The Iceland Plateau – Jan Mayen Volcanic Breakup Margin: an Analogue for Axial Rift and Transfer Zones Onshore North Iceland

Abstract

Structural-, volcano-stratigraphic-, and igneous-province-mapping is a fundamental prerequisite for resource modelling and management, such as geothermal exploration or mining. Our tectonic-kinematic model of the Jan Mayen region was constructed utilizing gravity- and magnetic anomalies, multibeam bathymetric data, seismic reflection, and refraction data, borehole and seafloor samples. The Jan Mayen igneous complexes and the Iceland plateau rift portray the complexity of long-lived volcanic margins within an unstable rift-transfer tectonic setting from Eocene to Miocene times. Both regions are characterized by rift basins, en-echelon volcanic ridges, sill and dyke intrusive structures, and geothermal fluid venting structures such as chimneys, cutting through pre-existing crustal and sediment sections, commonly along re-activated fault planes. Using a dense seismic reflection dataset provides a unique opportunity to map intercalated igneous domains and rift zones of the Jan Mayen microcontinent in a three-dimensional space, enabling us to estimate the volcano-stratigraphic types, size, and extent of these rift and volcanic systems, as well as large-scale igneous features, such as deeper-seated intrusions, volcanic complexes, or rift valleys. The igneous Jan Mayen and Iceland Plateau regions represent a prime example of what is commonly referred to as Iceland type crust, i.e. the systematic build-up of thicker oceanic crust by rift-transfer processes, overlapping sub-aerial and sub-surface igneous activities in conjunction with localized microplates.