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The tectonic setting of the West Qinling orogenic belt (QOB) during the Middle–Late Triassic remains a subject of debate. Petrogenesis of adakitic granodiorite plays a critical role in determining the nature of the lower continental crust and mantle dynamics during orogenic processes in the region. The Tadong adakitic granodiorite pluton in the western part of the West QOB is an important element of this system. Its petrogenesis can place severe constraints on the nature of the lower continental crust and mantle dynamics during the formation of the orogenic belt. U–Pb dates obtained through zircon laser-ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry indicate that the Tadong pluton was emplaced at 220.2 ± 2.5 Ma, coeval with abundant magmatic rocks in the region. This indicates a prominent magmatic event in the western part of West Qinling during the Late Triassic. Geochemically the granodiorites are metaluminous to peraluminous high-K calc-alkalic and characterized by relatively high SiO2(63.84–67.91 wt.%), Al2O3(15.39–16.54 wt.%), and Sr (435.08–521.64 ppm), and low MgO (1.16–1.88 wt.%; Mg# = 38–46), Y (5.49–8.84 ppm) and Yb (0.34–0.91 ppm) contents, variable Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0.87–1.1), and high Sr/Y (51.72–84.45) ratios. These are compositional features of adakites that are commonly assumed to have been produced through partial melting of subducted oceanic basalt. In addition, the adakitic rocks are relatively enriched in light rare earth elements, large ion lithophile elements (Rb, Ba, Sr, Th, and K), and depleted in high field strength elements. However, petrological, geochronological, and geochemical characteristics indicate that the adakitic rocks were most likely formed by partial melting of a thickened mafic lower crust. Therefore, we suggest that the Tadong adakitic granodiorites were produced in a syn-collisional regime and associated with asthenospheric upwelling triggered by slab break-off or gravitational instability. This mechanism was responsible for generating the Late Triassic magmatism of West Qinling. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]