Magmatic evolution of the Calc-alkaline Middle Jurassic igneous rocks in the eastern pontides, NE Turkey: insights from geochemistry, whole-rock Sr-Nd-Pb, in situ zircon Lu-Hf isotopes, and U-Pb geochronology

The Eastern Pontides in NE Turkey hosts a very limited number of plutonic rocks from the Jurassic period. Here we submit new geochemical, Sr-Nd-Pb and zircon Lu-Hf isotope data, and zircon U-Pb ages for plutonic rocks in this region. Zircon U-Pb dating for the Alemdar and Isikdere plutons yielded an age of 175-170 Ma (Middle Jurassic). The Alemdar and Isikdere plutons have I-type, medium to high-K calc-alkaline series, and metaluminous to slightly peraluminous characteristics. On PM-normalized diagrams, the plutons are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements (LILEs) with pronounced depletion of high field strength elements (HFSEs, Ta, Nb, Ti). Chondrite-normalized plots for the plutons show variable enrichment in light rare earth elements (LREEs) with depletion of heavy rare earth elements (HREEs). The rocks of the Alemdar Pluton have homogeneous I-Sr values (0.70585 to 0.70673), low epsilon Nd-(i) values (-3.9 to -1.6), pozitif epsilon Hf-(i) values (+3.3 to +9.1), and Hf single-stage model ages (563-712 Ma), whereas those of Isikdere have high I-Sr values (0.70666 to 0.70673), low epsilon Nd-(i) values (-3.9 to -3.8), epsilon Hf-(i) values (-3.1 to +1.1), and Hf single-stage model ages (791-969 Ma). These values imply that they have different sources. These results suggest that the magma of the Alemdar was formed by the partial melting of a relatively depleted lithospheric mantle wedge interaction of the OIB-like melts, while those of Isikdere have derived from the partial melting of an enriched mantle metasomatized by slab-derived sediments and then modified by fractional crystallization and crustal contamination in crustal magma chambers. Considering the available data, we conclude that the studied plutons were related to extensional tectonic events during the Middle Jurassic in response to the roll-back of the Paleotethys oceanic slab in the final stage of oceanic closure. These rocks are an example of the formation of deep subduction products following Early Jurassic subduction.

Automated summary

The plutonic rocks in the Eastern Pontides in NE Turkey have been studied using new geochemical, isotopic and geochronological data. Two different plutons were identified, one formed by partial melting of a depleted mantle and the other formed by partial melting of an enriched mantle metasomatized by slab-derived sediments. These rocks provide insights into the tectonic events during the Middle Jurassic, related to the closure of the Paleotethys oceanic slab.