Volcán Putana lies on the border between Chile and Bolivia,[2] and is also known as Jorgencal, Jorjencal or Machuca.

[4] Volcán Putana is a 5,890 metres (19,320 ft) high volcano elongated from north to south.

[6] Lava flows/lava domes are emplaced in the southern part of the main summit crater,[9] and there are deposits of past Vulcanian eruptions.

[8] The volcano forms part of a complex of ash flows and cones which covers a surface area of 600 square kilometres (230 sq mi).

[6] Minerals contained in the rocks include pyroxene in the andesites and biotite and hornblende in the dacites.

[15] The geologic history of Volcán Putana is unknown, due to the lack of detailed studies on the subject.

[19] Future eruptions are likely to have impacts confined to the edifice, and would feature mostly lava flows with minor amounts of pyroclastics.

[10] Volcán Putana features active fumaroles, which generate a 100–500 metres (330–1,640 ft) high plume above the volcano.

[2] These fumaroles exhale a mixture of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide,[21] the latter being produced at a flux rate of 20,000–22,000 tonnes per year (55–60 t/d).

[11] The composition of the fumaroles indicates that the gases are ultimately of mainly magmatic origin,[23] but interact with a slightly colder hydrothermal system before reaching the surface.

[28] It has been mined and transported down by truck from elevations of 5,600 metres (18,500 ft), one of the highest altitudes at which motor vehicles have been used.