The Geochronology and Origin of Mantle Sources for Late Cenozoic Intraplate Volcanism in the Frontal Part of the Arabian Plate in the Karacadag Neovolcanic Area of Turkey. Part 1. The Results of Isotope-Geochronological Studies

Abstract

This paper considers results from isotope-geochronological (K-Ar) studies of the products of Neogene-Quaternary volcanism in the Karacadag area, which is situated within the northern frontal part of the Arabian plate. It was found that magmatic activity has been evolving at this location for at least the last 11-10 Myr and was distinctly discrete in character. Three stages of volcanism have been identified: (I) Early or Miocene, similar to 11-6.7 Ma; (II) Middle or Pliocene-Early Quaternary, 4-1 Ma; and (III) Late or Late Quaternary, 0.4-0.1 Ma. The most recent manifestations of magmatic activity in the region date back to about 100000 years ago. An analysis of the spatial distribution of volcanic centers of different ages in the Karacadag neovolcanic area shows that the magmatism of that region involved a lateral migration of activity from northwest to southeast along a major regional tectonic fault. The migration was caused by the movement of local tension zones where the lithosphere was thinner and deep-seated mantle magmas were ascending.