Crustal melting above a mantle plume: Insights from the Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province, NW China

Low NbTa rhyolites from the Permian Tarim Large Igneous Province (LIP) represent the melting products of continental crust above a mantle plume. Zircon UPb dating reveals that the Kuchehe and Dawanqi rhyolites were erupted at 292.6 ± 0.5 Ma and 274 ± 2 Ma respectively. Both rhyolite groups are characterized by pronounced negative NbTa anomalies, crust-like trace element ratios and negative εNd-Hf(t) values, consistent with a crustal origin....