Cicerali, Derya; Yücel, Cem; Aydinçakir, Emre; Kaygusuz, Abdullah

This study aimed to constrain the crystallization and emplacement conditions of magmas that produced the Late Miocene volcanic rocks exposed at the junction of the Erzurum-Kars Plateau and the Eastern Pontides in the Northeastern Anatolia Region through a series of thermobarometric analyses. The volcanic succession unconformably overlies Oligocene mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone alternations, with limestone and cherty limestone at higher levels. Petrographically, they consist offine-to coarse-grained basalt, basaltic andesite, and andesite. Mineral compositions include plagioclase (An(16-77)), clinopyroxene (Wo(39-45)En(43-50)Fs(11-12)), orthopyroxene (Wo(3-4)En(73-82)Fs(14-24)), olivine (Fo(63-86)), hornblende (Mg#=0.62-0.79), and Fe-Ti oxides (Usp(0.05-1.44), Ilm(94.10-95.53)). The groundmass comprises microlites of these minerals and volcanic glass. The dominant textures are microlitic porphyritic, hyalomicrolitic, and microlitic porphyritic, while glomeroporphyritic, intergranular, pilotaxitic, subophitic, flow, and vesicular textures are also observed. Widely present disequilibrium features, such as zoning, sieve, and resorption, are common in plagioclase and clinopyroxene. Thermobarometric calculations indicate crystallization temperatures of 880-1230 degrees C, pressures of 0.73-8.71 kbar, oxygen fugacities between (-10.94) and (-8.92), and water contents of4.60-6.32 wt.%. These results suggest that the volcanic rocks crystallized under volatile-rich, oxidizing conditions across a broad depth range (similar to 2-32 km), at relatively high temperatures.

Güloğlu, Zikrullah Samet; Kaygusuz, Abdullah; Aydinçakir, Emre; YÜCELc, Cem

The Eastern Pontides host a diverse suite of plutonic rocks spanning a wide range of ages and compositions. Among these, the Middle Eocene Kazıkbeli pluton, located in the Kürtün district of Gümüşhane, stands out due to its distinctive petrological characteristics. This study aims to unravel the petrological implications of petrographic and mineral chemical data to determine the physicochemical conditions (temperature, pressure, oxygen fugacity) under which the Kazıkbeli magma crystallized and was emplaced. By integrating mineral chemical data, we seek to quantify emplacement pressure, crystallization temperature, and oxygen fugacity. A comprehensive understanding of the genetic relationships and physicochemical properties of the Kazıkbeli pluton rocks, as determined through geological, petrographic and mineral chemistry, is crucial for elucidating the geological evolution of the Eastern Pontides. The Kazıkbeli Pluton exhibits a predominant NE-SW orientation and encompasses an area of roughly 46 km2. Modal mineralogical analysis reveals a compositional spectrum ranging from gabbroic diorite to monzogranite, with granodiorite and tonalite being the most prominent rock types. Textural variations encompass fine-to medium-grained, porphyritic, poikilitic, and occasionally graphic textures. The primary mineral assemblage of the pluton comprises plagioclase, orthoclase, quartz, amphibole, biotite, and Fe-Ti oxides. Accessory minerals include zircon, apatite, sphene, and allanite. Plagioclases are labradorite to oligoclase (An26 to An66) in composition. K-feldspar minerals exhibited an orthoclase composition (Or80 to Or97). All amphiboles belong to the calcic amphibole field and exhibit a magnesio-hornblende (Mg#=0.63-0.73) composition. Biotites crystallized as solidified melt products with compositions between annite and phlogopite endmembers, plotting close to the magnesium-rich (Mg#=0.52-0.58) end of the phlogopite solid solution series. Calculated crystallization temperatures derived from amphibole and biotite data range from 712°C to 824°C. Pressure estimations calculated using amphibole-plagioclase, amphibole and biotite suggest a range of 0.04 to 2.06 kbar. Oxygen fugacity (ƒO2) values calculated using amphibole and biotite fall between -12.5 and -16.1. Amphibole-based water content estimations indicate a range of 3.7% to 5.7% for the pluton. Biotite compositions within the studied Kazıkbeli pluton rocks exhibit characteristics suggestive of a potential mantle origin. Geobarometric calculations based on mineral chemistry data with geological and petrographic features indicate the emplacement of the Kazıkbeli Pluton at relatively shallow depths within the crust (~1 to 8 km).

