Some new research progresses and main scientific problems of granitic rocks

After about sixty-year studies on granitic rocks and especially the rapid developments on geochemistry and in situ zircon U-Pb and Hf-O isotopic analyses in recent decades, it is the time to find new research clues and methods to carry out further studies on granitoids. This paper summarizes the new progresses on the cut-edge studies of granitoids by domestic and international geologists in the recent decades. Seven main research topics are concluded: 1) granitoids of early Earth and continental evolution; 2) source heterogeneity and heterogeneous crustal melting; 3) isotopic tracing on variations of magmatic compositions; 4) mixing of crust- and mantle-derived magmas for petrogenesis of granitoids; 5) relationship between deep crustal hot zone and formations of intermediate to felsic rocks; 6) timescale of plutonic growth and crystallization; and 7) the applications of metal stable isotopes in the studies of granitoids. Based on the tendencies of current granite studies, it is suggested to carry out fine studies on source and magmatic processes of granites by new perspectives and techniques. The relationships between granite and the formation of earliest crust are also very important for future studies.