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What We Learn from Ophiolites

April 27, 2026April 30, 2026 Steingrimur Thorbjarnarson

Ophiolites are slices of oceanic crust that have been uplifted and exposed, making it possible to examine a cross-section of a tectonic plate. This provides a valuable opportunity to study the different layers of the Earth. There are many ophiolites, the most famous probably being those found in Oman and Cyprus. These were emplaced onto continental crust through obduction and are in some cases tilted or rotated.

After: http://www.gulfpetrolink.com/geoarabia/index.php/ga/article/view/31997

The uppermost ~5 kilometers of the brittle oceanic crust can thus be examined in cross-section. At the top lies a layer of pillow lavas, beneath which are sheeted dikes, followed by a gabbro layer extending down to the Moho discontinuity. In favorable cases, ophiolites also expose portions of the underlying mantle.

At the Moho, there is typically a transition zone composed mainly of two rock types: wehrlite just below the gabbro, followed by dunite. Beneath this lies the lithospheric mantle, which is composed mainly of harzburgite. This is a type of peridotite that remains after the original lherzolite of the asthenosphere has undergone partial melting to produce basalt.

Basalt originates from the asthenosphere at depths of around 120 km. The temperature of basalt at eruption at the Earth’s surface is surprisingly close to the temperature at which it originally formed. In Iceland, basalt may represent up to about 20% partial melting of the original lherzolite.

One particularly important feature revealed by the exposure of mantle below the Moho is the presence of conduits through which partial melt (basaltic magma) has traveled. These conduits consist of dunite, composed almost entirely of olivine. They form vertical channels leading up toward the Moho. This indicates that partially molten material can flow upward relatively rapidly, entering the gabbroic section immediately above the Moho transition zone.

The gabbro zone is commonly divided into two parts, with the lower portion showing layered structures. Within this zone, basaltic magma can accumulate in sills and magma chambers, where it may partially crystallize before continuing its ascent. When conditions allow, the magma rises again, typically vertically, through the sheeted dike complex, forming successive dikes.

As frequently observed in Iceland, such processes can eventually lead to volcanic eruptions at the surface. On the ocean floor, these eruptions typically produce pillow lavas. The vertical continuity and rather fast flow of basalt up through the tectonic plate can explain how it maintains temperature (almost) found at the depth of 120 km at the surface. This AI picture expresses the process:

AI-version of the ascending path of magma – not to scale.

The vertical movement of partially melted material through the tectonic plates can partly explain why division lines in the asthenosphere can be detected at the surface. This process continues over long distances, forming dikes of considerable length. Even more importantly, this ongoing process creates divisions around which different parts, often described here as polygons, can adjust to the tectonic drift that constantly alters the positions of continents and oceanic crust. Another contributing factor is the local horizontal movement, combined with the global tectonic drift trend, which can lead to localized rifting or pressure at the surface.

For mainland crust, the section looks slightly different for the upper most part. Again, this AI image can be made:

AI-generated cross-section of a continental plate – not to scale.

The result of this activity, which can be traced in mantle remains of ophiolites, can be detected on the surface. This is the map of Iceland:

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The 1.5° Spatial Sequence of Iceland

April 26, 2026 Steingrimur Thorbjarnarson

The Active South

Looking closely at southern Iceland, from the Reykjanes Ridge in the west to Öræfajökull in the east, a sequence of 1.5° spatial intervals can be observed. This pattern can be analyzed in detail, as many geological features align consistently within it.

First, the mid-ocean ridge forms a continuous structural trend, including a section approximately 900 km long. The Reykjanes Peninsula can be interpreted as a single volcanic zone, although its westernmost part represents a transition from a side-stepping arrangement of volcanic systems to a more continuous ridge structure.

Within this framework, a polygonal area can be identified that is densely filled with volcanic systems. A southwest (SW) division line within this polygon marks the location of the Blue Lagoon. At present, this line appears to provide a steady flow of magma into the crust, feeding a magma chamber beneath the area. When this chamber empties, eruptions occur along the Sundhnúkur crater row.

A dike intrusion and associated surface deformation have developed along a SW–NE trend, extending across much of the peninsula, from the southern coast toward the area near the road connecting Reykjavík and Keflavík Airport in the north.

