Abstract
Granitic intrusions are important tectonic elements of the middle and upper crust of all orogens, and their emplacement represents a major heat and material transport process that has operated throughout the geological record. Despite the importance of granitic intrusions for understanding of crustal evolution, the processes of granite generation, ascent, and emplacement are enduring problems, although great advances have been made over the past 25 years (Pitcher, 1979 Brown, 2001; Petford et al., 2000). One problem that has thwarted progress in this area of research is that each stage in the granite formation process has typically been regarded in isolation, with the demarcation between problems often falling along traditional disciplinary boundaries (e.g., melting and crystallization are petrological problems; ascent and emplacement are geodynamic and structural problems, etc.). The challenge for future research will be to develop integrated models that use an interdisciplinary approach to explore the linkages between all aspects of granitic magmatism (e.g., Petford et al., 1997, 2000).
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Evolution and Differentiation of the Continental Crust |
Editors | Michael Brown, Tracy Rushmer |
Place of Publication | Cambridge UK |
Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
Pages | 455 - 519 |
Number of pages | 65 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780521782371 |
Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Externally published | Yes |