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Crustal thermal state and origin of silicic magma in Iceland: the case of Torfajökull, Ljósufjöll and Snæfellsjökull volcanoes

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Abstract

Pleistocene and Holocene peralkaline rhyolites from Torfajökull (South Iceland Volcanic Zone) and Ljósufjöll central volcanoes and trachytes from Snæfellsjökull (Snæfellsnes Volcanic Zone) allow the assessment of the mechanism for silicic magma genesis as a function of geographical location and crustal geothermal gradient. The low δ18O (2.4‰) and low Sr concentration (12.2 ppm) measured in Torfajökull rhyolites are best explained by partial melting of hydrated metabasaltic crust followed by major fractionation of feldspar. In contrast, very high 87Sr/86Sr (0.70473) and low Ba (8.7 ppm) and Sr (1.2 ppm) concentrations measured in Ljósufjöll silicic lavas are best explained by fractional crystallisation and subsequent 87Rb decay. Snæfellsjökull trachytes are also generated by fractional crystallisation, with less than 10% crustal assimilation, as inferred from their δ18O. The fact that silicic magmas within, or close to, the rift zone are principally generated by crustal melting whereas those from off-rift zones are better explained by fractional crystallisation clearly illustrates the controlling influence of the thermal state of the crust on silicic magma genesis in Iceland.

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Acknowledgement

We greatly appreciate the guidance and help from Serge Fourcade at “Géosciences Rennes” during the O-isotope analysis, in addition to his pertinent remarks on an earlier version of this manuscript. Analytical assistance from Delphine Auclair, Chantal Bosq, Karine David and Mhammed Benbakkar is also gratefully acknowledged. Fruitful discussions on trace element modelling with Hervé Martin were very useful. We could not have had better company than Gudrun Larsen and Bergrun A. Oladottir during the fieldwork at Hrafntinnusker. Efficient English corrections by Fran Van Wyk de Vries were much appreciated. Constructive comments from two anonymous reviewers improved the manuscript. Finally, a grant from the Icelandic Science Foundation and the French-Icelandic Jules Verne collaboration program is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire Magmas et Volcans, OPGC, Université Blaise Pascal, CNRS, 5 rue Kessler, 63038, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    E. Martin & O. Sigmarsson

  2. Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland, 101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    O. Sigmarsson

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  1. E. Martin
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  2. O. Sigmarsson
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Correspondence to E. Martin.

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Communicated by J. Hoefs.

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Martin, E., Sigmarsson, O. Crustal thermal state and origin of silicic magma in Iceland: the case of Torfajökull, Ljósufjöll and Snæfellsjökull volcanoes. Contrib Mineral Petrol 153, 593–605 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00410-006-0165-5

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