GEOCHRONOLOGY OF QUATERNARY VOLCANISM OF THE KRESTOVYI PASS REGION, KAZBEK NEOVOLCANIC AREA, GREATER CAUCASUS

Abstract

The Krestovyi Pass area (2379 m) is located within the Main Caucasus Range in the eastern part of the Keli volcanic highland, which represents a large Quaternary magmatic center of the Greater Caucasus. This work is a continuation of our systematic isotopic–geochronological study of the neovolcanic rocks in this region. The Krestovyi Pass environs are a highly rugged mountainous region with elevations within 1500–3700 m. The highest peaks are the West Khorisar (3736 m) and Didi-Nepiskalo (3694 m) volcanic buildups located near the crest of the Main Caucasus Range. They serve as sources of the main water artery (Belaya Aragvi River) in the study region. The northern part pertains to the Terek River basin and includes the northern slopes of the Main Caucasus Range (west of the Krestovyi Pass) with the adjacent section of Truso Canyon and Baidara Valley.