The Beihuaiyang Zone (BHY) is one of the most important Mo–Pb–Zn polymetallic metallogenic belts in China, and the BHY deposits are genetically and geographically associated with Cretaceous magmatic rocks. In this article, we present new zircon U–Pb ages and Hf isotope data, whole-rock major and trace-element analytical results, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotope data for the granite porphyry of the Shapinggou (SPG) Mo deposit and the quartz monzonite porphyry of the Gongdongchong (GDC) Pb–Zn deposit. The high contents of SiO₂, crust-like rare-earth-element and trace element patterns, and the enriched Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic compositions indicate that both porphyries originated from crustal melting. Inherited Neoproterozoic zircons are common in both porphyries, which implies that their crustal sources were the South China Block rather than the North China Block. Whole-rock ε_Nd(t) values (−10.8 to −9.8 for the GDC deposit, −12.9 to −12.4 for the SPG deposit) and zircon ε_Hf(t) values (−14.3 to −11.1 for the GDC deposit, −18.4 to −13.3 for the SPG deposit) for the ore-bearing rocks are significantly higher than the values found in the widespread and older ore-barren rocks, indicating that the magma sources of the ore-bearing rocks were younger than those of the ore-barren rocks. An integrated study of the Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotope contents shows that these younger source rocks are similar to the gneisses found in the South and Central Dabie units, which represent the upper crust of the subducted South China Block. Given the geochemical behaviour of molybdenum, a surface enrichment process would have been an essential prerequisite for the formation of the large Mo deposit. The early Paleozoic Mo–Pb–Zn-enriched black shales, which are widespread in the upper layers of the South China Block, might have been scraped off during Triassic subduction and then transported to deep-crustal levels below the BHY, thus forming an ideal source for the ore-bearing porphyries. An upper-crustal origin for the ore-bearing magmatic rocks is also consistent with the data for most other deposits distributed in the BHY of the Dabie Orogen.

Late Mesozoic magmatic rocks of the Zhangbaling Uplift (ZBU) in eastern China, which comprises the northern Zhangbaling area and the southern Feidong area, can provide insights into the deep crustal processes and tectonic affinity of the massif. These rocks are dominated by granitoids with formation ages of 132–120 Ma and a peak at 129 Ma. The Shankouling dyke (120.4 ± 1.1 Ma) and the Zhuyuanzhang quartz monzodiorite (129.0 ± 2.2 Ma) crop out sporadically in the Feidong area. These rocks show adakitic signatures of high Al₂O₃ and Sr contents, high Sr/Y, (La/Yb)_N, and (Dy/Yb)_N ratios, and low Y and Yb_N contents. They have enriched (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i ratios, negative ε_Nd(t) and ε_Hf(t) values, and unradiogenic Pb isotopic compositions that resemble those of coeval high Sr/Y granitoids in the Dabie Orogen. These ZBU rocks can be divided into two groups: low-Mg granitoids with more enriched Sr–Nd isotopic signatures and low Mg# values (50). Combining their geochemical features with previous results of experimental melts, we conclude that the low-Mg granitoids were derived from fluid-absent partial melting of in situ thickened lower continental crust, resulted from Triassic continental subduction and collision in this area, whereas the high-Mg granitoids were derived from delaminated eclogitic lower crust followed by interaction with mantle peridotites during magma ascent. Isotopic compositions show that these granitoids could have been derived from ancient crust of the Yangtze Block via re-melting of Neoarchean and Paleoproterozoic lower continental crust. The great depth of the Tan–Lu Fault Zone enabled delamination of the thickened eclogitic mountain root beneath the ZBU, which resulted in the formation and emplacement of the high-Mg rocks, followed by uplift of the Zhangbaling massif associated with rollback of the subducting Paleo-Pacific (Izanagi) Plate.