Whole rock geochemistry, Zircon U–Pb and Hf isotope systematics of the Çangaldağ Pluton: Evidences for Middle Jurassic Continental Arc Magmatism in the Central Pontides, Turkey

The Central Pontides (Turkey) includes several igneous complexes, which are predominantly Permo-Carboniferous and Middle Jurassic in age. The Çangaldağ Pluton is one of the largest igneous bodies located in the northern Central Pontides, whose age and tectono-magmatic evaluation is important to constrain the geological evolution of the Northern Neotethys. The pluton tectonically overlies the Çangaldağ Metamorphic Complex, which represents an arc–back-arc complex of Middle Jurassic age. The Çangaldağ Pluton consists mainly of non-metamorphic gabbroic diorite, dacite porphyry, and lesser amount of granitic rocks. Geochemically, the various rock types are akin to volcanic arc magmas displaying Th/Nb and light rare earth element/heavy rare earth element enrichments. In-situ U–Pb age results of zircons from dacite porphyry and granite samples yield ages of 161 ± 5 Ma and 170 ± 2 Ma, respectively. Corresponding in-situ average 176Hf/177Hf initial ratios are 0.28287 ± 0.00004 and 0.28213 ± 0.00002 for the dacite porphyry and granite samples, respectively. These results are consistent with derivation from a subduction-modified mantle source. Based on Hf isotope compositions, TDM model ages vary between 624 and 1512 Ma and suggest that the arc magmatism associated with the Çangaldağ Pluton may have involved partial melting of Neoproterozoic/Mesoproterozoic crustal rocks, a common feature in Gondwana-derived terranes. The geochemical, Hf isotope, and geochronological data reported here confirm the presence of a continental arc system during the Middle Jurassic in the Central Pontides, and suggests that the Çangaldağ Pluton formed during northward subduction of the Intra-Pontide branch of the Northern Neotethys.