A Late Cretaceous ensimatic arc developed during closure of the northern branch of Neo-Tethys(central-northern Turkey)

Studies on differentiation of ensimatic arc units from melange units in the Northern Anatolian Ophiolitic Belt (NAOB) are very rare. The study area represents the southern edge of the central part of the NAOB. The aim of the study is to distinguish the main units of NAOB and to define the geotectonic setting of the Darmik Ensimatic Arc Association (DEAA). To study the ensimatic arc units as an independent tectonic unit is important and facilitates understanding of the geological evolution of the NAOB. During field studies, the contact relationships within the Darmik Ensimatic Arc Association (DEAA) units and also with other tectonic units were reviewed. Then, paleontological, geochronological, petrological and also geochemical properties of the DEAA have been defined. In the present study, ensimatic arc units have been distinguished from ophiolitic association for the first time, in the region. As a result of the study, the DEAA is divided into two levels and lower level named as the Kartal unit and upper level named as the ?zibüyük unit. In the Kartal unit, basaltic and andesitic lavas with their equivalent pyroclastic rock units are dominant. Radiolarite and mudstones interbedded within the Kartal unit of DEAA have Turonian and Santonian age. In addition, the age of basalt samples of DEAA are 98.7 ± 2.4 Ma, defined using the ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar method. The ?zibüyük unit of DEAA comprises conglomerate, sandstone, claystone, mudstone, clayey limestone, micritic limestone with volcanic interbeds and also calciturbidites. Santonian–Maastrichtian ages were obtained from this unit of the DEAA. In conclusion, the age of DEAA is widely accepted as Late Cretaceous. After the evaluation of the analysis, the volcanics of the DEAA originated from calcalkaline-basalts, which reflect ensimatic arc magmatism.