Origin of the late Paleoproterozoic low-δ18O A-type granites on the southern margin of the North China Craton and their geodynamic mechanism

•A suite of ~1.6 Ga low-δ18O A-type granites was identified on the southern margin North China Craton.•The 18O-depletion A-type granites were derived from the remelting of preexisting hydrothermally altered basement rocks (i.e., Taihua Complex).•The formation of a low-δ18O source rocks and ~1.6 Ga A-type granites were related to the late Paleoproterozoic rifting.•The rifting might continue at least till ~1.6 Ga.