Stratigraphic reconstruction of the Viti breccia at Krafla volcano (Iceland): insights into pre-eruptive conditions priming explosive eruptions in geothermal areas.

ABSTRACT: Krafla central volcano in Iceland has experienced numerous basaltic fissure eruptions through its history, the most recent examples being the Mývatn (1724‒1729) and Krafla Fires (1975-1984). The Mývatn Fires opened with a steam-driven eruption that produced the Víti crater. A magmatic intrusion has been inferred as the trigger perturbing the geothermal field hosting Víti, but the cause(s) of the explosive response remain uncertain. Here, we present a detailed stratigraphic reconstruction of the breccia erupted from Víti crater, characterize the lithologies involved in the explosions, reconstruct the pre-eruptive setting, fingerprint the eruption trigger and source depth, and reveal the eruption mechanisms. Our results suggest that the Víti eruption can be classified as a magmatic-hydrother

SUBMITTER: Montanaro C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8563691 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature