Petrogenesis and U–Pb zircon chronology of adakitic porphyries within the Kop ultramafic massif (Eastern Pontides Orogenic Belt, NE Turkey)

High-silica adakites intrude the Kop ultramafic massif in the eastern Pontide orogenic belt of NE Turkey. These dominantly dacitic to rhyodacitic plagioclase porphyries form clusters of small intrusions. U–Pb dating of zircons from two intrusions yields ages between 52 and 59 Ma. The best-constrained crystallization age is 55.83 ± 0.04 Ma, indicating that these are the oldest adakitic rocks of the eastern Pontides. The rocks show geochemical signatures typical of adakites. The absence of systematic geochemical variation within the adakite suite indicates a subordinate role for fractional crystallization and binary mixing, and suggests that individual intrusions may represent separate, small batches of magma. Modeling of partial melting suggests that the degree of melting was 5–20%, that the residues after melting likely contained garnet, clinopyroxene, and rutile, and that plagioclase was either absent or totally consumed during partial melting. The most likely source compositions had large-ion lithophile elements > 10 times, and heavy rare earth elements < 10 times, chondritic concentrations. Modeled bulk distribution coefficients indicate that the adakites were generated as silicic magmas, and are not derived by fractional crystallization from basaltic or andesitic parental melts. Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic data indicate at least three isotopically distinct sources, one of which is depleted mantle. The other components include upper crust (possibly a mixture of subducted sediment and Hercynian continental basement rocks) and a component that may include both lower crust and sublithospheric mantle. These adakites are unique among the late Cretaceous and Cenozoic igneous rocks of the eastern Pontides in having a large proportion of the depleted mantle component. The prominent role of the depleted mantle in their petrogenesis suggests that the adakites may be related to a slab window in a south-directed subduction zone.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Individual adakitic intrusions represent discrete batches of magma. ► Sr, Nd, and Pb isotopic data indicate isotopically distinct sources. ► Magmatism in slab window within a south-directed subduction zone.