Generation of new continental crust by sublithospheric silicic-magma relamination in arcs: A test of Taylor's andesite model

► New continental crust can be generated in arcs by addition of primary andesite magmas. ► Batholiths represent cotectic melts extracted from andesite magma precursor. ► Lower crust is formed by residual granulites left after granite magma segregation. ► Numerical models and laboratory experiments confirm the andesite model for the origin of continents.