En echelon axial volcanic ridges at the Reykjanes Ridge: a life cycle of volcanism and tectonics

Parson, L. M.; Murton, Bramley J.; Searle, R. C.; Booth, David C.; Evans, James L.; Field, Paul R.; Keeton, Jane A.; Laughton, A. S.; McAllister, E.W.; Millard, N.W.; Redbourne, L.; Rouse, I.; Shor, Alexander; Smith, Deborah; Spencer, S.; Summerhayes, Colin; Walker, Cherry

doi:10.1016/0012-821x(93)90118-s

Cited by 110 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Over almost 1000 km, the Reykjanes Ridge lacks observable transform faults or major (non-transform) lateral offsets of the most recent volcanic centres (Vogt, 1971;Fleischer, 1974;Keeton et al, 1997), but is instead composed of individual axial volcanic ridges (AVR), sinuous in plan view and having an en echelon arrangement (Laughton et al, 1979;Parson et al, 1993;Appelgate and Shor, 1994;Keeton et al, 1997). The (non-transform) separations between the AVRs are 3-10 km.…”

Section: Ridge Segmentationmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…South of ∼59 • N the Reykjanes Ridge axis forms a prominent axial valley ∼15 km wide and ∼1 km deep, typical for slow spreading ridges not influenced by hotspots. Closer to Iceland the ridge axis shallows and the axial valley is replaced by a robust axial high more characteristic of a fast-spreading ridge (Laughton et al, 1979;Murton and Parson, 1993;Parson et al, 1993;Searle et al, 1998). In general this is attributed to effects of a mantle plume currently situated under Iceland (e.g.…”

Section: Reykjanes Ridgementioning

confidence: 96%

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The Reykjanes Ridge between 63°10′N and Iceland

Höskuldsson

Hey

Kjartansson

et al. 2007

Journal of Geodynamics

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Section: Ridge Segmentationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Reykjanes Ridgementioning

confidence: 96%

The Reykjanes Ridge between 63°10′N and Iceland

Höskuldsson

Hey

Kjartansson

et al. 2007

Journal of Geodynamics

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“…Parson et al (1993) mapped submarine portions of the Reykjanes Ridge using high-resolution sidescan sonar, seismic profiles, and magnetic data. Parson et al (1993) describe various morphologies of the submarine Reykjanes Ridge as a series of en echelon, 5 to 35 km long and 3 to 15 km wide axial volcanic ridges (AVRs) composed of overlapping volcanic edifices, often intersected by fault scarps trending between 0.5 km and 10 km long with vertical offsets up to 200 m. Parson et al (1993) interpret the AVRs as having an early volcanic constructive period followed by a later, tectonically destructive period. Such a depositional setting could produce both the in situ eruptive units and re-deposited lithologies observed in RN-17B.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolution of fluid–rock interaction in the Reykjanes geothermal system, Iceland: Evidence from Iceland Deep Drilling Project core RN-17B

Fowler

Zierenberg

Schiffman

et al. 2015

Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research

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We describe the lithology and present spatially resolved geochemical analyses of samples from the hydrothermally altered Iceland Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) drill core RN-17B. The 9.3 m long RN-17B core was collected from the seawater-dominated Reykjanes geothermal system, located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, Iceland. The nature of fluids and the location of the Reykjanes geothermal system make it a useful analog for seafloor hydrothermal processes, although there are important differences. The recovery of drill core from the Reykjanes geothermal system, as opposed to drill cuttings, has provided the opportunity to investigate evolving geothermal conditions by utilizing in-situ geochemical techniques in the context of observed paragenetic and spatial relationships of alteration minerals. The RN-17B core was returned from a vertical depth of~2560 m and an in-situ temperature of~345°C. The primary lithologies are basaltic in composition and include hyaloclastite breccia, fine-grained volcanic sandstone, lithic breccia, and crystalline basalt. Primary igneous phases have been entirely pseudomorphed by calcic plagioclase + magnesium hornblende + chlorite + titanite + albitized plagioclase + vein epidote and sulfides. Despite the extensive hydrothermal metasomatism, original textures including hyaloclastite glass shards, lithic clasts, chilled margins, and shell-fragment molds are superbly preserved. Multi-collector LA-ICP-MS strontium isotope ratio ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) measurements of vein epidote from the core are consistent with seawater as the dominant recharge fluid. Epidote-hosted fluid inclusion homogenization temperature and freezing point depression measurements suggest that the RN-17B core records cooling through the two-phase boundary for seawater over time to current in-situ measured temperatures. Electron microprobe analyses of hydrothermal hornblende and hydrothermal plagioclase confirm that while alteration is of amphibolite-grade, it is in disequilibrium and the extent of alteration is dependent upon protolith type and water/rock ratio. Alteration in the RN-17B core bares many similarities to that of Type II basalts observed in Mid-Atlantic Ridge samples.

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“…On the flanks of the Reykjanes Ridge, ridges and troughs run sub-parallel to the ridge but angled towards the ridge axis, forming giant south-pointing V-shapes, also containing an unusual superimposed geomorphology of smaller en échelon volcanic ridges [28,29]. The Reykjanes Ridge shallows systematically over a distance of approximately 1000 km northwards to the Reykjanes Peninsula.…”

Section: (A) Mid-ocean Ridgesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Aspects of marine geoscience: a review and thoughts on potential for observing active processes and progress through collaboration between the ocean sciences

Mitchell

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

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Much progress has been made in the UK in characterizing the internal structures of major physiographic features in the oceans and in developing understanding of the geological processes that have created or shaped them. UK researchers have authored articles of high impact in all areas described here. In contrast to terrestrial geoscience, however, there have been few instrumented observations made of active processes by UK scientists. This is an area that could be developed over the next decades in the UK. Research on active processes has the potential ability to engage the wider public: Some active processes present significant geo-hazards to populations and offshore infrastructure that require monitoring and there could be commercial applications of technological developments needed for science. Some of the suggestions could involve studies in shallow coastal waters where ship costs are much reduced, addressing tighter funding constraints over the near term. The possibilities of measuring aspects of volcanic eruptions, flowing lava, turbidity currents and mass movements (landslides) are discussed. A further area of potential development is in greater collaboration between the ocean sciences. For example, it is well known in terrestrial geomorphology that biological agents are important in modulating erosion and the transport of sediments, ultimately affecting the shape of the Earth's surface in various ways. The analogous effect of biology on large-scale geomorphology in the oceans is also known but remains poorly quantified. Physical oceanographic models are becoming increasingly accurate and could be used to study further the patterns of erosion, particle transport and deposition in the oceans. Marine geological and geophysical data could in turn be useful for further verification of such models. Adapting them to conditions of past oceans could address the shorter-period movements, such as due to internal waves and tides, which have been barely addressed in palaeoceanography.

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En echelon axial volcanic ridges at the Reykjanes Ridge: a life cycle of volcanism and tectonics

Cited by 110 publications

References 14 publications

The Reykjanes Ridge between 63°10′N and Iceland

The Reykjanes Ridge between 63°10′N and Iceland

Evolution of fluid–rock interaction in the Reykjanes geothermal system, Iceland: Evidence from Iceland Deep Drilling Project core RN-17B

Aspects of marine geoscience: a review and thoughts on potential for observing active processes and progress through collaboration between the ocean sciences

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