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西南极玛丽伯德地(MBL)福特山脉的构造历史。MBL事件可能与冈瓦那太平洋边缘在晚白垩世裂谷之前和之后的构造有关。自侏罗纪以来，南极西部一直被描述为微板块的拼贴，显然它们彼此之间和南极洲之间有着密切的联系；这一时期的MBL与这些微板块的关系不太清楚。福斯迪克山脉强烈变质的岩石可能是冈瓦那太平洋边缘裂谷过程中形成的变质核杂岩的中心。在第一个项目年，将对福斯迪克和菲利普斯山脉现有的一套岩石进行研究。此外，科学家将分析准备进行野外测绘的卫星图像。计划了两个野外赛季。将进行地质测绘、岩石学、地质年代学和古地磁研究，并将提供重建玛丽·伯德兰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.