-6.
115.5 km Continue on the paved road towards
Nexapa. After 1km on the left side in a narrow left curve
is a roadcut. This is Stop 1-7.
117.5 km Continue on the paved road towards
Nexapa. After 2 km a 30 m-long outcrop appears on the
right This is Stop
128.5 km Continue for another 11 km on the road to
at the
Nexapa. Shortly after the major bd in
m.rgin of the foreston the left side of the road is a 100m-
long roadcut. This is Stop
138.5 krn Continue driving through Nexapa and
reach the junction of Highway 115.
150.5 km Turn left towards Cuautla, pass Popo Park,
and turn left at the entrance of Ozumba where you leave
Highway 115. Drive to the main square of Ozumba and
turn left taking the paved road towards Atlautla. 200 m
after leaving Ozurnba on the road to Atlautla is Stop 1-10,
a roadcut in a topographic depression on the right side of
the highway.
lVn5 km to Popo Park- Behind Restaurante
Espaiiol on the right side of the road is the entrance to
Hotel Los Volcanes, not visible h r n the highway.
Day 2: Recurrent cone collapse and gigantic
debris avalanche deposits at Popocat4petl
Gravitationalcone collapse of domes and stratovolca-
noes and the subsequent emplacement of
debris-avalanche deposits represent one of the largest
hazards posed by volcanoes to nearby populations.
Preliminary fieldwork on the southern and eastern slopes
of the volcano and analysis of Landsat TM images (figure
3) indicate that Popocatkpetl collapsed towards the south
 14 Claus Siebe ,Jost?Luis Macfas,Michael Abraina ,Sergio Rodr&uez, Renato Cmtro, a d Hugo Delgado
at least three times during the Late Quaternary, locally
producing typical hummocky topography. Four different
debris avalanche deposits have been recognized in the
area, but it is not yet entirely clear if some were derived
fom Iztaccihuatl prior to the existence of Popocatepetl
(figure 7). To the south, several outcrops at proximal as
well as distal areas from the present cone show three
debris-avalanche deposits separated by volcaniclastic
deposits and a welldeveloped soil horizon. The three
deposits are very similar in extent, lithology, and internal
structure, showing characteristic jigsaw-fit structure. A
fourth deposit was identified at the eastern slopes of the
volcano, north of the town of Atlixco. We currently
believe that this deposit originated from Iztaccfhuatl, a
volcano believed to be essentially extinct (Nixon 1989).
The existence of a large debris-avalanche deposit at
Popocatbpetl was first recognized by Robin and Boudal
(1987). According to these investigators the deposit has a
volume of 28-30 km? covers a surface of 300 km2, has a
runout distance of 30 km,and is probably less than 50,000
years old. Our preliminary studies (1993) indicate that the
avalanches traveled at least 70 km south as far as
Huehuetlh El Chico and therefore much farther than
reported by Robin and Boudal (1989) (see also figure 7).
The recognition of at least four different debris avalanches
is compatible with studies at other Mexican volcanoes:
e.g., Colima (Komorowski et al. 1994), Pico de Orizaba
(Hsskuldsson and Robin 1993), and Las Denurnbadas
(Siebeet al. 1992,1993), which also collapsed several times
during their recent geologic evolution. This implies that
repetitive cone collapse of a volcano should not be envis-
aged as an isolated phenomenon. The decade long
fumarolic activity that preceded the present eruption
could have weakened the stability of Popocat6petl.
Possible collapse should be taken into consideration in the
future since such large and mature volcanoes do not
generally gain in altitude.
During the second day, we will drive from Popo Park
to Cholula and circle the volcano along its western,
southern, and eastern slopes (figure 8). All outcrops to be
visited will focus on the debris avalanches and associated
deposits. An idealized stratigraphic column is shown in
figure 9. Individual stratigraphical columns of outcrops 2-
1to 2-9 are shown in figure 10.
Pop's debris avalanche deposits (DAD in figure 10)
are noteworthy in their gigantic extent and in the large
size of proximal hummocks. In this respect they are
similar to the deposits associated with the last
Bezymianny-type event. After initial slope failure and
cone collapse, sudden depressurization of the
hydrothermal system led to an enormous explosion
("blast" BD in figure 10).This explosion produced a series
of turbulent diluted flows that formed deposits very
similar to "surge" deposits commonly found in the prox-
imal facies of phreatomagmatic explosion craters. The
"blast" deposits at Popo are remarkable for their thick-
ness, their distance from the crater, and the size of their
clasts (up to several meters in diameter more than 10 km
from the source). The deposits consist mostly of sand,
gravel, and boulders, show cross stratification, and
frequently have erosive lower contacts.
After deposition of the '%last," the eruption devel-
oped into a Plinian-type eruption, directly tapping the
magma reservoir. A Plinian pumice fall (PFD in figure lo),
several meters thick, followed by extensive ash flows
(AFD in figure 10) were deposited. This Plinian pumice
deposit is the thickest of its kind at Popocatbpetl and
consists of a whitish brown pumice rich in biotite. Its
dispersion axis is not exactly known, but the most impres-
sive outcrops occur on the southern slopes.
Wood from the base of the youngest avalanche
deposit was dated by the C-14 method and yielded an age
*
of 23,445 210 yr B.P. This finding is in accordance with
another date obtained from charcoal embedded in an ash
flow lying directly on top of the "blast" deposit which
yielded an age of 22,875 +55/-50 yr B.P. Although the
exact date of this eruption needs to be further constrained,
it is clear that no Bezymianny-type event has occurred
since then.
00.0 km Take Highway 115 to Cuautla and drive to
outcrop 1-10 at the exit of Ozurnba.
14.0 km Continue to Atlautla and take the paved road
to Ecatzingo. 1 km before arriving at the main square of
Ecatzingo is a 20 m long roadcut on the right side of the
road. This is Stop 2-1.
18.0 km Enter Ecatzingo and take the unpaved road to
Ocoxaltepec. 400 m before Ocoxaltepec is a roadcut on the
left side of the road. This is Stop 2-2, the most impressive
outcrop showing the "blast" deposit.
21.0 km 400 m after Ocoxaltepec on the road to Tetela
del Volchn is a roadcut in Barranca Xoxquezalco on the
left side of the road. This is Stop 2-3, which shows the
youngest debris avalanche deposit and associated Plinian
deposits on top.
34.0 km Continue on the unpaved road for 8 km to
Tetela del Volch to view the large hummocks. In Tetela
take the paved road towards Hueyapan. After 5 km is
Stop 2-4 at a large quarry on the right side of the road. The
quarry displays the internal structure of a hummock with
shear zones and jigsaw-fit structures.
41.0 km Continue on the paved road to Hueyapan.
After 5 km reach the entrance of Hueyapan and turn right
on the road to Arnayucan. After 2 krn is Stop 2-5 at a large
quarry on the right side of the road. The quarry shows the
~uaternaryExplosive Volcanism and Py~yw:lasticDeposits in East Centml Mexiw:
Implications fir Future Hazards

Approximate extent of Iztaccihuatl-Popocatkpetl Debris-Avalanche Deposits

I
9S0 17'
N

7
Chalco
b Iztaccihuatl
(5,285 m)

Amccomeca Huejoizingo

Juchitepec e

Cuernavaca Tepoztkm

- lPOW

Isucm ds Mm'amomr

Legend

Hushuerkin El Chico
Scale in Kilometers
- Iztaccihuatl Debris-Avalanche Deposit
0 5 I0
I

Figure 7: Sketch map showing the approximate extent of debris-avalanche deposits at Popocat6petl and Iztacdhuatl Volcanoes. To
date, a total of four large debris-avalanche deposits have been identified at this volcanic complex.
16 .
Claus Siebe Josd Luis M a c h , Michael Abrams , Sergio Rodriguez ,Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado
~ u a t e r n a t Explosive
y Volcanism and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Future Hazards

Composite Stratigraphic Section of Popocatepetl Volcano

Southern Slopes

Carbon-14 Age

Plinian Pumice Fall angularpllanice clasts with biotite, whitish-brown in color.

graded, well sorted

y e ~ ~ o w - ~ nth
P o r *
sandy, mmix sup oxqd mostly alter4 partly consolidated

