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Deep crustal felsic xenoliths from classic Scottish Midland Valley localities, carried to the surface by Permo-Carboniferous magmatism, are shown for the first time to include metaigneous varieties with dioritic and tonalitic protoliths. Four hypotheses regarding their origin have been evaluated: (1) Precambrian basement; (2) Permo-Carboniferous underplating; (3) ‘Newer Granite’ magmatism; (4) Ordovician arc magmatism. U–Pb zircon dating results rule out the Precambrian basement and Permo-Carboniferous underplating hypotheses, but establish that the meta-igneous xenoliths represent both ‘Newer Granite’ and Ordovician (to possibly Silurian) arc magmatism. The metadiorite xenoliths are shown to have protolith ages of c. 415 Ma with εHft zircon values ranging from +0·1 to +11·1. These are interpreted to represent unexposed ‘Newer Granite’ plutons, based on age, mineralogical, isotopic and geochemical data. This shows that Devonian ‘Newer Granite’ magmatism had a greater impact on the Midland Valley and Southern Uplands crust than previously realized. Clinopyroxene–plagioclase–quartz barometry on the metadiorites from the east and west of the Midland Valley yielded a similar pressure range of c. 5–10 kbar, and a metadiorite from the east yielded a minimum two-feldspar temperature estimate of c. 793–816°C. These results indicate that the metadiorites once resided in the middle–lower crust. In contrast, two metatonalite xenoliths have a Late Ordovician protolith age (c. 453 Ma), with zircon εHft values of +7·8 to +9·0. These are interpreted as samples of a buried Late Ordovician magmatic arc situated within the Midland Valley. Inherited zircons with similar Late Ordovician ages and εHft=453 values (+1·6 to +10·8) are present in the metadiorites, suggesting that the Devonian ‘Newer Granites’ intruded within or through this Late Ordovician Midland Valley arc. A younger protolith age of c. 430 Ma from one of the metatonalites suggests that arc activity continued until Siluri

XRF core scanning has evolved to become a standard analytical technique for the rapid assessment of elemental, density and textural variations in a wide range of sediments and other materials, with applications ranging from palaeoceanography, paleoclimatology, geology, and environmental forensics to environmental protection. In general, scanning provides rapid, non-destructive acquisition of elemental and textural variations at sub-millimetre resolution for a wide range of materials. Numerous procedural adaptations have been developed for the growing number of applications, such as analyses of unconsolidated, water-rich sediments, powdered soil samples, or resin bags. Here, practical expertise and guidance from the Itrax community, gained over 15 years, is presented that should provide insights for new and experienced users.

XRF core scanning has evolved to become a standard analytical technique for the rapid assessment of elemental, density and textural variations in a wide range of sediments and other materials, with applications ranging from palaeoceanography, paleoclimatology, geology, and environmental forensics to environmental protection. In general, scanning provides rapid, non-destructive acquisition of elemental and textural variations at sub-millimetre resolution for a wide range of materials. Numerous procedural adaptations have been developed for the growing number of applications, such as analyses of unconsolidated, water-rich sediments, powdered soil samples, or resin bags. Here, practical expertise and guidance from the Itrax community, gained over 15 years, is presented that should provide insights for new and experienced users.