Hydration weakening and destruction of the North China Craton

• 2D thermo-mechanical modeling to investigate the destruction of the eastern North China Craton
• Craton destruction within 20 - 40 Myr requires a density exceeding the underlying mantle and viscosity below 10²² Pa s
• A flat slab may have hydrated the eastern part of the North China Craton, weakening it and promoting thinning and destruction
• Rapid weakening likely resulted from accelerated hydration, aided by extensive magmatism that enhanced fluid pathways
• Presence of only a high density lower crust or weak mid-lithospheric discontinuity does not cause craton destruction

Cite as: Paul, J., Spang, A., & Piccolo, A. (2025). "Hydration weakening and destruction of the North China Craton." Tectonophysics. 230756. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2025.230756
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