N b ea~ , W m t --gray~
c IC inl ~
color. unconso11

Debris-AvalancheDepoQit 1 large angular b o @ hyith ji stmctm, megablocks am

common, ~en,1ttho1occ hydro- alteration

Brown Peleosoil

Dsbri&AWhe Dsposit 2 large angular boulders with ji -, megablocks ~ T C

--
common, a l i h 1 4 c w F
i&

Debris-Avalanche Deposit 3 large angular bwlders with j' w fit stmhe, megablocks are
common, heterolithologic wi#%quent hydrolfisrrnal altcrat~w

cTetncmuS Limestwcs

Figure 9: Schematic stratigraphic column for Popocatbpetl's debris-avalanchedeposits and associated eruptive products cropping
out on southern flank of the volcano.
18 Claus Siebe ,Josd Luis Macfas, Michael Abrams ,Sergio Rodriguez, Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado
 .. .. .. , , . .. , . ..
. .. ....
. . . ,. .. ,

Figure 10 (continued) : Stratigraphic columns of outcrops at stops 2-1 to 2-9 to be visited during Day 2. The oucrops are located on the southern slopes of Popocatepetl,
where the proximal hummocky block-facies of debris-avalanche deposits is best displayed.
 20 Claus Siebe ,Josd Luis M a c h , Michael Abrams ,Sergio RodrSguez ,Renato Cwtm, and Hugo Delgado

debris-avalanche deposit, Plinian pumice fall, and ash- nized so far around Popocatiipetl. Apparently it origi-
flow deposits. nated from Iztacchuatl. Within the yellowish brown
ash-flow series is a whitish Plinian pumice horizon, which
43.0 km Continue for another 2 km on the road to correlates with the Plinian pumice deposit on the south
Amayucan. Stop 2-6 is a 100 m long roadcut on the right flank of Popo. Continue to Atzompa, Tonantzintla, and
side of the road showing two debris-avalanche deposits reach the hotel "Calli Quetzalchtl" at the main square of
separated by a reworked horizon converted into a soil. Cholula. Cholula is renowned not only for its pre-
Hispanic ruins, but also for its many churches, especially
49.0 km Continue for another 6 km on the road to the fortress-monastery built in the sixteenth century.
Amayucan. Before reaching Tlacotepec is Stop 2-7. A
quarry on the right side of the road shows the youngest Day 3: Prehistoric settlements at Popocattipetl
debris-avalanche deposit with hydrothermally altered buried by Plinian Pumice fall,
blocks. From here a good view can be obtained over the
plains covered by the debris-avalanche deposits to the
ash-flow deposits, and lahars
south of Popo. This area represents the medial deposi-
tional facies of the avalanche and a major break in slope. This day is dedicated to seeing effects of
Hummocks are smaller and emerge from the inclined Popocat6pet11s last major eruptive activity on pre-
plain. Henceforth, the debris avalanche deposits are Hispanic settlements in the valley of Xalitzintla (figure
mostly covered by fluviatile and laharic deposits. At some 11). The Xalitzintla valley has been an attractive site for
distance southeast three steep massive hills emerge from habitation because of the abundance of water and fertile
the plain. They consist of Tertiary granodiorite around volcanic soils. The catchment area above Xalitzintla
which the avalanches flowed on their way further south drains both the northeastern flank of Popocatepetl and the
(see also figure 3). southwestern flank of Iztaccihuatl, providing a year-
round water supply. Competition for this resource is
58.0 km Continue on the same road, driving through fierce, wen at present, as the city of Puebla is trying to
the towns of Tlacotepec, Zacualpan de Amilpas, and appropriate the water.
Temoac and reach the junction with Highway 160 in The numerous and well-dweloped barrancas that
Arnayucan. Here turn left on to the highway towards presently channel water from the volcanoes' upper
Izlicar de Matamoros. After 3 km park the car at the side reaches, have also provided conduits for pyroclastic
of the road behind a bridge over the 20 m deep Barranca flows, debris avalanches, and lahars. Associated with
Tequexquia. This barranca is dry during most of the year these flows were deposits from Plinian eruptions: ash
and displays outcrops showing three superimposed falls, pumice deposits, and blasts and surges. We will see
debris-avalanche deposits. On top is a series of fluviatile evidence that major volcanic eruptions mcuring between
and laharic deposits. This is Stop 2-8. 2300 yr B.P. and 1,000 yr B.P. had a major impact on the
entire area, and in particular on the Xalitzintla valley.
103.0 krn Continue on Highway 160 towards Izlicar At least two &jor Plinian pumice falls, lahar flows,
de Matamoros. After Puente Tepexco the road winds up a and one blast deposit, as well as accompanying pyro-
ridge of Cretaceous limestone that was partly covered by clastic ash flows, directly affected the area. There were
the debris-avalanche deposits. It is dangerous to stop probably few survivors of the eruptions and most of the
here, but roadcuts show the contact between the lime- vegetation was destroyed. Although at this time archaeo-
stone and the debris-avalanche deposits. Shortly before logical evidence is still scarce, we anticipate major
reaching Izlicar, large quarries where gypsum and anhy- discoveries in the near future. So far, archaeologists of the
drite are mined can be seen to the left of the road. This Universidad de Las Americas have discovered furrowed
evaporite series extends regionally and also occurs below corn fields and pottery directly below the lower Plinian
pumice fall. In addition, we have found pottery shards
Popo. This might have implications for the high d within pyroclastic flows both on top of this lower pumice
discharge from P o p . and also directly below the upper pumice, which we
dated by C-14 at circa 1,150 yr B.P. This age coincides with
145.0 krn In Izlicar de Matamoros turn left on to the abandonment of Cholula around 800 A.D., one of the
Highway 190 towards Atlixco. largest pre-Hispanic cities and an important ceremonial
center. Although the exact reason for the depopulation of
168.0 km In Atlixco continue on Highway 190 to the city is not known, we believe that it may ultimately be
Atzompa. About 6 km behind Atlixco the road climbs up linked to lahars and floods resulting from this very
a ridge. On the left side is a 200 m long roadcut displaying destructive eruption.
a debris-avalanche deposit covered by a series of ash This day we will visit outcrops of young volcanic
flows. This debris-avalanche deposit is the oldest recog-
~ u ary Ezpbsive
k Volcanism and Pyroclostic Deposits in East Centml Maim:
Impliccrtions fir Future Haxcuds

