The peak is located on the international border of the Catamarca Province of Argentina and the Atacama Region of Chile.

Potassium-argon dating on dacite taken from the northern flank showed an age of 4,550,000 ± 180,000 years ago.

[2] At that time, volcanic activity in the Maricunga Belt had just ended and was shifting towards the area of Ojos del Salado and Nevado Tres Cruces.

[4] The base of Nevado Tres Cruces rises immediately east of Los Patos.

[2] So-called "Pircas Negras" lavas with compositions similar to adakite have been found on the northern flanks of Los Patos.