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Tonalitic–trondhjemitic–granodiorite (TTG)-like leucosomes, which are formed from anatectic melts, record crustal growth and evolution and thus provide constraints on the process of anatexis. However, potential Mg isotope disequilibrium during crustal anatexis makes interpreting the genesis of anatectic melts challenging, thereby potentially hindering the application of the Mg isotope system in investigations of crustal evolution and crustal anatexis. A key factor in Mg isotope fractionation during anatexis is the behaviour of garnet, which becomes preferentially enriched in light Mg isotopes compared with other Mg-hosting minerals during partial melting processes. In this study, a combination of petrography, whole-rock geochemistry, and mineral microanalysis reveals that garnets in leucosomes from the Dulan area of the North Qaidam orogen, were formed by dehydration melting of hornblende. Garnet-bearing leucosomes yield low δ26Mg values (−0.70‰ to −0.33‰) compared with garnet-free leucosomes (−0.19‰ to −0.16‰) and global arc rocks (−0.35‰ to 0.06‰). The different Mg isotopic compositions are attributed to the effect of peritectic garnets on the Mg isotope system in anatectic melts. Quantitative modelling further indicates that the lower Mg isotopic values of garnet-bearing leucosomes require the incorporation of ∼5% peritectic garnets into anatectic melts during magma ascent. Our results demonstrate the influence of peritectic garnets on the Mg stable isotope system and highlight that this influence on the Mg isotopic compositions of peritectic minerals during crustal anatexis must be considered in interpretations of crustal evolution using the Mg isotope system. • The Grt-bearing TTG-like leucosomes show low δ26Mg values than Grt-free ones. • The Grt-bearing leucosomes could be explained by incongruent melting and garnet entrainment. • Garnet entrainment is first-order factor of δ26Mg values of TTG-like melts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]