The South American Plate is a tectonic plate covering the continent of South America and extending eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.The easterly side is a divergent boundary with the African Plate forming the southern part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The westerly side is a convergent boundary with the subducting Nazca Plate.

QUATERNARY VOLCANIC CENTRES

As part of the main Central Andes Volcanic Zone, Parinacota volcano is located among several Quaternary volcanic centres. which are mostly located along the border of Bolivia and Chile, the closest to Parinacota volcano are briefly described here. Among the most important ones are: Condoriri Volcanic Complex; Larancagua Volcanic Complex; Quisiquisini volcano; Chucuyo and Caquena volcanic centres Ar and finally Pomerape volcano.

This unit includes andesitic lavas, dacitic coulées and rhyodacitic to rhyolitic domes and block-and-ash flow deposits.