Ceboruco Volcano

Updated: Apr 26, 2025 07:36 GMT - refresh

stratovolcano

Western Mexico, 21.13°N / -104.51°W

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Summit height: 2280 m / 7,480 ft

Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)

Volcán Ceboruco is the only historically active volcano in the NW part of the Mexican Volcanic Belt. It is located near the triple junction between the North American, Cocos and Pacific tectonic plates.
Ceboruco is a complex stratovolcano that rises 1100 m above the flat floor of the NW-SE trending Tepic graben. It is composed primarily of trachydacite to trachyandesite lava flows alternating with tephra deposits, reflecting a complex history of constructive (effusive) and destructive (explosive) phases. It contains about 15 basaltic and andesitic cinder cones and lava flows that erupted along a NW-SE-trending line.
Ceboruco has 2 concentric summit calderas, the outer of which is 4 km in diameter and formed during the major rhyodacitic Jala Pumice eruption about 1000 years ago, which was the largest explosive eruption in Mexico during the past 10,000 years.
The last eruption of Ceboruco took place during 1870-75. Explosive eruptions occurred from a vent on the upper west flank and were followed by the extrusion of a 1.1 cu km dacitic lava flow that covers a large area on the lower western flank.

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News/Updates | Earthquakes

Typical eruption style: Effusive and explosive
Ceboruco volcano eruptions: 1870-1875, 1567, 1542

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Background

Geologic history
The evolution of Ceboruco volcano can roughly be divided into 3 phases:
1) Formation of the old stratovolcano (prior to 930 AD ±200 y.ago)
A conical andesitic stratovolcano was built over time and had reached about 2700 m height, about 500 m higher than at present. The prominent Destiladero flow belongs to this period.
This phase ends with the major Jala eruption about 1000 years ago. It destroyed the central and upper part of the volcano and left a 4 km wide Jala caldera.

2) Formation of an intra-caldera dacitic lava dome (around 930 - 1100 AD)
The volcano remained in a state of heightened activity after the plinian Jala eruption. A large dacitic lava dome (called the Dos Equis dome) grew inside the caldera, reaching about 1.7 km diameter and 280 m height, and a volume of approx. 1.3 km3. The lava dome collapsed during the so-called Coapales eruption around 1100 AD, and left a second 1.5 km wide caldera.

3) Andesitic lava domes and lava flows from flank eruptions (1100 AD- present)
After the collapse of the Dos Equis lava dome, eruptions were predominantly from fissure vents on the flanks and the volcano produced again andesitic lava flows. This phase includes the historic activity of Ceboruco. It includes the massive El Norte lava flow, a sparsely vegetated flow that blankets the entire northern flank of the volcano.

Sources:
- Smithsonian / GVP volcano information
- Nelson SA (1980) "Geology and petrology of Volcán Ceboruco, Nayarit, Mexico" Bull Geol Soc Am, v. 91, pp. 2290-2431
- Sieron, K.; Siebe, C. (2008) "Revised stratigraphy and eruption rates of Ceboruco stratovolcano and surrounding monogenetic vents (Nayarit, Mexico) from historical documents and new radiocarbon dates", Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v176, pp. 241-264

Significant volcanic eruptions: Ceboruco volcano

In the past 10,000 years, Ceboruco has had at least 4 confirmed volcanic eruptions, out of which 3 are documented by historical records, while the others can be inferred from geological evidence.

The table below lists all known eruptions (date in bold face) of Ceboruco volcano in historic times and during the past 10,000 years. Updates on the most recent volcanic activity of Ceboruco can be found on the news page of Ceboruco volcano.

Date	Note	VEI
1870 Feb 21 - 1875	Upper west flank Historical obs./docs.	3
1567 AD	Historical obs./docs.	?
1542 AD	Historical obs./docs.	?
930 AD (eruption 930 ±200 y. AD)	Historical obs./docs.	6	Info
930 AD: Eruption of the voluminous rhyodacitic Jala Pumice, the largest known in Mexico during the Holocene, formed the initial 4-km-wide caldera about 1000 years ago. Cited references #2432 Venzke, E., R.W. Wunderman, L. McClelland, T. Simkin, J.F. Luhr, L. Siebert, and G. Mayberry (eds.) (2002-): Global Volcanism, 1968 to the Present. Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program Digital Information Series, GVP-4 (http://www.volcano.si.edu/reports/). #10953 Siebert, Lee, Tom Simkin, Paul Kimberly (2010): Volcanoes of the World, Third Edition, Geoscience Press, Inc., University of California Press, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., 551 p. Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Earthquake Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K
930 ±200 y. AD		6

Remark:

Our list of volcanic eruptions closely follows the database of eruptions of the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Project (GVP), the internationally most recognized data source for volcanic eruptions, but also includes significant eruptive episodes or related volcano events. "Volcanic eruptions" are usually to be understood as sequences of individual eruptive episodes that can follow each other, or even overlap (if several vents are involved), and can last many years, decades or even longer. For example, the current activity of Stromboli volcano is understood as a single eruption that has been ongoing since 1934.

Sources: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), Global Significant Volcanic Eruptions Database. doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K | Global Volcanism Project / Smithsonian Institution

Eruptions of Ceboruco volcano

1870-1875 eruption
The last historic eruption of Ceboruco volcano began on 23 February 1870 from a vent on the upper SW flank. The eruption was fairly large (VEI3) and both explosive and effusive, producing a major lava flow reaching 7.7 km length. ...more info

Ceboruco Volcano FAQ

+When was the last eruption of Ceboruco volcano?

The last confirmed eruption of Ceboruco occurred during 1870 - 1875.

+How often does Ceboruco volcano erupt?

Since 1542 AD, Ceboruco volcano has had at least 3 historically documented eruptions. This means that it erupts on average every 161 years.
Many eruptions of Ceboruco have lasted more than one year. In total, the volcano has been in eruption during 8 out of 483 years until now. In other words, Ceboruco has been active at least one in 60.4 years on average. Note that this value is likely an underestimate, because the known history of eruptions from Ceboruco is likely incomplete, especially further back in time.

+When was the largest eruption of Ceboruco volcano?

The largest eruption known from the younger geological history of Ceboruco volcano occurred around 930 AD. It ranks as a "vulcanian" eruption with a magnitude 3 on the VEI (Volcanic Explosivity Index) scale.

Latest satellite images

See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS

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Ceboruco Volcano Maps

Below is a selection of maps showing the location and surroundings of the volcano at various resolutions based on aerial-imagery / terrain maps. Feel free to use them for non-commercial purposes on your blog or website as long as you credit them with a link back to this page (click to copy it).