Snæfell

The timing of the most recent activity in the Snæfell volcanic system, NE of Vatnajökull, is unknown. Four Holocene transitional alkalic tephra units in a soil section near the volcano have compositions similar to known Snæfell eruption products (Oladottir and others, 2011). This stratovolcano is comprised of rhyolites and evolved basalts built in the last 400,000 years. Volcanic fissures trending NE-SW occur out to 10-18 km from the volcano. It lies on a volcanic belt outside the main volcanic zones. The Snæfell central volcano is Iceland’s highest volcanic peak outside of the large ice caps; it has a small glacier on its summit.