The Surtsey Magma Series

Research on the Surtsey Magma Series reveals that the chemical composition of lavas from this iconic phreatomagmatic eruption evolved progressively, becoming more primitive over time. This variation is best explained by mixing different proportions of depleted ridge-like basalt and ponded, enriched alkalic basalt, similar to those found in Iceland's Eastern Volcanic Zone. However, the study also identifies a systematic offset in Nb/Zr ratios, suggesting that the end members used for this explanation are not fully represented in existing literature. The findings highlight processes occurring in ephemeral magma bodies on the extreme leading edge of a propagating off-axis rift near the Iceland plume, providing new insights into volcanic activity at the southwestern-most volcano in the Vestmannaeyjar.

Schipper, C. I., Jakobsson, S. P., White, J. D. L., Palin, J. M., & Bush-Marcinowski, T. (2015). The Surtsey Magma Series. Scientific Reports, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/srep11498