products located between Cholula and Santiago Overlying the ash flow is 70 cm of ochre pumice repre-
Xalitzintla along the road to Paso de Cortk. For conve- senting the first Plinian event. The upper 2 crn of the
nience we will drive on the shortest route to Santiago pumice deposit mark an incipient soil where charcoal and
Xalitzintla and then gradually return to Cholula making pottery shards were already found. Above the pumice are
several stops (figures 11and 12). Back in Cholula we will two lahar deposits, each about 60 cm thick. This is the
visit the archaeological site and at the end of the after- marginal facies of the lahar where it thins out against
noon drive to Tlachichuca at the western slopes of Pico de topographic highs. On top of the lahars is a second
Orizaba. Plinian pumice-fall sequence, about 1 m thick. The
sequence consists mainly of three pink and white pumice
00.0 km Exit Cholula from the main square and take layers with two thin interbedded dark gray ash layers.
the road southeast to Paso de Cortk. The pavement ends
shortly before San Buenaventura Nealtican, 18 km 37.0 krn Continue down the road from San Nicolas de
east/southeast of Cholula. 10s Ranchos to San Buenaventura Nealtich for 4 km and
turn right into a pumice quarry (Stop 3-4). This pumice is
27.0 km Continue on this road, passing through San used to manufacture building blocks for houses and busi-
Nicolas de Los Ranchos and reach Santiago Xalitzintla. nesses. Exposed in the walls of the quarry is an excellent
Stop 3 1 will be at at the main square in Xalitzintla. Here section of Popocatkpetl's Plinian eruptions (figure 12).
we will see the general topographic configuration of the The bottom of the exposed section is a brown ash-flow
Xalitzintla valley and the reasons why this town is a tuff, partly altered (Ta-3), containing abundant charcoal.
prime candidate for destruction by volcaniclastic flows. On top of the tuff layer can be recognized furrows of corn
The town is located on the margins of Barranca Nexapa, fields; pottery shards and entire pots have also been
whose tributaries drain the entire northeast quadrant of found here. Above the ash-flow deposit is a thick (103cm)
Popocatkpetl (including the glaciers) as well as the south- ochre Plinian pumice-fall deposit (Ta-2) with maximum
east quadrant of Iztacchuatl, a total area of about 150 clast size of 6 an.Overlying the pumice deposit are two
km2. The abundance of subrounded dark andesite blocks thin gray and ochre sand and silt deposits representing
scattered throughout the village and used as building blast and s u g e deposits that preceded the next overlying
material for fences and structures is striking. Laharic pumice layer (Ta-6). The upper Plinian pumice deposit
deposits are the soufie of these blocks. consists of 6 cm of pink pumice overlain by a 2 cm-thick
layer of gray ash, 18 cm of pink pumice, a thin dark ash
30.4 km We continue for 3.4 k m through the town of layer, 5 cm of pink pumice, another thin gray ash layer,
San Nicolas de 10s Ranchos and stop before the bridge and 45 cm of white pumice with a maximum clast size of
across the Barranca Nexapa, next to a school and at the 6 an. The top of the section is a 50 cm-thick layer of
junction leading to San Pedro Yancuitlalpan. This is Stop reworked soil and pumice with a soil developed at the
3-2. Exposed in the hillside are two lahar deposits, each top. This is essentially the same section we saw at Stop 3-3
greater than 3 m thick. The lahars are matrix supported but without the lahar deposit.
and cemented; the matrix is sandy-silty. Clasts are
heterolithologic, but there is a preponderance of angular 41.0 km Following the dirt mad towards San
to subrounded dark andesite porphyry with a maximum Buenaventura Nealticfin another 3 km,a deviation to the
diameter of 30 cm. right will lead us to a large quarry of N e a l t i h lavas
(Stop 3-5). The lava flow erupted from a f i r e on the
33.0 km To reach our next stop, the collapsed bridge northeastern flank of Popocatepetl at an elevation of
below San Nicolas de 10s Ranchos, we will continue about 2,400 m and covers an area of about 40 km2. The
towards San Buenaventura Nealtican for 1.6 km, then flow front here is 20 m thick. At this site we can see the
turn right and drive 1km southwest. Stop 3-3 takes place relationship between the lava flow and the overlying
on the east and west ends of the bridge. Take the footpath pumice sequence. These massive to vesicular lavas are
across the bridge and stop at the outcrop exposed 50 m olivine and plagioclase andesites with an aphanitic
further on the left. Here we can see the medial facies of groundmass. They are characterized by the large amount
the lahar sequence; three separate lahar flows are exposed and variety of xenoliths, including granulites and ultra-
(see stratigraphic section in figure 12). The lahars are rnafic rocks. Based on stratigraphiccriteria, we know that
similar to those of the previous stop, although clasts tend this flow is younger than the ochre pumicefall deposit
to be larger. After we cross back over the bridge, on our (about 2,300 yr B.P.) and also younger than the yellow
left in the hillside is exposed a section of the Plinian ash-flow tuff whose surface contains abundant evidence
deposits with 2 lahar deposits intercalated (figure 12).At of human occupation. The Nealtich lava shows that the
the bottom of the section is the upper 3 m of a yellow ash- threat of property destruction is real enough and in
flow tuff containing charcoal and pottery shards. Xalitzintla valley poses an economic risk, particularly to
.22 Claus Siebe ,Josd Luis M a c h , Michael Abrams ,Sergio Rodriguez, Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado
~ u a i e r n aExplosive
r~ Volcaniarn and Pymlastic Deposits in East Central Mexico: 23
Implications fir Future Hazwds

Stop 3-2 stop 3-3 Stop 3 4

Lat. 19O 04' 19' N Lat. 1 9 O 03'58 'N Lat. 1903'27aN
Loog.98' 28' 48"W Lwg 98' 28' 40"W Long. 98' 28' 05"W
' Alt. 2,460 rn Ait. 2,440 m Alt 2,420 m

Figure 12: Stratigraphiccolumns of outcrops at stops 3-2 to 3-4 to be visited during Day 3. 'The oucmps are located on the north-
eastern slopes of Popocat6pet1, where P l i a n deposits buried pre-Hispanic settlements.
 24 Claus Siebe ,Josd Luis Macias, Michael Abrams ,Sergio Rodrtguez ,Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado

an agrarian population. (figure 13). Although the basin is surrounded by long-

lived composite volcanic edifices, its interior is
62.0 km Return to the main road comecting San characterized by a variety of monogenetic volcanic struc-
Nicolhs de 10s Ranchos with San Buenaventura Nealtich tures such as rhyolite domes, tuff cones, tuff rings, lava
and turn right. Continue back to Cholula and stop at the flows, and scoria cones. The Las Derrurnbadas, Cerro
archaeological site. Guidebooks explaining the history Pinto, and Cerro Pizarro rhyolite domes are the most
and other aspects of the site are sold here at souvenir prominent volcanic structures in the interior of the basin,
shops. and the more subdued phreatornagmatic maar craters
rank among the most beautiful in the world.
179.0 km Take the freeway to Puebla (10 km). In The entire area is underlain by Cretaceous limestones
Puebla follow the signs to Freeway 150 to Veracruz which which were intensely folded during the Lararnide
exits Puebla northeast of the city (figure 1). Take the orogeny. During the Tertiary, the limestones were
freeway east towards Veracruz. After 47 km exit the intruded by granodiorites and monzonites, which
freeway near Acatzingo and take Highway 140 in the produced contact-metamorphic aureoles and skarn
direction of Perote. After 28 km reach San Salvador El mineralization in the host rocks.Temgeneous and lacus-
Seco and continue on Highway 140 for another 8 km in trine sediments were deposited after uplift during the
the direction of Zacatepec until you reach a junction. Turn Tertiary and Quaternary and probably began to be inter-
right towards the east in direction of Tlachichuca. After 24 calated with volcanic products in the Miocene/Pliocene.
km reach Tlachichuca and ask for the mountaineering
hostel of Sr. Francisco Reyes. The hostel is located near the Holocene block-and-ash fan at Pico de
main square in a former soap factory. Orizaba volcano, a "giant sleeper"
Day 4: Late Pleistocene and Holocene Pico de Orizaba or Citlalt6petl (19'04' N/97"15' W,
explosive volcanism in the 5,700 m above sea level), located in the eastern part of
Serdh-Oriental basin I. TMVB, is the highest volcano on the North American
Continent. The ice-capped summit cone ranks as one of
Day 4 is dedicated to several volcanic structures and the most perfectly symmetrical volcanoes in the world. It
their deposits located in the interior and at the eastern rises 4,500 m above the eastern Gulf of Mexico coastal
margin of the Serdh-Oriental intermontane basin. A plains and 3,000 m above the western Mexican Altiplano.
major block-and-ash deposit will first be examined at the The summit crater is a relatively small oval with a major
western foot of Pico de Orizaba followed by an inspection northwest-southeast axis approximately 400 m long. The
of a Plinian pumice fall at the Las Curnbres complex. Next 300 mdeep crater pit is surrounded by nearly vertical
we will examine the rhyolite monogenetic Las walls, exposing an alternation of lavas and pyroclastic
Dermmbadas domes and rhyolite explosioncraters Tepexitl units.
and San Luis Atexcac. Finally, we will drive to Perote at The present cone is composed mostly of andesite and
the northern margin of the Serdh-Oriental basin (see dacite lavas. It was built on top of older volcanic struc-
figures1,13, and 14 ). tures that consist of a roughly north-south aligned, deeply
eroded volcanic chain formed by extinct constructs of the
The Serdh-Oriental intermontane basin Cofre de Perote (4,282 m) stratovolcano 50 km to the
north, Cerro de las Curnbres (3,940 m) complex 10 km to
The Serdh-Oriental intermontane lacustrine basin the north, and Sierra Negra (4,580 m) 5 km to the south
represents the easternmost part of the Mexican Altiplano. (figures 13and 14.).
It has interior drainage and its lowest areas are occupied Although the volcano has shown only fumarolic
by the Totolcingo and El Salado saltpans, attesting to the activity for the last 300 years, studies by Robin and
former existence of extensive lakes during pluvial Cantagrel(1982)and Robin et al. (1983) demonstrate that
it had several important eruptions during the Late
periods. It covers an area of about 15,000 km2 and has an Pleistocene and Holocene. Therefore, this volcano may be
altitude of approximately 2,300 m above sea level. It is considered a "giant sleeper."
surrounded by Miocene to Quaternary stratovolcanoes Torquemada (1615) reported that the volcano became
and calderas of mainly andesitic to dacitic composition. active in 1545 for more than twenty years, before which
The most prominent among them are La Malinche strato- the Indians believed it to be extinct. Waitz (1915) cites
volcano in the southwest, Los Hurneros Caldera in the another eruption that occurred in 1687. Recent studies
north, and the Cofre de Perote-Las Cumbres-Pico de have revealed the existence of debris-avalanche deposits
OrizabaSierra Negra volcanic chain that separates the derived from the partial gravitational collapse of the
basin in the east from the plains of the Gulf of Mexico
~uakrnary ~ x ~ ~ o sVolcanism
ive and PyrocZastic Deposits in East Centml Mexico:
Implications fbr Future Hazards

