Chivay obsidian source

The Chivay obsidian source (15.6423° S, 71.5355° W, 4972 masl) is the geological origin of a chemical group of obsidian that is found throughout the south-central Andean highlands including southern Peru and western Bolivia. Chemical characterization studies using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) have shown that the Chivay obsidian source, also known as the Cotallalli type or the Titicaca Basin type, makes up over 90% of the obsidian artifacts analyzed from the Lake Titicaca Basin.

Obsidian from the Chivay source is found in large and homogeneous nodules in a high altitude volcanic depression approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) to the east of the town of Chivay in the Colca Valley (Caylloma, Arequipa, Peru).