Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

From feeder dykes to scoria cones: the tectonically controlled plumbing system of the Rauðhólar volcanic chain, Northern Volcanic Zone, Iceland

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Bulletin of Volcanology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Rauðhólar volcanic chain, located in the Northern Volcanic Zone of Iceland, has been variably eroded such that, in the northern part, the original scoria cones are preserved, while the central and southern parts expose their shallow feeders. The chain thus offers insight into the inner workings of the near-surface feeder system of scoria cones. The volcanic chain was mapped in 3D using GPS. The en echelon-arranged volcanic chain can be divided into three parts: The southernmost part contains only plugs and necks with a thin pyroclastic cover as well as multi-tiered lava flows. The central part combines partially eroded scoria cones, (feeder) dyke intersections, and welded scoria interbedded within rootless and clastogenic lava flows; the welded scoria is composed of different kinds of lithics and bombs. The northern part preserves almost intact, overlapping scoria cones with voluminous lapilli-sized scoriaceous deposits. The overall dyke trend is orthogonal but shows radial patterns in individual cone complexes. Feeder dykes observed to depths of about 200 m below the volcanic chain are up to 8 m thick and flare in to conduits in the uppermost 20–50 m. The exposed shallow plumbing system shows that magma pathways through the volcanic edifice are very complex with incremental, repeated intrusions. We interpret the arcuate shape to be the result of a local change in the orientation of the stress field because the Rauðhólar volcanic chain is located within a major relay structure between volcanoes on the eastern Fremrinámur rift arm and a rift extension with grabens on the western periphery.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acocella V, Tibaldi A (2005) Dike propagation driven by volcano collapse: a general model tested at Stromboli, Italy. Geophys Res Lett 32:L08308. doi:10.1029/2004GL022248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alho P, Russell AJ, Carrivick JL, Käyhkö J (2005) Reconstruction of the largest Holocene jökulhlaup within Jökulsa a Fjöllum, NE Iceland. Quat Sci Rev 24:2319–2334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arnadottir T, Lund B, Jiang W, Geirsson H, Björnsson H, Einarsson P, Sigurdsson T (2009) Glacial rebound and plate spreading: results from the first countrywide GPS observations in Iceland. Geophys J Int 177:691–716

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Björnsson A, Saemundsson K, Einarsson P, Tryggvason E, Gronvald K (1977) Current rifting episode in North Iceland. Nature 266:318–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosworth W, Burke K, Strecker M (2003) Effects of stress fields on magma chamber stability and the formation of collapse calderas. Tectonics 22:1042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandsdottir B, Mencke W, Einarsson P, White RS, Staples R (1997) Färoe-Iceland ridge experiment 2. Crustal structure of the Krafla central volcano. J Geophys Res 102(B4):7867–7886. doi:10.1029/96JB03799

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brenna M, Cronin SJ, Smith IEM, Sohn YK, Nemeth K (2010) Mechanisms driving polymagmatic activity at a monogenetic volcano, Udo, Jeju Island, South Korea. Contrib Mineral Petrol 160:931–950

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buck WR, Einarsson P, Brandsdottir B (2006) Tectonic stress and magma chamber size as controls on dyke propagation: constraints from the 1975–1984 Krafla rifting episode. J Geophys Res 111(B12). doi:10.1029/2005JB003879

  • Connor CB, Conway M (2000) Basaltic volcanic fields. In: Sigurdsson H, Houghton B, McNutt S, Rymer H, Stix J (eds) Encyclopedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 331–343

    Google Scholar 

  • DeGaff JM, Aydin A (1987) Surface morphology of columnar joints and its significance to mechanism and direction of joint growth. Geol Soc Am Bull 99:605–617

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeMets C, Gordon R, Argus D, Stein S (1994) Effects of recent revisions to the geomagnetic reversal time scale on estimates of current plate motions. Geophys Res Lett 21:2191–2194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erlund EJ, Cashman KV, Wallace PJ, Pioli L, Rosi M, Johnson E, Delgado Granados H (2010) Compositional evolution of magma from Parícutin Volcano, Mexico: the tephra record. J Volcanol Geoth Res 197:167–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fedotov SA, Markhinin Y (1983) Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption: geological and geophysical data, 1975–1976. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

