Late Cretaceous arc igneous activity: the Erikar 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 Erikar 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 Erikar Monzogranite is 78 +/- 1.5Ma, thereby reFLecting the age of monzogranite. The I-type Erikar Monzogranite comprises quartz, plagioclase (An(35-45)), orthoclase, muscovite, and biotite. The geochemical analyses of the Erikar Monzogranite indicate being medium K calc-alkaline, peraluminous, and resembling magmatic arc granite. The Erikar 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 (La-N/Yb-N 2.47-8.58) with pronounced negative Eu anomalies (Eu-N/Eu*=0.29-0.65). Initial epsilon Nd-(i) values vary between 1.85 and 2.18 and initial Sr-87/Sr-86 values between 0.7048 and 0.7067. Fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, and apatite played an important role in the evolution of Erikar Monzogranite. The crystallization temperatures of the melts ranged from 770 degrees C to 919 degrees 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.