NAS Teach-IN: Nature of Icelandic Crust: Oceanic or Continental?
Date/Time
10/13/2026
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Central
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM Central
Event Type(s)
Event
Event Description
Iceland’s unique location directly atop the Mid-Atlantic Ridge accounts for the beauty of its natural landscape and its distinctive geology. According to the prevailing hypothesis, the Icelandic crust is oceanic in nature, given that the majority of lavas found there are basalts (mafic rocks). However, the presence of a small proportion (approximately 10%) of silicic (felsic) rocks casts doubt on the oceanic classification of the crust in this region. An alternative hypothesis has recently been proposed, suggesting the existence of a submerged continent, Icelandia. This theory posits that the crust beneath Iceland is not truly oceanic but rather a highly stretched and magnetically altered continental crust, concealed beneath a thick layer of volcanic deposits. This presentation outlines Dr. Filina's Fulbright project in Iceland during the summer of 2026. We will go over various rocks found in Iceland and discuss the integrated geophysical modeling that was done to test the two tectonic scenarios: the conventional model of oceanic crust and the recently proposed model of continental crust.
Location
Contact Person
Neb Acad
(phone: 4025606955)
(phone: 4025606955)
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