Figure 13: Sketch map showing the Cofre de Perote-Las Cumbres-Pic0 de Orizaba-Sierra Negra volcanic chain as well as other
Quaternary volcanic structum located in the basin of SerdhOriental (from Siebe 1992).
 26 Claus Siebe ,Jm4 Luis M a c h , Michael Abrams ,Sergio Rodriguez, Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgada

CERRO PIZARRO

+ + + + +

+++++
+ +++++

ALJOJUCA

Scale in Kilometers

Figure 14: Sketch map showing the SerdhOiental basin and stops to be visited during Day 4 at Pico de Orizaba volcano, Las
Cumbres complex, Las Derrumbadas domes, Tepexitl explosion aater, and Atexcac maar, as well as Day 5 at Laguna Alchichica
maar, C e m Pinto dome, and La Malinche Volcano.
* ~uaierruary~ x p l c a i wVokaniam and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Futum Hazards

former cone (Sheridan et al. 1990, Heskuldsson 1990,
Heskuldsson and Robin 1993, Carrasco et al. 1993).
Based on preliminary fieldwork, Hmkuldsson (1990)
claimed to have discovered four different debris-
avalanche deposits at Pico de Orizaba. Three of them are
of the Bezymianny-typeand traveled toward the east. The
fourth is believed by HBskuldsson to have originated
from a landslide that traveled 12 krn west from the
summit of the volcano, leaving a pronounced horseshoe-
shaped scar on the upper part of the cone.
More recent studies by Siebe et al. (1993) concluded
that a "landslidelike looking" deposit was present; an
alternative explanation for its origin states that it repre-
sents a block-and-ash fan. Accordingly, it is a composite
accumulation of many pyroclastic flows, flood deposits,
and lahars that were channeled through a glacial cirque
and comecting Ushaped valleys toward the base of the
volcano.
The block-and-ash fan extends more than 14 km west
from the summit of Pico de Orizaba volcano (figure 15).
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal within the fan deposits
*
yielded Holocene ages that range between 4,040 80 yr
*
B.P. and 4,660 100 yr B.P. (figure 16). Stratigraphical,
sedimentological, geochemical, and scanning electron
microscope studies indicate that this fan originated
within a relatively short tirnespan by multiple volcanic
explosions at the summit crater. This activity produced a
series of hornblendeandesite pyroclastic flows (mainly
block-and-ash flows) and lahars. Repeated deposition of
pyroclastic flows formed a tongue-shaped fan of volcani-
clastic deposits. The area should be considered a zone of
high risk if renewed activity occurs because future flows
may use the same pathways. A similar eruption would
pose severe hazards to the more than 50,000 inhabitants in
its vicinity. A detailed reconstruction of the sequence of
wents that led to the formation of the block-and-ash fan
will be discussed. Special attention will be given to the
effects of an ice cap and to the role of preexisting glacial
morphology on the distribution of products from such an
eruption.
Las Cumbres Volcanic Complex and the
Quetzalapa pumice
The Las Cumbres Volcanic Complex (LCVC) infor-
mally refers to a group of closely spaced volcanic
. fourth stage are interbedded with p y d a s t i c fall and
strudU& located inside an area of about 2 , m h2- It flow deposits from the recent eruption of Pic0 de 0&ha
forms part of a north-south volcanic range, whose impor- volcano.
tant peaks are (1) the historically active and highest
mountain of Mexico, Pico de Orizaba or Citlaltepetl
volcano (5,700 m) to the south, (2)
. . the Cerro Gordo (3,940
LCVC, such as U-shaped valleys on the west flank, reflect
Late Pleistocene glacial erosion. On the west flank of
LCVC (between 2,500 m and 3300 m above sea level) are
found Plinian, white pumice-fall deposits of rhyolitic
composition informally named the Quetzalapa pumice
(Rodriguez et al. 1994). Some of the most striking features
of these deposits are their unusually large thickness of 15
m and the lack of any associated post-Plinian ignimbrite
deposits.
The basal sediment of LCVC is an Upper Cretaceous,
highly folded and faulted limestone that is covered by
products from several volcanic centers. The complex was
built during four stages of activity ranging between Late
Pliocene to Holocene. The first was characterized by the
outpouring of thick lava flows mainly of andesitic compo-
sition. This effusive activity resulted in an extensive
volcanic massif which constitutes most of the complex's
volume (figure 14). The second includes the emplacement
of dacite and obsidian lava domes, such as Sillatepec,
Xalista, El Rodeo, and Ixtetal that contains a pre-Hispanic
obsidian quarry.
The third stage of activity was characterized by the
emplacement of local nonwelded pyroclastic flows and
regional pumice-fall deposits. This mainly explosive
activity produced the voluminous pyroclastic fall
deposits of the Quetzalapa pumice that can be seen in
quarries, road and stream cuts on the west flank of LCVC.
Radiocarbon dates from the base of the Quetzalapa
pumice have yielded Late Pleistocene ages.
This third stage probably culminated with the forma-
tion of one of the most conspicuous structures of LCVC: a
cimlar depression 4.5 krn in diameter with a dacitic
dome (Cerro Gordo) in the center (figure 14).
H~skuldssonand Robin (1991) considered it to be the
vent which expelled the Quetzalapa pumice. However,
the eruptive center of the Quetzalapa pumice might be
buried elsewhere under the very material it erupted. This
conclusion is based on evidence from: (1)the isopach and
isopleth distributions, (2) the lack of pumice inside Las
Cumbres depression, and (3) infonnation yielded from
ballistic materials.
Finally,the fourth stage is represented by the activity
of monogenetic cones, explosion craters, and domelike
structures, mainly concentrated in the north part of the
complex. One of them, the rhyolitic Yolotepec dome, has
been dated at 5,869 +/-60 yr B.P. The products of this
With an area of 2,000 km2 and an average thickness
of 50 m (including lavas), the total volume for the volcanic

