Evolution of the Archean continental crust in the nucleus of the Yangtze block: Evidence from geochemistry of 3.0 Ga TTG gneisses in the Kongling high-grade metamorphic terrane, South China

•The protoliths of the Taoyuan TTG gneisses were formed at Mesoarchean.•The trondhjemites were derived from partial melting of subducted oceanic crust.•The nucleus of the Yangtze block have undergone Mesoarchean juvenile crustal growth.•The Yangtze block has its own crustal evolutionary history before Paleoproterozoic.