Tectonic position, structure, and Holocene activity of the Hofsjökull volcanic system, central Iceland

Abstract

The Hofsjökull volcanic system is located at the northern border of the Hreppar microplate on the Mid-Atlantic plate boundary in Iceland, between the more active Western and Eastern volcanic zones. In this study, fractures, and faults within the fissure swarms of the volcanic system were mapped and the throw and orientation of faults measured. This was done using both aerial photographs and ArcticDEM digital elevation models, as well as during fieldwork. The Hofsjökull volcanic system contains 3–4 fissure swarms extending northwards or southwards from the glacially covered Hofsjökull central volcano. Although these fissure swarms have been active during the Holocene, no clear sink holes were found along the faults, suggesting that they have been filled by sediments. This indicates that the fissure swarms have been less active than fissure swarms in other branches of the plate boundary in Iceland where GPS geodetic measurements show current spreading. Unbroken hyaloclastite covering a fault in the northern Hofsjökull fissure swarm suggests that this part of the northern Hofsjökull fissure swarm has not been active since the earliest part of Holocene, or during the latest stage of glaciation in the area. Still, the fault scarps in the northern Hofsjökull fissure swarm are rather sharp, indicating little erosion by glaciers. This may suggest increased activity in the Hofsjökull fissure swarm during the end of the last glaciation or at the beginning of the Holocene, which is in line with other studies showing increased magmatic activity in Iceland during that period. Fractured Holocene lava flows in the southern and western Hofsjökull fissure swarms indicate that they have been active during the Holocene. The Kerlingarfjöll rhyolitic massif is located south of the Hofsjökull central volcano. The southern fissure swarms are located both east and west of Kerlingarfjöll, but no clear indications are found of the fissure swarm in the rhyolitic massif itself. This may occur as dike intrusions (which likely form the faults) are prevented from penetrating the rhyolite due to density differences, and/or due to the topographic high of Kerlingarfjöll.