Abstract: | The oxygen isotope systematics of Tertiary volcanic rocks of east-central Nevada and of plutonic and metamorphic rocks of the Ruby Mountains-East Humboldt Range core complex provide complementary evidence for major18O-depletion and 18O/16O homogenization of mid-crustal rocks during metamorphism and magmatism. The δ18O value of crustal source material for silicic volcanic rocks decreased from between +9 and +11‰ to between +7 and +8‰ over 5 Ma. Mid-crustal metasedimentary and granitic rocks in the East Humboldt Range have δ18O values very similar to the volcanic rocks and values are lower and more homogeneous at deeper structural levels. Exchange with deep-seated mantle-derived igneous rocks, or fluids derived therefrom, is the most plausible18O-depletion mechanism. Intrusion of these mafic magmas promoted crustal melting and fluid migration. Homogenization of 18O/16O resulted from migration of high-temperature fluids and melts at mid-crustal levels, and was less effective at higher structural levels where the crust was dominated by less permeable carbonate rocks. |