Episodic porphyry Cu (-Mo-Au) formation and associated magmatic evolution in Turkish Tethyan collage

•Four magmatic and associated metallogenic episodes can be defined. The metallogenic episodes are defined in four geographically distinct regions, the Pontides in the north, the western Anatolia province in the west, central Anatolian Crystalline Complex, and the Southeastern Anatolian Orogenic Belt in the east central part of Turkey are; late Cretaceous (∼88–76 Ma), latest Paleocene to early-middle Eocene (58–39.5 Ma); Oligocene-Miocene (30–18 Ma); Middle-late Miocene (16–8 Ma).•Late Cretaceous rocks have typical arc magma compositions except the Central Anatolian Crystalline complex, whereas Eocene to Miocene collisional to post-collisional rocks have compositions characteristic of arc magmas that over time interacted and assimilated by ancient crust and evolved toward slightly higher Sr/Y and La/Yb trace element characteristics reflecting the hydrous and oxidized nature of the magmas.•The late Cretaceous porphyry systems are common in the Pontides and the Central Anatolian Complex. The porphyry systems at the Pontides form a portion of a belt of porphyry Cu deposits that included world-class deposits in Serbia and Bulgaria, and extend eastward into the Caucasus of Georgia, Armenia and Iran.•Eocene porphyry systems in Turkey are the most common in Pontides, western Anatolia and southeastern Anatolian orogenic belt. Oligocene and Miocene porphyry systems are common in the adjoining countries in the Balkans and Iran, but are only known in the western Anatolia region of Turkey.•Overall, the distribution of porphyry Cu systems reflects complex plate interactions involving subduction, collision of continental blocks, closure of small oceanic basins, and rapidly shifting axes of magmatic activity.