Petrogenesis of Miocene volcanism in the Central Anatolia: Geochemical, isotopic and geochronological evidence

This paper presents the first ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age data, new bulk-rock major-trace element compositions and Nd[sbnd]Sr isotope geochemistry, combined with detailed geological mapping of Galatia Volcanic Province (GVP) in the northwest Central Anatolia (Turkey). Here, there are voluminous extrusive rocks in a wide compositional range: a basalt, andesite and trachyte suite, and their pyroclastic equivalents. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of two whole-rock samples from the GVP yielded plateau ages of 21.76 ± 0.8 Ma and 20.97 ± 0.5 Ma, constrain the volcanic activity at ca. 21 Ma (Aquitanian). The samples show by sub-parallel light rare earth element (LREE)-enrichment and relatively flat heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns and moderate fractionation [average (La/Yb)_N = 13.5]. Their initial ^87/86Sr values vary between 0.704619 and 0.704998, while initial ^143/144Nd values lie between 0.512673 and 0.512755. Integration of the geochemical and geochronological with geological data we propose that the volcanic rocks in the northern area of GVP with calc-alkaline affinity were produced by a lithospheric mantle magma in an extensional setting.