Late Cenozoic Volcanism of the Vitim Depression and Its Correlation with the Vitim Lava Plateau (Western Transbaikalia) according to K–Ar Geochronology

Abstract

New data on the geology, age, and composition of the Late Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Vitim Depression, a satellite of the Vitim Lava Plateau (VLP), have been obtained. Two-stage volcanic activity has been revealed. In the Middle Miocene (14–13 Ma), a basalt and trachybasalt (hawaiite) lava covers were formed. In the Pleistocene (1.6–0.7 Ma), basanite erupted from scoria cones. Both stages of volcanism were coeval to similar pulses of volcanism within the VLP. However, unlike the latter, there were no Pliocene and Late Miocene eruptions within the Vitim Depression. Additionally, the Vitim Depression basalts have depleted geochemical characteristics comparative to those of the VLP. These features of the Vitim Depression volcanics imply their autonomous formation, whereas the synchroneity of the initial and final stages of volcanism in the depression and in the VLP reflects the existence of a common regulating mechanism of igneous activity.