Tectonic significance of changes in post-subduction Pliocene-Quaternary magmatism in the south east part of the Carpathian-Pannonian Region

The south-eastern part of the Carpathian–Pannonian region records the cessation of convergence between the European platform/Moesia and the Tisza–Dacia microplate. Plio-Quaternary magmatic activity in this area, in close proximity to the ‘Vrancea zone’, shows a shift from normal calc-alkaline to much more diverse compositions (adakite-like calc-alkaline, K-alkalic, mafic Na-alkalic and ultrapotassic), suggesting a significant change in geodynamic processes at approximately 3 Ma. We review the tectonic setting, timing, petrology and geochemistry of the post-collisional volcanism to constrain the role of orogenic building processes such as subduction or collision on melt production and migration. The calc-alkaline volcanism (5.3–3.9 Ma) marks the end of normal subduction-related magmatism along the post-collisional Călimani–Gurghiu–Harghita volcanic chain in front of the European convergent plate margin. At ca. 3 Ma in South Harghita magma compositions changed to adakite-like calc-alkaline and continued until recent times (< 0.03 Ma) interrupted at 1.6–1.2 Ma by generation of Na and K-alkalic magmas, signifying changes in the source and melting mechanism. We attribute the changes in magma composition in front of the Moesian platform to two main geodynamic events: (1) slab-pull and steepening with opening of a tear window (adakite-like calc-alkaline magmas) and (2) renewed contraction associated with deep mantle processes such as slab steepening during post-collisional times (Na and K-alkalic magmas). Contemporaneous post-collisional volcanism at the eastern edge of the Pannonian Basin at 2.6–1.3 Ma was dominated by Na-alkalic and ultrapotassic magmas, suggesting a close relationship with thermal asthenospheric doming and strain partitioning related to the Adriatic indentation. Similar timing, magma chamber processes and volume for K-alkalic (shoshonitic) magmas in the South Apuseni Mountains (1.6 Ma) and South Harghita area at a distance of ca. 200 km imply a regional connection with the inversion tectonics

Origin of basaltic magmas of Perşani volcanic field, Romania: A combined whole 6 rock and mineral scale investigation

The Perşani volcanic field is a low-volume flux monogenetic volcanic field in the Carpathian–Pannonian region, 24 eastern-central Europe. Volcanic activity occurred intermittently from1200 ka to 600 ka, forming lava flow fields, 25 scoria cones andmaars. Selected basalts fromthe initial and younger active phaseswere investigated for major and 26 trace element contents and mineral compositions. Bulk compositions are close to those of the primitive magmas; 27 only 5–12% olivine and minor spinel fractionation occurred at 1300–1350 °C, followed by clinopyroxenes at about 28 1250 °C and 0.8–1.2 GPa. Melt generation occurred in the depth range from 85–90 km to 60 km. The estimated 29 mantle potential temperature, 1350–1420 °C, is the lowest in the Pannonian Basin. It suggests that no thermal 30 anomaly exists in the uppermantle beneath the Perşani area and that themaficmagmas were formed by decom- 31 pressionmelting under relatively thin continental lithosphere. Themantle source of themagmas could be slightly 32 heterogeneous, but is dominantly variously depleted MORB-source peridotite, as suggested by the olivine and 33 spinel composition. Based on the Cr-numbers of the spinels, two coherent compositional groups (0.38–0.45 and 34 0.23–0.32, respectively) can be distinguished that correspond to the older and younger volcanic products. This in- 35 dicates a change in themantle source region during the volcanic activity as also inferred from the bulk rockmajor 36 and trace element data. The younger basaltic magmas were generated by lower degree of melting, from a deeper 37 and compositionally slightly different mantle source compared to the older ones. The mantle source character of 38 the Perşanimagmas is akin to that ofmany other alkaline basalt volcanic fields in theMediterranean close to oro- 39 genic areas. The magma ascent rate is estimated based on compositional traverses across olivine xenocrysts using 40 variations of Ca content. Two heating events are recognized; the first one lasted about 1.3 years implying heating 41 of the lower lithosphere by the uprisingmagma,whereas the second one lasted only 4–5 days,whichcorresponds 42 to the time of magma ascent through the continental crust. The alkaline mafic volcanismin the Perşani volcanic 43 field could have occurred as a response to the formation of a narrow rupture in the lower lithosphere, possibly 44 as a far-field effect of the dripping of dense continental lithospheric material beneath the Vrancea zone. Upper 45 crustal extensional stress-field with reactivation of normal faults at the eastern margin of the Transylvanian 46 basin could enhance the rapid ascent of the mafic magmas