Aydinçakir, Emre; Yücel, Cem; Kaygusuz, Abdullah; Bilici, Ozgur; Yilmazer, Sinan; Ruffet, Gilles

The mineral chemistry, whole-rock geochemistry, 40 Ar / 39 Ar dating and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes of the Eocene Narman (Erzurum) Volcanic rocks in the southeast of the Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt (EPOB, NE Turkiye) were investigated. The Narman Volcanites consist of basaltic dyke, basaltic lava, and basaltic volcanic breccia facies. Volcanites contain plagioclase (An34-80), 34-80 ), clinopyroxene (Wo38- 38- 47En41-50Fs5-18), En 41-50 Fs 5-18 ), and olivine (Fo 68-90 ) as phenocrystals with magnetite/titanomagnetite microphenocrysts. New 40 Ar- 39 Ar ages suggest that these volcanic rocks erupted between 44.5 +/- 0.1 and 43.4 +/- 0.1 Ma, within the Middle Eocene (Lutetian). Narman Volcanites have calcalkaline character, with medium-high K content. Volcanites are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), while they are depleted in terms of high field strength elements (HFSE). Chondrite-normalized rare earth element distributions have concave shape with moderate enrichment (LaN/LuN= N /Lu N = 2.78-7.99), leading to consideration that the magmas forming the volcanics derived from similar sources. Isotopically, the rocks in the Narman Volcanites have low-medium initial 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values (0.70405-0.70485), initial 143 Nd/ 144 Nd values (0.512606-0.512848) and positive Nd i (+0.5 - +5.2). Depleted mantle Nd model ages were T DM1 = 0.29-0.62 Ga and T DM2 =0.43-0.83 Ga. (206Pb/204Pb)i, 206 Pb/ 204 Pb) i , (207Pb/204Pb)i, 207 Pb/ 204 Pb) i , and (208Pb/204Pb)i 208 Pb/ 204 Pb) i values vary in the ranges of 18.246-18.709, 15.578-15.616, and 38.225-38.791, respectively. The initial (176Hf/177Hf)i 176 Hf/ 177 Hf) i ratios for the volcanites are between 0.282770 and 0.283013, while the epsilon Hf values range from +7.6 to +9. All the evidence supports the conclusion that the parental magma for the rocks probably derived from an enriched lithospheric mantle, previously metasomatized by fluids derived from subducted slab during asthenospheric upwelling, due to fragmented asymmetric delamination in a postcollisional extensional tectonic environment.

Dokuz, Abdurrahman; Alçiçek, Mehmet Cihat; Tunçdemir, Vahdet; Kandemir, Raif; Aydinçakir, Emre

