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Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica i
Regional Level Types
Arenal Volcano Stratovolcano (Active)
Arenal Vulcano National Parc National Park
San Carlos Canton Canton
Alajuela Province Province
Costa Rica Country

Regional Level Types
Arenal Volcano	Stratovolcano (Active)
Arenal Vulcano National Parc	National Park
San Carlos Canton	Canton
Alajuela Province	Province
Costa Rica	Country

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Arenál volcano, Eruption plume, April 1989

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Informational sign in devastated zone west of the volcano (1989)

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Devastated zone west of the volcano

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Arenál volcano, Eruption plume, April 1989

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Informational sign in devastated zone west of the volcano (1989)

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Devastated zone west of the volcano

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Arenál volcano, Eruption plume, April 1989

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Informational sign in devastated zone west of the volcano (1989)

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):

10° 27' 47'' North , 84° 42' 11'' West

Latitude & Longitude (decimal):

10.46333,-84.70333

GRN:

N07W59

Type:

Stratovolcano (Active) - last checked 2023

Köppen climate type:

Aw : Tropical savanna, wet

Mindat Locality ID:

301677

Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:2:301677:3

GUID (UUID V4):

Name(s) in local language(s):

(Spanish) Volcán Arenal

An active stratovolcano, approximately 1,670 metres high. The age is approx. 7500 years.

Arenál had been inactive in human memory and was assumed to be extinct. (The story is told that a pupil in a nearby school referred to Arenál as a volcano in a written assignment and the teacher corrected it, saying that Arenál is just a mountain, not a volcano.) Later geologic investigations found that its most recent activity had been early in the 15th century and had erupted more or less every 1000 years since first emerging around 7500 years ago.

In July 1968 the volcano erupted violently with a lateral blast directed westward that leveled three villages and, over the next several days, killed a total of 87 people and uncounted head of livestock. For the next 40 years Arenál was one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, frequently producing several explosive events daily. Lava and tephra issuing from the new vent on the west flank of the old cone built a new cone that had exceeded the height of the old cone by the early 1990s. Activity gradually progressed from explosive events to lava flows, and by about 2010 Arenál was regarded as having returned more or less to dormancy.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

13 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

ⓘ Basaltic-andesite

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Anhydrite

Formula: CaSO₄

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Anorthite

Formula: Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)

References:

E.L. Clopton collection, IDs by Dr. William G. Melson, Dept. of Volcanology & Petrology, Smithsonian Institution

ⓘ Augite

Formula: (Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆

References:

E.L. Clopton collection, IDs by Dr. William G. Melson, Dept. of Volcanology & Petrology, Smithsonian Institution

ⓘ Chalcanthite

Formula: CuSO₄ · 5H₂O

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Fluorite

Formula: CaF₂

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Gypsum

Formula: CaSO₄ · 2H₂O

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Halotrichite

Formula: FeAl₂(SO₄)₄ · 22H₂O

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Hematite

Formula: Fe₂O₃

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Hydrokenoralstonite

Formula: Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Kieserite

Formula: MgSO₄ · H₂O

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Native Sulphur

Formula: S₈

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ 'Olivine Group'

Formula: M₂SiO₄

References:

E.L. Clopton collection, IDs by Dr. William G. Melson, Dept. of Volcanology & Petrology, Smithsonian Institution

ⓘ Salammoniac

Formula: NH₄Cl

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

ⓘ Sylvite

Formula: KCl

References:

Stoiber, Richard E., Rose, William I. (1974) Fumarole incrustations at active central american volcanoes. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 38 (4) 495-516 doi:10.1016/0016-7037(74)90037-4

Gallery:

Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)ⓘ Anorthite

Anorthite, etc.

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Anorthite, etc.

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

Anorthite, etc.

Arenal Volcano, Arenal Vulcano National Parc, San Carlos Canton, Alajuela Province, Costa Rica

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Sulphur	1.CC.05	S₈
Group 3 - Halides
ⓘ	Sylvite	3.AA.20	KCl
ⓘ	Salammoniac	3.AA.25	NH₄Cl
ⓘ	Fluorite	3.AB.25	CaF₂
ⓘ	Hydrokenoralstonite	3.CF.05	Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Hematite	4.CB.05	Fe₂O₃
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘ	Anhydrite	7.AD.30	CaSO₄
ⓘ	Kieserite	7.CB.05	MgSO₄ · H₂O
ⓘ	Chalcanthite	7.CB.20	CuSO₄ · 5H₂O
ⓘ	Halotrichite	7.CB.85	FeAl₂(SO₄)₄ · 22H₂O
ⓘ	Gypsum	7.CD.40	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Augite	9.DA.15	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
ⓘ	Anorthite	9.FA.35	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Olivine Group'	-	M₂SiO₄

