How flat subduction and the upper plate rheology control the deformation of the North China craton

The longevity of the cratonic lithosphere is controlled by its buoyancy, strength, and the viscosity contrast with that of the underlying sub-lithospheric mantle. A number of geodynamic models show that the style and characteristic of lithospheric removal/thinning mechanisms over cratons (i.e. whether delamination, drip, or hydration weakening) are accounted by their geological history and geodynamic evolution. For example, the question of which process(es) control lithospheric removal from beneath the Wyoming and North China cratons still enigmatic. To address this problem, we are using 2D numerical models to investigate how lithospheric mantle of the North China Block has been thinned in which geological, geophysical and petrological studies refers the areas as key example of cratonic destruction/removal that occurred (120-80 Ma). Considering the geological evolution of North China region, the main focus of the study is to investigate the effects of a set of parameters (e.g., viscosity, buoyancy and thickness) for the base of cratons which is likely weakened by fluids released from the subducting oceanic plate. Our preliminary results show that movement of the subducting plate is sensitive to the parameters affecting the stability of the lithosphere whereas overriding plate is mainly affected by viscosity. If the base of the cratonic lithospheric mantle is dense, thick and relatively less viscous, it forces oceanic slab to rollback, else the overlying plate slides through the base of the cratonic mantle. The model results with stagnated oceanic plate at the transition zone with low viscosity cratonic base is responsible for the deformation of the cratonic roots.