Post-collisional Tertiary volcanic rocks in the Ulubey (Ordu) area at the western edge of the eastern Pontides palaeo-arc are divided into four suites. The Yenisayaca basalt (TB) contains plagioclase (An_{61-83}), clinopyroxene (Wo_{42-44}En_{39-41}Fs_{15-18}) and olivine phenocrysts and titanomagnetite microphenocrysts, whereas the Çatal Tepe and Elekçioğlu Tepe suite (ÇES), Işık Tepe suite (ITS) and andesite/ trachyandesite suite (ATS) rocks include plagioclase (An_{23-78}), clinopyroxene (Wo_{27-48}En_{37-55}Fs_{11-26}), hornblende (Mg#= 0.63-0.76), biotite (Mg#= 0.63-0.82), sanidine phenocrysts and titanomagnetite and apatite microphenocrysts. Petrochemically, the volcanic rocks show tholeiitic-alkaline to the calc-alkaline affinities, and have medium to high-K contents. Most samples have low Mg#, Cr, and Ni, which indicates that they have undergone significant fractional crystallization from mantle-derived melts. The geochemical variations can be explained by fractionation of common mineral phases such as clinopyroxene ± plagioclase ± magnetite in the Yenisayaca basalt, and hornblende + biotite + plagioclase ± magnetite ± apatite ± sanidine in the Çatal Tepe and Elekçioğlu Tepe suite, Işık Tepe suite and andesite/trachyandesite suite rocks. N-Type MORB-normalized trace element patterns show that Ulubey volcanic rocks are enriched in LILE and to a lesser extent in Th and Ce, but depleted in Zr, Y and TiO_2. Besides, the rocks have depletion in Nb and Ta relative to LILE, moderate LREE/HREE ratios and high Th/Yb ratios, all of which indicate that parental magma(s) probably derived from an enriched source region (probably lithospheric mantle) which was previously modified by fluids. The C1-chondrite-normalized REE patterns are concave with low to medium enrichment, indicating similar source areas for the Yenisayaca Basalt, Çatal Tepe and Elekçioğlu Tepe suite, Işık Tepe suite and andesite/trachyandesite suite. The REE patterns also imply that negative Eu anomalies are probably associated with plagioclase fractionation in the evolution of the rocks.
The Eastern Pontides orogenic belt in NE Turkey hosts numerous I-type plutons of Eocene epoch. Here, we report new U–Pb SHRIMP zircon ages and in situ zircon Lu-Hf isotopes along with bulk-rock geochemical and Sr-Nd-Pb-O isotope data from the Kemerlikdağı, Aydıntepe and Pelitli plutons and mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs) to constrain their parental melt source(s) and evolutionary processes. U-Pb SHRIMP zircon dating yielded crystallization ages between 45 and 44 Ma for the studied plutons and their MMEs. The plutons range from gabbro to granite and have I-type, medium to high-K calc-alkaline, and metaluminous to slightly peraluminous characteristics. On the primitive mantle-normalized multi-trace-element variations, the plutons and their MMEs are characterized by significant enrichment in LILE/HFSE. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns of the plutons and their MMEs are close to each other and show moderate enrichment with variable negative Eu anomalies. The studied plutons have fairly homogeneous isotope composition (87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.70502 to 0.70560; εNd(i) = +0.9 to – 1.4; δ18O = +5.0 to +8.7‰, εHf(i) = – 2.2 to +13.5). The MMEs show medium to high-K calc-alkaline and metaluminous character. Although the isotope signatures of the MMEs (87Sr/86Sr(i) = 0.70508 to 0.70542; εNd(i) = +0.9 to −1.1; δ18O = +5.8 to +8.0, εHf(i) = +4.3 to +10.4) are very similar to those of the host rocks. Fractionation of plagioclase, amphibole, pyroxene and Fe-Ti oxides played an important role in the evolution of the plutons. The isotopic composition of the studied plutons and MMEs are similar to I-type plutons derived from mantle sources. The MMEs show incomplete magma mixing/mingling, representing small bodies of mafic parental magma. The parental magma(s) of the studied plutons were generated from the enriched lithospheric mantle and then modified by fractional crystallisation, and lesser assimilation and mixing/mingling in the crustal magma chambers.
