Lexone facts for kids

Lexone is an old volcano in Chile. It is located southeast of another volcano called Tacora. Over many years, wind and water have worn down, or eroded, Lexone.

Scientists have studied some of the lava domes at Lexone. Lava domes are like piles of thick, sticky lava that slowly oozed out of the volcano. They used a special method called potassium-argon dating to find out their age. This method showed that these lava domes are about 60,000 to 70,000 years old. Before this, some people thought they were much younger, from a time called the Holocene age.

What is Lexone?

Lexone is a volcano that is no longer active. It has been worn away by natural forces over a very long time. This means it might not look like a typical cone-shaped volcano anymore.

Where is Lexone Located?

Lexone is found in the country of Chile. It is in the southern part of the world, in South America. It sits to the southeast of another well-known volcano named Tacora.

How Old is Lexone?

Scientists used a special technique to learn about Lexone's age. This method is called potassium-argon dating. It helps them figure out how old rocks are.

Understanding Potassium-Argon Dating

Potassium-argon dating is like a very accurate clock for rocks. It measures tiny amounts of certain elements inside the rocks. This helps scientists know when the rocks formed. For Lexone's lava domes, this method showed they are between 60,000 and 70,000 years old.

What is the Holocene Age?

The Holocene age is a recent period in Earth's history. It started about 11,700 years ago and continues to this day. When scientists first looked at Lexone, they thought its lava domes might be from this more recent time. However, the dating showed they are much older.

See also

In Spanish: Volcán Lexone para niños