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Geology of Tindfjallajökull volcano, Iceland

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journal contribution
posted on 2018-01-23, 12:36 authored by Jonathan D. Moles, Dave McGarvie, John A. Stevenson, Sarah C. Sherlock

The geology of Tindfjallajökull volcano, southern Iceland, is presented as a 1:50,000 scale map. Field mapping was carried out with a focus on indicators of past environments. A broad stratocone of interbedded fragmental rocks and lavas was constructed during Tindfjallajökull’s early development. This stratocone has been dissected by glacial erosion and overlain by a variety of mafic to silicic volcanic landforms. Eruption of silicic magma, which probably occurred subglacially, constructed a thick pile of breccia and lava lobes in the summit area. Mafic to intermediate flank eruptions continued through to the end of the last glacial period, producing lavas, hyaloclastite-dominated units and tuyas that preserve evidence of volcano-ice interactions. The Thórsmörk Ignimbrite, a regionally important chronostratigraphic marker, is present on the SE flank of the volcano. The geological mapping of Tindfjallajökull gives insights into the evolution of stratovolcanoes in glaciated regions and the influence of ice in their development.

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council [grant number NE/L002493/1]. JAS was funded by a Royal Society of Edinburgh Personal Research Fellowship held at the University of Edinburgh.

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