Spatial−temporal variations in Mesozoic crustal thickness along the northeast Asian continental margin: Response to the subduction history of the Paleo-Pacific Plate

Abstract

The initial timing and history of subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath Eurasia are controversial. The crustal thickness variations at a convergent margin typically reflect the convergent process between the two plates. This study used a recently proposed machine-learning model to estimate the crustal thickness variations along the northeast Asian continental margin during the Mesozoic. The northeast Asian continental margin, particularly the eastern North China Craton, had its thickest crust during the Early Triassic and underwent crustal thinning during the Middle−Late Triassic. The former reflects the subduction and collision between the South China Block and North China Craton, and the latter occurred in a post-orogenic extensional setting. From the Early to Middle Jurassic, sustained crustal thickening occurred along the northeast Asian continental margin, which coincided with initial subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath Eurasia. From the Early to Late Cretaceous, the northeast Asian continental margin generally underwent crustal thinning, but crustal thickening events occurred at 130 Ma, 110 Ma, and 90 Ma, which is consistent with rollback of the subducted Paleo-Pacific Plate beneath Eurasia. The relationship between crustal thickness and mineralization suggests that thicker crust favored the formation of porphyry-type Cu-Mo deposits, whereas thinner crust in an extensional setting favored the formation of epithermal Au deposits related to magmatism.