Petrogenesis of Late Cretaceous A-type plutonic rocks from the Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt (NE Turkey): constraints from zircon U-Pb geochronology, zircon Lu-Hf and whole-rock Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopes

The Late Cretaceous magmatic history of the Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt (NE Turkey) was generally characterized by common I-type and lesser A-type plutons in varying size and composition. Of these, A-type plutons from the Sebinkarahisar (Giresun) area yield SHRIMP zircon U-Pb age of 77.36 +/- 0.96 Ma. The rocks of these plutons display a wide range of SiO2 contents (53.63 to 70.96 wt.%) and Mg-numbers (6.2-32.19) with A-type affinities characterized by enrichment in K2O and Na2O, Ga, Zr, and strong negative Eu anomalies. They also show arc-type petrochemical features including enrichment of large-ion lithophile elements (e.g. Cs, K, Rb) and light rare earth elements (LaN/LuN = 6.27-15.61), but depletion in high strength field elements (e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti, and P). The (87Sr/86Sr)i ratios and eNd(i) values of the studied rocks are in the range of 0.705129 to 0.0705347 and -3.64 to -3.12, respectively, while bulk rock eHf(i) values are between 1.86 and 4.36. They are characterized by positive zircon eHf(i) (1.74 to 10.88) plotting between the chondrite and depleted mantle evolutionary line values. Our data combined with the previous studies suggest that the magmas, that formed the Late Cretaceous plutons, were generated in an extensional tectonic environment due to slap roll-back and trench ward migration of the subduction zone to the south. The generation of hybrid magmas forming the studied plutons is in response to the melts derived from a metasomatized lithospheric mantle source, a relatively deeper mantle source, and the juvenile crust along with the heat transfer and decompression. Multi-sourced magmas rise through the continental crust and reach the final composition by predominantly fractional crystallization processes.

Automated summary

The Late Cretaceous magmatic activity in the Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt of NE Turkey was characterized by the intrusion of I-type and A-type plutons. A-type plutons from the Sebinkarahisar area, with ages of approximately 77.36 +/- 0.96 Ma, display characteristics of enrichment in K2O and Na2O, Ga, Zr, and strong negative Eu anomalies. These plutons were formed in an extensional tectonic environment and were sourced from a metasomatized lithospheric mantle and juvenile crust.