Tindfjallajokull

Stratovolcano in Iceland

Key Facts

Elevation

1,464 m (4,803 ft)

Type

Stratovolcano

Location

63.783°, -19.716°

Region

Iceland Neovolcanic Rift Volcanic Province

Rock Type

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Location

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Overview

Tindfjallajökull is one of the oldest late-Quaternary volcanoes of the eastern volcanic zone of Iceland, and has produced rocks of basaltic-to-rhyolitic composition. The NW rim of the 5-km-wide caldera is topped by an icecap. About a dozen small eruptions took place during the late Pleistocene or early Holocene, mostly from vents north and west of the caldera.

Although previously thought to be the source of the nearby Thórsmörk Ignimbrite deposits, Moles et al. (2019) showed that they originated from Torfajökull (about 30 km NE).

Volcanic Hazards & Risk Assessment

Primary Hazards

Pyroclastic flows
Lava flows
Volcanic bombs and ballistics
Lahars and mudflows

Risk Level

Population at RiskModerate

Infrastructure RiskModerate

Aviation RiskSignificant

Geological Composition & Structure

Rock Types

Primary

Basalt / Picro-Basalt

Silica Content

Low (45-52% SiO₂)

Tectonic Setting

Rift zone

Continental rift or intraplate setting with varied eruptive styles.

Age & Formation

Epoch

Holocene

Evidence

Evidence Uncertain

Eruption Statistics & Analysis

Metric	Value	Global Ranking	Significance
Total Recorded Eruptions	Unknown	Low	Moderately active volcano
Maximum VEI	VEI Unknown	Minor	Local impact potential
Recent Activity	Unknown	Historical	Historically active

Monitoring & Alert Status

Monitoring Networks

Global Volcanism Program

International eruption database

Current Status

Normal

No recent activity. Routine monitoring continues.

Nearby Volcanoes in Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions

Regional Volcanic Activity

The Atlantic Ocean Volcanic Regions contains multiple active volcanic systems. Cross-regional magma interactions and tectonic stresses can influence eruption patterns across the entire arc. Monitor regional seismic activity and volcanic alerts.

Quick Info

•Smithsonian ID: 372040
•Evidence: Evidence Uncertain
•Epoch: Holocene

About the Photo

The broad massif of Tindfjallajökull is seen here from the ESE looking into the open 5 x 7 km summit caldera, with a rugged two-peaked rhyolitic dome in the center. The NW rim of the caldera is overtopped by the Tindfjallajökull icecap, which forms the smooth flat surface at the summit. Several small effusive eruptions occurred at the beginning of the Holocene.

Photo by Oddur Sigurdsson, 1976 (Icelandic National Energy Authority).