Volcanism along the Andes occurs in four separate belts, the Northern Volcanic Zone, the Central Volcanic Zone, the Southern Volcanic Zone and the Austral Volcanic Zone. Tocorpuri is part of the Central Volcanic Zone, which in this region is characterized by an ignimbrite formation and individual volcanoes, with compositions ranging from andesite over dacite to rhyolite. Both these formations are emplaced on a Cretaceous-Miocene basement formed by sediments and volcanic rocks, which overlay Precambrian-Paleozoic layers. Aside from stratovolcanoes which are lined up in the Western Cordillera, the Altiplano-Puna volcanic complex is also a component of the Central Volcanic Zone and is formed by large calderas and lava domes such as La Torta.