K-AR AGE AND SR-ND CHARACTERISTICS OF SUBALKALI BASALTS IN THE CENTRAL GEORGIAN NEOVOLCANIC REGION (GREATER CAUCASUS)

Abstract

Late Cenozoic magmatism in the Greater Caucasus during the last 8.5 Ma was manifested in the Elbrus, Kazbek, and Central Georgian neovolcanic regions. In our work, we present K–Ar dates obtained for young rocks of Central Georgia, which, in turn, allowed us to determine the age of volcanism in this region and specify its role in the Neogene–Quaternary magmatic history of the Greater Caucasus. In addition, based on new Sr–Nd isotopic–geochemical and petrochemical data, we consider the petrogenesis of volcanics in this region and the problem of material source for young igneous rocks in the Greater Caucasus as a whole.