m) dacitic dome the middle, and (3) the extinct, highly products of LCVC is estimated to be about 100 km3.The
eroded Cofre de Perote volcano (4,250 m) to the north purpose of this field trip is to visit the best outcrop of the
(figures 13 and 14). Some morphological features of unusually thick Quetzalapa pumice deposit, to observe
28 Claus Siebe ,Josd Luis Maclas, Michael Abrams , Sergio Rodrfguez ,Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado
Quaternary Explosive Volcanism and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Future Hazards
the stratigraphic relations with other pyroclastic deposits,
and to view some structural and textural characteristics of
the deposit .
The name "Quetzalapa pumice" is introduced infor-
mally for the voluminous pumicefall deposits that are
found on the western flank of LCVC. It consists of two
members (figurel7): the lower one is massive, clast
supported, well to medium sorted, with a high lithic
content. The base of the deposit is characterized by
reverse grading, and its maximum thickness is 15 m. The
upper member is a pyroclastic sequence that starts with a
2 cm-thick surge horizon, followed by a massive pumice-
fall deposit with an average thickness of 50 cm. The
sequence is topped by a 30-50 cm thick package
consisting of multiple layers of fall and surge deposits
with a strong e ~ c h m e n oft lithics. The pumice has an
average ~ i $ content of 71% and is characterized by
abundant brown biotite crystals (1-3 mrn). A minimum
estimate for the volume of the Quetzalapa pumice is 10
krn3 (dense rock equivalent).
Figure 18 shows the isopachs for the pumice fall. The
distribution axis has a north/northeast orientation, and
the most distal exposure found to date is a horizon of 3
cm of reworked material with abundant biotite located 75
km northeast of the vent. A comparison of the Quetzalapa
pumice with the Taupo pumice in New Zealand (Walker
1980) is instructive. The Taupo isopachs have an off-
centered distribution but its isopleths are centered at the
vent, while the isopachs and isopleths of the Quetzalapa
pumice are concentric.
Radiocarbon dating of charcoal within a pyroclastic
flow below the Quetzalapa pumice yielded ages of 22,935
+1505/-1265 and 24,945 +/- 270 yr B.P., and a soil strati-
graphically above yielded an age of 18,335 +255/-245 yr
B.P. Therefore, the pumice fall ranges in age between circa
18,000 yr B.P.and circa 25,000 yr B.P.
The Quetzalapa pumice deposits are covered by
hornblendebea~gpyroclastic flows that eroded its top.
These flows are not genetically related to the biotite-
bearing Quetzalapa pumice. They are in turn covered by a
hornblende-bearing pumice fall with a thickness between
1m and 2 m. This fall has been dated at 1 8 B +255/-245
yr B.P. and is probably related to the formation of the
LCVC explosion caldera and the emplacement of the
C e m Gordo dome.
At this time, several key questions regarding the age
and source of this remarkably young deposit are still
uncertain. The exact age is difficult to assess because the
pumice deposit itself does not contain any charcoal or
other datable material, but it is not older than 25,000 yr
B.P. nor younger than 18,000 yr B.P.
Its source is still unknown even though the deposit is
young and of large extent. A larger crater should be
expected. At this time three possible locations are under
inevestigation: (1) Las Cumbres crater, (2) Las
Derrumbadas rhyolite domes, and (3) a vent possibly
located between (1) and (2) buried under lacustrine and
volcaniclastic deposits.
Las Denvmbadas rhyolite dome complex
and associated explosion craters:
Growth and
sequential gravitational collapse
of major monogenetic domes
Although rhyolitic volcanism appears to be unusu-
ally frequent in many areas of the TMVB, little attention
has been devoted to it. Instead the more magnificent stra-
tovolcanoes of andesitic and dacitic composition have
been the focal points of volcanological research. However,
interest in the occurrence of rhyolitic rocks has increased
in recent years for the following reasons: (1) they are
frequently linked to exploitable high-enthalpy geot-
hermal energy resources, and (2) population growth in
central Mexico increases the need for more comprehen-
sive models identrfylng vokanic hazards related to
various types of rhyolitic eruptions.
The closed basin of Serdh-Oriental and its
Quaternary rhyolite volcanic structures (e.g., Cerro Pinto,
C e m Pizarro, Las Dermmbadas domes, Cerro Xalapaxco,
Tepexitl, and San Luis Atexcac tuff Mgs) offer a unique
possibility for a stepwise reconstruction of the detailed
sequence of volcanic events that control the growth and
collapse of major monogenetic silicic domes.
L a . Dermmbadas twin rhyolitic domes, with
furnarolic activity and extensive rock alteration, are situ-
ated in the middle of the closed basin of Serdan-Oriental
(figures 19 and 20). Because of their importance as a geot-
hermal potential, they were studied in detail by the
Comisi6n Federal de Electricidad (e.g., Yaiiez-Garcia and
Casique 1980). Later investigations by Siebe (1985) and
Siebe and Venna (1988) recognized a new type of debris-
avalanche deposit; such a recognition promises a deeper
insight into the mechanisms regulating dome growth and
destruction. It has led to more recent investigations of
these domes with emphasis on the debris-avalanche
deposits (Siebe et al. 1992, 1993).
The debris-avalanche deposits occur on all sides of
the Las Denurnbadas domes and consist of a chaotic
mixture of blocks of faulted surge and pyroclastic flow
deposits, as well as decameters-sized blocks of nonvol-
canic origin such as Cretaceous limestone and partly
consolidated lake sediment. The deposits are quite exten-
sive, reaching 7 km from the domes, and typically display
a hummocky topography. A simplified map after Siebe
(1985) is shown in figure 20.
The Las Derrumbadas rhyolite domes contrast with
other large domes worldwide, in that they are not linked
 STOP 4-1

block-and- ash flow deposit, coarse and poorly-sorted,

subangular boulders and gravel, mostly monolithologic
(glassy porphyritic Hbl-andesite), clast-suppported, few
4660* loo
B.C. h accidental clasts, roughly inversely graded, abundant
charcoal at the base, sample 9004-6 was taken from this
horizon

surge-like deposit, rich in charcoal, blast 3

fluviatile-reworked deposit, coarse, clast-supported, sandy

I
matrix, subrounded andesite fragments, normally-graded,
erosive lower contact

fluviatile and laharic deposits, non-erosive lower contacts,

normally graded, cut- and- fill structures, fine-grained upper
layers, each layer 10-25 cm thick

block- and- ash flow deposit, subangular clasts,

heterolithologic, unsorted, ungraded

present streambed of Barranca Piedra

Figure 16: Stratigraphic column at stop 4-1 showing block-and-ash flow deposit on top of laharic and fluviatile reworked deposits. Abundant charcoal (sample 9004-B)
dated at 4,660 i 100 yr B.P. was obtained at the base of the block-and-ashflow deposit.
~ u a i e r n a Ezplosive
r~ Volcanismand Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Future Hazards

, 0 0 0

Quetzalapa pumice fall deposit

Figure 17: Stratigraphic sectionof the Quetzalapa pumice fall and associated deposits at Paso National.
 .32 Claw Siebe ,Josd Luis Mwtas, Michael Abrams ,Sergio Rodriguez, Renato Cash,and Hugo Delgado

