J. metamorphic Geol., 2016, 34, 821–843 doi:10.1111/jmg.12204 Himalayan leucogranites and migmatites: nature, timing and duration of anatexis R. F. WEINBERG School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia (
[email protected]) ABSTRACT Widespread anatexis was a regional response to the evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan Orogen that occurred some 30 Ma after collision between Asia and India. This paper reviews the nature, timing, duration and conditions of anatexis and leucogranite formation in the Greater Himalayan Sequence (GHS), and compares them to contemporaneous granites in the Karakoram mountains. Himalayan leucogranites and associated migmatites generally share a number of features along the length of the mountain front, such as similar timing and duration of magmatism, common source rocks and clock- wise P–T paths. Despite commonalities, most papers emphasize deviations from this general pattern, indicating a fine-tuned local response to the dominant evolution. There are significant differences in – – P T XH2O conditions during anatexis, and timing in relation to regional decompression. Further to that, some regions underwent a second event recording melting at low pressures. Zircon and monazite ages of anatectic rocks range between c. 25 and 15 Ma, suggesting prolonged crustal melting. Typi- cally, a single sample may have ages covering most of this 10 Ma period, suggesting recycling of accessory phases from metamorphic rocks and early-formed magmas. Recent studies linking monazite and zircon ages with their composition, have determined the timing of prograde melting and retro- grade melt crystallization, thus constraining the duration of the anatectic cycle. In some areas, this cycle becomes younger down section, towards the leading front of the Himalayas, whereas the oppo- site is true in other areas.