January 07, 2025
The Himalaya, the youngest and largest mountain range on Earth, is home to 10 of the world's 14 mountain peaks higher than 8000 meters above sea level, including the highest Qomolangma Peak, widely known as Mt. Everest (8848 m). Leucogranites are exposed intermittently throughout over 2000 km along the crest of the Himalaya, forming on the summits or as an essential component of these high peaks. These Himalayan leucogranites are quintessential examples of crust anatexis associated with collisional orogenesis. They provide a rare opportunity to explore the interplay of geodynamics, tectonics, and magmatism in a classic continental collisional setting. Extensive studies on these leucogranites have significantly advanced our understanding of crustal anatexis, felsic magma differentiation, and the tectonic evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan Orogen. This issue of Elements reviews the petrogenesis and significance of Himalayan leucogranites, focusing on their tectonic and geodynamic context, source rocks, petrology, geochemistry, and genetic links to orogenesis and economic resources. This issue not only summarizes the state-of-theart research on Himalayan leucogranites but also presents an example of how a multidisciplinary approach can elucidate granite petrogenesis and associated mineralization and orogenic evolution.
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