The volcano is part of a group with other volcanoes of the Lipez region. In this region, arc and back-arc volcanism occur in the same area and have generated some of the largest calderas in the world. These include Cerro Guacha, Pastos Grandes and Vilama. A meridional lineament of volcanoes including Limitayoc and Salle extends from the southern and western margin of the central lava domes to Cerro Pululu in the south. Another lineament may form the eastern rim of the lava dome complex. Other centres in the south are the Rose, Salle and West Zapaleri ignimbrites as well as the dacites of Cerro Bayo, all erupted 8.9-5.1 mya from the Vilama caldera. Cerro Panizos is associated with a large-scale topographic anomaly, similar to many other volcanic centres in the region.