Scientists record the disappearance of the world’s oldest continental crust 16:17

A team of scientists from the China University of Geological Sciences concluded that the oldest parts of Earth’s continental crust, known as cratons, were gradually destroyed by natural forces. The research was published in the scientific journal magazine Natural Geology (NatGeo).

Experts studied the disintegration process of the North China Craton (NCC) over 200 million years, starting from the Middle Mesozoic.

Researchers have identified two main stages of change in the SCM that lead to deformation over time. First, subduction of the oceanic Izanagi plate from the east (subduction of one lithospheric plate under another) led to thickening of the crust above the NCC. This movement formed the Taihan Mountain Range in northeastern China.

A rapid reversal phase occurred as the Izanagi Plate moved in the opposite direction. Therefore, the North China Craton has thinned by about 26%.

These two phases occurred in various stages over millions of years, beginning with northeast thrust (pushing of older rocks onto younger rocks) and transpressional (horizontal displacement of rocks with additional shortening perpendicular to movement) faults in the Jurassic and Early Cretaceous periods.

Beginning 136 million years ago, several crustal expansion events occurred, then interrupted by compression during the Late Cretaceous period 93–80 million years ago, and expansion then continued until the present day, ultimately leading to collapse. of the craton.

Computer modeling accurately reproduced the features of a lithospheric plate 4 thousand kilometers wide and up to 660 kilometers deep within the mantle transition zone.
Decratonization of SCM is not an isolated event. Scientists suggest that similar processes with local differences may occur in other parts of the planet.

Previous researchers offered A new theory on the formation of the world’s continents.