Volcanism in the Western Volcanic Zone

Horft frá Hallkelsstaðaheiði yfir Strút og Eiríksjökul. Hafrafell til hægri.
Eiríksjökull glacier, Strútur and Hafrafell, seen from Hallkelsstaðaheiði. – Photo by Birgir Vilhelm Óskarsson

The goal of this project is to survey the volcanism and petrology of Iceland’s Western Volcanic Zone during the Brunhes Epoch (i.e., the magnetic epoch from 0.78 million years to present). The area of the study extends from Lake Þingvallavatn to Auðkúluheiði, north of Langjökull Glacier. Geologically speaking, this region has been among the least-studied of Iceland’s volcanic zones, possibly for the reason that there are few opportunities for hydropower projects here.

Publications:

  • Óskarsson, B.V., M.T. Guðmundsson, R. Duncan og S. Jakobsson 2018. 40Ar-39Ar age constraints and stratigraphy of 83 Pleistocene formations within the Western Volcanic zone, Iceland [ágrip]. EGU General Assembly, 7.–12. apríl 2019, Geophysical Research Abstracts. EGU2019-17111, abstract and talk. https://meetingorganizer.copernicus. org/EGU2019/EGU2019-14414.pdf [skoðað 17.2.2020]
  • Sveinn P. Jakobsson 2013. Vesturgosbelti. In Júlíus Sólnes, Freysteinn Sigmundsson & Bjarni Bessason (eds.), Náttúruvá á Íslandi, pp. 359–65. Reykjavík: Viðlagatrygging Íslands & Háskólaútgáfan.
  • Sveinn P. Jakobsson & Magnús T. Guðmundsson 2012. Móbergsmyndunin og gos undir jöklum. Náttúrufræðingurinn 82(1–4): 113–25.
  • Sveinn P. Jakobsson, Magnús T. Guðmundsson & R. A. Duncan 2003. Eldvirkni í norðurhluta vestra gosbeltisins. Fyrstu niðurstöður aldursgreininga. Vorráðstefna 2003. Ágrip erinda og veggspjalda. Jarðfræðafélag Íslands, p. 62.
  • Jakobsson, S. P. 2000. Subglacial Volcanism in the Langjökull Region, the Western Volcanic Zone. Abstract Vol., Volcano/Ice Interaction on Earth and Mars, Reykjavík, p. 25.
  • Jakobsson, S. P., G. L. Johnson and J. G. Moore 2000: A structural and geochemical study of the Western Volcanic Zone, Iceland: Preliminary results. InterRidge News 9, 27–33.

IINH Contact: Birgir V. Óskarsson