Pb isotopic composition of feldspars from Scottish Caledonian Granites, and the nature of the underlying crust

Abstract
Synopsis: Common Pb isotopic ratios for 11 feldspar separates from Caledonian granite intrusions (400 Ma old) show a linear alignment on a 207 Pb/ 204 Pb vs 206 Pb/ 204 Pb diagram, the best-fit regression line suggesting a lower intercept age of 2700 Ma, using conventional growth-curve models. This accords well with previously published Pb ages for the Lewisian basement in north-west Scotland ( Chapman and Moorbath, 1977 ), and strongly suggests a Lewisian Pb component in the Caledonian granites. Furthermore, the feldspars from the Southern Uplands granites are significantly more radiogenic than those from the Highlands and Midland Valley; this relationship is consistent with the presence of an older crustal layer beneath the more northerly regions which does not extend southwards into the Southern Uplands.