Continental Crustal Growth Processes Recorded in the Gangdese Batholith, Southern Tibet

The continental crust in the overriding plate of India-Asia collision zone southern Tibet is characterized by an overthickened layer felsic composition with underlying granulite-eclogite layer. A large data set indicates that this experienced magmatism from 245 to 10 Ma, as recorded Gangdese Batholith. Magmatism was punctuated flare-ups at 185−170, 90−75, and 55−45 Ma caused a combination external internal factors. growth starts period dominated fractional crystallization formation voluminous (ultra)mafic arc cumulates lower during subduction, followed their melting late-subduction collision, due changes convergence rate. This combined accumulation-melting process resulted vertical stratification density sorting crust. Comparisons other similarly thickened zones suggests general leads stabilization ▪ Batholith records time-integrated development world's thickest crust, reaching greater than 50 km 55–45 70 after 32 Ma. three magmatic response distinct drivers; last one marks arrival India. first (accumulation) crustal melting: process. Accumulation-melting provides for