Craton destruction links to the interaction between subduction and mid-lithospheric discontinuity: Implications for the eastern North China Craton |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, United States;2. Earthquake Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Pasadena, CA 91106, United States;3. Seismological Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Caltech 252-21, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States;4. Department of Geology and Geophysics, The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, United States;1. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China;2. Laboratory for Crustal Petrology, Department of Geology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA;3. Center for Global Tectonics, School of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China;4. Exploration Department of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi’an, China;5. Research Institute of Exploration and Development of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi’an, China;1. Institute of Geomechanics, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;2. Key Laboratory of Paleomagnetism and Tectonic Reconstruction, The Ministry of Natural Resources, Beijing 100081, China;3. State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100029, China;4. MOE Key Laboratory of Orogenic Belts and Crustal Evolution, School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;5. School of Earth Science and Resources, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Beijing 100083, China;1. State Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, China;2. Beijing SHRIMP Centre, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing, China;3. Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany;4. State Key Laboratory of Lithospheric Evolution, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China;5. Exploration Department of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi’an, China;6. Research Institute of Exploration and Development of Changqing Oilfield Company, PetroChina, Xi’an, China;1. Key Laboratory of Continental Tectonics and Dynamics, Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, Beijing 100037, China;2. Key Laboratory of Computational Geodynamics, College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China |
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| Abstract: | The continental craton is generally considered to be stable, due to its low-density and high viscosity; however, the thinning and destruction of cratonic lithosphere have been observed at various parts of the globe, for example, the eastern North China Craton (NCC). Although a large number of geological and geophysical data have been collected to study the NCC, the mechanisms and dynamic processes are still widely debated. In this study, using 2-D high-resolution thermo-mechanical models, we systematically explore the key constraints on the destruction of cratonic lithosphere. The model results indicate that the craton destruction processes can be strongly influenced by the presence of the so-called mid-lithosphere discontinuity (MLD), and its interaction with subduction. The properties of the MLD layer and the density contrast between the lithospheric mantle and asthenosphere play significant roles in the destruction processes. Specifically, the presence of a deep and low-viscosity MLD layer within the cratonic lithosphere tends to enhance instability of the craton, making it easier for lithosphere destruction. In addition, a relatively thick oceanic crust, high convergence rate, and large initial subduction angles favor the craton destruction. Finally, we compare the model results with the observations of NCC, which indicate that the interaction between the Paleo-Pacific subduction and the MLD layer in the cratonic lithosphere has played an important role in the observed large-scale lithospheric removal of the eastern North China Craton. |
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