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Chronological, geochemical and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic analyses have been carried out on the Mesozoic plutons in western Shandong with the aim of characterizing crustal–mantle evolution during the tectono-thermal reactivation of the craton. Detailed SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating reveals two main periods of Mesozoic activity with contrasting compositions. The older magmatic pulse is manifested by monzonites and monzodiorites from Tongshi for which zircon rims yield a concordant age of 177±4 Ma and the cores have a discordant age of ca. 2.5 Ga. Low MgO and Cr, high Na₂O contents and especially their isotopic compositions (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr < 0.7042, ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb < 16.8 and ε_Nd ~ −12) are consistent with derivation from late Archean–Paleoproterozoic lower crust. Relatively high HREE contents in these Jurassic plutons indicate a garnet-free source (<32 km), in contrast to the garnet-bearing source (>40 km …