Channelized lithospheric erosion shapes the western North American craton margin
Zebin Cao
Nature Communications, Published online: 22 May 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-73462-w Craton margins, vital for mineral deposits and plate tectonics, are poorly understood. In this study, seismic imaging suggests mantle flow is eroding cratonic interiors through deep channels. This drives volcanism and uplift, redefining how continents evolve.