Geological and Geophysical Studies in the Ford Ranges of Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica

该项目的研究目标是确定南极洲西部玛丽伯德地 (MBL) 福特山脉的构造历史。 MBL 中的事件可能与晚白垩世裂谷前后冈瓦纳太平洋边缘的构造有关。 南极洲西部被描述为微型板块的拼贴画，自侏罗纪以来，这些微型板块显然与彼此以及南极洲密切相关。这段时间内 MBL 与这些微孔板的关系不太清楚。 福斯迪克山脉的强烈变质岩可能是冈瓦纳太平洋边缘裂谷期间形成的变质核杂岩的中心。 在项目的第一个年度，将对来自福斯迪克和菲利普斯山脉的现有岩石套件进行研究。 此外，科学家还将分析卫星图像，为实地测绘做好准备。 计划进行两个野外季节。 将进行地质测绘、岩石学年代学和古地磁研究，并将提供重建玛丽伯德地构造演化所需的数据。

The research goal of this project is to determine the tectonic history of the Ford Ranges in Marie Byrd Land (MBL), West Antarctica. Events in MBL may relate to the tectonics of the Gondwana Pacific margin prior to and following Late Cretaceous rifting. Western Antarctica has been described as a collage of microplates which apparently have been closely related to each other and Antarctica since Jurassic; the relation of MBL to these microplates for this time period is less clear. Strongly metamorphosed rocks in the Fosdick Mountains may be the center of a metamorphic core complex formed during the rifting of the Gondwana Pacific margin. During the first project year, an existing rock suite from the Fosdick and Phillips mountains will be studied. In addition, scientists will analyze satellite imagery preparatory to field mapping. Two field seasons are planned. Geologic mapping, petrology geochronology, and paleomagnetic studies will be conducted, and will provide data needed to reconstruct a tectonic evolution of Marie Byrd Land.