Fossil hunting in Iceland

[Kasia]

I have been thinking about going to Iceland for quite a time, but Covid has made travelling a bit complicated, so when everyone was finally fully vaccinated, we decided to hit the road. We were told that June is actually one of the best months to visit Iceland – with the summer (which over there starts in April) in full swing, with crazy 15 to 20 degrees C. Well… we feel super special, as THIS June was actually the coldest in 45 years, so … But, you’ll see what it looked like on pictures.

We landed in Keflavik, and after a short stop to get the Covid test result, we started the trip around Iceland.

The first thing we saw was the lava flowing from the newest volcano on Iceland – Geldingadalir.

Basically, Iceland’s landscape is quite uniform, as the whole island is covered with lava, with very little vegetation. It has a lot of geothermal fields,

 

sulphur springs,

 

hot springs and lakes

of course – waterfalls (app. 4500).

There are several different types of waterfalls – some are famous because of the volume of water

others, because you can actually walk behind them

 

Yet another type is the so-called lava waterfall – as the water comes from hundreds of cracks in the lava field:

 

Lava is (naturally) one of the main attractions in Iceland – I do recommend going to one of the lava tunnels, which have truly fantastic colours:

 

 

You have to be careful, as there are lots of icicles everywhere

 

 

The walls show how subsequent layers were accumulated

 

 

Lava plays also the main part in the Vestmannaeyjar Island, as during the eruption in 1973, it destroyed ¼ of the town – you can still see the remains of houses:

 

 

But the island is also home to one of Iceland’s symbol – the puffin birds

 

 

[Kasia]

The lava formations are quite pretty – once solidified, of course

 

 

Can you spot the only elephant in Iceland?

 

 

Iceland is also a home of Geysir – from whom all the other geysers took their name. Unfortunately it’s dormant now – it looks like this:

 

but the nearby Strokkur erupts every 5 to 10 minutes

 

When in Iceland, one cannot forget about the glaciers, which cover app. 12% of the country’s area

 

 

You can of course walk up to some of the tongues:

I’m showing this picture on purpose – I didn’t manage to wipe out the lens – just a reminder, it’s the middle of June.

It’s us – in the typical summer outfits

 

You can also visit the so-called diamond bay, which is the place, where pieces of ice from the glacier float and land on the beach – I’m sure it looks way prettier with just a tiny bit of SUN….

 

 

 

 

It’s us again – enjoying immensely the weather

 

Other pretty sites in Iceland are the gorges

 

 

some with incredible basalt columns

 

[Kasia]

We were lucky to see some local animals, like the Icelandic fox – this one still has not changed completely the colour of the fur, from winter to summer

reindeers

and last, but definitely not least – dolphins and whales

 

 

 

They even jumped a few times – sorry for the quality, it’s a frame from a video

 

 

 

Now a little treat for all the GoT fans here on TFF – do you recognise the places from the saga?

 

 

 

 

 

OK, that’s enough about the island itself – let me now pass on to the fossil hunt. Iceland is pretty young in terms of geological age and before I left I managed to identify a few Miocene sites that were more or less (usually less) en route.

The first one was Vopnafjordur. As there were no precise indications where the site actually was, we started inquiring in the closest human dwellings and once a young barista at a local café made a few calls to the eldest residents in the village, we were told that once there used to be fossils in the area of this waterfall:

As we were a few kilometres away, first we decided to have a look at the bottom of it – I left my camera and the phone in the car, as we had to walk – there was no way to drive up to the place. We didn’t find anything, so we decided to try at the top of the mountain, where the waterfall is created by the river coming from the lake. The road looked like this – again, it was middle of June:

 

We got to the lake atop

 

and walked along the river, to the top of the waterfall:

 

 

 

 

As you can see, there were lots of rocks, however zero fossils in any of them.

 

The views were stunning, though

 

 

[Kasia]

We were a bit disappointed, so we went to the nearby town and we came across a man who owns a little gallery with various minerals, bones – and fossils as well.

 

 

 

It turned out that he owns some land, where he found a lot of fossilised wood – as he offered some pieces for exchange (and I didn’t take any fossils with me), we agreed that I would send him some Polish fossils after my return (and I did). He gave me a few pieces that look like this:

 

Another location on the way was Tjornes – it was quite easy to find this one, as there is a Museum nearby. Unfortunately, as we were there on a national holiday – it was closed. The site itself looks like this:

 

 

 

There are multiple layers with Miocene shells – and they are all over the place:

 

 

 

 

Another site I identified was called Mokollsdalur. Again, no precise indications – and even the locals living in the valley had no clue about fossils. They only heard about clay being excavated at some point somewhere deep in the valley – so we again climbed one of the mountains with some interestingly looking outcrops, but found nothing.

