Mesoarchean trondhjemitic continental nucleus and pre-plate tectonic crustal-mantle interactions of the Western Shandong Complex, North China Craton

•A Mesoarchean trondhjemitic continental nucleus was identified for the first time.•The continental nucleus dismembered during the bottom-up plume processes.•Various plume-continental nucleus interactions ubiquitously documented in the WSC.•Plume-continental nucleus interaction resulted in the opening of an oceanic basin.•The oceanic plateau blocked subsequent subduction and led to a magmatic hiatus.