A dynamic mid-crustal magma domain revealed by the 2023 to 2024 Sundhnúksgígar eruptions in Iceland

• Published in: Science
• Main Authors: Matthews, Simon W., Caracciolo, Alberto, Bali, Enikő, Halldórsson, Sæmundur A., Sigmarsson, Olgeir, Guðfinnsson, Guðmundur H., Pedersen, Gro B. M., Robin, Jóhann Gunnarsson, Marshall, Edward W., Aden, Araksan A., Gísladóttir, Bryndís Ýr, Bosq, Chantal, Auclair, Delphine, Merrill, Heini, Levillayer, Nicolas, Löw, Noëmi, Rúnarsdóttir, Rebekka Hlín, Johnson, Sóley M., Steinþórsson, Sveinbjörn, Drouin, Vincent
• Other Authors: Jarðvísindastofnun (HÍ), Institute of Earth Sciences (UI), Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ), School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI), Háskóli Íslands, University of Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2024
• Subjects: Jarðefnafræði; Reykjanes; Eldgos; Svartsengi; Bergfræði; Iceland
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/5042; https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adp8778

Mid-crustal magma domains are the source of many basaltic eruptions. Lavas from individual eruptions are often chemically homogeneous, suggesting they derive from single well-mixed magma reservoirs. The 2023-2024 eruptions at Sundhnúksgígar in the Svartsengi volcanic system, Iceland, provide an opportunity to observe the behavior of a mid-crustal magma domain at high spatial and temporal resolution by detailed sampling and geochemical characterization. We observed substantial mantle-derived geochemical variability in the products erupted in the first hours of the December 2023, January, February, and March-May 2024 eruptions, indicating the eruptions derived from multiple magma reservoirs, which mineral-melt equilibration pressures place in the mid-crust. The unusual presence of geochemical heterogeneity in the mid-crustal magma domain provides an insight into how dynamic and complex mid-crustal magma domains can be. Peer Reviewed