Abstract: The origin of the EM1 end-member in the mantle is a long-standing geochemical puzzle among the four  typical mantle end-members (DMM, H IMU, EM1 and EM2) . The characteristics of  Strontium (Sr) , Neodymium (Nd) and Lithium (Li) isotopic compositions in the mantle peridotite xenoliths hosted in the Cenozoic basalts from Hannuoba, Yangyuan, Fanshi and Hebi localities in the Central Zone of the North China Craton, one of the oldest continents in the world, provide new constraints on this issue. Extreme fractionation of Li isotopes and isotopically very light Li in the constituent minerals (olivine, orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene) of the peridotite xenoliths indicates that recycled ancient oceanic crust is existent in the subcont inental lithospheric mantle beneath the North China Craton. Comparison of these data with existing Sr and Nd isotopicratios of peridotite xenoliths from this region reflects that the recycling of ancient oceanic crus t by subduction, storage in the mantle, and reappearance in volcanism via mantle circulation, may play an important role in generating the EM1-type mantle end-member.

Key words: North China Craton; mantle end-member; peridotite xenolith, Lithium isotope; geochemistry; subducted oceanic crust