The volcano Uturuncu, located in the Central Andes mountains, has seemingly risen from the dead. While it has not erupted in more than 250,000 years, it has recently shown signs of activity similar to that in active volcanoes. Uturuncu is not likely to erupt for a while, but analysing its activity can help source metals for manufacturing as well as prepare for the rise of other volcanoes.
Uturuncu has been called a zombie volcano. This means that "despite being technically dead", the volcano "shows signs of unrest, including earthquakes and plumes of gases", said a release by Oxford University. The unusual activity originating from the Bolivian volcano has been attributed to the complex hydrothermal system beneath it, according to a study published in the journal PNAS. "Beneath the crater is a reservoir where gas is accumulating, pushing the surface upwards at a rate of about 1 centimetre (0.4 inches) per year," said Science Alert.
While we are likely safe from Uturuncu for the moment, the study's findings remain valuable. The hydrothermal system under the surface could lead to reserves of valuable metals like copper, nickel and platinum, all of which are used in today's technology. Further research could also lead to a new way to harness geothermal energy.
There are approximately 12 dormant volcanoes in Bolivia alone, any of which could one day come back to life. The researchers hope that the methods employed in this study can "be used to view the anatomy of other volcanic systems in the future", added Oxford University. | 