The processes that caused removal of the upper Carboniferous to Permian sediments in the eastern Sakarya Zone, Turkey, are modeled by using of geochemical data and LA-ICP-MS U-Pb ages from detrital zircons. A felsic provenance and passive margin setting during the deposition of the upper Carboniferous catalcesme sediments are inferred from the geochemistry of sandstones (SiO2 > 85 wt%). Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA) values (75 - 81) indicate warm and humid climatic conditions and tectonic tranquility during deposition. Fifty-three (58%) concordant zircon grains produce a youngest age population in the range of 308.7 +/- 4.4 to 342.1 +/- 6.9 Ma, typical for the Variscan events. The burgundy color and upward-fining in clast size and bed thickness are the most prominent features of the concordantly overlying Hardisi Formation. Geochemistry (SiO2 = 66-81 wt%) and CIA values (58-65) of the clastic rocks point to a subduction-related tectonic setting and increasing rate of erosion in the source area. We highlight that the catalcesme sediments were deposited in a back-arc basin opened to the south of a continental ribbon separated from Gondwana. Approaching of the Paleotethyan mid-ocean ridge to the subduction zone was resulted in flattening in subducting slab, which in turn caused the back-arc basin to migrate into the interior parts of Gondwana and the former back-arc basin to evolve into a lacustrine setting. Increase in the elevation of source areas was resulted in an increase in the rate of physical erosion and trans-portation of burgundy Hardisi clastic sediments into the lacustrine basin.

Aydinçakir, Emre; Gündüz, Ramazan; Yücel, Cem

In this study, the petrography, mineral chemistry and crystallization conditions were reported for the Alemdar and Işıkdere plutons located in limited areas in the south of the Eastern Pontides. These plutons, which trend mostly in NE-SW directions, were emplaced by cutting the Early-Middle Carboniferous-aged Gümüşhane Granitoid and Early-Middle Jurassic Şenköy formation. Petrographically, the studied plutons are compositionally fine to medium grained quartz-diorite, quartz monzodiorite and tonalite. The rocks in the plutons have granular, poikilitic, monzonitic, graphic and rare porphyritic textures with consist of plagioclase, (An05-92), hornblende (Mg# = 0.52-0.81), biotite (Mg# = 0.32-0.67), orthoclase, quartz and Fe-Ti oxide. According to thermobarometric calculations, plutons have crystallization temperatures, pressures and oxygen fugacity values ranging from 541°C to 938°C, 0.1 to 4.4 kbar, and -23 to-12, respectively. The estimated water content calculated from amphibole is between 4.4 to 7.8%. It can be concluded that the studied plutons were emplaced at mid to shallow crustal depths (~4-15 km).

Dokuz, Abdurrahman; Aydinçakir, Emre; Kandemir, Raif; Karsli, Orhan; Siebel, Wolfgang; Derman, Ahmet Sami; Turan, Mehmet

Middle-Late Jurassic Cimmerian events in Turkey have been actively discussed in the past three decades, but proposed tectonic models associated with magmatism, metamorphism, and stratigraphic features remain controversial. To address this issue, Upper Jurassic mafic lavas are investigated at three locations (Alucra, Gumushane, and Olur) in the eastern Sakarya Zone, northeastern Turkey. These lavas are submarine and form planar flows parallel with the bedding plane in the Upper Jurassic carbonate sequence near the base or just below in the clastic sedimentary rocks. The basaltic lavas show calc-alkaline features and possess Nb-Ta values and Nb/U, Nb/La, and Ce/Pb ratios that are greater than those of island arc basalts. Multielement patterns are almost hump shaped, similar to ocean island basalts, which experience Pb depletion and weak negative Nb-Ta, Zr-Hf, and Ti anomalies. The low initial (Sr-87/Sr-86) ratios (0.70372-0.70554), positive initial epsilon(Nd) values (+2.7 to +4.4), and initial Pb isotope ratios that plot between mid-ocean-ridge and ocean island basalts are consistent with a melt derived from subcontinental lithospheric mantle, metasomatized by earlier fluids from subducted sediments and plume materials from the asthenosphere. Moderate Dy/Yb ratios with an average value of 1.8 imply partial melting in the spinel-garnet transition zone at depths of similar to 70-100 km. Slab breakoff is suggested as a geodynamic mechanism that accounts for these geochemical signatures. This inference is also favored by stratigraphic and sedimentologic evidence from the Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous sedimentary rocks, which is consistent with short-lived vertical (epirogenic) movements in the region. Lower-Middle Jurassic sequences are transgressive, suggesting that subduction-related extension opened a backarc basin (Neotethys) in the south of the Sakarya Zone. Upper Jurassic-Lower Cretaceous carbonates point tectonically to tranquility during carbonate deposition in the Neotethys Ocean, which seems to have been achieved by complete closure of the Paleotethys in the north. About 15-20 m.yr. later (Kimmeridgian), after first carbonate deposition, intraplate-typemafic lavas ascended up to the shelf surface of the Neotethys. This was followed by formation of disconformity surfaces and then accumulation of coarse clastic sediments. All this points to a short-lived epirogenic movement that we ascribe to the breakoff of the southward-subducting Paleotethyan oceanic lithosphere in the Late Jurassic.

