Episodic crustal growth in the southern segment of the Trans-North China Orogen across the Archean-Proterozoic boundary.

Highlights: [•] The Dengfeng and Taihua Complexes in the southern Trans-North China Orogen consist mainly of TTG rocks. [•] Geochronology reveals 4 magmatic episodes in the southern Trans-North China Orogen between 2.07 and 2.85Ga. [•] Three early episodes of TTG were derived from thickened lower crust. [•] The final magmatic episode involved crustal reworking due to orogenic collapse. [•] Episodic crustal growth happened prior to the final assembly of the North China Craton. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]