Variation of K-rich magma formation during early Aegean arc migration, NE Greece

Wolf JJ, Haase K, Regelous M, Falkenberg J, Hars EM, Voudouris P (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Book Volume: 723

Article Number: 123678

DOI: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2026.123678

Abstract

Magmatic activity in the Aegean region has migrated southward by ∼400 km over the past ∼34 Ma due to rollback of the subducting African plate, producing age-progressive magmatic centres. In NE Greece, its earliest stage is recorded in the Maronia Magmatic Corridor, where magmatism between ∼34 and 29 Ma evolved from calc-alkaline in the northeast to shoshonitic compositions in the southwest. We present new major-element, trace-element (n = 67), and Sr-Nd-Pb-isotope (n = 36) data for volcanic and plutonic rocks to investigate magma generation and evolution during early Aegean arc migration. The magmatic rocks define geochemically distinct calc-alkaline and shoshonitic suites. The most mafic samples (4–10 wt.% MgO) show higher (Ce/Yb)N ratios in the shoshonite suite (10.8 ± 2.0) than the older calc-alkaline suite (5.5 ± 1.1), accompanied by distinct mean ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pbi ratios (18.68 ± 0.04 vs. 18.78 ± 0.03). Both suites evolved along coherent fractional-crystallisation ± assimilation trends, although the shoshonitic magmas show mantle-source heterogeneity. Lavas with transitional compositions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pbi: 18.73 ± 0.01) bridge the two suites. Volcanic and plutonic rocks within individual centres display geochemical similarities, indicating common parental magmas and interconnected plumbing systems. Elevated P₂O₅ contents in transitional (0.4 ± 0.1 wt.%) and shoshonitic (0.6 ± 0.2 wt.%) magmas reflect increasing contribution from phosphorus-rich shallow-marine sediments, distinct from the pelagic sediments dominating the older calc-alkaline magmas. Our results show that changes in subducted pelagic-to-shallow-marine sediment input during slab rollback control K-enrichment in early Aegean arc magma generation, offering a geochemical framework for identifying discrete slab compositional inputs in migrating arc systems.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Greece (GR)

How to cite

APA:

Wolf, J.J., Haase, K., Regelous, M., Falkenberg, J., Hars, E.M., & Voudouris, P. (2026). Variation of K-rich magma formation during early Aegean arc migration, NE Greece. Chemical Geology, 723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2026.123678

MLA:

Wolf, Julian Johannes, et al. "Variation of K-rich magma formation during early Aegean arc migration, NE Greece." Chemical Geology 723 (2026).

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