As a concise and authoritative field guide to an exceptional natural laboratory, this title in the Classic Geology in Europe series will be an essential companion for those visiting Iceland to observe the Earth in action. Rifting of the crust, volcanic eruptions and glacial activity are among a host of processes and features to be found in this fascinating land.
Nowhere else on Earth is the volcanic and tectonic architecture of seafloor rifts better exposed. Large ice caps and extensive river systems grind down the volcanic pile at rapid rates, dispersing and forming thick sequences of sediments. These formations are further modified by the pounding waves of the North Atlantic, where intriguing landforms exhibit an intricate balance between the construction and erosion of land. Iceland is the only part of the North Atlantic Large Igneous Province that is still active and the only place on Earth where the construction of such provinces can be observed directly. As such, it is a window into the formation of proto-continents early in the Earthþs history. Over the past 7 million years Iceland has been situated at the boundary of major air and ocean masses and has consequently been exposed to extreme climate changes. The effects of the climate on the rock-forming processes are clearly illustrated by diverse sedimentary and volcanic successions and by the wide range of volcanic landforms formed in subaqueous to subaerial environments, each succession reflecting the characteristics of the internal and external processes.
The book is organized to reflect the visitor’s likely travel itinerary in Iceland. The material is presented as a set of excursions, with due emphasis on regions and localities popular among visitors. The first chapter gives a brief overview of the geology of Iceland and the principal processes that have shaped the island through its relatively short geological life. In the second chapter the excursions being at the Reykjanes Peninsula around Reykjavík, this being the point of arrival for most visitors. The regions closest to Reykjavík are given special attention as they are most accessible to those on brief visits to Iceland. The book progresses in an anti-clockwise direction around the country and ends with a selection of excursions among the interior highlands.
Multiple interactions between the principal geological forces have not only made Iceland an environment of diverse geology but have also moulded the spirit of the nation and shaped its culture to such an extent that they are fully integrated: Icelandic culture cannot be fully comprehended without basic understanding of its geology. Hence, the book will interest not only student, amateur and professional geologists but also others attracted by the natural environment and seeking a deeper understanding of what makes Iceland the unique place that it is.
Preface
Scope of the book and its organization; Travel
Geological setting: a global perspective; Geological framework; Volcanism; Sedimentary rocks; Geothermal activity and hot springs; Geological history
Overview; Greater Reykjavík – a city on the margins of a mid-ocean rift; Reykjanes/Grindavík/Kleifarvatn: the architecture of a mid-ocean ridge
Overview; þingvellir–Geysir–Gullfoss; Hreppar/þjórsárdalur/Hekla; þjórsá –Markarfljót
Overview; Heimaey; 1963–7 Surtsey eruption: an island emerging from the sea
Overview; Eyjafjöll and Mìrdalur:the ice caps and the secluded volcanoes; the Fire Districts (Skaftártunga to Öræfi)
Overview; Suðursveit–Hornafjörður–Lón–Álftafjörður; the Eastern fjords (Berufjörður to Egilsstaðir)
Overview; Möðrudalsöræfi–Tjörnes; Krafla–Mìvatn excursion: paradise of volcanology
Overview; Fnjóskadalur to Skagi; the Western Fjords
Overview; Snæfellsnes–Borgarfjörður: volcanism and rift jumps; Snæfellsnes Volcanic Belt – the mantle plume trail
General considerations; Askja–Kverkfjöll; Landmannalaugar–Veiðivötn
Bibliography, Geological glossary, Geographical glossary, Icelandic characters and pronunciation, Abbreviations, Index
SERIES: Classic Geology in Europe 3
216×138mm 256pp.
ISBN:1-903544-06-8 PB £17.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-903544-06-8
Published in 2002
Subject: Volcanology & seismology
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