Volcanological evolution and caldera forming eruptions of Mt. Nemrut (Eastern Turkey)

Mt. Nemrut volcano, situated at the west of Lake Van, is one of the historically active volcanoes of the Eastern Anatolia. It has an 8.5 × 7 km diameter summit caldera. Volcanic activity of Mt. Nemrut started ~ 1 Ma ago; the most recent eruptions were in 1441, 1597 and 1692 A.D. Among the Eastern Anatolian volcanoes, Mt. Nemrut is the most hazardous volcano for its vicinity. Present day volcanic activity is represented by intra-caldera hydrothermal and fumarolic output and low-level volcano-seismic events.Geological evolution and chronostratigraphy of the volcano is subdivided in three stages: pre-caldera, syn-caldera and post-caldera stages. Pre-caldera products are dominated by felsic lava flows and domes. Trachytic Nemrut and Kantaşı pyroclastics represent the caldera forming activity, of which sequences are composed of fallout units and ignimbrite flows. Both Nemrut and Kantaşı ignimbrite units are low-aspect ratio ignimbrites, they are generally densely welded and present columnar jointed outcrops locally. Extent of Nemrut ignimbrite (volume: 32.6 km3) is greater than the Kantaşı ignimbrite (volume: 3.8 km3). Post-caldera activity of the volcano is marked by peralkaline rhyolitic (comendite) intra-caldera lava flows and explosive hydrovolcanic activities. Historical activity of the volcano is represented by bimodal basaltic–rhyolitic effusive activity along Nemrut rift zone.

► Geological evolution of Nemrut volcano was investigated.
► Caldera forming eruptions were examined in detail with a special emphasis.
► Ignimbrites were subdivided into 2 main sequences with several fallout and flow units.
► Physical characteristics of the sequences were summarized.