The main type of volcanic edifice in the area are scoria cones, it is formed by the La Laguna, Jote and Alumbrera volcanoes.

Volcanic activity during this time was heavily influenced by local strike-slip faults which acted to channel the magma flows.

[3] The Antofagasta de la Sierra volcanic field lies within the north–south trending tectonic depression of the same name,[3] in the Catamarca Province.

[4] The Jote volcanoes consist of a cluster of cinder cones and lava flows[7] and are located south of the Antofagasta de la Sierra lake.

[9] Both La Laguna and Alumbrera were fed by northwest-striking fissures, which is unusual as most lineaments in the area strike northeastwards or north–south.

The surfaces of erupted rocks have been subject to various degrees of wind-driven erosion which has left grooves in the most altered units.

[9] Most likely the magma supply at these two vents was so large that the rising dykes were able to force pre-existent lineaments open and to pass through them.

[11] Alumbrera and La Laguna has erupted alkaline to sub-alkaline basaltic trachyandesite to trachybasalt with a porphyritic texture.

[17] A lava flow at La Laguna cone has been dated to 340,000 ± 60,000 years before present,[2] consistent with its older appearance.

[18] Renewed activity in the field could cause ash to fall over hundreds of square kilometres of adjoining land and generate dangerous pyroclastic density currents close to the vent.