PARICUTÍN VOLCANO: WHAT MOUNTAIN SYSTEM IS IT PART OF? - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The Paricutín volcano is a volcano located in the region of Michoacán, Mexico, which belongs to a mountain system called the Neovolcanic Axis. It is considered a young volcano, whose birth as a volcanic body dates back to 1943, being known as the youngest volcano in America. This volcano remained active for nine years, burying two towns (Paricutín and San Juan Parangaricutiru) during its eruptions.

The Paricutín volcano belongs to a mountainous / volcanic range known as the Neovolcanic Axis, which extends between 900 and 1000 kilometers from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic (from the Revillagigedo Islands to the Gulf of Mexico), crossing more than 12 states and being composed for more than nine volcanoes.

Although previously known simply as the Volcanic Mountain Range of Mexico, the recent appearance and activity of the Paricutín volcano in the 20th century laid the basis for the prefix “neo” to be coined and the entire volcanic chain to once again adopt a significant physical and geological importance.

Origin of the volcanic activity of the Paricutín volcano

The physical and geological formation of the Neovolcanic Axis took place throughout different stages.

Located between the North American, Caribbean, and coconut plates, Earth's movements and separations millions of years ago were the necessary catalysts to start generating volcanic activity.

• A first period during the Jurassic-Cretaceous, created a marginal sea volcanism, due to the subdivision of the Paleo-Pacific
• A second period, as an active oligo-Miocene volcanism, due to the subduction of the Farallón Plate, which encompasses the Sierra Madre and much of the altiplano
• A third and more complex period, with the expansion of the area of ​​the Gulf of California, and the andesitic chain that follows from the Pacific to the Atlantic.

The most determining causes to which the formation of the Neovolcanic Axis is attributed maintain the geological incident as the main factor of origin: the opening of the Acapulco Trench during the Oligocene, in relation to the westward movement of the North American Plate.

The modifications suffered in the late Miocene in the Eastern Pacific Cordillera, together with the induced change in the Cocos Plate.

The Neovolcanic axis maintains notable differences between its western and eastern block, due to the different formations of origin, carried out at very different times and conditions.

The western part presents a greater eruptive dynamism in the volcanoes that make it up, whose internal structures have chambers for continuous magmatic movement, which allows them to release a much more varied variety of lava.

This evolution has made it possible to consider the age of the Neovolcanic Axis as relatively recent in some of its regions, in comparison with other tectonic manifestations prevalent in Mexico.

Volcanic characteristics of the Paricutín Axis

As part of the volcanic manifestations of the axis, some groups can be differentiated:

1- Stratovolcanoes

Large formations with a long life and a high volume of lava. They are scarce along the Neovolcanic Axis, although they constitute the highest peaks in the country. They represent the classic image of a volcano.

These are: the Nevado de Colima, the Colima Volcano, the Nevado de Toluca, the Popocatépetl, the Iztaccíhuatl and La Malinche. Each represents more than 100 cubic kilometers of material.

2- Small or monogenetic volcanoes

Characterized by small lava spills and pyroclastic ejections around the complex.

The Paricutín volcano falls into this category, after the eruption that occurred between 1943 and 1952, and which has been one of the most studied in the world.

These volcanoes tend to have the peculiarity of sometimes forming at the foot of stratovolcanoes, although they do not seem to have any relation to them.

3- The rhyolitic products

They are scarce and constitute one of the important characteristics of the Neovolcanic Axis. They are found in small, randomly distributed domes.

Recent studies indicate that they are the youngest formations of the entire axis (100,000 years approx.), And occupy an area of ​​400 square kilometers.

Volcano distribution

The position of each volcanic body is influenced by the tectonic features on which it was formed.

There are those who consider that the Neolvolcanic Axis should not be defined as a continuous volcanic zone, but as a set of different volcanic areas.

1- Tepic-Chapala Rift Valley: it extends in a northwest-southeast direction; includes the San Juan, Ceboruco, Tequila and Sanganguey volcanoes.

2- Colima Rift Valley: it extends in a north-south direction, and the main volcanic bodies are Nevado de Colima and Volcán de Colima.

3- Michoacán Trench: with a northeast-southwest direction, it is the region with the most quaternary volcanic bodies in Mexico, limited only by the San Andrés de Allende-Taxco fault. It is here where the Paricutín volcano is located.

4- Valleys of Toluca, México and Puebla: they have the presence of the seven main stratovolcanoes of the Hub, widely separated from each other.

5- Beyond Puebla is the easternmost part of the Neovolcanic Axis, limited by the Pico de Orizaba-Cofre de Perote.

Environmental influence

The volcanic bodies located in the Neovolcanic Axis, such as Paricutín, when they are active, and at the time of eruption, become powerful agents of change for the vegetation and the immediate ecosystem.

The diversity of igneous materials that a volcano gives off affect the physiognomy of the relief, soils, vegetation and fauna.

Magma residues leave new elements deposited on the earth than chemicals that will act in the reconditioning of the elements and the environmental, plant and animal conditions, in the medium and long term.

These changes can be considered as reboots, since a process of establishment and adaptation by new generations of species begins again.

The study of volcanic activity has not become important only to seek to predict and prevent eventual events that may cause a tragedy, but also to try to elucidate how the formation of these bodies and their internal functions can affect and condition their environment as they move and develop the geological elements that shape the Earth.

References

1. Cornide, JG, & Weinmann, ME (1997). PHYTOSOCIOLOGY AND SUCCESSION IN THE PPARICUTIN VOLCANO (MICHOACAN, MEXICO). Caldasia, 487-505.
2. Demant, A. (1978). CHARACTERISTICS OF THE TRANSMEXICAN NEOVOLCANIC AXIS AND ITS INTERPRETATION PROBLEMS. National Autonomous University of Mexico, Institute of Geology, Magazine, 172-187.
3. Demant, A. (1979). VULCANOLOGY AND PETROGRAPHY OF THE WESTERN SECTOR OF THE NEOVOLCANIC AXIS. National Autonomous University of Mexico, Institute of Geology, Magazine, 39-57.
4. Demant, A. (1982). GEODYNAMIC INTERPRETATION OF THE VOLCANISM OF THE TRANSMEXICAN NEOVOLCANIC AXIS. National Autonomous University of Mexico, Institute of Geology, Magazine, 217-222.
5. Foshag, WF, & R., JC (1956). Birth and Development of Parícutin Volcano Mexico. Washington, DC: UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
6. Rejmanek, M., Haagerova, R., & Haager, J. (1982). Progress of Plant Succession on the Paricutin Volcano: 25 Years after Activity Ceased. American Midland Naturalist, 194-198.