Abstract
Trondhjemite and quartz diorite xenoliths ejected in recent Icelandic eruptions are believed to be derived from plagiogranites within layer 3, formed by fractional crystallisation of basaltic magmas in the lower crust. Evidence indicates that rift jumping to older crust can lead to partial melting of plagiogranites at depth and their eruption as rhyolitic magmas.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Saemundsson, K. Natturufraedingurinn 42, 81 (1972).
Walker, G. P. L. in Geodynamics of Iceland and the North Atlantic Area (ed. Kristjansson, L.) 189 (Reidel, Amsterdam, 1974).
Moorbath, S. & Walker, G. P. L. Nature 207, 837 (1965).
Welke, H. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 4, 221 (1968).
O'Nions, R. K. & Gronvold, K. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 19, 397 (1973).
Gronvold, K. thesis, Univ. Oxford (1972).
Sigvaldason, G. E. The Petrology of Hekla and Origin of Silicic Rocks in Iceland. Hekla Series V (Soc. Sci. Islandica, 1974).
Johannesson, H. thesis, Univ. Durham (1975).
Gibson, I. L. Lithos 2, 343 (1969).
Muehlenbachs, K. Yb. Carnegie Instn Wash. 72, 593 (1973).
Kushiro, I. Am. J. Sci. 267A, 269 (1969).
Kushiro, I. J. Petrol. 13, 311 (1972).
Muehlenbachs, K. et al. Geochim. cosmochim. Acta 38, 577 (1974).
Kennedy, G. C. Spec. Pap. Geol. Soc. Am. 62(1955).
Holloway, J. R. & Burnham, C. W. J. Petrol. 13, 1 (1972).
Helz, R. T. J. Petrol. 17, 139 (1976).
Dewey, J. F. & Bird, H. M. J. geophys. Res. 76, 3179 (1971).
Coleman, R. G. J. geophys. Res. 76, 1212 (1971).
Moores, E. M. Spec. Pap. Geol. Soc. Am. 118 (1969).
Moores, E. M. & Jackson, E. D. Nature 250, 136 (1974).
Christensen, N. I. & Salisbury, M. H. Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 13, 57 (1975).
Moores, E. M. & Vine, F. J. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A268, 443 (1971).
Vine, F. J. & Moores, E. M. Geol. Soc. Am. Mem. 132, (1972).
Allegre, C. J. et al. Bull. Soc. Geol. France 7, 461 (1973).
Cann, J. R. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 39, 169 (1974).
Sigurdsson, H. Geol. Mag. 105, 440 (1968).
Aumento, F. Science 165, 1112 (1969).
Hermance, J. F. & Grillot, L. R. Phys. Earth planet. Int. 8, 1 (1974).
Tryggvason, T. Bull. Geol. Inst. Univ. Uppsala 38, 1 (1957).
Jonsson, J. Natturufraedingurinn 33, 9 (1963).
Jokobsson, S. Acta Naturalia Islandica 2 (1966).
Coleman, R. G. & Peterman, Z. E. J. geophys. Res. 80, 1099 (1975).
Aumento, F. et al. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A268, 623 (1971).
Miyashiro, A. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 7, 361 (1970).
Peterman, Z. E. et al. U.S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Pap. 750-D, D157 (1971).
Kay, R. W. & Senechal, R. G. J. geophys. Res. 81, 964 (1976).
Palmason, G. Rit 40 (Soc. Sci. Islandica) (1971).
Schilling, J-G. Nature 242, 565 (1973).
Vogt, P. R. in Geodynamics of Iceland and the North Atlantic Area (ed. Kristjansson, L.) 105 (Reidel, Amsterdam, 1974).
Bodvarsson, G. & Walker, G. P. L. Geophys. J. R. astron. Soc. 8, 285 (1964).
Bjornsson, A. et al. Nature 266, 318 (1977).
Palmason, G. & Saemundsson, K. Am. Rev. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 2, 24 (1974).
Moorbath, S. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 4, 197 (1968).
Saemundsson, K. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 85, 495 (1974).
Sigurdsson, H. Greinar 4 (Soc. Sci: Islandica) 53 (1966).
Handschumacher, D. et al. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. 8, 901 (1976).
Baker, P. E. et al. Contrib. Mineral Petrol. 44, 85 (1974).
Self, S. & Gum, B. M. Contrib. Mineral. Petrol. 54, 293 (1976).
White, W. M. thesis, Univ. Rhode Island (1977).
Sparks, R. S. J., Sigurdsson, H. & Wilson, L. Nature 267, 315–318 (1977).
Walker, G. P. L. Bull. Volc. 29, 375 (1966).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sigurdsson, H. Generation of Icelandic rhyolites by melting of plagiogranites in the oceanic layer. Nature 269, 25–28 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269025a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269025a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Early Permian bimodal magmatism and tectonic evolution of the easternmost Paleo-Asian orogenic system
International Journal of Earth Sciences (2023)
-
Reply to comment on “Long or short silicic magma residence time beneath Hekla volcano, Iceland?” by Sigmarsson O, Bergþórsdóttir I A, Devidal J-L, Larsen G, Gannoun A
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2023)
-
Long or short silicic magma residence time beneath Hekla volcano, Iceland?
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2022)
-
To the origin of Icelandic rhyolites: insights from partially melted leucocratic xenoliths
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2015)
-
Bimodal magmatism produced by progressively inhibited crustal assimilation
Nature Communications (2014)