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Chalcanthite	CuSO₄ · 5H₂O
H	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
H	ⓘ Halotrichite	FeAl₂(SO₄)₄ · 22H₂O
H	ⓘ Kieserite	MgSO₄ · H₂O
H	ⓘ Hydrokenoralstonite	Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O
H	ⓘ Salammoniac	NH₄Cl
N	Nitrogen
N	ⓘ Salammoniac	NH₄Cl
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
O	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
O	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
O	ⓘ Chalcanthite	CuSO₄ · 5H₂O
O	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
O	ⓘ Halotrichite	FeAl₂(SO₄)₄ · 22H₂O
O	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
O	ⓘ Kieserite	MgSO₄ · H₂O
O	ⓘ Hydrokenoralstonite	Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O
O	ⓘ Olivine Group	M₂SiO₄
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
F	ⓘ Hydrokenoralstonite	Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Hydrokenoralstonite	Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Mg	ⓘ Kieserite	MgSO₄ · H₂O
Mg	ⓘ Hydrokenoralstonite	Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Al	ⓘ Halotrichite	FeAl₂(SO₄)₄ · 22H₂O
Al	ⓘ Hydrokenoralstonite	Na_0.5(Al,Mg)₂(F,OH)₆ · H₂O
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Si	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Si	ⓘ Olivine Group	M₂SiO₄
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
S	ⓘ Chalcanthite	CuSO₄ · 5H₂O
S	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
S	ⓘ Halotrichite	FeAl₂(SO₄)₄ · 22H₂O
S	ⓘ Kieserite	MgSO₄ · H₂O
S	ⓘ Native Sulphur	S₈
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Salammoniac	NH₄Cl
Cl	ⓘ Sylvite	KCl
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Sylvite	KCl
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Anhydrite	CaSO₄
Ca	ⓘ Anorthite	Ca(Al₂Si₂O₈)
Ca	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Ca	ⓘ Fluorite	CaF₂
Ca	ⓘ Gypsum	CaSO₄ · 2H₂O
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Augite	(Ca_xMg_yFe_z)(Mg_y1Fe_z1)Si₂O₆
Fe	ⓘ Halotrichite	FeAl₂(SO₄)₄ · 22H₂O
Fe	ⓘ Hematite	Fe₂O₃
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Chalcanthite	CuSO₄ · 5H₂O

Other Databases

Wikipedia:	https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arenal_Volcano
Wikidata ID:	Q641588

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Central AmericaRegion

North America

Central AmericaSubregion

North America Plate

Central American ArcVolcanic Arc

Panama PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

www.fortunawelcome.com (n.d.) http://www.fortunawelcome.com/arenal-volcano/

Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History (n.d.) Arenal. https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=345033

Melson, W. G., Saenz, R. (1973) Volume, energy and cyclicity of eruptions of Arenal volcano, Costa Rica. Bulletin Volcanologique, 37 (3). 416-437 doi:10.1007/bf02597639

Melson, William G. (1984) Prehistoric eruptions of Arenál volcano, Costa Rica. Vinculos, 10 (1-2). 34-59

Melson, William G. (1989) Las erupciones del volcan Arenál 1 al 13 de abril de 1989 [Eruptions of the Arenál volcano, April 1-13, 1989]. Boletín de Vulcanología, 20. 15-22

Alvarado, G.E. (1993) Costa Rica, land of volcanoes. Cartago, Costa Rica: Editorial Tecnologico de Costa Rica. (c) Fundación Victoria para el Desarrollo Mundial, Gallo Pinto Press. English translation and non-technical adaptation of the same author's Los volcanes de Costa Rica (in Spanish; San José: EUNED, 1989). Contains historical, oral history, and folkloric accounts along with recent (to 1993) information about most of Costa Rica's volcanoes, including Arenál.

Cole, P.D., Fernandez, E., Duarte, E., Duncan, A.M., (2005) Explosive activity and generation mechanisms of pyroclastic flows at Arenal volcano, Costa Rica between 1987 and 2001. Bulletin of Volcanology, v. 67, p. 695-716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-004-0402-6

Alvarado, G.E., Soto. G.J., Schmincke H.-U., Bolgec, L.L., Sumita, M., (2006) The 1968 andesitic lateral blast eruption at Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, v. 157, p. 9-33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2006.03.035

Soto, G.J. (2007) Volcano-geology and stratigraphy as basis for the mapping of volcanic hazards at Arenal, Costa Rica. Abstracts of the 20th Colloquium on Latin American Earth Sciences, Keil, Germany, 11-13 April 2007.

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