Abstract
An isotope-geochronological study for a number of young volcanic localities in the eastern part of Balkaria (North Caucasus, Russia), referred to the Neogene–Quaternary stage in the evolution of the Greater Caucasus by previous researchers, was carried out. The results of the K–Ar dating obtained have proved for the first time that volcanic activity was intense in the Late Cenozoic within the territory of modern Eastern Balkaria. It has been established that the young igneous rocks of the Pliocene (4.7–4.0 Ma) Tsana Formation with various compositions (basaltic trachyandesite, dacite, and granodiorite-porphyry) are the most common in the considered region. The area of presence of the rocks of the Tsana Formation was specified within the Russian territory of the North Caucasus. Based on the new isotopic data, the territory that is prospective for exploration of Au–As–Sb–Sn–Mo deposits often associated with young plutonic bodies of potentially ore-bearing Tsana Formation was localized. A new locus of Late Quaternary magmatism where the andesite lava flow was formed ~800–700 ka in the paleovalley of the Udursu River (near the foot of Mt. Cheget-Dzhora) was identified within the Greater Caucasus.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
I. V. Chernyshev, V. A. Lebedev, S. N. Bubnov, et al., in Changes of Natural Environment and Climate: Natural and Possible Consequent Human-Induced Catastrophes (Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Biochemistry RAS, Schmidt Institute of Physics of the Earth RAS, Moscow, 2008), Vol. 2, pp. 206–234 [in Russian].
V. A. Lebedev, S. N. Bubnov, I. V. Chernyshev, and Yu. V. Gol’tsman, Dokl. Earth Sci. 406 (1), 37–41 (2006).
C. A. Gazis, M. Lanphere, H. P. Taylor, et al., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 134, 377–391 (1995).
V. A. Lebedev, O. Z. Dudauri, M. G. Togonidze, et al., Petrology 24 (4), 315–336 (2016).
F. Yu. Levinson-Lessing, Izv. Politekh. Inst. Otd. Tekh., Estestv. and Math. 20 (1), 193–288 (St. Petersburg, 1913).
D. S. Belyankin, Izv. Politekh. Inst. Otd. Tekh., Estestv. and Math. 23 (2), 340–405 (St. Petersburg, 1915).
V. M. Andreev, V. S. Grobman, E. L. Moskalev, and A. G. Nazarov, Geological Map of the Caucasus 1 : 50000, Sheets K-38-27-V and K-38-39-A. Report of Ulluchiranskaya Geological Mapping Party for 1960–1961 (Essentuki, 1962).
T. S. Bedoev, A. B. Tibilova, E. Kh. Kvyat, et al., Report on Geological Prospecting at Khuz-Khura–Musuk-Su Area in Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic for 1973-1975 (Gizel, 1975) [in Russian].
V. N. Vydrin, Report on Exploration-Estimating Works for Tungsten at the Dumala Area for 1991-1993 (Kabbalkgeolkom, Moscow, 1997) [in Russian].
A. M. Gaitukiev and V. I. Pigul’skii, Report of Bezengiyskaya Geological Party for 1955 (Essentuki, 1956) [in Russian].
V. F. Kachurin, V. A. Platkov, V. V. Morozov, et al., Results of Geological Prospecting and Exploration Works in Bezengiyskoe Ore Field and at Its Boundary (Kol’tsovgeologiya, Essentuki, 1991) [in Russian].
I. G. Kuznetsov, Neo-Intrusions in Central and Eastern Balkaria (Northern Caucasus) (Central Research Institute of Geological Prospecting for Base and Precious Metals, Leningrad, 1938) [in Russian].
F. K. Shvidchenko, Petrography of Neointrusive Rocks from the Northern Slopes of the Kashtan-Tau and Dykh-Tau Mountains (Kabardino-Balkarian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic) (Northern-Caucasus Geological Department, Essentuki, 1938) [in Russian].
N. L. Enna, M. M. Kurbanov, and N. I. Prutskii, Geological Map of the Caucasus 1:50000, Sheets No. K-38-27-G, K-38-28-V, K-38-39-B-A, B, K-38-40-A-A, B, G). Report of Urukhskaya Geological Mapping Party on Geological Additional Appraisal of the Mountain Part of Kabardino-Balkiaria and North Ossetia for 1989-1995 (Essentuki, 2001).
L. A. Vardanyants, Izv. Akad. Nauk USSR, Ser. Geol., No. 2, 83–91 (1939).
E. K. Stankevich, The Youngest Magmatism of the Great Caucasus (Nedra, Leningrad, 1976) [in Russian].
I. V. Chernyshev, V. A. Lebedev, and M. M. Arakelyants, Petrology 14 (1), 62–81 (2006).
V. A. Lebedev, A. V. Chugaev, and A. V. Parfenov, Geol. Ore Deposits 60 (4), 328–347 (2018).
V. A. Lebedev, S. N. Bubnov, and A. I. Yakushev, Dokl. Earth Sci. 436 (1), 32–39 (2011).
P. W. Lipman, O. A. Bogatikov, A. A. Tsvetkov, et al., J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 57, 85–124 (1993).
M. J. Le Bas, R. W. Le Maitre, A. Streckeisen, and B. Zanettin, J. Petrol. 27, 745–750 (1986).
P. D. Maniar and P. M. Piccoli, Geology 101, 635–643 (1989).
T. N. Irvine and W. R. A. Baragar, Can. J. Earth Sci. 8, 523–548 (1971).
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful to the director of the Bezengi Mountaineering Training and Sports Camp A.Kh. Anaev for help in organization and realization of field works.
Funding
This study was carried out within the State assignment of the Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, project no. 0136–2019–0013.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated by A. Bobrov
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kaigorodova, E.N., Lebedev, V.A., Chernyshev, I.V. et al. Neogene–Quaternary Magmatism in Eastern Balkaria (North Caucasus, Russia): Evidence from the Isotope–Geochronological Data. Dokl. Earth Sc. 496, 37–44 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1028334X21010098
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1028334X21010098