It would be hard to understand the formation of the Reykjanes Ridge and Iceland without Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone. The shift of location of the central axis of the Ridge along Charlie-Gibbs is in fact exactly half the width of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Thereby we have a reason why the drift vectors appear to be along the eastern side of the Reykjanes Ridge, not away from it.
Iceland is a part of a large geological structure, consisting of the Reykjanes Ridge and the bathymetric Elliptical Plateau of Iceland. In turn, Reykjanes Ridge is marked by V-shaped ridges. We can try to look closer at the context:
The V-shaped ridges converge at the point where the alignment changes to north-south. This brings us closer to the exact consistency between the convection rolls and the Icelandic Elliptical Plateau, with a NS-axis through Eyjafjallajökull, Hekla and Hveravellir, along with the (volcanically extinct but still seismically active) Skagafjördur Volcanc Belt, which is connected with the Kolbeinsey Ridge north of Iceland.
A map from the Icelandic Land Survey is superimposed on the Google Map, and some of the measured drift vectors shown with black arrows. These vectors show the current tectonic drift directions of Iceland. The country is mainly drifting northwards, but being divided at the same time to the NW and NE. This is more complex than the old version of saying that the two halfs of Iceland should be drifting opposite to the other to the west and east. The true description of tectonic drift of Iceland is more complicated than that.
The origin of Iceland can be traced according to recent measurements. Following the drift vectors of the Eurasian Tectonic Plate backwards, we find the exact point.
The drift vectors can be measured in the eastern half of Iceland with GPS technology. The report is published here: https://www.lmi.is/static/files/utgefid_efni/Maelingar/isnet_endurmael_2016_skyrsla.pdf
The V-shaped ridges are in fact not perfectly symmetrical around the Reykjanes Ridge Central Axis, because the N-American Tectonic Plate drifts perpendicularly to the ridge. Symmetry is found around the North Volcanic Zone of Iceland, though, because it is aligned directly from north to south.
For clarification, I also include the map fram the National Land Survey of Iceland, along with the relevant text:
This might seem contrary to what is shown on most geology maps, showing the drift vectors of the Eurasian Plate towards the east, or slightly south of east. It is simply because most geoscientists choose to omit the northern drift component, emphasizing on the divergent effect of the tectonic drift.
The V-shaped ridges have been found to be the result of propagating anomaly along the Reykjanes Ridge. A good article is found here: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2002GC000361
The variations in melt production rate at the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (Reykjanes Ridge) extend to the point where Iceland started to form, and the southern more Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone explains how the two plates of N-America and Eurasia have been drifting away from each other, while the drift vectors have not been directly opposite to each other.
Recent earthquakes on Reykjanes Peninsula show the trend of propagating from west to east. One reason for the earthquakes is magma intrusions, and therefore we should try to understand from where the extra magma is originated. The candidate is the upwelling line of the Reykjanes Ridge. Magma flows into the tectonic plate from the division line, and then horizontally within the polygon. Rifting, aligned perpenticular to surface tectonic features, can occur within the uppermost convection rolls layer at 120 km depth (convection layer 1), due to coupling effect of the next layer below (convection layer 2). This will open the way for molten magma towards SE, until it reaches the border line between the tectonic plates within the southern half of Reykjanes Peninsula. The main two channels within the polygon are found at 1/3 of the length of the NW-side of the polygon (formed by the Reykjanes Ridge Lines), in turn forming, in the long run, the two volcanic systems of Krýsuvík and Brennisteinsfjöll. The Svartsengi volcanic area is formed due to the existence of a division line of layers 3 and 4 directly below, but the origin of intrusions there is probably also magma from the Reykjanes line.
This flow (below the Moho discontinuity) results in rising of the surface close to the border line of tectonic plates (black line). This interplay of different convection rolls layers, division of two different tectonic plates, and the resulting seismic area, creates a complicated cycle of volcanism and seismic activity, along with several geothermal sites.
Iceland is divided into several volcanic zones and belts. Here, a division method according to numbers of polygons is introduced.
(1) This polygon comprises half of Reykjanes Oblique Rift Zone (RORZ). The western corner connects with the Reykjanes Ridge. (2) The other half of RORZ. The eastern corner connects with the South Iceland Seismic Zone. (3) The southern half of the Western Volcanic Zone. The rifting process is mainly found within the eastern half of the polygon. The Rift Valley of Thingvellir is found there. (4) The northern half of the WVZ. Langjökull Glacier covers a large part of this section. (5) This polygon is a volcanic belt on its own. Formerly, it was the southern end of a much longer volcanic zone extending to Skagafjordur, but that part was replaced by the North Volcanic Zone. (6) The southern part of the South Iceland Volcanic Belt, which contains the Westman Islands. (7) The northern part of the SIVB with Eyjafjallajökull and Katla. Hekla is located on the northern corner of the polygon. (8) The southernmost part of the Eastern Volcanic Zone. The rifting process perpendicular to tectonic drift appears very clearly, and magma is mainly provided horizontally from the adjacent polygons, for instance from Grímsvötn, Bárdarbunga or Katla caldera. (9) The central polygon of the EVZ, filled with powerful volcanic systems. It has adjacent mini polygons of Kverkfjöll and Grímsvötn, and the side system of Tungnafellsjökull. In the middle, Bárdarbunga has played a big role, responsible for the Holuhraun eruption. (11) The southernmost polygon of the North Volcanic Zone. It is actually the turning part between the EVZ and the NVZ, and the pattern forming the polygons becomes less distinct along this latitude. Askja is found in the center of the area. (12) This polygon of Hrúthálsar volcanic site is the central part of NVZ. It is perhaps a bit remote and has not been active recently, so it is not a famous volcanic site. (13) The southern side of the polygon forms a hub for the volcanic and geothermal areas near Lake Mývatn. The northern corner marks the end of the NVZ, It connects with the Grímsey Oblique Rift in the north. (14) This is the southern half of the Öræfajökull Volcanic Belt. It is a bit outside the main volcanic formations of Iceland and is entirely located within the Eurasian Tectonic Plate area. (15) The northern half of the ÖVB, with Snæfell Volcano at the northern end. Snæfell is also curiously a counterpart of Snæfellsjökull in the west of Iceland, found exactly on the same latitude, and in the same context with the mantle convection rolls system (although mirrored). (16) The eastern roots of the Snæfellsnes Volcanic Belt. The Ljósufjöll Volcanic System extends through the area. (17) The central part of SVB, marking the location of Lýsufjöll Volcanic System. (18) The western most part of SVB, with Snæfellsjökull at the western end, being the western outpost of Icelandic Volcanoes, and as mentioned before, the counterpart of the eastern outposts of Icelandic Volcanoes, Snæfell. The Grímsey Oblique Rift has a few volcanic systems, but the polygon system is quite tight at that latitude, so no numbers are given to that area here. The Reykjanes Ridge follows a line, rather than polygons, so it is not included in this numerical system either. Many mini polygons must be analyzed separately but are not included here to maintain some degree of clarity.
Magic Magma 