Quaternary maar volcanism near karapinar in central Anatolia

In Central Anatolia, Quaternary olivine basalts overlie the Neogene calcalkaline and sialic post-orogenic volcanic series. Crater forms, cones and lava fields generally exhibit a very fresh morphology suggesting a sub-recent age. Near the town of Karapinar, eruptions took place through the shallow waters of a lake which occupied the present Konya-Eregli plain during Quaternary times. Depending on the varying influence of phreatomagmatic effects, hyaloclastitic tuff rings and maar craters, both rich in sideromelane and its palagonitic alteration products, or subaerial red cinder cones developed. The maar phase is characterized by a large development of base surge structures. The basalts are alkaline and, mostly, Ne-normative and are distinct for their low TiO₂ content and low Fe/Mg ratio from the alkali olivine basalts from oceanic and stable continental areas.