  • Gaffney ES, Damjanac B (2006) Localization of volcanic activity: topographic effects on dyke propagation, eruption and conduit formation. Geophys Res Lett 33(14):L14313. doi:10.1029/2006GL026852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Damjanac B, Valentine GA (2007) Localization of volcanic activity: 2. Effects of pre-existing structure. Earth Planet Sci Lett 263:323–338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geshi N, Kusumoto S, Gudmundsson A (2010) Geometric difference between non-feeder and feeder dykes. Geology 38:195–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gudmundsson M (2003) Melting of ice by magma–ice–water interactions during subglacial eruptions as an indicator of heat transfer in subaqueous eruptions. In: White JDL, Clague D (eds) Explosive subaqueous volcanism. AGU Geophysical Monograph 140:61–72

    Google Scholar 

  • Gudmundsson A, Friese N, Galindo I, Philipp S (2008) Dike-induced reverse faulting in a graben. Geology 36:123–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guilbaud M-N, Siebe C, Agustin-Flores J (2009) Eruptive style of the young high-Mg basaltic-andesite Pelagatos scoria cone, southeast of Mexico City. Bull Volcanol 71:859–880

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Head JW, Wilson L (1989) Basaltic pyroclastic eruptions: influence on gas-release patterns and volume fluxes on fountain structure, and the formations of cinder cones, spatter cones, rootless flows, lava ponds, and lava flows. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 37:261–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidbach O, Tingay M, Barth M, Reinecker J, Kurfeß D, Müller B (2008) The 2008 release of the world stress map. Available at http://www.world-stress-map.org

  • Hintz AR, Valentine GA (2012) Complex plumbing of monogenetic scoria cones: new insights from Lunar Crater Volcanic Field (Nevada, USA). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 239–240:19–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hjartardottir AR (2008) The fissure swarm of the Askja central volcano. M.Sc. thesis, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Höskuldsson T, Thordarson A (2002) Classic geology in Europe 3. Terra, Harpenden

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton BF, Wilson CJN, Smith IEM (1999) Shallow seated controls of explosive basaltic volcanism: a case study from New Zealand. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 91:97–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jenness MH, Clifton AE (2009) Controls on the geometry of a Holocene crater row: a field study from southwest Iceland. Bull Volcanol 71:715–728

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johannesson H, Saemundsson K (1998) Geological map of Iceland, 1:500,000. Tectonics. Institute of Natural History, Reykjavik

  • Johnson ER, Wallace PJ, Cashman KV, Delgado Granados H, Kent AJR (2008) Magmatic volatile contents and degassing-induced crystallization at Volcán Jorullo, Mexico: implications for melt evolution and the plumbing systems of monogenetic volcanoes. Earth Planet Sci Lett 269:478–487

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jónasson S, Einarsson P, Sigmundsson F (1997) Extension across a divergent plate boundary, the Eastern Volcanic Rift Zone, South Iceland, 1967–1994, observed with GPS and electronic distance measurement. J Geophys Res 102(B6):11913–11929

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keating GN, Valentine GA, Krier DJ, Perry FV (2008) Shallow plumbing systems for small-volume basaltic volcanoes. Bull Volcanol 70:563–582

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirkbride MP, Dugmore AJ, Brazier V (2006) Radiocarbon dating of mid-Holocene megaflood deposits in the Jökulsa a Fjöllum, north Iceland. Holocene 16:605–609

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klügel A, Walter TR, Schwarz S, Geldmacher J (2005) Gravitational spreading causes en-echelon diking along a rift zone of Madeira Archipelago: an experimental approach and implications for magma transport. Bull Volcanol 68:37–46

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korme T, Acocella V, Abebe B (2004) The role of pre-existing structures in the origin, propagation and architecture of faults in the main Ethiopian rift. Gondwana Res 7:467–479

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lescinsky DT, Fink JH (2000) Lava and ice interaction at stratovolcanoes: use of characteristic features to determine past glacial extents and future volcanic hazards. J Geophys Res 105(B10):23711–23726. doi:10.1029/2000JB900214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Luhr JF, Simkin T (1993) Paricutin, the volcano born in a Mexican cornfield. Geoscience, Phoenix

    Google Scholar 

  • Lyle P (2000) The eruption environment of multi-tiered columnar basalt lava flows. J Geol Soc Lond 157:715–722

