1. Geology

2. Glaciation

3. Climbing routes

4. Human and religious activity

5. See also

6. References

7. Sources

8. External links

Chachani is the highest of the mountains near the city of Arequipa in southern Peru.

As a result of the very low precipitation in the Arequipa area, Chachani does not have a permanent ice cap or glaciers. Climbing Chachani is popular, and many tour agencies in Arequipa offer guided trips to the summit, though the altitude is considered highly challenging for those who are not fully acclimatized.

Geology

Between six and eight separate craters form the massif of Chachani. Erosion has only left one recognizable crater in the western part of the complex.^[5] This structure has an arcuate shape.^[1] A shield {{convert|1|km}} thick with a diameter of {{convert|8|km}} is formed from coalescent lava flows on Chachani's southern side and is known as Pampa de Palacio or Las Cortaderas.^[1] An escarpment on the eastern side of Chachani may be part of a "Chachani" caldera, the source of several ignimbrites in the Arequipa area.^[8] Vegetation cover above {{convert|4500|m}} altitude is scarce.^[9] Chachani is the eighty-four highest summit of the Andes.

Chachani is largely Quaternary in origin,^[11] Cerro Nocarane and the Penones lava dome predate the ice ages.^[1] Activity of Chachani has migrated southward, from the Nocarane-Chingana volcanoes in the north to a complex of lava flows and lava domes in the south.^[13] Volcanic activity in the area began as Tacaza volcanics during the Miocene. During the Sillapaca phase starting in the Pliocene the cone building volcanism took place. By its end explosive eruptions generated voluminous rhyolitic tuffs named sillar.^[5]

Several ignimbrites in the Arequipa area appear to have been erupted from beneath Chachani. This includes the {{convert|18|-|20|km3}} Arequipa Airport Ignimbrite and {{convert|16|-|24|km3}} La Joya Ignimbrite. These Pliocene ignimbrites are dated 1.64 ± 0.07 mya and 4.87 ± 0.02 mya. The eruption of these ignimbrites would have left a caldera, now completely buried beneath the Chachani complex. The 1.02 ± 0.09 mya Rio Yura tuffs were probably erupted from beneath Nocarane.^[8][16]

Later activity generated basaltic lava flows on Chachani's southwest side, in valleys eroded in the tuffs. There, the {{convert|1200|m}} high Pampa de Palacio/Las Cortaderas lava domes were formed by highly viscous andesitic lavas. They are well preserved, indicating a young age. It is believed the end of Chachani's eruptive activity happened simultaneously or closely preceded the start of activity of El Misti.^[1][5] Some thin lava flows from the central and western parts of the volcano run above moraines.

The Cerro La Horqueta cinder cone may be the youngest vent of Chachani.^[1] Between 70,000 and 50,000 years ago ashfall deposits from El Misti were deposited on Chachani's southeastern flank.^[20] A 270,000 ± 80,000 year old dacitic lava flow on Chachani's eastern flank is more likely to come from Chachani than El Misti, as are ash fall deposits found on top of this lava (which is thus older) and covering Chachani's flanks.^[21] Geothermal activity is found today at Chachani,^[22] and solfataras were observed in 2012 in the summit area.

Two normal faults run beneath Chachani. Active El Misti, the extinct Pichu Pichu and possibly Ampato volcanoes are located along one of these fault zones. This fault zone has been active in the Holocene with a left-lateral offset. The formation of these volcanic centres may have been induced by the fault zone.^[24][25]

The Pliocene ignimbrites contain biotite, ilmenite, magnetite, plagioclase, quartz, sanidine and sometimes amphibole.^[16]

Glaciation

The volcano was glaciated during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and then again during the Little Ice Age (LIA). There are no present day glaciers on Chachani.^[13] The glaciation covered a large surface area in the past.^[29]

Ash and pumice reworked by water from El Misti have been found in probably glacially carved valleys on Chachani's southeastern side. This reworking may have happened between 24,000 and 12,000 years ago.^[20]

Glacial erosion has left cirques and U-valleys on Chachani.^[5]

Beneath rock walls, possibly active rock glaciers are found at altitudes {{convert|4300|-|5400|m}} at Nocarane and {{convert|4350|-|5100|m}} on Chachani.^[13] On Nocarane, three different stages of rock glacier activity have been found on the southern flank.^[9]

Unlike on El Misti, permafrost has been found on Chachani.^[29] Continuous permafrost covers a surface area of {{convert|16.8|km2}} on Chachani, with a total area of {{convert|47.1|km2}}. The coverage starts at {{convert|5050|m}} altitude on the southern flank and coverage becomes continuous above {{convert|5420|m}}.^[9]

Climbing routes

The mountain is normally climbed from its northern side. The start of the trek is at a drop-off point which is reached in 2.5 hours by four-wheel drive vehicle, driving west around Chachani and turning off from the main highway near Pampa Cañahuas, or heading north from Arequipa between Misti and Chachani. Base camp is at approximately {{convert|5,200|m}}. There is another higher camp called Camp Azulfrera situated at about {{convert|5,400|m}}. The route starts with the ascent to the Angel Col before traversing the El Angel mountain itself. Then climbers ascend the face of Fatima mountain in a zig-zag pattern before making another traverse on the Fatima mountain. Only then the summit of Chachani can be seen. From there, climbers need to make the final ascent on the face of Chachani all the way to the top of the mountain.

The standard route requires crampons and an ice axe, but does not require roping up, as there are no large crevasses on Chachani. Two traverses over relatively steep terrain constitute the main challenges on the way to the summit. The final push to the summit is a very steep{{Clarify|reason=vague|date=August 2014}} scree slope, which provides for a fast descent back to the first traverse.

In recent years,{{When|date=August 2014}} the amount of snow on Chachani has decreased dramatically, so for many months of the year there may be little snow on the mountain. For example, in October and November 2010, there was no snow at all, and the ascent could be made without crampons or ice axes. Climbers need to check on the snow conditions beforehand.

The average total climb time from base camp ranges from six to nine hours, with a two-to four-hour descent.

Human and religious activity

A Inca temple was constructed on Chachani's summit area, and archeological relics date back to pre-Hispanic times. This sanctuary was looted as early as the end of the 19th century. During one of these lootings, a skeleton of a woman, wooden vessels and ceramics. An archeological study in 2013 did suggest that Chachani's summit was the site of Capacocha sacrifices. Rock material from Chachani has been used to construct churches in Arequipa and sulfur was mined on the mountain. Oral tradition attributes to Chachani the ability to choose the gender of newborn children.^[37]

See also

• List of volcanoes in Peru
• List of Ultras of South America

References

Sources

• {{Cite GVP|vn=354007|name=Nevado Chachani}}
• Chachani on SummitPost
• "Nevado Chachani, Peru" on Peakbagger
• Chachani on Peakware

External links

• Chachani on Summitpost
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20090726130443/http://blip.tv/file/1762983 Video of Chachani climb]

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