Le Saout, Morgane , Pałgan, D., Devey, Colin W. , Lux, Thorsten S., Petersen, Sven , Thorhallsson, D., Tomkowicz, A. and Brix, S. (2023) Variations in Volcanism and Tectonics Along the Hotspot‐Influenced Reykjanes Ridge. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 24 (4). Art.Nr. e2022GC010788. DOI 10.1029/2022GC010788.

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Abstract

Mapping and sampling four sections of the slow-spreading Reykjanes Ridge provide insight into how tectonic and volcanic activity varies with distance from the Iceland plume. The studied areas are characterized by significant variations in water depth, lava chemistry, crustal thickness, thermal structure, and ridge morphology. For each study area, fault pattern and dimension, tectonic strain, seamount morphology, and density are inferred from 15 m-resolution bathymetry. These observations are combined with geochemical analysis from glass samples and sediment thickness estimations along Remotely Operated Vehicle-dive videos. They reveal that (a) tectonic and volcanic activity along the Reykjanes Ridge, do not systematically vary with distance from the plume center. (b) The tectonic geometry appears directly related to the deepening of the brittle/ductile transition and the maximum change in tectonic strain related to the rapid change in crustal thickness and the transition between axial-high and axial valley (∼59.5°N). (c) Across-axis variations in the fault density and sediment thickness provide similar widths for the neo-volcanic zone except in regions of increased seamount emplacement. (d) The variations in seamount density (especially strong for flat-topped seamounts) are not related to the distance from the plume but appear to be correlated with the interaction between the V-shape ridges (VSR) flanking the ridge and the ridge axis. These observations are more compatible with the buoyant upwelling melting instability hypothesis for VSR formation and suggest that buoyant melting instabilities create many small magma batches which by-pass the normal subaxial magmatic plumbing system, erupting over a wider-than-normal area.

Key Points

The distance from the plume center is not the only factor controlling tectonic and volcanic activity along the Reykjanes Ridge

Fault dimensions are primarily controlled by the variation of crustal thermal structure with distance from the hotspot

Flat-topped seamount abundances peak where a V-shaped ridge intersects the axis, consistent with a buoyant upwelling melting instability

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