Ferkan Sipahi

Geochronological evidence and tectonic significance of Carboniferous magmatism in the southwest Trabzon area, eastern Pontides, Turkey

The northern and southern zones of the eastern Pontides (northeast Turkey) contain numerous plutons of varying ages and compositions. Geochemical and isotopic results on two Hercynian granitoid bodies located in the northern zone of the eastern Pontides allow a proper reconstruction of their origin for the first time. The intrusive rocks comprise four distinct bodies, two of which we investigated in detail. Based on LA–ICP–MS U–Pb zircon dating, the Derinoba and Kayadibi granites have similar 206Pb/238U versus 207Pb/235U Concordia ages of 311.1 ± 2.0 and 317.2 ± 3.5 million years for the former and 303.8 ± 1.5 million years for the latter. Aluminium saturation index values of both granites are between 0.95 and 1.35, indicating dominant peraluminous melt compositions. Both intrusions have high SiO2 (74–77 wt.%) contents and show high-K calc-alkaline and I- to S-type characteristics. Primitive mantle-normalized element diagrams display enrichment in K, Rb, Th, and U, and depletion in Ba, Nb, Ta, Sr, P, and Ti. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns are characterized by concave-upward shapes and pronounced negative Eu anomalies with Lacn/Ybcn = 4.6–9.7 and Eucn/Eu* = 0.11–0.59 (Derinoba), and Lacn/Ybcn = 2.7–5.5 and Eucn/Eu* = 0.31–0.37 (Kayadibi). These features imply crystal-melt fractionation of plagioclase and K-feldspar without significant involvement of garnet. The Derinoba samples have initial ϵNd values between –6.1 and –7.1 with Nd model ages and T DM between 1.56 and 2.15 thousand million years. The Kayadibi samples show higher initial ϵNd(I) values, –4.5 to –6.2, with Nd model ages between 1.50 and 1.72 thousand million years. This study demonstrates that the Sr isotope ratios generally display negative correlation with Nd isotopes; Sr isotope ratios were lowered in some samples by hydrothermal interaction or alteration. Isotopic and petrological data suggest that both granites were produced by the partial melting of early Palaeozoic lower crustal rocks, with minor contribution from the mantle. Collectively, these rocks represent a late stage of Hercynian magmatism in the eastern Pontides.

Geochemistry of dacitic volcanics in the Eastern Pontides (NE Turkey)

Dacitic rocks that crop out around the Zigana Mountain (Gümüşhane) in the eastern Pontide (NE Turkey), are mainly composed of quartz, plagioclase, sanidine, amphibole, muscovite, and biotite as the main minerals. Zircon and rutile are the accessory minerals. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, and covellite are the opaque components. On the basis of trace-element data, dacites have been classified as Dacite-I and Dacite-II. Dacite-I is tholeitic-transitional, whereas Dacite-II is transitional-calc-alkaline. The geochemical variation can be explained by the fractionation of the common mineral phases, such as plagioclase, hornblende, magnetite, and apatite. Dacites also show island-arc properties, with negative Nb, Sr, P, and Ti anomalies. The trace-element distrubitions of the dacitic rocks reflect the typical characteristics of rocks from the subduction-related tectonic setting, with enrichment of large-ion lithofile elements and light rare-earth element, but depletion in high-field-strength elements. The dacitic rocks are developed through plagioclase ± hornblende-controlled fractionation from the same parental magma that settled in two successive stages and are derived from an enriched source, probably by the mixing of slab-derived and lithospheric melts.

Late Cretaceous arc igneous activity: the Eğrikar Monzogranite example

ABSTRACT The geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope properties, as well as the Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma and Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U–Pb zircon age, of Eğrikar Monzogranite in the eastern Pontides, are primarily investigated in this study with the aim of determining its magma source and geodynamic evolution. The U–Pb zircon age obtained from Eğrikar Monzogranite is 78 ± 1.5 Ma, thereby reflecting the age of monzogranite. The I-type Eğrikar Monzogranite comprises quartz, plagioclase (An35–45), orthoclase, muscovite, and biotite. The geochemical analyses of the Eğrikar Monzogranite indicate being medium K calc-alkaline, peraluminous, and resembling magmatic arc granite. The Eğrikar Monzogranite is enriched in large ion lithophile elements and light rare earth elements relative to high field strength elements. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns have concave upward shapes (LaN/YbN 2.47–8.58) with pronounced negative Eu anomalies (EuN/Eu* = 0.29–0.65). Initial εNd(i) values vary between 1.85 and 2.18 and initial 87Sr/86Sr values between 0.7048 and 0.7067. Fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, and apatite played an important role in the evolution of Eğrikar Monzogranite. The crystallization temperatures of the melts ranged from 770°C to 919°C based on zircon and apatite saturation temperatures. The geochemical and isotopic data suggest being generated by the partial melting of mafic lower crustal sources.

Concentrations of elements in Lias coals from the eastern Black Sea Region, NE-Turkey

ABSTRACT The element contents and organic matter-element relation between Lias-aged coals exposed in four fields in Gümüşhane and Bayburt were investigated. In general, fixed carbon and gross calorific values of the Edire and Balkaynak coals are higher than Güvercinlik and Çerçi coals. The highest ash yields were observed in the Çerçi coals. The concentrations of Mg, P, Ca, Mo, Y, Ni, U, Zn, Ga, Ba, W, Sr, Ta, and Be of the analysed coals are positively correlated with ash yield, indicating an organic affinity. The Lias-aged coals located in Gümüşhane and Bayburt are low-rank coals.

Organic Maturity and Hydrocarbon Potential of Liassic Coals from the Eastern Pontides, NE Turkey

Organic matter content, type of organic material, and thermal maturity of Lias-aged coals of the Gumushane and Bayburt areas were investigated. The total organic carbon contents of coals in the Gumushane area range from 0.39–35.46 wt%, and in the Bayburt area range from 0.02–50.64 wt%. The Gumushane (except Güvercinlik field) and Bayburt areas coals have low hydrogen index values. The coal samples contain a mixture of Type II and Type III kerogens. Based on average Tmax values Liassic coals in the Gumushane and Bayburt (except Cerci field) areas are mature, and potential yields are low.