ANATOMY OF A MAGMATIC SYSTEM AT ALFTAFJORDUR, ICELAND

What is it about?

Our knowledge of magmatic systems is usually limited to surface observations and geophysical data. Eastern Iceland allows direct access to extinct and eroded deeper magmatic systems. We have shown that diking is the key mechanism for crustal spreading and that , along divergent plate boundaries, magma propagation is mainly sub-vertical at least up to ~1.5 km depth.

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Why is it important?

This paper is: 1) innovative, as it allows to improve our knowledge of magmatic systems and related rifting processes through direct observation of the deep eroded portions of a rift (otherwise accessible from the surface). It also highlights the fundamental role of magma, in the form of diking, in the opening of divergent plate boundaries; 2) timely, as recent rifting episodes (Dabbahu 2005-2010, Bardarbunga 2014-2015) renewed and enriched the scientific debate on how magma is transferred and extruded along divergent plate boundaries, suggesting the importance of lateral dike propagation. 3) of interest to a broad audience, because even though referring to Iceland, it contains data which may be potentially applicable to any other magmatic divergent plate boundary.