Overview

• Uturuncu, a 'zombie volcano' in Bolivia, shows activity like gas plumes and earthquakes but has not erupted in over 250,000 years.
• Satellite data over two decades identified a sombrero-shaped surface deformation caused by subsurface fluid migration.
• A study published April 28, 2025, in PNAS used seismic, geochemical, and geophysical methods to map the volcano's internal structure.
• Researchers attribute Uturuncu's activity to hydrothermal fluids heated by the Altiplano-Puna Magma Body, the largest known crustal magma reservoir.
• Scientists found no evidence of rising or shallow seismicity, indicating low eruption risk and potential for geothermal and mineral resource exploration.