The northern and southern zones of the eastern Pontides (northeast Turkey) contain numerous plutons of varying ages and compositions. Geochemical and isotopic results on two Hercynian granitoid bodies located in the northern zone of the eastern Pontides allow a proper reconstruction of their origin for the first time. The intrusive rocks comprise four distinct bodies, two of which we investigated in detail. Based on LA–ICP–MS U–Pb zircon dating, the Derinoba and Kayadibi granites have similar ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U versus ²⁰⁷Pb/²³⁵U Concordia ages of 311.1 ± 2.0 and 317.2 ± 3.5 million years for the former and 303.8 ± 1.5 million years for the latter. Aluminium saturation index values of both granites are between 0.95 and 1.35, indicating dominant peraluminous melt compositions. Both intrusions have high SiO₂ (74–77 wt.%) contents and show high-K calc-alkaline and I- to S-type characteristics. Primitive mantle-normalized element diagrams display enrichment in K, Rb, Th, and U, and depletion in Ba, Nb, Ta, Sr, P, and Ti. Chondrite-normalized rare earth element patterns are characterized by concave-upward shapes and pronounced negative Eu anomalies with La_cn/Yb_cn = 4.6–9.7 and Eu_cn/Eu* = 0.11–0.59 (Derinoba), and La_cn/Yb_cn = 2.7–5.5 and Eu_cn/Eu* = 0.31–0.37 (Kayadibi). These features imply crystal-melt fractionation of plagioclase and K-feldspar without significant involvement of garnet. The Derinoba samples have initial ϵNd values between –6.1 and –7.1 with Nd model ages and T _DM between 1.56 and 2.15 thousand million years. The Kayadibi samples show higher initial ϵNd_(I) values, –4.5 to –6.2, with Nd model ages between 1.50 and 1.72 thousand million years. This study demonstrates that the Sr isotope ratios generally display negative correlation with Nd isotopes; Sr isotope ratios were lowered in some samples by hydrothermal interaction or alteration. Isotopic and petrological data suggest that both granites were produced by the partial melting of early Palaeozoic lower crustal rocks, with minor contribution from the mantle. Collectively, these rocks represent a late stage of Hercynian magmatism in the eastern Pontides.

A series of Cretaceous plutons is present in the eastern Pontides of northeastern Turkey. The Turnagöl intrusion is the least studied and, thus, the least understood plutons in the orogen. This intrusion consists of hornblende-biotite granodiorites emplaced at 78 Ma based on LA-ICP-MS U-Pb zircon dating. It is of sub-alkaline affinity, belongs to the medium- to high-K calc-alkaline series, and displays features typical of I-type granites. The rocks of the intrusion are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements and light rare earth-elements with negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.69–0.82), but are deficient in high-field-strength elements. They have a small range of (87Sr/86Sr)i (0.7060–0.7063), ɛNdi(−2.6 to −3.1), and δ18O (+8.1 to +9.1) values. Their Pb isotopic ratios are 206Pb/204Pb = 18.63–18.65, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.62–15.63, and 208Pb/204Pb = 38.53–38.55. The fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, and Fe-Ti oxides had key functions in the evolution of the Turnagöl intrusion. The crystallization temperatures of the melts ranged from 758 to 885 °C as determined by zircon and apatite saturation thermometry. All these characteristics, combined with the low values of K2O/Na2O and (Na2O + K2O)/(FeOt + MgO + TiO2), as well as the high values of (CaO + FeOt + MgO + TiO2), suggest an origin by dehydration melting from a metabasaltic lower crustal source

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 Eğrikar 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 Eğrikar Monzogranite is 78 ± 1.5 Ma, thereby reflecting the age of monzogranite. The I-type Eğrikar Monzogranite comprises quartz, plagioclase (An_35–45), orthoclase, muscovite, and biotite. The geochemical analyses of the Eğrikar Monzogranite indicate being medium K calc-alkaline, peraluminous, and resembling magmatic arc granite. The Eğrikar 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 εNd_(i) values vary between 1.85 and 2.18 and initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values between 0.7048 and 0.7067. Fractionation of plagioclase, hornblende, and apatite played an important role in the evolution of Eğrikar Monzogranite. The crystallization temperatures of the melts ranged from 770°C to 919°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.