Campo de Piedra Pómez
Catamarca
Campo de Piedra Pómez is a remarkable natural protected area located in the Antofagasta de la Sierra Department, Catamarca Province, Argentina. It features extensive accumulations of pumice stone, a volcanic rock formed from explosive eruptions, particularly from the nearby Cerro Blanco volcano. This landscape has been sculpted over millennia by erosion and persistent wind action, creating a surreal terrain of pumice fields and ignimbrites. The region lies within the high Andean and Puna phytogeographic provinces, characterized by arid soils, large daily temperature fluctuations, and low atmospheric oxygen levels typical of the Puna environment. Cerro Blanco, also known as Robledo, is a caldera volcano responsible for the area's pumice deposits, with a history of massive eruptions including a VEI-7 event around 2300 BCE, which produced vast ignimbrite layers. The protected area spans over 75,000 hectares at altitudes ranging from 3,050 to 4,850 meters above sea level, offering visitors dramatic volcanic landscapes and geological formations. Despite its remote location and limited visitor infrastructure, several informal circuits such as "Gigantes de Piedra Pómez" and "Balcones de Laguna Purulla" have been developed to explore the area's scenic and geological highlights. Conservation efforts are ongoing, although the area faces pressures from recreational activities and potential mining interests due to significant mineral concentrations in the region.
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Tip: Visitors should plan their trip during the dry season to avoid harsh weather conditions and bring adequate supplies due to the area's remoteness. It is advisable to arrange guided tours or consult local experts familiar with the terrain. Advance planning for transportation and accommodation in nearby towns like El Peñón or Antofagasta de la Sierra is recommended. Permits or regulations may apply as it is a protected natural area, so checking with local authorities before visiting is prudent. Visitors should respect conservation rules to help preserve the unique geological features and fragile environment.
Interesting facts
- •Campo de Piedra Pómez contains some of the largest ripple marks on Earth, formed by persistent wind action on ignimbrite fields, with heights up to 2.3 meters and spacing up to 43 meters.
- •The nearby Cerro Blanco volcano produced a VEI-7 eruption about 2,300 BCE, one of the largest known in the Central Andes, ejecting around 170 cubic kilometers of tephra.
- •The pumice stone fields are remnants of massive ignimbrite deposits from volcanic eruptions that shaped the landscape over tens of thousands of years.
- •Despite its harsh environment and high altitude, the area supports unique high-Andean flora and fauna adapted to arid and oxygen-poor conditions.
History
The Campo de Piedra Pómez region was formed primarily through volcanic activity linked to the nearby Cerro Blanco volcano, which has been active for millions of years.
Around 73,000 years ago, an eruption created the Campo de la Piedra Pómez ignimbrite layer, and the largest known eruption in the Central Andes occurred approximately 2,300 BCE, forming thick ignimbrite deposits and the current caldera structure.
Over time, erosion and wind action shaped the pumice stone fields into their present morphology.
The area was officially designated as a protected natural reserve in 2011 and 2012 to safeguard its unique geological and ecological values.
Place Guide
Cerro Blanco Caldera~2300 BCE
A large volcanic caldera responsible for the pumice stone deposits in the area, featuring lava domes, ignimbrite breccia, and hydrothermal sinter deposits. It reaches elevations up to 4,697 meters and shows evidence of past massive eruptions.
Pumice Stone FieldsPost-eruption, last 73,000 years
Extensive fields of pumice stone formed by volcanic eruptions and shaped by erosion and wind, creating unique wave-like ripple marks among the largest on Earth.
Natural Circuits: Gigantes de Piedra Pómez and Balcones de Laguna Purulla
Informal visitor routes that showcase the most scenic and geologically interesting parts of the pumice stone fields and surrounding volcanic terrain.