The last stop on the way back was Hredavatn – the rocks are quite well exposed

 

 

 

But they didn’t show even trace of fossils. We found only such rocks:

 

 

 

So, as you can see, our hunts were not really fruitful – but we enjoyed the visit nevertheless (even though the weather tried its best to discourage us from leaving the hotel/ car ).

I hope you enjoyed the report, too!

 

[Pixpaleosky]

Of course we enjoy the report, i definitely want to go there too. Thank you !

[Tidgy's Dad]

Thank you so much for sharing this extraordinary adventure, Kasia.

I love Iceland and have been a couple of times but never even thought to try fossil hunting. 

Marvelous photos and report, enjoyed it thoroughly. 

[doushantuo]

Kasia,my compliments for a very nice travelogue 

 

which reminds me:

 

A unique Circa 12 Ka subaerial record of rift-transform triple-junction tectonics,Iceland

Derek Rust & Malcolm Whitworth

 

Nature(2019)9:9669

 

 

 

 

rustwhitwortriftransficelandNATUEtriplejunct5903-8.pdf

Edited July 4, 2021 by doushantuo

[hemipristis]

Alas, you have underscored my desire to see Iceland. As a geologist, it’s our Mecca, haha.

 

Being volcanic in nature, I had never considered the idea of fossils on Iceland, but petrified wood and marine mollusks make perfect sense. The same can be found on Oahu. And a reminder that where there are marine shells, there can be marine vertebrates. 

[Ludwigia]

Thanks very much for sharing, Kasia. What a lovely photo essay.

[Uncle Siphuncle]

My family had to cancel our Iceland trip last summer due to Covid.  They had so looked forward to watching me suffer through a vacation with no good fossiling options.

[digit]

I too had never considered fossils in Iceland. Miocene marine fossils make sense but I can see that they were not abundant and widespread.

 

I enjoyed the photo-travelogue of Iceland as it brought back fond memories and recognizable locations. We visited 3 years ago and managed the Grand Circle trip around the island (anti-clockwise). Many enjoyable activities to make up for the lack of fossils. A full day hike on a glacier (including rappelling/absailing down a steep slope), a drive up to the top of Eyjafjallajökull volcano to stand at the epicenter of all that chaos back in 2010, touring the bay with calving icebergs, going inside a dormant volcanic chamber, and trying to take in all that wonderful beautifully desolate landscape.

 

We plan on going back some year in the middle of winter to try to see some auroral activity and to camp out in one of the glacial ice caves that can only be explored when temps are low and the ice is stable. I've seen wondrous images online and I would like to experience the awesomeness with my own two eyes. Do an internet image search for "Iceland ice cave" and you too will wish to brave the cold to experience such incredible blues. We also went in June when we were there and it rained more than it had in decades. They told us that June is the driest month but that it was a relative term.

 

Now that European travel restrictions are easing I encourage others with the means to do so to visit Iceland. I'll probably hold off on international travel for a bit--not out of caution but because I fear there will be a wave of people itching to get out and flooding destinations. Iceland is so expansive and so sparsely populated that it never felt crowded when we were there. Probably a safer bet for an uncrowded experience than someplace like Paris which I expect will be mobbed this summer.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[Welsh Wizard]

Great topic and report.

 

Icelands a brilliant place. My wife took me there for my 50th a few years ago. I’d definitely go back especially as your photos brought back so many memories.

 

Nick

[Top Trilo]

Beautiful place, I hope to go there someday and be able to see these thing for myself. I enjoyed seeing the landscape that is so different to pretty much anywhere else. I think it makes up for the lack of fossils which is quite hard to do.

[Kasia]

6 hours ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Thank you so much for sharing this extraordinary adventure, Kasia.

I love Iceland and have been a couple of times but never even thought to try fossil hunting. 

Marvelous photos and report, enjoyed it thoroughly. 

Maybe when you go next time, you should give it a try - fingers crossed you are more successful and you have more favourable weather conditions ....

[Kasia]

5 hours ago, doushantuo said:

Kasia,my compliments for a very nice travelogue 

 

which reminds me:

 

A unique Circa 12 Ka subaerial record of rift-transform triple-junction tectonics,Iceland

Derek Rust & Malcolm Whitworth

 

Nature(2019)9:9669

 

 

 

 

rustwhitwortriftransficelandNATUEtriplejunct5903-8.pdf 4.51 MB · 1 download

During the trip we saw twice the places, where the tectonic plates meet - the first one was close to the Grjótagjá cave:

 

and the other - close to Keflavik:

 

 

[Kasia]

1 hour ago, digit said:

I too had never considered fossils in Iceland. Miocene marine fossils make sense but I can see that they were not abundant and widespread.