To the east, the volcanic systems of Krýsuvík, Trölladyngja, and Hengill are aligned along the same structural trend. The eastern boundary of Hengill is marked by a clear slope known as Hlíð, after which other volcanic systems of the West Volcanic Zone (WVZ) continue along the calculated division line.

These intersections also define the western boundary of the South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ), which dominates the next 1.5° interval eastward, extending toward the volcano Hekla.

Hekla lies at a key boundary:

between the SISZ and the East Volcanic Zone (EVZ)
between the divergent tectonic region to the north and the volcanic but non-divergent region to the south

The southern region is therefore often referred to as the South Iceland Volcanic Belt, distinguishing it from the actively rifting EVZ. South of this lies the Westman Islands, which are sometimes treated separately, although they can also be viewed as part of a continuous volcanic system with the EVZ and the southern belt.

As in the West Volcanic Zone, the calculated division line clearly marks the eastern boundary of the EVZ. Across the region, the main volcanic systems consistently align with the pattern expected from underlying convection rolls. The division lines, their intersections, and the polygonal areas all appear to play structural roles. Even the north–south and east–west axes that subdivide these polygons seem to influence volcanic behavior.

A comparable polygonal structure includes the volcanic systems of Katla and Eyjafjallajökull. This has both:

an east–west axis from Katla to Eyjafjallajökull
a north–south axis running from Hekla through Vatnafjöll to Eyjafjallajökull

Eyjafjallajökull lies at the center of this polygon. The 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajökull can be interpreted within this framework: basaltic magma flowed along the east–west axis from the east into the volcano, triggering an eruption from a more silica-rich magma chamber with a lower melting point.

From the EVZ, another 1.5° step to the east leads to Öræfajökull, the highest volcano in Iceland. A narrow volcanic zone extends northeast from it along a division line. At this location, four inferred convection-roll division lines appear to converge. A similar structural role is observed at Grímsvötn, located to the northwest and also separated by a polygon of 1.5° span from east to west.

There are, of course, many additional details, which are explored in other posts.

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A Convection Roll Model of Earth’s Interior: Layering and Discontinuities – and Iceland

April 25, 2026 Steingrimur Thorbjarnarson

The map used below to indicate the location of convection rolls beneath Iceland is derived from this section of the Earth’s layers. Tracing the process from the consistent thickness of each layer to the exact location of the convection rolls—and thereby constructing a three-dimensional model of the Earth—is, of course, a complex and lengthy task. With this map, however, meaningful comparisons can be made, and a few are outlined below.

Convection roll model showing the discontinuities at 120, 410, and 670 km, along with the relevant layers;
the lower mantle contains two sets of rolls, each 15° wide.

A geological map of Iceland can then be compared with the model:

Map base: https://jokull.jorfi.is/articles/jokull2008.58/jokull2008.58.197.pdf

This map shows the location of both the Reykjanes Ridge and the Kolbeinsey Ridge. Although the map is a simplification and is neither fully accurate nor perfectly aligned with the calculated grid, a few features can still be immediately observed:

1. Volcanic zones match the grid.
Those familiar with the geology of Iceland will notice that the sharp boundaries of the volcanic zones correspond closely with the division lines between convection rolls. The distinction between upwelling and downwelling also clearly influences the distribution of these volcanic zones. Furthermore, the pattern defined by the division lines has explanatory value: the differing orientations of the East Volcanic Zone and the North Volcanic Zone are consistent with the distinct grid patterns observed in the southern and northern halves of Iceland.

2. Seismic zones match the grid.
The South Iceland Seismic Zone, as identified through geophysical measurements, is located between Hekla and Hveragerði, precisely within one of the polygons defined by the grid. The Tjörnes Fracture Zone also aligns with the division-line pattern observed along the northern coast.

3. Distribution of geothermal areas.
The distribution of geothermal areas also corresponds with the model. Low-temperature areas are associated with specific polygons and tend to cluster within them. In contrast, high-temperature areas are associated with division lines, their intersections, and the boundary between the Eurasian Plate and the North American Plate.

4. Local tectonic alignment within polygons.
Tectonic features within the polygons, such as volcanic fissures, are aligned according to the geometry of each polygon, reflecting the structure imposed by the convection rolls. These alignments do not follow the general direction of plate motion, suggesting that the model explains a major structural trend not accounted for in previous models.

