Differential Craton Destruction Controlled by Fossil Structures in the Central North China Craton

Abstract Craton evolution plays a fundamental role in stabilizing the continental lithosphere and the long‐term evolution of Earth's surface environment. The Shanxi Rift Zone (SRZ) within the North China Craton marks an ongoing craton destruction. Detailed lithospheric structure is essential to explain craton destruction. To better understand its mechanism, we investigated the anisotropic lithospheric structure of the SRZ using surface‐wave Eikonal tomography. The results reveal strong north–south contrasts. In the northern SRZ, strong low‐velocity anomalies with weak azimuthal anisotropy are revealed in the upper mantle under the Datong volcano, implying strong mantle upwelling. In the central SRZ, the lithosphere shows higher velocity and consistent E‐W anisotropy across the rift, indicating little thermal effect. We attribute these variations, particularly the thermal structure, to Paleozoic subduction of the Paleo‐Asian Ocean along the northern margin of the craton, leading to a feasible environment for later magmatic underplating induced by the Pacific subduction.