Neogene–Quaternary Magmatism of the Çaldıran Plain and its Vicinity (Eastern Turkey): an Example of Post-Collisional Transition from Subduction to Intraplate Type

This paper is aimed at studying the chronological evolution of the Neogene–Quaternary volcanic activity within the Çaldıran plain and its mountainous framing (Eastern Turkey). It is shown that the last pulse of continental-margin magmatism related to the subduction and closure of Neotethys oceanic basin occurred in the Middle Miocene (13.5–12.5 Ma). The post-collision volcanism proceeding simultaneously with large-scale regional tectonic rearrangement and initiation of the long-term Çaldıran fault began in the Late Miocene (7–6 Ma), and reached maximum activity in the Middle Pliocene (4.7–3.6 Ma). The Quaternary period in the region evolution was marked by the abundant within-plate magmatic activity restricted to the regional SW–NE trending zone, and the formation of Eastern Turkey’s largest Tendürek shield volcano (Late Pleistocene–Holocene). Petrological-geochemical data indicate that magmas during the overall evolution of young volcanism of the Çaldıran plain was generated from a single mantle reservoir, whose composition gently one-way evolved with time. Calculations show that melting occurred in the upper part of the asthenosphere (immediately near the boundary with thinned lithospheric mantle), which was metasomatized by pre-existing long-continued subduction. The chemical variations of mantle source with time (from the Middle Miocene to Quaternary) were mainly determined by a decrease of subduction component and the presence of aqueous phases, with a general trend from E-MORB to OIB-type for generated magmas. The composition of Late Quaternary basic lavas of Tendürek Volcano in terms of most petrological-geochemical characteristics corresponds to within-plate alkaline basalts. The main trend of geochemical evolution of mantle source is correlated with a systematic change of the predominant serial affinity of igneous rocks from calcalkaline through moderately alkaline to Na-alkaline varieties. Discrete character of young magmatism within the Çaldıran plain, and its subsequent evolution (sulrasubduction → post-collision → within-plate) were mainly determined by periodical large-scale changes in geotectonic setting within the Eurasian–Arabian collision zone: (1) cessation of subduction, (2) break-up and deepening of oceanic slab with its subsequent break off, (3) inferred emergence of incipient rift setting under conditions of intense submeridional compression.