Theistareykjarbunga | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 564 m (1,850 ft) [1] |
Listing | List of volcanoes in Iceland |
Coordinates | 65°53′N 16°50′W / 65.883°N 16.833°W [1] |
Geology | |
Mountain type | Shield volcano |
Last eruption | 900 BCE ± 100 years |
Theistareykjarbunga (Þeistareykjarbunga, Icelandic pronunciation: [ˈθeistaˌreiːcarˌpuŋka] ) is a shield volcano in northeastern Iceland with two fissure vents called Þeistareykjahraun [ˈθeiːstaˌreiːcaˌr̥œyːn] and Borgahraun [ˈpɔrkaˌr̥œyːn], and two cones: the 370 m (1,210 ft) Stórahversmór [ˈstouːraˌkʰvɛr̥sˌmouːr̥] and the 540 m (1,770 ft), 30 km3 (7.2 cu mi) Stóravíti [ˈstouːraˌviːtɪ]. They both are currently extinct. [1] The multiple vents make up the Theistareykir [1] (Þeistareykir) volcanic system, with more recent evidence that the former classification as a shield volcano is better considered an embryonic central volcano with associated fissure swarm, as rhyolite has erupted in a limited area. [2] The recent lava has picrite, olivine tholeiite basalt characteristics but before the ice age there were basaltic andesite and rhyolite eruptions. [2] There is a central high temperature geothermal area with numerous steam vents and fumaroles. [2]
There have been three dated eruptions, all VEI-0: the most recent eruption was around 900 BCE and the previous eruption was in 6800 BCE. Around 9500 BCE, an eruption produced approximately 18 billion cubic metres of basaltic lava. [1]