Low-pressure metamorphic facies (i.e. high T I P ratios) are widespread in a wide range of tectonic settings. Explanations offered for the Occurrence of these facies include extensional and/or magmatic models. However, these fail to explain that the low-P facies metamorphism is commonly coeval with a phase of pervasive crustal thickening, with T I P ratios increasing during, or slightly lagging behind, the thickening. We propose an alternative explanation based on the approximate synchroneity of crustal thickening and erosion (thinning) of the mantle lithosphere.

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