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Quaternary volcanic ash zones on the Iceland Plateau, southern Norwegian Sea
Author(s) -
Sjwøholm Jorunn,
Sejrup Hans Petter,
Furnes Harald
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of quaternary science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.142
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1099-1417
pISSN - 0267-8179
DOI - 10.1002/jqs.3390060205
Subject(s) - geology , volcanic ash , geochemistry , quaternary , volcano , plateau (mathematics) , volcanic glass , pumice , isotopes of oxygen , basalt , mineralogy , geomorphology , paleontology , volcanic rock , mathematical analysis , mathematics
Four Quaternary volcanic ash zones in the southern Norwegian Sea have been investigated in core P57‐7 from the Iceland Plateau. Both the geochemical composition and morphological variation of each ash layer have been studied. The four volcanic ash zones appear in the light oxygen isotope stages 1, 5, 7 and 11. The ash zones are composed of transparent platy grains, light brown transparent grains, brown blocky and black blocky grains and white/transparent pumice, and each zone shows a distinct stratigraphic evolution. The geochemical results show a mixture of basaltic and silicic grains in each ash zone, and that each zone contains grains from more than one eruption. The geochemical investigations strongly suggest that all the ashes are derived from Iceland. The youngest ash zone includes two layers, which based on their geochemical composition and stratigraphic position are correlated with the 14 C‐dated Vedde Ash (10 600 yr BP) and Saksunarvatn Ash (9 100 yr BP). Possible sources on Iceland for these layers are discussed.