Abstract
The 6.6¿km gross thickness of the Palaeogene lava field of the Faroe Islands Basalt Group was erupted in the initial phases of North Atlantic rifting. Thin interlava sedimentary rocks yield palynofloras that vary in composition and diversity with the duration of the interlava period. Long-term trends in plant ecological succession occur within the record, each reflecting initially rapid and subsequently slowing eruption tempo. TiO2 and MgO plots derived from the basalt lava flows show corresponding fractionation trends. These link melt column processes to vegetation ecosystem dynamics via controls on eruption tempo, thermal support and substrate disturbance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 703-711 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Journal of the Geological Society |
| Volume | 169 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 1 Nov 2012 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Nov 2012 |