Complex Magma Chamber Dynamics and Volcanic Activity in the Karapınar Volcanic Field: Insights from Mineral and Whole-Rock Chemistry – A Review

Abstract

The thermal and material conditions of magma chambers influence magma mobilization processes and temporal dynamics, which are crucial for assessing volcanic hazards. Crystals preserve historical magma reservoir information, facilitating alignment with computational simulations. The Karapınar Volcanic Field (KPVF) in Central Anatolia, part of the Cappadocia Volcanic Province, serves as an ideal natural laboratory for studying monogenetic volcanism, characterized by scoria cones along a fault line, maars, and lava flows. Basaltic, basaltic andesitic, and andesitic lavas, along with their pyroclastics, are widespread in this region. The basaltic and basaltic andesitic lava flows incorporate various enclaves, such as magma mixing enclaves, cumulate enclaves, and xenocrysts. They also contain several ocelli, embayed-quartz xenocrysts, and densely sieved plagioclase megacrysts. Meke and Yılan maars exemplify intriguing maar volcanism, with basaltic andesitic lavas containing numerous enclaves. Interestingly, these mafic rocks contain zircon grains (generally found in felsic magmas). The presence of different types of enclaves, mineral textural properties, and zircon-bearing mafic rocks indicate complex magma chamber dynamics in the area. Moreover, whole-rock and mineral chemistry from KPVF reveal complex magmatic histories, emphasizing the presence of multiple feeding and plumbing systems that potentially trigger volcanic activity. Temporally and spatially, mineral chemistry analyses can provide high-resolution insights into the volcano-tectonic history of the region.