Maden, Nafız; Gücer, Mehmet Ali; Akaryalı, Enver

New radiogenic heat production (RHP) data are presented for Carboniferous granites outcropping in the Akşar region (Bayburt, NE Turkey) to contribute to ongoing debates on the genetic and lithologic relationship between the Akşar and Gümüşhane plutons, which is the most widely distributed granitic rocks in the region. The scope of this study consists of rocks composed of enriched mantle material metasomatized by fluids from the previously subducted plate. We observed average K value for the Akşar Pluton was found to be 3.09 ± 1.58 %. Additionally, average Th/U and U/Th values of 3.95 ± 1.37 and 0.29 ± 0.10, respectively. The calculated RHP value for the Akşar Pluton was 2.20 ± 0.56 μWm−3. Numerical results suggest that the Carboniferous Akşar pluton's primary magma was the product of mixing lithospheric mantle and mid-to-lower crustal melts because of partial melting, differentiation, and emplacement in the shallow continental magma chamber. The geochemical and petrogenetic characteristics of the Akşar region magmas suggest that crustal contamination occurred at multiple levels, particularly within the lower to middle crust of the plutonic core complex. This complex likely retains geochemical signatures indicative of subducted Paleotethys oceanic lithosphere. These findings provide critical insights into the magmatic evolution of the Eastern Pontides, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of crust–mantle interactions and the broader geodynamic framework of northeastern Türkiye.

Aydınçakır, Emre; Yücel, Cem; Ruffet, Gilles; Gücer, Mehmet Ali; Akaryalı, Enver; Kaygusuz, Abdullah

The debate about whether Eocene magmatism is considered to be post-collisional or subduction-related or not still continues. Here we offer new 40Ar-39Ar ad U-Pb zircon geochronology, mineral chemistry, bulk rock and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry data obtained from the southern dike (SD) suite, in comparison with the northern dike (ND) suite, from the Eastern Pontides. The geochronological data indicate that the SD suite erupted between 45.89 and 45.10 Ma corresponding to the Lutetian (Middle Eocene). The magmas of the ND suite are characterised by slightly more alkaline affinity compared to the SD suite. The trace and rare earth element (REEs) content of the SD suite is characterised by large ion lithophile element (LILEs; Sr, K2O, Ba, Rb) enrichment and depletion of Nb, Ta, and TiO2 elements to different degree with high Th/Yb ratios, which indicate that the magmas forming the SD and ND suites were derived from lithospheric mantle sources enriched by mostly slab-derived fluids in the spinel stability field. The Sr, Nd and Pb radiogenic isotope ratios of the dikes support the view that the magma for the hydrous group (H-SD) was derived from a relatively more enriched mantle source than the other SD and ND suites. The ND suite and the anhydrous group (A-SD) display similar geochemical features characterised by moderate light earth element (LREE)/heavy rare earth element (HREE) ratios, while the H-SD group has respectively lower LREE/HREE ratios indicating higher melting degree. Detailed considerations of the alkalinity, enrichment and partial melting degree for the source of the studied volcanic rocks indicate that the magmas of the northern dike suite are characterised by slightly more alkaline affinity, whereas the magmas throughout the southern dike suite show increments in the enrichment rate and melting degree. In light of the obtained data and comparative interpretations, the geodynamic evolution and differences in petrogenetic character of the Lutetian magmas from both the northern and southern parts of the Eastern Pontides may be explained by different degrees of melting of a net veined mantle source initially metasomatized by mostly subduction fluids during asthenospheric upwelling due to fragmented asymmetric delamination in a post-collisional extensional tectonic environment.

Maden, Nafiz; Akaryalı, Enver; Aydınçakır, Emre

In the original version of this paper the captions of figures 5, 6 and 7 were inadvertently interchanged.

Maden, Nafiz; Akaryalı, Enver; Aydınçakır, Emre

Herein, we present new 238U, 232Th, and 40K radionuclide concentrations, density and radiogenic heat production (RHP) data on the Tertiary volcanic rocks outcropping in Borçka, Gumushane and Trabzon regions within the Eastern Pontide Orogenic Belt (EPOB). The mean K values for Trabzon, Borçka and Gümüşhane regions were 2.19 ± 0.87%, 0.90 ± 0.70% and 0.59 ± 0.25%, respectively, the mean U values for Trabzon, Borçka and Gümüşhane regions were 2.12 ± 0.76 ppm and 1.29 ± 0.68 ppm and 0.90 ± 0.32 ppm, and the average Th values were calculated as 6.54 ± 2.32 ppm, 2.49 ± 1.93 ppm and 1.33 ± 0.60 ppm for Trabzon, Borçka and Gümüşhane regions, respectively. The average Th/U values are 3.38 ± 1.48 for the Trabzon region, 2.01 ± 1.22 for the Borçka region, and 1.69 ± 1.09 for the Gümüşhane region. Average U/Th values were calculated as 0.35 ± 0.14, 0.71 ± 0.52 and 0.89 ± 0.72 for the Trabzon, Borçka and Gümüşhane regions, respectively. The RHP values were determined as 1.16 ± 0.35 μW m - 3, 0.58 ± 0.33 μW m - 3 and 0.37 ± 0.10 μW m - 3 for Trabzon, Borçka and Gümüşhane regions, respectively. The Tertiary aged rocks in the EPOB that we have examined within this study scope have been derived from an enriched mantle, previously metasomatized by fluids derived from subducted slab. The parental magma of Eocene basaltic rocks was contaminated with crustal material during the ascension of the magma through the crust or in the shallow-level crustal magma chambers.

Maden, Nafiz; Akaryalı, Enver; Çelik, Necati

We have carried out 48 in situ measurements on radioactivities of 238U, 232Th and 40K isotopes at the Gümüşhane granitoid plutons employing gamma-ray spectrometer with a NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. The radionuclide activity concentrations of 40K, 238U and 232Th ranged from 62.6 to 1680.8 Bq kg−1, 2.5 to 119.9 Bq kg−1 and 3.3 to 92.4 Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean concentration of natural radionuclides (40K, 238U and 232Th) was found to be 638.5 ± 421.6 Bq kg−1, 40.8 ± 27.4 Bq kg−1 and 33.5 ± 25.5 Bq kg−1, respectively. The mean values of the radium equivalent and the external hazard index were 137.9 ± 80.6 Bq kg−1 and 0.37 ± 0.22, respectively. The value of annual effective dose equivalent value (81.8 μSv year−1) is lower on average than in the world average of 460 μSv year−1. The external hazard index acquired in this study did not exceed the international safety standard levels, which means that Gümüşhane pluton does not produce any radiation hazards to the dwellers.