19"-

'.'.
'.'. ,..'
*-,. /'
*-. _---
-----_______------
/--

a
Atzumba graphic scale
I
18'-
0 20 50 km
Figure 18: Preliminary isopach map for the Late Quaternary Quetzalapa Plinian pumice-fall deposit.
~ u a t e - Elcplosive Volcanismand Pyroclastic Deposits in E a t Central Mexico:
Implications for Future Hazards
to a composite volcano but are monogenetic. Therefore
the Las Denurnbadas domes may represent a type of
dome not previously studied in detail. This is especially
true regarding the formation of a polymict carapace and
its later collapse into a polymict, chaotic debris-avalanche
deposit.
These enigmatic debris-avalanche deposits are
related to the partial collapse of the domes. In conjunc-
tion, all other domes and volcanic structures nearby were
studied. They offered several clues regarding the origin of
the nonvolcanic materials within the debris-avalanche
deposits of Las Derrumbadas. These include the domes
Cerro Pinto and Cerro P i z m , the tuff rings Tepexitl and
Laguna Atexcac, and the tuff cone C e m Xalapaxco
(figures 19 and 20).
Prelminary field and laboratory studies show that
the above described rhyolitic structures represent the
final volcanic products of individual pods of magma of
the same mineralogical and chemical composition (sio2
>70%, biotite, plagioclase, and almandine in glassy
matrix), which recently reached the Earth's surface and in
the same geologic and geographic environment. Because
so many factors that commonly influence the eruptive
style of rising magma appear to be almost identical for the
formation of the various domes in the Serdfin-Oriental
basin, we believe that the volume of magma erupted may
play a large role in determining the final morphology of
these different structures. If so, it is then possible to inter-
pret the smaller volcanic edifiesas early "frozen" stages
of growth in the evolution of more mature complex rhyo-
lite domes. Preliminary integrated observations at all
these structures allow the recognition of a general evolu-
tionary sequence that encompasses three distinctive
stages of growth (I, 11, III) and two stages of collapse (IV,
V) for each of the Las Derrumbadas rhyolite domes. These
five different evolutionary stages iuv named after those
volcanic edifices that best exemplify their main character-
istics:
Stage I (Laguna Atexcac and Tepexitl explosion
craters): Laguna Atexcac and Tepexitl craters are Late
Pleistocene to Holocene tuff rings !3&1,000 m in diam-
eter. Laguna Atexcac erupted 3 km to the north of the Las
Dermmbadas domes and presently contains a lake;
Tepexitl is located southeast of the domes (see figures 19
and 20). They were formed almost entirely by
phreatomagmatic activity when a small amount of rhyo-
lite magma came in contact with enough groundwater or
shallow surface water. The initial explosive eruptions
produced explosion breccias, which are overlain by dune-
and planar-bedded pyroclastic surge deposits interca-
lated with ash-fall layers. The surge deposits were mostly
"wet" and contain blocks of juvenile obsidian that show
flow-banding. Moreover, the surge deposits contain
numerous blocks of local bedrock such as Cretaceous
limestone and terrigenous and lacustrine sediments.
Stage I1 (Cerro Xalapaxco): Cerro Xalapaxco is a tuff
cone 2-3 km in diameter located to the north of Cerro
Pinto. It shows a pyroclastic sequence similar to that at
Laguna Atexcac but is much bigger and lacks a crater
lake. Additionally, most of the surge deposits were
emplaced in a "dry" environment.
Stage I11 (Cerro Pinto): Cerro Pinto is a rhyolite dome
surrounded by a tuff cone of about the same size and
nature as Cerro Xalapaxco. It has a glassy and pumiceous
carapace partly overlain by surge deposits and blocks of
local bedrock.
Stage IV (Las Derrurnbadas northwest dome): This
dome rises more than 1,000 m above the sumunding
plains and has a volume of approximately 6-7 km3. It
almost entirely lacks a carapace and consists chiefly of a
gray, microcrystalline rhyolite that has been altered in
many areas due to fumarolic activity. In addition, this
dome is surrounded by extensive debris-avalanche
deposits with a hummocky topography and multilobate
outline. They contain a chaotic mixture of blocks of all
sizes, including crumbled lacustrine sediment and surge
deposits, Cretaceous limestone, and gray banded
obsidian in a whitish clayey matrix. These blocks are
interpreted to be the only remnants of a former tuff ring,
tuff cone, and glassy carapace, because all other in situ
evidence has disappeared as a result of mass-wasting
processes. The debris-avalanche deposits are partly
covered by thin surge deposits in their more distal parts,
which suggests that their emplacement was accompanied
by explosive activity.
Stage V (Las Denurnbadas southeast dome): This
dome has the same height as the northwest dome and
displays many of its characteristics. It is surrounded by
the multilobate, hummocky debris-avalanche deposits of
the first generation as well as by more recent dry-rock
debris-avalanche deposits that partly cover the older
ones. However, the recent debris-avalanche deposits have
quite different characteristics. They are not as extensive,
have flat surfaces, and form morphologically elongate
tongues with steep fronts. Also, they are less coarse and
consist almost entirely of the gray, microcrystalline rhyo-
lite from the core of the dome. Relatively fresh-looking
horseshoe-shaped scars high on the domes suggest a
recent formation. They locally show areas of intense alter-
ation to kaolinite associated with weakening of the edifice
after prolonged fumarolic activity. These avalanches,
probably triggered by earthquakes and presently active
fumaroles at several spots, suggest possible occurrence of
avalanches in the future. Vast areas on the flanks of both
domes are covered by alluvial fans formed as a result of
sheet flooding after heavy rainfall.
In conclusion, comprehensive observations at all
these structures allow the recognition of a general evolu-
tionary sequence. During stage one, a small tuff ring is
formed by phreatomagmatic activity characterized by the
 ,34 Claus Siebe ,Josd Luis M a c h Michael Abrams , Sergio Rodrtguez ,Renato Cash, and Hugo Delgado

Figure 19: Landsat Thematic Mapper Th4 image showing the northwest-southeast aligned chain of rhyolite domes and phreatomag-
matic craters Cerm Tepexitl Al, Laguna San Luis Atexcac maar A2, Cerro Xalapaxco tuff cone B, Cerro Pinto dome C, and Las
Derrumbadas rhyolite domes E and F. Other geologic features include: Cretaceous limestone K, Cerro Tecajete basaltic cinder cone
T, and Quetzalapa Plinian pumice Q. Towns: Zacatepec Z, and Guadalupe Victoria G.
Quaternmy Explosive Volcanism and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central M a i w : 35
Implications fir Future Hazards

LAS DERRUMBADAS-CERRO PINTO

RHYOLITE DOME COMPLEX

Figure 20: Sketch map of the Las Dermmbadas-Cerro Pinto rhyolite dome complex and location of stops to be visited during Days 4
and 5. Letters indicate rhyolite domes and phreatomagmaticcraters: Cerro Tepexitl Al, Laguna San Luis Atexcac maar A2, Cerro
Xalapaxco tuff cone B, Cerro Pinto dome C, Laguna Alchichica maar D, and Las Derrumbadas rhyolite domes E and F.
 ,36 Clam Siebe ,Josk Luis M a c h , Michael Abrams ,Sergio R-oddgua,Reniato Castro, and Hugo Delgado

-.

LEGEND
Olivine basalt
1-1 Andesite
p i Rhyolite
Recent alluvial fan
Las
Derrumbadas 2nd generation monolithologic
talus - debris avalanche deposit
deposits ~1 Ist generation heterolithologic
debris avalanche deposit
4-1 Hydrovolcanic tuff
Cretaceous limestone and Tertiary monzonite
Debris avalanche scar I
0 Crater j] Flow front and ridges f
Arroyo tff Town

A1
A Fumarole
Tepexitl tuff ring
Paved Road
--Dirt
>
D
Alchichica maar
A2 Laguna Atexcac maar Las Derrumbadas
NW dome E
Cerro Pinto tuff cone Las Derrumbadas
SE dome
C Cerro Pinto dome - wb
Field trip stop ..

Figure 20 continued : Sketch map of the La.Dermmbadas-Cerro Pinto rhyolite dome complex and location of stops to be visited
during Days 4 and 5. Letters indicaterhyolite domes and phreatomagmaticcraters: Cerro Tepexitl Al, Laguna San Luis Atexcac maar
A2, Cerro Xalapaxco tuff cone B, Cem Pinto dome C,L a p Alchichica maar D,and Las Derrumbadasrhyolite domes E and F.
~&r?uwy Explosive Volcanismand Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications fir Future H a z d

