1. April 2021 - New trace element and isotope analyses of the Geldingadalir lava

New trace element and isotope analyses of the Geldingadalir lava provide further evidence that the magma feeding the Geldingadalir eruption has a different composition to the historical Reykjanes lavas. This shift in geochemistry potentially reflects a new and distinct batch of magma arriving from the mantle beneath Reykjanes.

The Geldingadalir lava is marked by lower concentrations of incompatible trace elements, lower LREE/HREE ratios, and less radiogenic Pb-isotope ratios. These data suggest a greater contribution from higher degree partial mantle melts, sampling more depleted/refractory mantle components.

A full report on the trace element abundances and radiogenic Pb-isotope ratios is available here (pdf)

The image shows rare earth element concentrations in the Geldingadalir lavas. The data is normalised to the primitive mantle and is shown on a logarithmic scale. See report for more information.