The volcanic rock that makes up Nevado de Longaví features an unusual magma chemistry that resembles adakite (having geochemical characteristics of magma thought to have formed by partial melting of altered basalt that is subducted below volcanic arcs).

It may be the consequence of the magma being unusually water-rich, which may occur because the Mocha fracture zone subducts beneath the volcano.

Nevado de Longaví is monitored by the National Geology and Mining Service of Chile.

[7] In the volcanic gaps, the subducting slab seems to be attached to the overriding plate without an asthenosphere in between, suppressing the production of magma.

The northernmost volcanoes are the highest[7] and lie on thicker crust which causes their magmas to have a stronger crustal contribution.

Southern volcanoes are lower, tend to erupt mafic magmas and are located west of the continental divide.

[2] This collapse is known as Lomas Limpias and its scar has a surface area of c. 2 square kilometres (0.77 sq mi).

[6] The emplacement of this formation was facilitated by a decrease in the compressional stress that had affected the region prior to the Pliocene.

The last two centres appear to be related to a geological lineament that flanks the eastern slopes of Nevado de Longaví.

[16] Previous glaciation is also supported by the presence of glacial striations on lava flows and of lahar deposits.

[12] The Rio Blanco originates on the southeastern slope of Nevado de Longaví,[2] within the collapse scar.

The Estero Martinez and Quebrada Los Bueyes rivers also originate on Nevado de Longaví, on the western and southern flank respectively.

Unlike these granites, the gabbros appear to be cumulates considering their chemical similarity to Nevado de Longaví rocks.

[7] The chemistry of Nevado de Longaví's magmas is unusual among the volcanoes of the South Volcanic Zone.

[7] The unusual chemical patterns appear to reflect that the magmas erupted from Nevado de Longaví were extremely rich in water.

[7] In the case of Nevado de Longaví, the Mocha fracture zone is subducting beneath the volcano.

[6] Early stage basaltic andesite lava flows crop out on the northern and southwestern slopes of Nevado de Longaví.

[6] During the main growth stage, volcanic activity was approximately constant considering the homogeneous structure of the lava flows.

Temporary periods of dormancy however occurred, causing the formation of erosion valleys on the northern slope that were then filled by younger lava flows.

In the eastern collapse scar, possibly subglacial activity formed a 30 metres (98 ft) thick sequence including clasts, lava flows and silt.

[6] A secondary collapse of the lava dome formed a 0.12 cubic kilometres (0.029 cu mi) large block and ash flow that descended the eastern slopes[2] and covers a surface area of about 4 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi).

[18] The volcano together with Lomas Blancas has been prospected for the potential of obtaining geothermal energy; estimated capacities are 248 megawatts.