<p>The generation mechanism and enrichment patterns of shale gas in coal measure in the southern part of the North China Craton hold significant guiding implications for deep energy exploration. Taking the Huaibei mining area in the southern part of the North China Craton as the study object, this study systematically reveals the enrichment mechanism of shale gas in coal measure in the context of the destruction of the North China Craton through basin simulation, rock pyrolysis, and geochemical analyses of magmatic rocks. The results indicate that coal measures of the southern part of the North China Craton mainly developed three episodes of Early Cretaceous magmatism (143–104 Ma) after their formation. Their whole-rock arc-type geochemical signatures, adakitic affinity indicative of subducted slab melting origins, and Sr-Nd isotopic characteristics [(⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr)_i=0.707–0.712, <i>ε</i>_Nd(<i>t</i>)=−12.63 to −9.18] suggest they were controlled by the retreat of the subducting Western Pacific Plate, consistent with the background of North China Craton destruction. This thermal event caused the regional heat flow to surge to 130 mW m⁻², significantly accelerating the thermal evolution of the Permian coal measure shales. The vitrinite reflectance (<i>R</i>) of shales in the Shanxi Formation and Lower Shihezi Formation reached 1.10% and 1.33%, respectively, promoting the thermal cracking of heavy oil into light oil and wet gas, forming the main hydrocarbon generation stage for shale gas. However, craton destruction was also accompanied by intense tectonic uplift; the cumulative erosion in the study area exceeded 2000 m. Reduced formation pressure led to the desorption and escape of some gases, highlighting the dual effects of promoting hydrocarbon generation while limiting preservation. Integrating the intensity of structural deformation with the spatiotemporal distribution of magmatic activity, the study proposes that regions with weak structural deformation superimposed with Early Cretaceous magmatic intrusions represent favorable targets for shale gas enrichment. These results elucidate the shale gas accumulation model of “thermal evolution controlling generation and tectonic activity controlling preservation” under craton destruction, providing crucial guidance for shale gas exploration in the North China region and other complex structural areas with similar settings.</p>