Gold exploration in Iceland

Exploration for gold in Iceland commenced in the early twentieth century and then again after 1990. The target areas were exhumed fossil high temperature systems outside the volcanic rift zones. These were explored by using stream sediment, rock and float sampling. Enrichment of gold and pathfinder elements confirmed an association with low-salinity epithermal environments. The most notable anomaly, Thormodsdalur, is a multivein structure of transform character, and is classified as a low sulphidation adularia-sericite epithermal Au-Ag deposit. The Au enrichment in the licence areas varies from less than 0,5 to over 400 ppm. The exploration established the ability of Icelandic low-salinity systems to precipitate gold.