Dokuz, Abdurrahman; Külekçi, Elif; Aydinçakir, Emre; Kandemir, Raif; Alçiçek, M. Cihat; Pecha, Mark E.; Sünnetçi, Kadir

The Cebre Rhyolite with an outcropping area up to 12 km(2) is one of the rare extrusions in the Variscan basement of the Sakarya Zone. The unit consists of high-K calc alkaline rhyolites (SiO2 = 74-82 wt.%). Abundant phenocrysts of quartz and K-feldspar are accompanied by subordinate cordierite phenocrysts, rare muscovite microphenocrysts and biotite microcrysts set in a fine-grained groundmass. Three types of rock fragments (xenoliths) have been recognized; (i) porphyritic, (ii) equigranular hypabyssal and (iii) hypocrystalline fragments. Zircon U-Pb dating indicates that the Cebre Rhyolite was extruded at 332.8 +/- 4.38 Ma, which post-dates the Variscan low temperature metamorphism and pre-dates the emplacement of I-type granitic intrusions (325-303 Ma).The samples are strongly peraluminous with A/CNK values ranging from 1.48 to 2.95 and A/NK from 1.49 to 2.99. They have very high K2O (3.72-7.42 wt.%) and Al2O3 (10.77-14.11 wt.%) contents, but very low CaO (0.02-0.21 wt.%), Na2O (0.05-0.78 wt.%) and MgO (0.3-0.21 wt.%) contents. The samples show geochemical affinity with the upper continental crust, e.g., enrichment of large ion lithophile elements (LILEs; K, Rb, U, Th, Pb), depletion of high field strength elements (HFSEs; Nb, Ta, Ti), Sr, P and Eu, but epsilon Nd-(t) values (- 3.06 to - 8.75) and isotope ratios of Sr-(t)((87) Sr/Sr-86 = 0.70499-0.70915) and Pb-(t) (Pb-206/Pb-204 = 16.41-17.570, Pb-207/Pb-204 = 15.54-15.59, Pb-208/Pb-204 = 36.20-37.22) are similar to those of the lower crust. Geochemical and isotope data indicate that the Cebre Rhyolite was generated by melting of metapelitic rocks with some addition of intermediate metaigneous derived magma. As a geodynamic model, we propose that the Variscan Orogeny in Turkey was occurred by collision of Gondwana with an arc/terrane separated from the southern margin of Laurussia. This collision was followed shortly after by splitting of oceanic lithosphere into two pieces and sinking down into asthenosphere. Rapid upwelling of asthenosphere to space emptied by previous oceanic lithosphere provided heat for high temperature metamorphism and anatexis of metasedimentary rocks in the crust. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Aydinçakir, Emre

