Granite Petrogenesis and Geodynamics

Granite and granitic rocks are amongst the oldest and most studied rocks on Earth. They are ubiquitous within the continental crust but also occur within oceanic crust, and host important deposits of rare, base, and precious metals. The processes that generate granitic magma are intimately related to the geodynamic setting at which they form. Consequently, granitic rocks record critical information in the development, differentiation, and recycling of the lithosphere from the Hadean to the present day.

There remain outstanding problems in the study of the granitic rocks that include the role of volatile elements and redox conditions in magma evolution, quantifying proportions of ancient and juvenile materials, processes that concentrate metals to form ore deposits, the thermodynamic impact on the crust and upper mantle, and constraining their association with the supercontinent cycle. Frontiers in the petrology of granitic magma include:

· Application of microanalytical techniques to track source components;
· Advances in geochronology methods on accessory minerals;
· Association between ore mineralization and lithotectonic evolution;
· Understanding the mechanism of granite emplacement;
· The formation of juvenile continental crust;
· Identifying multiple crustal recycling episodes; and
· Constraining the tectonic transition from compression to extension.

Addressing these topics requires a multidisciplinary approach that covers mineralogy, fluid inclusion studies, tectonics, field mapping, geochemistry, geochronology, and metallogenesis. We encourage contributions that address the complex interrelationship between granite and magma generation at scales ranging from the micro to the macro. We welcome all contributions that address the link between granite petrogenesis and the geodynamic evolution of the continental crust. The Research Topic will focus on Original Research articles but also open to Review and Synthesis articles.