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacLennan J, Jull M, McKenzie D, Slater L, Grönvold K (2002) The link between volcanism and deglaciation in Iceland. Geochem Geophys Geosyst 3(11):1–25. doi:10.1029/2001GC000282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin U, Nemeth K (2006) How Strombolian is a “Strombolian” scoria cone? Some irregularities in scoria cone architecture from the Transmexican Volcanic Belt, near Volcán Ceboruco, (Mexico) and Al Haruj (Libya). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 155:104–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mastin LG, Pollard DD (1988) Surface deformation and shallow dyke intrusion processes and Inyo Craters, Long Valley, California. J Geophys Res 93:13221–13235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzarini F (2007) Vent distribution and crustal thickness in stretched continental crust: the case of the Afar Depression. Geosphere 3(3):152–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nakamura K (1977) Volcanoes as possible indicators of tectonic stress orientation—principle and proposal. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 2:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nemeth K, White JDL (2003) Geochemical evolution, vent structures, and erosion history of small-volume volcanoes in the Miocene Intracontinental Waipiata Volcanic Field, New Zealand. Geolines 15:98–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Oskarsson BV (2009) The Skerin ridge on Eyjafjallajökull, south Iceland: morphology and magma–ice interaction in an ice-confined silicic fissure eruption. M.Sc. thesis, University of Iceland, Reykjavik

  • Paulsen TS, Wilson TJ (2010) New criteria for systematic mapping and reliability assessment of monogenetic volcanic vent alignments and elongate volcanic vents for crustal stress analysis. Tectonophysics. doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2009.08.025

    Google Scholar 

  • Pinel V, Jaupart C (2004) Magma storage and horizontal dyke injection beneath a volcanic edifice. Earth Planet Sci Lett 221(1–4):245–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pioli L, Erlund E, Johnson E, Cashman K, Wallace P, Rosi M, Delgado Granados H (2008) Explosive dynamics of violent Strombolian eruptions: the eruption of Paricutin Volcano 1943–1952 (Mexico). Earth Planet Sci Lett 271(1–4):359–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pioli L, Azzopardi BJ, Cashman KV (2009) Controls on the explosivity of scoria cone eruptions: magma segregation at conduit junctions. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 186:407–415

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rooney TO, Bastow ID, Keir D (2011) Insights into extensional processes during magma assisted rifting: evidence from aligned scoria cones. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 201:83–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saemundsson K (1970) Interglacial lava flows in the lowlands of southern Iceland and the problem of two-tiered columnar jointing. Jökull 20:62–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Saemundsson K (1979) Outline of the geology of Iceland. Jökull 29:7–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Self S, Sparks RSJ, Booth B, Walker GPL (1974) The 1973 Heimaey Strombolian scoria deposits, Iceland. Geol Mag 111:539–548

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigurdsson O, Zophoniasson S, Hannesdottir L, Thorgrimsson S (1975) Geological report on the proposed hydroelectric power plant at Dettifoss. Report OS-ROD-7526. National Energy Authority (Orkustofnun), Reykjavik (in Icelandic)

  • Slater L, Jull M, McKenzie D, Grönvold K (1998) Deglaciation effects on mantle melting under Iceland: results from the northern volcanic zone. Earth Planet Sci Lett 164:151–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spörli K, Rowland J (2006) “Column on column” structures as indicators of lava/ice interaction, Ruapehu andesite volcano, New Zealand. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 157:294–310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tentler T, Mazzoli S (2005) Architecture of normal faults in the rift zone of central north Iceland. J Struct Geol 27:1721–1739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thorarinsson S (1951) Laxárgljúfur and Laxarhraun—a tephrochronological study. Geogr Ann A 1–1:1–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Thorarinsson S (1959) Some geological problems involved in the hydroelectric development of the Jökulsa a Fjöllum, Iceland. Report to the State Electricity Authority, Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Thorarinsson S (1971) Aldur ljósu gjóskulaganna úr Heklu samkvæmt leiðréttu geislakolstímatali. Náttúrufræðingurinn 41:99–105 (in Icelandic)

