"Rock of the Month # 290, posted for August 2025" ---

PARICUTIN, a Small but Storied Volcano in western Mexico

The spectacular and minutely documented birth and development of Volcan Paricutin, in the state of Michoacan, makes it one of the most-cited volcanoes in the world, despite its relatively small size and brief history to date.

Paricutin became the subject of detailed reporting in the 1940s and 1950s. As recorded by Foshag and Gonzalez (1956), there were ample eyewitness accounts by locals in and around the hamlet of San Juan Parangaricutiro. The initial volcanic outbreak took place on 20 February 1943 and growth was rapid that year. By the end of the first stage (Quitzocho period) of the volcano, on 19 October 1943, the cone was near its full height, at 365 m. There were periods of explosive volcanism, with a rain of volcanic bombs, through the Quitzocho and subsequent Sapichu period and Taqui periods, as well as emission of lava flows, which eventually destroyed and virtually buried the village. Rainfall rapidly modified the volcanic landform in subsequent years.

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REFERENCES

Foshag,WF and Gonzalez R,J (1956) Birth and development of Paricutin Volcano, Mexico. USGS Bull. 965-D, 355-490 plus 36 plates and 4 maps.

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