Preface: IGCP project 426—Granite Systems and Proterozoic Lithospheric Processes

This introductory chapter of the IGCP-426 Special Issue of Precambrian Research presents an overall account of the goals and activities of IGCP-426 (Granite Systems and Proterozoic Lithospheric Processes) in the first 4 years (1998–2001) of the project. The thirteen original articles of the issue are based on papers given in the past meetings of IGCP-426 and are briefly introduced.