emplacement of "wet" surge deposits. During stage two, Paso Nacional. After another 5 lan amve in Paso
this tuff ring's diameter is enlarged and a tuff cone Nacional. A big quarry can be seen across the barranca.
consisting mostly of "dry" surge deposits is formed. Take the unpaved road that leads to the quarry. After 1
Later, a glassy dome with a pumiceous carapace partly km, a big quarry (Stop 4-2) appears that displays the
overlain by surge deposits and local bedrock caniecl Quetzalapa pumice and associated deposits (figure 17).
upward is emplaced within the tuff ring (stage three).
Continuous extrusion of glassy rhyolite lava leads to 38.0 lan Return to the paved road and to the main
slope instability of the dome and emplacement of debris road downvalley. Before Santa In& Varelas is a p a t
avalanches. panoramic view over the Serdh-Oriental basin. Cross
At least 8 individual debris-avalanche deposits were Santa I d s Varelas and arrive at the junction. Turn right
identified and classified into basically two different types. towards Guadalupe Victoria and pass Quetzalapa. After 5
First-generation deposits are older and originated from lan from the junction, turn left on an unpaved road
60-90' sector collapse. They are hetemlithologie in towards the west. Head for 9 lan towards the northern tip
composition and include blocks of such diverse litholo- of the Tepetith limestone ridge (see maps in figures 14
gies as limestone, lacustrine sediment, juvenile obsidian, and 20). This is Stop 4-3, which shows the distal surge
dismembered surge deposits from the former tuff cone, deposits that formed Tepexitl tuff ring, lying uncon-
etcetera. They display a typical hummocky topography formably on top of the Cretaceous limestone.
and have H / L ratios of 0.1 and maximum runout
distances of 9 lan (stage four). 42.0 lan Continue north towards the western rim of
The last stage of activity is characterized by fumarolic Tepexitl crater and get as close as possible to the crater
activity and the emplacement of second-generation debris rin This is Stop 4-4.Wadk to the crater rim and inspect
avalanches. Second generation deposits occur strati- the outcrops (figure 20). Juvenile obsidian in the surge
graphically higher and originated from 20-30' sector deposits and explosion breccia is abundant. Do not use
collapses. They cover smaller areas and also have smaller your hammer unless you are wearing protective glasses:
runout distances of 4.5 lan with H/L ratios around 0.2 Obsidian is the sharpest material on Earth. Enjoy the view
They are monolithologic in composition, consisting of of the Las Derrumbadas southeast dome and its debris-
gray microcrystalline rhyolite ( ~ i & > 70 %, biotite, avalanche deposits.
plagioclase and almandine in a glassy matrix), and are
less coarse than first-generation deposits. They also form 45 lan Continue northeast towards the small settle-
elongated tongues with flat surfaces and have steep ment of Bellavista. The road leads directly to the front
terminal scarps (stage five). margin of a tongue-shaped debris-avalanche deposit
Our studies indicate that the domes were formed from La9 Dermmbadas well exposed in a small gravel
during a relatively short time span. At present, fumarolic quarry (Stop 45). Here the outcrops display the internal
activity is weakening the stability of the slopes and stnrcture of this "second-generation" debris-avalanche
second-generation debris-avalanche depositsmight occur deposit, which consists mostly of micmcrystalline gray
again in the future. rhyolite gravel. The horseshoe-shaped scar, where the
deposit originated, can also be observed here. Its reddish
0.0 lan Exit Tlachichuca to the east and take the color is due to hydrothermal alteration.
unpaved road to Avalos, located 7 lan to the.southeast. In
a small barranca 200 m south of Avalos is Stop 41 (figure 62 lan Continue northeast and reach Bellavista. From
14). here take the road that exits the settlement to the north
and continue for about 10 lan along a dirt road that winds
7.0 lan Stop 41:At this stop, a good outcrop of the through the humrraocky terrain of Las Dermmbadas
deposits that form the block-and-ash fan at the western "first-generation" debris-avalanche deposits. Reach the
slope of Pico de Orizaba will be visited. A schematic paved road that comects Guadalupe Viria with San
stratigraphic section of this outtmp is shown in figure 16. Luis Atexcac and turn left northwest toward San Luis
The model of eruption outlined abovewill be discussed in Atexcac. After 7 lan on this road, shortly before reaching
relation to the recent glacial history of the area for San Luis Atexcac, exit the paved road to the left and take a
possible hazards analysis in the went of renewed small dirt road that leads near the crater rim of San Luis
volcanic activity. Atexcac maar. Park the car and walk 5 minutes upslope to
view the turquoise-green lake and inspect the deposits
18.0 lan Return to Tlachichuca. Before entering that form the crater. (This is Stop 4-6.) On the western
T l e c h u c a turn right towards the north on the paved crater wall it is possible to observe Cretaceous limestone
road to Guadalupe After 5 lan arrive at a junc- and the remnants of a basaltic scoria cone that were
tion and turn right towards the northeast on the road to partially destroyed during the formation of the tuff ring.
 38 Clam Siebe ,Josd Luis M a c h , Michael A b r m ,Sergio Rbddguez, Renato Castro, and Hugo DelgacEo

Juvenile material in the surge depositsconsists of rhyolitic
obsidian Xenoliths consisting of basaltic scoria,
Cretaceous limestone, Tertiary monzonite, and contact-
metamorphic hornfels from the local basement are
abundant within the surge deposits and explosion brec-
cias.
75 km Return to the paved road and turn left. After 2
km reach the junction with Highway 140. Turn left
towards the southwest in direction of Zacatepec. After 11
km, park at the side of the mad in the vicinity of large
hummocks of Las Derrumbadas "first-generation" debris-
avalanche deposits. This is Stop 4-7. Inspect the
hummocks and outcrops showing their internal structure.
Note the great variety of lithologies, including surge
deposits and Cretaceous limestone.
127 km Drive back on Highway 140 and continue north-
east to Perote at the north margin of the Serdh-Oriental
basin, where we will spend the night.
Day 5: Late Pleistocene and Holocene
explosive volcanism in the
Serdain-Oriental basin 11.
yr B.P. (Heine, 197l). Malde (1968) reports a deposit
consisting of crystal-rich ash and lapilli 6 m thick over-
lying an organic soil dated at about 8,000 yr B.P. The same
layer was dated by Steen-McIntyre (1972) at about 6,000
yr B.l? While the dating procedure and method are not
reported in detail, this is believed to be the youngest pyro-
clastic deposit at La Malinche. More recent investigations
by our team verified the existence of this ash-flow tuff.
Charcoal found within the deposit (Stops 5 and 6, figure
24) yielded an age of 3,115 2 55 yr B.P.This finding is in
accordancewith the young appearance of the deposit and
the poorly developed soil on top of it. The existence of this
young deposit implies that La Malinche experienced a
relatively energetic eruption in Holocene times and there-
fore should be considered a "giant sleeper."
Volcanologists believe that it is precisely this type of
volcano with long periods of repose that presents the
most dangerous situations when reawakened. Even
younger deposits were identified at the western slopes of
La Malinche near Atitlan explosion crater. Charcoal in a
reworked pumice layer gave an age of 2,145 +145/-140 yr
B.P. We presently believe that the dated deposit represents
a reworked Plinian pumice fall layer from Popocat6petl
volcano.

During this several structures and their Xalapaxco, an unusual tuff cone with multiple
deposits located in the interior and at the southwestern
margin of the Serdiin-Oriental intermontanebasin will be
explosion craters
visited. We will first visit Alchichica rnaar and Cerro Pinto
'
rhyolite dome complex. Then we will examine La The Xalapaxco tuff cone is located near the base of the
Malinche stratovolcano and Xalapaxco tuff cone at its northeast flank of La Malinche (figure 21). About a dozen
base. At the of the day, we &e b a d to the ~~~~~~~g~~~~ ex^^^^^^ craters Occur in the
Mexico City International Airport (figure 1). Serdanoriental intermontane basin (Siebe 1986), several
of which bear either the name "Xalapaxco" or
La Malinche Volcano, another giant sleeper a"Axalapaxco," depending on whether or not they contain
l.lre within their ,,Xakpaxo,, is a word in
NAhuatl meaning "vessel or container made of sand."
La Malinche, a Tertiary-Quaternary andesitic-dacitic "Axalapaxco" refers to a vessel made of sand that
stratovolcano which reaches 4,503 m high, is located contains water. Therefore, the name "Xalapaxco" can be
about 25 km northeast of the city of Puebla and is believed considered loosely to mean a tuff cone or dry tuffring and
to be extind (Heine, 1975) (figure 21). This volcano has "Axalapaxco" a maar.
never been investigated from a purely volcanological Ordoiiez (1905,1906) was the first to study tuff rings
point of view. For the last three decades the German in the Serd6n-Oriental intermontane basin and to recog-
Science Foundation carried out investigations in the states nize that they were phreatomagmatic in origin. Xalapaxco
of Puebla and Tlaxcala, that included geological, pedolog- is a typical tuff cone in many respects. But the large
ical, and geomorphological studies at La Malinche. Heine number (10) of explosion craters that indent its surface is
(1971) was the first to establish a teplm-cmnological unusual (figure 22). A survey of the literature revealed
sequence around La W c h e , although the main focus of that no other place in the world has a similar tuffcone
his work was aimed at reconstructing Quatemary glacial with so many craters.
advances at Mexican volcanoes (e.g., Heine, 1984, 1988). The explosion craters are concentrated in the center
In order to date the glacial advances, Heine and and upper outer side of the cone facing La Malinche. They
coworkers studied and dated several tephra layers from expose alternating beds of stratified surge deposits and
La Malinche. The oldest C-14 age comes from an ash massive fall deposits. The morphology of the cone and the
cloud deposit that yielded 38,895 * 1,200 yr B.P. A characteristics of its deposits point to significant interac-
yellowish red pumice layer that extends around the tion with groundwater during its eruption The
volcano was dated between 12,060 yr B.P. and 7,645 * 80
QuakrnmyExplosive V o b n i s m and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications fir Future Hazards

La Malinche Volcano, Mbim

dramage network and field trip stops

Adaptedfrom Abmms and Siebe, 1994.