 

I enjoyed the photo-travelogue of Iceland as it brought back fond memories and recognizable locations. We visited 3 years ago and managed the Grand Circle trip around the island (anti-clockwise). Many enjoyable activities to make up for the lack of fossils. A full day hike on a glacier (including rappelling/absailing down a steep slope), a drive up to the top of Eyjafjallajökull volcano to stand at the epicenter of all that chaos back in 2010, touring the bay with calving icebergs, going inside a dormant volcanic chamber, and trying to take in all that wonderful beautifully desolate landscape.

 

We plan on going back some year in the middle of winter to try to see some auroral activity and to camp out in one of the glacial ice caves that can only be explored when temps are low and the ice is stable. I've seen wondrous images online and I would like to experience the awesomeness with my own two eyes. Do an internet image search for "Iceland ice cave" and you too will wish to brave the cold to experience such incredible blues. We also went in June when we were there and it rained more than it had in decades. They told us that June is the driest month but that it was a relative term.

 

Now that European travel restrictions are easing I encourage others with the means to do so to visit Iceland. I'll probably hold off on international travel for a bit--not out of caution but because I fear there will be a wave of people itching to get out and flooding destinations. Iceland is so expansive and so sparsely populated that it never felt crowded when we were there. Probably a safer bet for an uncrowded experience than someplace like Paris which I expect will be mobbed this summer.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

Well. initially we were thinking about going earlier during the year to see the northern lights - but after this experience, I guess I will put such plans on hold. I really cannot imagine what sort of clothing I would need to have to survive the time of the year when the northen lights can be seen......

No, wait, I know - I would need the same uniform we were given when we went for a whale watching trip

[Pagurus]

Thanks for the pretty pictures! 

[Kasia]

55 minutes ago, Top Trilo said:

Beautiful place, I hope to go there someday and be able to see these thing for myself. I enjoyed seeing the landscape that is so different to pretty much anywhere else. I think it makes up for the lack of fossils which is quite hard to do.

Hmmm, Iceland for sure can be beautiful - if only there is a bit of sun. Just have a look at the pictures taken during the same trip - during ONE single day when the sun was actually visible.

 

 

It looks like a different country, doesn't it?

 

[Ancient Bones]

Very enjoyable presentation, thank you Kasia

[Coco]

wonderful debrief !

 

Coco

[Wrangellian]

Great report, Kasia. Yes, the sunny photos look like a different place - maybe like spots in the Western US.

I've seen references and pics of Miocene compression-fossil leaves from Iceland. A quick web search shows some. I don't know offhand whether a tourist can collect at this/these sites.

[Misha]

Wow what an incredible place!

I never knew there were fossils in Iceland since it's so young and located on an oceanic ridge I assumed it would be all igneous rock. Thank you for sharing all of this.

[Kasia]

6 hours ago, Wrangellian said:

Great report, Kasia. Yes, the sunny photos look like a different place - maybe like spots in the Western US.

I've seen references and pics of Miocene compression-fossil leaves from Iceland. A quick web search shows some. I don't know offhand whether a tourist can collect at this/these sites.

Yes, there was supposed to be fossilised flora - but I have to take the word of online sources for it :), as I myself haven't seen even one leaf ... Well, probably like in most of the countries, you need to know the right spots, but the locals knew really nothing about fossils, although they are quite helpful in several other aspects

[Wrangellian]

15 hours ago, Kasia said:

Yes, there was supposed to be fossilised flora - but I have to take the word of online sources for it :), as I myself haven't seen even one leaf ... Well, probably like in most of the countries, you need to know the right spots, but the locals knew really nothing about fossils, although they are quite helpful in several other aspects

I guess they don't get very many people asking them for fossil sites. Most people who collect fossils are after dinosaurs, trilobites, etc, and that may be what Icelanders think of when when they think of fossils, too. "Nothing like that here!"

[Kasia]

8 hours ago, Wrangellian said:

I guess they don't get very many people asking them for fossil sites. Most people who collect fossils are after dinosaurs, trilobites, etc, and that may be what Icelanders think of when when they think of fossils, too. "Nothing like that here!"

Weeeeelllll..... I would rather say they had no idea what "fossil" denotes - we had to explain that we are looking for the remains of plants that became stone and that still didn't ring a bell. Only the guy with the gallery knew what fossils are I'm sure it's because 99,99% of tourists never inquires about it and there is no academic research on going anywhere on the island. Otherwise the locals would certainly know what the scientists were looking for and where