Magmatism acts as a window to monitor the nature of mantle and crustal sources and also provides detailed records of the anatexis process and magma evolution, crust–mantle interaction, metallogenesis, and crustal growth and reworking events (Li et al., 2016; Li et al., 2019; Li et al., 2020). In the last few decades, our understanding has been significantly extended regarding the specific tectonic settings and associated polymetallic deposits (e.g., Cu ± Mo ± Au mineralization) and their potential economic benefits (Li et al., 2021). The origin, characteristics, and evolution of magmatic systems are therefore of great importance to our society.

Over the last two decades, a wide range of approaches has been carried out on the magmatic rocks to unravel the magma system evolution. Whole-rock and constituent minerals major, trace elements, and mult-isotope studies (e.g., Re–Os, Lu–Hf, and Sm–Nd), coupled with U–Pb dating and in-situ Lu–Hf–O isotope analyses of accessory phases (such as zircon, monazite, rutile, and/or titanite) shed lights on firm evidence regarding the emplacement or eruption ages, source magmas, and their geodynamic evolution (e.g., Li and Chen, 2014; Li and Chen, 2021; Li and Wei, 2017; Li et al., 2022). Moreover, the mineralization genetically related with the magmatic rocks has extended our views from an indication of tectonic setting further to prospective for porphyry polymetallic deposits as their potentially economic benefits (Li et al., 2021).

The Research Topic aimed to collect articles related to the themes of magma system evolution with emphasis on geochemical and geophysical perspectives along with numerical modeling. In addition, the focus of the issue was targeted to the topics that enhance the understanding of the geoscience community regarding the processes of magma mixing, fractional crystallization, crustal contamination, and fluid-rock interaction during the magma generations, colling, and related to the pre-eruptive unrest of volcanoes. In response to the Research Topic, six articles were submitted, peer reviewed, and eventually accepted for final publication to make the Research Topic. The articles collected in this Research Topic undoubtedly contribute to the fundamental fields of petrology, mineralogy, and economic geology. Guest editors hope that some of the methods proposed and the findings obtained could help inspire future research in geosciences. More articles related to this Research Topic would highly benefit geoscience community in general, and young researchers and students I the relevant fields in particular.

Below, a brief summary of the published articles is presented for readers.

The first article, by Zhao et al., on the petrogenesis of early-middle Paleozoic granitoids in the Qilian Block, northwest China, proposes a tectonic model for the granitoid intrusions that were generated in post-collisional extensional regime and were triggered by the break-off of the northward subducting South Qilian Oceanic slab beneath the Qilian Block during the ca. 450–415 Ma. Their study was based on zircon U–Pb ages, and whole-rock Sr–Nd isotopes, major and trace element compositions of the biotite granite and muscovite-bearing granite intrusions. They interpreted that the granitoids have been formed from the partial melting of meta-greywacke and meta-pelitic sources.

Second article of the Research Topic, by Wei et al., is related with the fluid mineralization of the Dongtongyu gold deposit in the southern margin of North China craton. This study provides new petrographic, microthermometric, and synchrotron radiation X-ray fluorescence analyses of fluid inclusions of the deposit. The authors, based on their extensive geochemical analyses, suggest that fluid immiscibility is an important mechanism to result gold mineralization during the fluid evolution process. They recognized four structural stages of gold mineralization in their study within the specific temperature ranges, and presence of H₂O-CO₂-NaCl components.

Third article by Wu et al. performs inversions of Molybdenite Re–Os dating, zircon U–Pb dating and geochemical data of the Shanagen hydrothermal vein-type Mo deposit in Derbugan metallogenic belt of the NE China. The authors identified that the Shanagen hydrothermal vein-type Mo deposit was developed in a sericitized zone along the alkali-feldspar granite and interpreted that the mineralization was associated with the partial melting of lower crustal rocks. They conclude that the Mo deposit was formed in the extensional environment after the closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean.

Another case study, that represents the fourth article of the Research Topic, is on the central North China Craton, by Xue et al., and is focused on the Laiyuan complex in Northern Taihang Mountains. From the perspectives of spatio-temporal and geochemical relationship of the complex, the authors document their common features of enrichments in LREEs and LILEs and depletions in HFSEs. The results demonstrate that the slow and gradual thermal-mechanical erosion occurred at the central North China Craton, whereas the rapid and intense lithospheric delamination occurred at the eastern North China Craton contributing to different lithospheric evolution.

Fifth article of the Research Topic, by Liao, is based on analytical and numerical simulations that allowed the author to test variety of concepts on solid/fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and link multiple observations. With sequential data assimilation, the physics-based models help to track the current evolution of magmatic systems and forecast their future unrest. Liao study constructed an analytical model that explored the characteristics of transport of melt, pressure, and heat through an idealized crystal mush layer/column under uniaxial strain condition. His study elaborates some intrinsic differences between the bottom-up versus the top-down triggering mechanisms for the magmatic unrest. Furthermore, he highlights the importance of further exploration for a more complete description of the transport properties in the crystal mush.

Sixth and final article of the Research Topic, by Zhu et al., investigated the Shuangjianzishan super-large Ag-Pb-Zn deposit in the southern Great Xing’an Range, a part of the Central Asian Orogenic Belt. Their study was based on field geology, mineralogical study, and geochemical analyses of host slates. Their comprehensive field and analytical data helped them to constrain the metallogenic episodes of epithermal magmatic-hydrothermal conditions that were active in the study area during the Mesozoic. They suggest that the host slates were deposited during the post-orogenic extensional tectonic settings and their hydrothermal alteration resulted in epithermal metallogenic deposits.