Deformation partitioning in continental intraplate regions: insights from improved GNSS observations of the Datong basin-range system, North China
Xinnan Li, Zhuqi Zhang, William C Hammond, Ian K D Pierce, Quanxing Luo, Weiqian Yu, Wei Wei, Youjuan Li, Jingxing Yu, Chuanyou Li, Huiping Zhang, Dewen Zheng, Peizhen ZhangSUMMARY
Continental intraplate regions exhibit slow deformation yet host destructive earthquakes, posing fundamental questions about strain partitioning far from plate boundaries. Here we combine a refined Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) velocity field and elastic block modelling to investigate the Datong basin-range system in North China, a key intraplate deformation zone at the intersection of major fault systems and Quaternary volcanism. We find that left-lateral shear (~2 mm yr−1) and NW–SE extension (~1 mm yr−1) are accommodated across multiple faults and coherent block rotations, indicating broadly distributed deformation rather than localization on a single structure. Integration with mantle tomography reveals a low-velocity anomaly beneath Datong, suggesting that upwelling-driven thermal weakening augments far-field stresses from India–Asia collision and Pacific plate rollback. This deep–shallow coupling implies non-negligible seismic hazard and highlights the role of mantle dynamics in intraplate deformation.