North America sinking down into the Earth’s mantle

A recent study published in Nature Geoscience reveals that the ancient bedrock of North America, known as the craton, is slowly sinking into the Earth’s mantle, New Atlas reported. This process, described as “dripping,” forms a funnel-like structure beneath the U.S. Midwest, where the stable craton is being horizontally pulled before sinking.

Cratons are the oldest, most stable parts of continents, but they can undergo changes due to mantle plumes—upwellings of hot material from deep within the Earth. The study, led by Junlin Hua, used seismic data from the EarthScope project to create a detailed model showing this ongoing deformation in real time.

Researchers attribute the thinning to the Farallon Plate, which has been subducting beneath North America for over 200 million years. Its subduction releases magma and volatile compounds that weaken the craton’s base. While the phenomenon affects much of the continent, scientists emphasize there is no immediate risk of landscape changes. This discovery offers new insight into continental evolution and tectonic recycling.