Suprasubduction volcanism of Chukotka terrane in the late jurassic– early cretaceous (Arctic region, Russia)

Abstract

Abstract The age and geodynamic position of the volcanic source of the Upper JurassicLower Cretaceous deposits of Western Chukotka were determined. Products of synchronous volcanism were revealed by detailed lithological studies. Following sedimentological analysis results we established an admixture of pyroclastic material in the Oxford-Kimmeridgian deposits of the Chukotka microcontinent, indicating the effect of synchronous volcanism on sedimentation. It was shown that the source of pyroclastic material was the intraoceanic Kulpolney island arc, which existed in the northern part of the Proto-Arctic Ocean.The accumulation of the Tithonian‒ Valanginian deposits occurred in the back-arc basin at the edge of Chukotka microcontinent. Characteristics of the Tithonian‒ Berriasian sandstones are given, which contain significant proportion of ash material in the matrix, as well as lithoclasts and monomineral grains of volcanic origin, predominant in the clasts. With the use of geochemical analysis of volcanic pebbles, the presence of the differentiated series from basaltic andesites to rhyolites in the volcanic source is proved.
 The suprasubduction origin of the volcanic source is established. The cessation of volcanic activity in Valangin era is confirmed by lack of presence of synchronous pyroclastic material and an insignificant amount of volcanic clasts in Valanginian sandstones. The obtained data of UPb isotope dating of zircons isolated from the Tithonian-Valanginian sandstones and andesite pebbles of the Tithonian conglomerates made it possible to determine the time for the existence of suprasubduction volcanism on the Chukotka margin in the period of 150140 Ma.