No latest activity reported for Pinacate.

Below is a summary of eruption dates and Volcanic Explosivity Indices (VEI).

The following references are the sources used for data regarding this volcano. References are linked directly to our volcano data file. Discussion of another volcano or eruption (sometimes far from the one that is the subject of the manuscript) may produce a citation that is not at all apparent from the title. Additional discussion of data sources can be found under Volcano Data Criteria.

Barragan-R R M, Birkle P, Portugal-M E, Arrellano-G V M, Alvarez-R J, 2001. Geochemical survey of medium temperature geothermal resources from the Baja California Peninsula and Sonora, Mexico. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 110: 101-119

de Boer J Z, 1980. Paleomagnetism of the Quaternary Cerro Prieto, Crater Elegante, and Salton Buttes volcanic domes in the northern part of the Gulf of California rhombochasm. {Proc 2nd Symp Cerro Prieto Geotherm Field, Baja Calif, Mexico}, p 91-102

Galbraith F W, 1959. Craters of the Pinacates. {Ariz Geol Soc, Southern Ariz Guidebook}, 2: 161-164

Green J, Short N M, 1971. {Volcanic Landforms and Surface Features: a Photographic Atlas and Glossary}. New York: Springer-Verlag, 519 p

Gutmann J G, 2002. Strombolian and effusive activity as precursors to phreatomagmatism: eruptive sequence at maars of the Pinacate volcanic field, Sonora, Mexico. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 113: 345-356

Gutmann J T, 1976. Geology of Crater Elegante, Sonora, Mexico. {Geol Soc Amer Bull}, 87: 1718-1729

Gutmann J T, Sheridan M F, 1978. Geology of the Pinacate volcanic field. {In}: Burt D M, Pewe T L (eds), {Guidebook to the Geology of Central Arizona, Ariz Bur Geol Mineral Tech}, 2: 47-60

Ives R L, 1956. Age of Cerro Colorado Crater, Pinacate, Sonora, Mexico. {Eos, Trans Amer Geophys Union}, 37: 221-223

Ives R L, 1964. The Pinacate Region, Sonora, Mexico. {Calif Acad Sci Occ Pap}, 47: 1-43

Lynch D J, Gutmann J T, 1988. Volcanic structures and alkaline rocks in the Pinacate volcanic field of Sonora, Mexico. {In}: Davis G H, VandenDolder E M (eds) {Geologic diversity of Arizona and its margins: excursions to choice areas}, Arizona Bur Geol Mineral Tech, 5: 309-322

Lynch D J, Musselman T E, Gutmann J T, Patchett P J, 1993. Isotopic evidence for the origin of Cenozoic volcanic rocks in the Pinacate volcanic field, northwestern Mexico. {Lithos}, 29: 295-302

Medina F, Suarez F, Espindola J M, 1989. Historic and Holocene volcanic centers in NW Mexico. {Bull Volc Eruptions}, 26: 91-93

Turin B D, Gutmann J T, Swisher C C III, 2008. A 13 +/- 3 ka age determination of a tholeiite, Pinacate volcanic field, Mexico, and improved methods for 40Ar/39Ar dating of young basaltic rocks. {J Volc Geotherm Res}, 177: 848-856

Wood C A, 1974. Reconnaissance geophysics and geology of the Pinacate craters, Sonora, Mexico. {Bull Volc}, 38: 149-172

Pinacate is a large, roughly 55 x 60 km volcanic field in the Sonoran desert of NW México. It contains numerous youthful maars, tuff rings, and cinder cones of late-Pleistocene to Holocene age. The 2000 sq km volcanic field is prominent in satellite images of this arid, sparsely populated region between the Arizona border and the head of the Gulf of California. An older volcanic episode constructed the 1200-m-high Santa Clara basaltic-to-trachytic shield volcano. This was followed by the eruption of more than 500 basaltic cinder cones and lava flows that blanket the slopes of Santa Clara and the surrounding desert. Among the principal features of the Pinacate volcanic field are Elegante crater, a 1.6-km-wide maar, and Cerro Colorado, a 110-m-high, 1.1-km-wide tuff ring. Papago (Tohono O'odham) Indian legends tell of eruptions, however historical accounts of ash-and-steam eruptions in the 20th century are questionable.