Research Interests: 

Volcanology, Igneous Petrology, Geochronology, Geochemistry

Research: 

Dr. Cisneros de León’s research explores the complex processes and timescales that shape Quaternary magmatic systems responsible for explosive eruptions. His work focuses on the microanalysis of geochronologically significant accessory minerals, particularly zircon, integrating field observations with petrochronology, high-temperature geochemistry, thermochronology, chemical diffusion studies, and thermochemical modeling. This multidisciplinary approach provides critical insights into the rates of silicic magma evolution, magma dynamics, and the physicochemical conditions of magma reservoirs. These insights are essential for
identifying eruption triggers and tempos, precisely dating past explosive events, improving volcanic hazard forecasting, and assessing their influence on Earth’s climate.

Recent Publications:

Cisneros de León, A., Danišík, M., Schmitt, A.K., Schindlbeck-Belo, J.C., Kutterolf, S., Mittal, T., Garrison, J.M., Sims, K.W.W., 2025. Refining the Eruption Chronology of Atitlán Caldera Through Zircon Double-Dating. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 26, e2024GC011953.

Cisneros de León, A., Schmitt, A.K., Mittal, T., Danišík, M., de Silva, S., Kutterolf, S., Schindlbeck-Belo, J.C., Self, S., Comment on “A Bayesian age from dispersed plagioclase and zircon dates in the Los Chocoyos ash, Central America” by Baudry et al. (2024), Earth and Planetary Science Letters,

Lewis, C., de Silva, S., Cisneros de Leon, A., Burns, D., Villarroel, M., 2025, Effusive volcanic microcosm of a regional ignimbrite flare-up: Prolonged life cycle of the Chaxas Complex, northern Chile, and its influence on modern volcanic arc character, GSA Bulletin.

Schmitt, A. K., Sliwinski, J., Caricchi, L., Bachmann, O., Riel, N., Kaus, B. J. P., Cisneros de Léon, A., Cornet, J., Friedrichs, B., Lovera, O., Sheldrake T., Weber, G., 2023, Zircon age spectra to quantify magma evolution, Geosphere, 19(4): 1006-1031.

Cisneros de León, A., Danišík, M., Schindlbeck-Belo, J.C., Kutterolf, S., Schmitt, A.K., Freundt, A., Kling, A., Wang, K.-L., and Lee, H.-Y., 2023, Timing and recurrence intervals for voluminous silicic eruptions from Amatitlán Caldera (Guatemala), Quaternary Science Reviews, v. 301, p. 107935.

Cisneros de León, A., Schmitt, A.K., Weber, B., 2022, Multi-episodic formation of baddeleyite and zircon in polymetamorphic anorthosite and rutile-bearing ilmenitite from the Chiapas Massif complex, Mexico. Journal of metamorphic geology, 1– 35.

Cisneros de León, A., Mittal, T., de Silva, S. L., Self, S., Schmitt, A. K., and Kutterolf, S., 2022, On Synchronous Supereruptions: Frontiers in Earth Science, v. 10. 

Cisneros de León, A., Schmitt, A. K., Kutterolf, S., Schindlbeck‐Belo, J. C., Hernández, W., Sims, K. W. W., et al. (2021). Zircon and melt extraction from a long‐lived and vertically extensive magma system underneath Ilopango caldera (El Salvador). Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 22, e2020GC009507.

Cisneros de León, A., Schindlbeck‐Belo, J. C., Kutterolf, S., Danišík, M., Schmitt, A. K., Freundt, A., Pérez, W., Harvey, J. C., Wang, K. L., and Lee, H. Y., 2021, A history of violence: magma incubation, timing and tephra distribution of the Los Chocoyos supereruption (Atitlán Caldera, Guatemala): Journal of Quaternary Science, v. 36, no. 2, p. 169-179.