Holocene shield volcanoes in Iceland

Abstract

Holocene shield volcanoes (lava shields) are common in Iceland, but they are restricted in space and time. As regards space, most of the shield volcanoes in Iceland occur within two bands in the West and North Volcanic Zones. There are no shields in the East Volcanic Zone apart from the island of Surtsey. The shields are mostly at the margins of or outside the volcanic systems. As regards time, many Holocene shield volcanoes formed some 5000–10000 years ago during early postglacial time. Apart from the shield on top of the island of Surtsey, there are no known shields in Iceland younger than about 3500B.P....