F i p 21: Excursion stops of Day 5 and drainage network map of La Malinche Volcano. Most of the drainages are parallel and
closely spaced, forming a radial pattern around the summit. On the northeast flank, the Xalapaxco tuff cone is situated in a trian-
gular alluvial fan with a marked absence of surface drainage channels (adapted from Abrams and Siebe, 1994).
 40 Claw Siebe ,Josh Luis M a c h , Michael Abranas, Sergw Roctrt;puez, Renato Castro, and Hugo Delgado

phreatomagmatic eruptions that led to the cone's forrna- 42.0 km Continue southwards on the same dirt road,
tion pierced an alluvial fan, the source of which is a cross the interior of Xalapaxco, and arrive at a major
glacially carved canyon near the summit of La Malinche quarry on thenorthern slopes of C m Pinto dome. This is
Volcano. This large canyon was cut and deepened during Stop 5-3. The quarry is operated by a company that mines
several glacial episodes, the last of which ended circa perlite (hydrated obsidian) here. Note the explosion brec-
8,500 years ago. The present alluvial fan mostly consists of cia~,surge deposits and their relationship to the C e m
reworked glacio-fluviatile andesite/dacite material from Pinto dome.
La M a l i e . Risiing magma encountered substantial
amounts of groundwater within the limestone basement 138.0 km Drive back to Itzoteno and to Highway 140.
and in overlying intercalated pyroclastic and glacio-fluvi- At Highway 140 turn right and drive 22 km to Zacatepec.
atile deposits of the alluvial fan. Short-lived From here continue northwest on Highway 58 for 15 km
phreatomagmatic eruptions produced surge and airfall to El Carmen. You will cross Laguna Totolcingo salt lake,
deposits (figure 23). Xenoliths found in the cone beds are which is the remnant of a large lake that once occupied
composed of dacite and andesite clasts, limestone, chert, the Serdhoriental. At El Carmen, continue west and
and rare igmmbrite fragments. No juvenile material could reach Huamantla after 32 lan (figures 1 and 21). Enter
be identified unequivocally but is represented most prob- Huamantla and exit it again to the south on the highway
-ably by porphyritic dacite similar in texture and towards Puebla. After 9 lan arrive in Ixtenco. In Ixtenco
composition to L a Malinche lavas. take the unpaved road that exits the town towards the
The multiple craters were formed as a response to west. Drive upslope La W c h e Volcano for 3 km and
changes in water and magma supply during the short- arrive at a junction Turn right towards the north and
lived eruption. Hence the locations where optimum arrive after 3 km at the western base of Xalapaxco tuff
magma/water ratios existed to fuel phreatomagmatic cone. Take the the road that leads towards its summit and
explosions varied in time and space. Analysis of diam- arrive at the rim of the largest of its multiple explosion
eter/depth ratios of the craters indicates that the activity craters. This is Stop 5-4. Park the car and inspect the area
shifted from the cone's center to its western periphery. (see also figures 21, 22, and 23). From the eastern rim of
Due to the configuration of the hydrographic environ- the main crater a great view of the entire southwestern
ment, more groundwater flowing from La Mahche was part of the Serdh-Orientalcan be obtained.
available from the fan on the uphill side than below the
: cone at later stages of the eruption. The apparently anom- 147.0 km Continue on the same dirt road towards the
alous position of the tuff cone on the slopes of a east and finish circling Xalapaxco until you arrive again at
stratovolcano in a presently dry environment may be the the paved highway. Return in the diredion of Huamantla
result of more humid climatic conditions prevailing at the After 1km turn left to the west on the road to Los Pilm.
time of eruption (Siebe 1986,Abrams and Siebe 1994). Arrive in Los Pilares and follow a dirt road leading into
the barranca El Pilar. Follow the road for 500 m within the
00.0 lan Exit Perote to the southwest and take barranca and arrive at a large rivercut. This is Stop 5-5,
Highway 140 again in & i o n of Zacatepec. which shows a series of Late Pleistocene and Holocene
pyroclastic flow deposits from La Malinche (see strati-
27.0 km Park your car on the right side of the road at graphic section in figure 24).
the rim of Alchichica maar. This is Stop 5-1 .Alchichica is
the largest maar crater in the Serdh-Oriental. The juve- 155.0 bn Return to Los Pilares and take the dirt road
nile components of its deposits consist of scoriaceous exiting the town to the west to Guadalupe Altamira After
basaltic or basaltic andesite. From the eastern crater rim a 5 km reach the paved road at Guadalupe Altarnira and
good view of a dissected scoria cone at the western crater turn left towards Albergue Mahtzin. After 3 lan arrive at
rim can be obtained. Note the tuffa deposits along the Stop 5-6, which is a roadcut on the left side of the road.
shore of the lake. Here very young ash-flow deposits with abundant char-
coal and poor soil development on top crop out (see
40.0 km Continue on Highway 140towards the south- stratigraphic section in figure 24). The young appearance
west. After 3 km turn right on the dirt road to Itzoteno. of these deposits suggests that La Malinche erupted
After 4 lan on this road arrive in Itzoteno, cross the town during Holocene time and should therefore be regarded
and exit it on a dirt road to the southwest. After 6 km as potentially active.
arrive at the eastern crater rim of Xalapaxco tuff cone,
located to the north of Cerro Pinto rhyolite dome. This is 159.0 M o n t i n u e towards the west for another 5 lan
Stop 5-2, one of the best outcrops in the area showing and reach a junction. Turn left and arrive at Albergue
"dry" surge deposits. Note cmss-bedding, impact sags of Malintzin From here take the dirt road that leads south
bombs, and other typical features of surge deposits. uphill for about 500 m. Park the car and walk 100m to the
~uakrnar-y ~ x ~ l o s i vVolcanism
e and Pyroclastic Deposits in East Central Mexiw:
Implications for Future HQZCVCES
 42 Claus Skbe ,Josk Luis Mactas, Michael Abmms ,Sergio RocMguez,Remto Castro, and Hugo Delgacb

F i 23: Outcrop within explosion pit Hoya Los Texales showing typical coarse explosion breccia and surge deposits. Surge
deposits consist mostly of silt to sand sized clasts of andesite and daate. Larger subangular blocks include mostly dasts ofandesite
and dacite, but xenolithsof chert, limestone,and welded tuff are also present.
~ w t e r k ~xplosive
y Volcanism and Pymdastic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Irnplicationa fir Future Hazards

west, where a sinkhole exposes young pyroclastic flow Coaxomulco to.thewest and continue 4 k m to San Miguel
deposits from La Malinche. This is Stop 5-7 (see also Contla and another 4 km to Amaxac. In Amaxac take the
stratigraphic section in figure 24). road southwest 8 lan to Tlaxcala (figure 24). Here take the
new freeway 28 lan to San Martin Texmelucan, where you
3120 lan Return to Albergue Malintzin and take the have to enter the federal freeway 190 D to Mexico City.
paved road north for 9 km to San Jos6Teacako. Here take After 91 lan arrive in Mexico City and follow the
the road northwest to Coaxomulco for another 9 Ian. Exit signs to the airport.
44 Claw Siebe ,Jos&Luis Machs, Michael Abrams ,Sergw Rodriguez, Rencrto Ccrstro, and Hugo Delgado
Qu~krnwy ~aivlosiveVolcanism and Pyrocbtic Deposits in East Central Mexico:
Implications for Fuhm Hazards
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This fieldtrip guide was made pwible through the
continuousencouragement of Dra. Rosa Maria Prol, Head
of Graduate Studies, Institute de Geofisica, Universidad
Nacional Auton6ma de Mexico (UNAM), who always
allocated funds for students participating in field trips
related to the volcanology courses taught by Claus Siebe.
The experience gained through these experimental field
trips and the enthusiasm of the students inform this
guide. We also want to thank Drs. David Novelo and
Gerardo Suarez (UNAM) for their faith and continuous
institutional support M. F. Sheridan (SUNY,Buffalo) also
played his part in this project. Ricardo J. Molinem and
Alberto G o d e z Huesca assisted in drafting some of the
figures. Support for analytical work and the pufihase of
laboratory equipment was made possible by a generous
grant h m Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia
(CONACYT No. 0631-T9110) to C. Siebe. Work by M.
Abrams was performed at the Jet Propulsion
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