Whole-rock geochemistry, mineral chemistry, the 40Ar-39Ar age, and Sr-Nd isotopic data are presented for the Early Eocene non-adakitic volcanic rocks on the eastern corner of the Eastern Pontides orogenic belt (NE Turkey). The tectonic setting of the Eastern Pontides during the Late Mesozoic to Early Cenozoic remains a topic of debate. Here, for the first time, we describe the Early Eocene non-adakitic volcanic rocks from the Eastern Pontides. These rocks contain plagioclase, hornblende phenocrysts, and magnetite/titanomagnetite and apatite microphenocrysts. Geochronology studies based on the 40Ar-39Ar ratio of the amphibole separates reveal that the non-adakitic porphyritic volcanic rocks have a crystallization age of 50.04±0.10 to 50.47±0.22Ma (Ypresian). The volcanic rocks show tholeiitic to calc-alkaline affinities and have low-to-medium K contents. They are also enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILE), light rare-earth elements (LREE), and depleted in high field strength elements (HFSE), with a no negative Eu anomaly (Eun/Eu*=1.03-1.08) in mantle-normalized trace element spidergrams. The samples (Lacn/Lucn=2.60-4.28) show low-to-medium enrichment in LREEs relative to HREEs, in chondrite-normalized REE patterns indicating similar sources for the rock suite. These rocks display a range of ISr (50Ma) values from 0.70451 to 0.70485, and E{open}Nd (50Ma) 2.9 and 3.7. The main solidification processes involved in the evolution of these volcanics consist of fractional crystallization, with minor amounts of crustal contamination. All of our evidence supports the conclusion that the parental magma of the rocks probably derived from an enriched mantle, previously metasomatized by fluids derived from the subducted slab, in a post-collisional, geodynamic setting.

Aydinçakir, Emre; Sen, Cüneyt

Whole-rock geochemistry, 40Ar-39Ar data, and Sr-Nd isotopes are presented for the Eocene Borçka volcanic rocks on the eastern corner of the eastern Pontide orogenic belt (NE Turkey). Borçka (Artvin) volcanic rocks are divided into three suites-basic dyke, Borçka basalt, and Civanköy suite. These rocks contain plagioclase (An49-88), clinopyroxene (Wo38-49En38-54Fs8-25), hornblende (Mg#=0.57-0.74) phenocrysts, and magnetite/titanomagnetite and apatite microphenocrysts. 40Ar-39Ar ages on hornblendes, ranging from 46.9±0.1 to 39.9±0.5Ma, within the middle Eocene. The volcanic rocks show tholeiitic-calc-alkaline affinities and have low-to-medium K contents. They are enriched in large ion lithophile (LILE) and light rare earth elements (LREE), with pronounced depleted high field strength elements (HFSE). The chondrite-normalized REE patterns (Lacn/Lucn=1-19) show low-to-medium enrichment, indicating similar sources for the rock suite. Initial 87Sr/86Sr values [(87Sr/86Sr)46Ma] vary between 0.70423 and 0.70495, while initial 143Nd/144Nd values [(143Nd/144Nd)46Ma] lie between 0.51263 and 0.51285. The main solidification processes involved in the evolution of the volcanics consist of fractional crystallization, with minor amounts of crustal contamination. All our evidences support the conclusion that the parental magma of the rocks probably derived from an enriched mantle, previously metasomatized by fluids derived from subducted slab, in a post-collisional, extension-related geodynamic setting.

Kaygusuz, Abdullah; Sipahi, Ferkan; Ilbeyli, Nurdane; Arslan, Mehmet; Chen, Bin; Aydinçakir, Emre

A series of Cretaceous plutons is present in the eastern Pontides of northeastern Turkey. The Turnagöl intrusion is the least studied and, thus, the least understood plutons in the orogen. This intrusion consists of hornblende-biotite granodiorites emplaced at 78 Ma based on LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating. It is of sub-alkaline affinity, belongs to the medium- to high-K calc-alkaline series, and displays features typical of I-type granites. The rocks of the intrusion are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and light rare earth-elements with negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.69-0.82), but are deficient in high-field-strength elements. They have a small range of ( 87Sr/86Sr)i (0.7060-0.7063), ÉNdi(-2.6 to -3.1), and δ18O (+8.1 to +9.1) values. Their Pb isotopic ratios are 206Pb/204Pb = 18.63-18.65, 207Pb/ 204Pb = 15.62-15.63, and 208Pb/204Pb = 38.53-38.55. The fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, and Fe-Ti oxides had key functions in the evolution of the Turnagöl intrusion. The crystallization temperatures of the melts ranged from 758 to 885 C as determined by zircon and apatite saturation thermometry. All these characteristics, combined with the low values of K2O/Na2O and (Na 2O + K2O)/(FeOt + MgO + TiO2), as well as the high values of (CaO + FeOt + MgO + TiO2), suggest an origin by dehydration melting from a metabasaltic lower crustal source.