5. NW–SE and NE–SW fissure patterns.
In some cases, fissures exhibit a NW–SE alignment consistent with the mirrored structure of the underlying convection rolls. Different layers display different roll orientations, while maintaining symmetry relative to the north–south axis. The coexistence of NW–SE and NE–SW trends has not been satisfactorily explained by other models.

Many additional aspects of consistency between the model and surface expressions have been discussed here.

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April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 Steingrimur Thorbjarnarson

The difference between a typical mid-ocean ridge and Iceland can be described as a contrast between a purely divergent process and a more resistant one.

The two ridges to the north and south of Iceland are clearly related, forming parts of what is generally known as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. However, they are given specific names: the Reykjanes Ridge in the south and the Kolbeinsey Ridge in the north. Iceland is often said to lie on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, but this can sound misleading, as it is actually situated between these two ridge segments.

If we consider the nomenclature of these sections individually, we can divide the system into three parts from north to south: the Kolbeinsey Ridge, Iceland, and the Reykjanes Ridge. The volcanic zones of Iceland perform the same role in terms of tectonic drift and divergence as the ridge crests do along the mid-ocean ridges. However, these zones are much broader than the narrow rift valleys typically found at ridge tops. This is especially evident in southern Iceland, where two parallel zones, the East and West Volcanic Zones, are present, along with a third adjacent system, the Öræfajökull Volcanic Zone. In northern Iceland, the North Volcanic Zone is currently singular, but a few hundred thousand years ago it was accompanied by a parallel structure, the Skagafjörður Volcanic Belt.

These differences can be better understood by considering mantle flow. At mid-ocean ridges, the sharp, narrow divisions at the ridge crest suggest that tectonic plates diverge with relatively little resistance. In contrast, the development of wide volcanic zones in Iceland indicates a different process occurring at depth.

This type of rifting appears to result from resistance: the surface plate motion is not fully aligned with the underlying mantle flow. While the large tectonic plate moves in one direction, local mantle convection may flow in the opposite direction. This interaction creates resistance, and it is this resistance that leads to broader and more complex rifting zones.

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Northerly Flowing Rivers of North Iceland: Indicators of Tectonic Structure

April 23, 2026 Steingrimur Thorbjarnarson

The northerly flowing rivers of northern Iceland provide an intriguing window into the deeper tectonic and geological structure of the region. North of Iceland lies the Kolbeinsey Ridge, a spreading ridge that exerts a significant influence on the country’s geology. Unlike the Reykjanes Ridge, the Kolbeinsey Ridge does not visibly intersect or “reach” the Icelandic mainland. Nevertheless, its structural imprint is evident.

The ridge exhibits a pronounced north–south (N–S) orientation, and this same directional trend can be observed across much of northern Iceland. One of the most compelling expressions of this alignment is seen in the river systems. Major rivers such as Hrútafjarðará, Héraðsvötn, Eyjafjarðará, Skjálfandafljót, Jökulsá á Fjöllum, Hofsá, and Lagarfljót largely follow northerly courses, reflecting a structural control that is unlikely to be coincidental.

In addition to their general N–S alignment, these rivers display occasional deviations that appear to coincide with subtle structural boundaries or division lines in the crust. These interruptions in flow direction may mark transitions between different tectonic domains or the influence of underlying mantle dynamics.

The estuaries of these rivers further reinforce this pattern. Their distribution shows a striking regularity that aligns with the proposed grid of convection rolls beneath Iceland. Each estuary can be interpreted as forming a “hub” within this grid, suggesting that surface hydrology may be responding to deeper, organized mantle processes. This spatial consistency lends support to the idea that convection rolls patterns influence not only volcanic and tectonic features, but also the development of drainage systems.

A careful comparison of topographic and geological maps with the river network makes these relationships more apparent. The rivers are not randomly distributed; rather, they appear to trace out an underlying structural framework. In this sense, northern Iceland’s river systems may serve as surface indicators of deeper geodynamic organization (the grid formed by mantle convection rolls), reflecting the combined influence of the Kolbeinsey Ridge and broader mantle convection patterns.