Zapaleri
Zapaleri
Mountain in Argentina
Zapaleri is a volcano whose summit is the tripoint of the borders of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile. A number of railways are in the area.[2] It is part of Potosí Department (Bolivia), Jujuy Province (Argentina), and Antofagasta Region (Chile).[citation needed] The volcano formed on top of the 2.89 mya Tara Ignimbrite from the Guacha caldera[3] and the basement beneath the volcano is formed from Cretaceous and Tertiary rocks affected by tectonic deformation. Volcanic rocks are andesite, basalt, dacite and rhyolite.[4] Late Cretaceous rocks are also found in the area,[5] as are Pleistocene shoshonite volcanic rocks.[6]
The Bolivian portion of the mountain is protected within Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. Moreover, it is close to the sector Salar de Tara-Salar de Aguas Calientes of Los Flamencos National Reserve, Chile.[citation needed]
Zapaleri is associated with a major source of obsidian,[7] with a distribution sphere found in archeological sites over 350 kilometres (220 mi) wide.[8] The obsidian is found on the Bolivian side of the border next to Laguna Blanca. Another source is found on Solterio Mountain.[9] Inca and earlier archeological remains are associated with the obsidian sites.[10]