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Heidarspordar

Fissure vent · Iceland · 490m

The Laxarhraun lava field in the Heiðarspordar volcanic system covered much of the Lake Mývatn area and lava flowed down the Laxardalur canyon to the north coast. Numerous pseudocraters and rootless cones, some of which are seen here along the shore of the lake, formed as a result of secondary explosive activity when the lava flow encountered abundant groundwater. The massive 224 km2 flow, erupted about 2,000 years ago, forms all but the northern shoreline of the lake.
The Laxarhraun lava field in the Heiðarspordar volcanic system covered much of the Lake Mývatn area and lava flowed down the Laxardalur canyon to the north coast. Numerous pseudocraters and rootless cones, some of which are seen here along the shore of the lake, formed as a result of secondary explosive activity when the lava flow encountered abundant groundwater. The massive 224 km2 flow, erupted about 2,000 years ago, forms all but the northern shoreline of the lake. · Photo: Photo by Michael Ryan, 1984 (U.S. Geological Survey).
Type
Fissure vent
Country
Iceland
Region
Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions / Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province
Elevation
490m
Coordinates
65.583, -16.817
Last eruption
-300
Tectonic setting
Rift zone / Oceanic crust (< 15 km)
Landform
Cluster
Geological summary

The Heiðarsporðar volcanic system in the Northern Volcanic Zone is about 22 km long, consisting of a fissure swarm and a central volcano. It is embryonic, starting to develop in the marginal area of two adjacent fissure areas, Krafla and Fremrinámar, producing large-volume eruptions. No geothermal activity is present. Magma composition ranges from olivine-tholeiite through tholeiitic basalt and basaltic andesite to dacite. Characteristic activity consists of effusive basaltic eruptions and small predominantly effusive silicic eruptions. It has shown rather low activity in the Holocene but has produced substantial basaltic lava flows. Two eruptive periods have occurred in Holocene time separated by over 8,000 years. The last eruption took place about 2,200 years ago, producing a lava flow covering about 220 km2 and extending 60 km from source.

From Wikipedia

The Heiðarsporðar volcanic system is located in northeast Iceland near Lake Mývatn. It is the source of numerous formations present in and around the lake, particularly in the form of pseudocraters.

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Eruption history

Summary (VEI over time)
Click a bar to see individual eruptions
7850 BCE~7598 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI ?7598 BCE~7347 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 07095 BCE~6843 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 06340 BCE~6088 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 05837 BCE~5585 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 04075 BCE~3823 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 0552 BCE~300 BCE · 1 eruptions · max VEI 27850 BCE6088 BCE4075 BCE2313 BCE552 BCE

Detailed timeline

  1. 300 BCEVEI 2Geological estimate
    BCE 300 – Ongoing
    Threngslaborgir-Ludentsborgir crater row
  2. 4050 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 4050 – Ongoing
    Ludent crater rows
  3. 5750 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 5750 – Ongoing
    Fjarborg
  4. 6150 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 6150 – Ongoing
    Drangagrundahraun
  5. 6950 BCEVEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 6950 – Ongoing
    Hraunbunga
  6. 7400 BCE (±300 yrs)VEI 0Geological estimate
    BCE 7400 – Ongoing
    Heidarspordur
  7. 7850 BCEVEI ?Geological estimate
    BCE 7850 – Ongoing
    Ludent, Namafjall-Krofluhals

External links

⚠ For reference only. Not for emergency response.