Kaygusuz, Abdullah; Aydinçakir, Emre

Rocks of the Late Cretaceous Dagbasi Pluton (88-83 Ma), located in the eastern Pontides, include mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) ranging from a few centimetres to metres in size, and from ellipsoidal to ovoid in shape. The MMEs are composed of gabbroic diorite, diorite and tonalite, whereas the felsic host rocks comprise mainly tonalite, granodiorite and monzogranite based on both mineralogical and chemical compositions. MMEs are characterized by a fine-grained, equigranular and hypidiomorphic texture. The common texture of felsic host rocks is equigranular and also reveals some special types of microscopic textures, e.g., oscillatory-zoned plagioclase, poikilitic K-feldspar, small lath-shaped plagioclase in large plagioclase, blade-shaped biotite, acicular apatite, spike zones in plagioclase and spongy-cellular plagioclase textures and rounded plagioclase megacrysts in MMEs. Compositions of plagioclases (An33-An60), hornblendes (Mg#=0.77-1.0) and biotites (Mg#=0.61-0.63) of MMEs are slightly distinct or similar to those of host rocks (An12-57; hbl Mg#=0.63-1.0; Bi Mg#=0.50-0.69), which suggest partial to complete equilibration during mafic-felsic magma interactions. The felsic host rocks have SiO2 between 60 and 76 wt% and display low to slightly medium-K tholeiitic to calc-alkaline and peraluminous to slightly metaluminous characteristics. Chondrite-normalized rare-earth element (REE) patterns are fractionated (Lacn/Lucn=1.5-7.3) with pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.46-1.1). Initial εNd(i) values vary between -3.1 and 1.6, initial 87Sr/86Sr values between 0.7056 and 0.7067. Compared with the host rocks, the MMEs are characterized by relatively high Mg-number of 22-52, low contents of SiO2 (53-63 wt%), low ASI (0.7-1.1) and low to medium-K tholeiitic to calc-alkaline, metaluminous to peraluminous composition. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns are relatively flat [(La/Yb)cn=1.4-3.9; (Tb/Yb)cn=0.9-1.5] and show small negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu*=0.63-1.01). Isotope signatures of these rocks (87Sr/86Sr(i)=0.7054-0.7055; εNd(i)=-1.0 to 1.9) are largely similar to the host rocks. Gabbroic diorite enclaves have relatively low contents of SiO2, ASI; high Mg#, CaO, Al2O3, TiO2, P2O5, Sr and Nb concentrations compared to dioritic and tonalitic enclaves. The geochemical and isotopic similarities between the MMEs and their host rocks indicate that the enclaves are of mixed origin and are most probably formed by the interaction between the lower crust- and mantle-derived magmas. All the geochemical data suggest that a basic magma derived from an enriched subcontinental lithospheric mantle, interacted with a crustal melt that originated from dehydration melting of the mafic lower crust at deep crustal levels. The existence of compositional and textural disequilibrium and the nature of chemical and isotopic variation in these rock types indicate that magma mixing/mingling between an evolved mafic and a granitic magma was involved in their genesis. Microgranular enclaves are thus interpreted to be globules of a more mafic magma probably from an enriched lithospheric mantle source. Al-in-amphibole estimates the pluton emplacement at ca. 0.3-3.8 kbar, and therefore, magma mixing and mingling must have occurred at 3.8 kbar or below this level.