    Google Scholar 

  • Thordarson T, Larsen G (2007) Volcanism in Iceland in historical time: volcano types, eruption styles and eruptive history. J Geodyn 43:118–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thordarson T, Self S (1993) The Laki (Skaftar Fires) and Grimsvötn eruptions in 1783–1785. Bull Volcanol 55:233–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tryggvason E (1980) Subsidence events in the Krafla area, North Iceland, 1975–1979. J Geophys 47:141–153

    Google Scholar 

  • Tryggvason E (1994) Surface deformation at the Krafla volcano, North Iceland, 1982–1992. Bull Volcanol 56(2):98–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentine GA, Gregg TKP (2008) Continental basaltic volcanoes—processes and problems. J Volcanol Geotherm Res 177:857–873. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2008.01.050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valentine GA, Keating GN (2007) Eruptive styles and inferences about plumbing systems at Hidden Cone and Little Black Peak scoria cone volcanoes (Nevada, USA). Bull Volcanol 70:105–113. doi:10.1007/s00445-007-0123-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valentine GA, Krogh KEC (2006) Emplacement of shallow dykes and sills beneath a small basaltic volcanic center—the role of pre-existing structure (Paiute Ridge, southern Nevada, USA). Earth Planet Sci Lett 246:217–230. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.04.031

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valentine GA, Krier D, Perry FV, Heiken G (2005) Scoria cone construction mechanisms, Lathrop Wells volcano. Geology 33:629–632. doi:10.1130/G21459.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vespermann D, Schmincke HU (2000) Scoria cones and tuff rings. In: Sigurdsson H, Houghton BF, McNutt SR, Rymer H, Stix J (eds) Encyclopaedia of volcanoes. Academic, San Diego, pp 683–694

    Google Scholar 

  • Waitt RB (2002) Great Holocene floods along Jökulsa a Fjöllum, north Iceland. In: Martini IP, Baker VR, Garzón G (eds) Flood and megaflood processes and deposits: recent and ancient examples. Spec Pub Int Assoc Sediment 32:37–51

  • Walker GPL (1993) Basaltic-volcano systems. Geol Soc London Spec Pub 76:3–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walter TR, Amelung F (2007) Volcanic eruptions following M ≥9 megathrust earthquakes: implications for the Sumatra–Andaman volcanoes. Geology 35:539–542

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the National Park managers Sigþrúður Stella Jóhannsdóttir and Þorsteinn Hymer and the staff of the Jökulsárgljúfur Park for the work permission and their support during our field studies. The rangers Jóna and Kristin are especially thanked for their company in the ranger house and introducing us to cultural highlights in Asbyrgi. Árman Höskuldsson is acknowledged for the help with the literature research and Sigurður Steinþórsson for the support with formalities at the beginning of the field work. We thank Steffi Burchardt, University of Uppsala, and Matteo Lupi, University of Bonn, for the very helpful discussions. We are grateful for the financial support from the Structural Geology and Geodynamics Department of the University of Göttingen. Midland Valley is acknowledged for providing a free educational license for their software Move 2008.1. We thank the journal reviewers Greg Valentine and José Jorge Aranda Gómez for their constructive reviews and Pierre-Simon Ross for the editorial work. The authors thank two anonymous reviewers for the helpful comments of an earlier version of the manuscript.

Author information

Author notes

  1. David C. Tanner

    Present address: Leibniz Institute for Applied Geophysics, Stilleweg 2, 30655, Hannover, Germany

  2. Nadine Friese

    Present address: Wintershall Norge AS, Kanalpiren, Laberget 28, 4020, Stavanger, Norway

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Structural Geology and Geodynamics, Geoscience Centre, University of Göttingen, Goldschmidtstrasse 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Nadine Friese, Frithjof A. Bense & Siegfried Siegesmund

  2. Icelandic Association of Local Authorities, Borgartúni 30, 105, Reykjavík, Iceland

    Lúðvík E. Gústafsson

Authors
  1. Nadine Friese
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Frithjof A. Bense
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David C. Tanner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lúðvík E. Gústafsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Siegfried Siegesmund
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nadine Friese.

Additional information

Editorial responsibility: P-S Ross

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

(MPG 13099 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Friese, N., Bense, F.A., Tanner, D.C. et al. From feeder dykes to scoria cones: the tectonically controlled plumbing system of the Rauðhólar volcanic chain, Northern Volcanic Zone, Iceland. Bull Volcanol 75, 717 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-013-0717-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-013-0717-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation