Geochronology and geochemistry data for the Elbrus, Tyrnyauz, and Chegem magmatic centers, Greater Caucasus, Russia

Abstract

The dataset presented here is associated with the article “Young Silicic Magmatism of the Greater Caucasus, Russia with implication for its delamination origin based on zircon petrochronology and thermomechanical modeling” [1]. We present detailed sample descriptions and source locations for the rocks from the Chegem, Tyrnyauz, and Elbrus volcanic center localities presented in that study. The dataset presents extensive isotope and trace element geochemistry of zircon crystals from these rocks, major phenocrysts, and whole rock O and H isotopic and elemental compositions. Zircon ages, trace element compositions, and Hf and O isotopic compositions were obtained by both laser ablation ICP-MS and secondary ionization mass spectrometry in situ techniques and chemical abrasion isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry techniques. We also present whole-rock major element compositions obtained by X-ray fluorescence and trace element compositions obtained by solution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry. We also report δ18O analyses of phenocrysts and groundmass in samples, δ18O-δ13C analyses of limestones and limestone xenoliths in the Chegem ignimbrite, and coupled δ18O-δD-Δ17O analyses of glass and groundmass of rock samples from the Chegem ignimbrites that show abundant evidence of post-emplacement interaction with meteoric waters. To supplement the associated study [1], this article also includes field photographs, cathodoluminescence images of zircons, plots of trace element compositions in zircon, plots of stable isotopic variations in Chegem ignimbrites vs. stratigraphy, and selected trace elemental whole-rock diagrams.