The highly siderophile element (HSE) or platinum group element (PGE) and Os isotope systematics of basaltic volcanics have recently received a significant attention because of their potential to constrain the petrological processes on magma generation and evolution. The HSE and Os isotope data, which are generally observed at very low concentrations in basalts and obtained by modern enrichment and analytical techniques, are frequently used in petrological studies. The HSE contents and ratios from whole-rock analysis of basalts, and combined evaluation with the theoretical knowledge and modelling of HSE behaviour during the partial melting of mantle and the differentiation of basaltic magma would provide opportunity for geochemical modelling on mantle melting. Besides, HSE contents and Pd-PGE/Ir-PGE ratios are important indicators for the nature of mantle sulfides, the sulfur saturation conditions of the mantle source, sulfide segregation, fractional crystallization, crustal assimilation and partial melting degrees in the origin and evolution of mantle-derived magmas. Therefore, in addition to the traditional whole-rock geochemical data obtained from Cenozoic aged basalts observed widely in Turkey, HSE and Os isotope systematics of these basalts can contribute to define the geochemical features of the mantle source, and to model petrological processes which are effective in the magma evolution.
Monzogabbro stocks including felsic enclaves (monzosyenite) around the Bafra (Samsun) area at the western edge of the Eastern Pontides cut Eocene-aged volcanic and sedimentary units. The monzogabbros contain plagioclase, alkali feldspar, clinopyroxene, olivine, hornblende, biotite, apatite, and iron-titanium oxides, whereas the felsic enclaves contain alkali feldspar, plagioclase, hornblende, biotite, clinopyroxene, and iron-titanium oxides. Mineral chemistry data suggest that magmas experienced hydrous and anhydrous crystallization in deep and shallow crustal magma chambers. Several thermobarometers were used to estimate temperatures of crystallization and emplacement for the mafic and felsic magmas. Clinopyroxene thermobarometry yielded 1100–1232 C and 5.9–8.1 kbar for monzogabbros, and 931–1109 C and 1.8–6.9 kbar for felsic enclaves. Hornblende thermobarometry and oxygen fugacity estimates reveal 739–971°C, 7.0–9.2 kbar and 10−9.71 for monzogabbros and 681–928°C, 3.0–6.1 kbar and 10−11.34 for felsic enclaves. Biotite thermobarometry shows elevated oxygen fugacity varying from 10−18.9–10−11.07 at 632–904°C and 1.29–1.89 kbar for monzogabbros, to 10−15.99 –10−11.82 at 719–873°C and 1.41–1.77 kbar for felsic enclaves. The estimated zircon and apatite saturation temperatures are 504–590°C and 693–730°C for monzogabbros and 765–775°C and 641–690°C for felsic enclaves, respectively. These data imply that several phases in the gabbroic and syenitic magmas did not necessarily crystallize simultaneously and further indicate that the mineral compositions may register intervals of disequilibrium crystallization. Besides, thermobarometry contrasts between monzogabbro and felsic enclave may be partly a consequence of extended interactions between the mafic and felsic magmas by mixing/mingling and diffusion. Additionally, the hot felsic magma was close to liquidus conditions (crystallinity < 30%) when injected into cooler mafic magma (crystallinity > 50%), and thus, the monzogabbro stocks reflect hybrid products from the mingling and incomplete mixing of these two magmas.
The evaluation of the geothermal potential of the granitic rocks is important in long-term sustainable renewable energy projects due to increasing energy demand. The Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt in NE Turkey contains a variety of granitic plutons changing in age, size, and composition. In this paper, we discussed the temporal and spatial distribution of radiogenic heat production by using the contents of heat-producing elements (U, Th, K) of the granitic plutons. The average U, Th, and K concentrations for the granitic plutons are 2.97±0.95 ppm, 13.48±3.48 ppm and 2.69±0.47 wt.% for Paleozoic plutons, 1.83±0.98 ppm, 8.58±5.10 ppm and 1.77±0.80 wt.% for Jurassic plutons, 5.24±1.64 ppm, 26.02±6.43 ppm and 3.17±0.49 wt.% for Cretaceous plutons, and 3.82±0.90 ppm, 15.79±4.27 ppm and 2.88±0.40 wt.% for Eocene plutons, respectively. Radiogenic heat production rates are 1.43-2.73 µW/m3 for Paleozoic plutons, 0.74-1.70 µW/m3 for Jurassic plutons, 0.66-6.28 µW/m3 for Cretaceous plutons and 1.15-5.22 µW/m3 for Eocene plutons. The studied plutons were classified as low- to moderate heat-producing granitoids. However, some Cretaceous and Eocene granitic plutons with radiogenic heat production values of 5.22-6.28 µW/m3 are considered as high heat-producing granitoids. The thermal indications in the region can be related to radiogenic heat generation and the neotectonic activity of the region. Considering the large volume of the Cretaceous- and Eocene- aged granitic plutons in the Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt, the moderate to high radiogenic heat production of the granitic plutons in some areas has a significant geothermal impact and can be considered as the potential of enhanced geothermal systems for the future energy demand of the region.