A Physical Analysis of Icelandic Lavas: What Clinopyroxenes Reveal About the Southwest Reykjanes Peninsula

• Main Author: Wiksell, Cameron
• Other Authors: Barton, Michael
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: The Ohio State University 2024
• Subjects: Clinopyroxene; Midfell; Litla Sandfell; Petrographic Analysis; Iceland; Litla-Sandfell; Reykjanes
• Online Access: https://kb.osu.edu/handle/1811/104309

The geology of Iceland’s Southwest Reykjanes Peninsula is unique and not fully understood, and volcanic activity persists into modern times. It is a special location where a plate boundary is pulling apart, creating rift volcanism. To get a better foothold in understanding this complex geology, petrographic analyses were performed. Samples were collected from areas of high volcanism, namely Midfell, Litla Sandfell, and to a lesser degree Fagradalsfjall, Geitafell, and the southwestern tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Most of these samples were basaltic lavas or glasses erupted from nearby volcanic features. Detailed visual analyses were conducted on thin sections made from these igneous samples. Mineral makeup and volcanic textures present in these minerals were documented. Clinopyroxenes were studied in more detail, due to their common occurrence and ideal textures such as zoning that can tell a lot about magmatic processes. Due to the distribution of clinopyroxenes at these locations, Midfell and Sandfell were able to be analyzed in more depth than the other three localities. No embargo Academic Major: Earth Sciences