Collaborative Research: Integrated Geological Interpretation of Deep-Tow Sonar, Submersible, and Petrological Observations of the Upper and Lower Oceanic Crust

这个项目是为了分析最近在大西洋中脊的凯恩断裂带研究中收集的深拖曳侧扫声纳数据。Delaney（华盛顿大学）和他的同事Karson（杜克大学）建议将Kane断裂带的研究结果与来自太平洋Blanco断裂带的类似侧扫声纳数据，以及两个地区的潜水观察和岩石样本相结合。该项目的总体目标是破译下（凯恩）和上（布兰科）海洋地壳形成过程中涉及的结构和岩石类型，这些地壳由于其构造环境而暴露在这些地点。拟议的工作建立在以前的观察基础上，包括这些研究人员和法国同事在七年的时间里合作进行的四个独立的实地项目（法国的鹦鹉螺号潜水器被用于两个潜水项目）。在Kane断裂带区域的研究结合了最近JOIDES Resolution在该地区进行的Ocean Drilling Program钻井，并提供了一个区域背景来解释这些钻井岩心。这两个项目都提供了一个独特的机会来检查海洋地壳结构的连续性和细节，在一个地区，它暴露在海底陡峭的悬崖上。这为研究地壳形成的构造和壳内岩石学过程的时空连续性提供了机会，这是不可能达到这里使用钻井或地震反射剖面的“标准”技术所提出的详细水平的。＊＊＊

9318731 Karson This project is to analyse deeply-towed side-scan sonar data collected during recent studies in the Kane Fracture Zone on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Delaney (University of Washington) and his colleague Karson (Duke University) propose to integrate the results of the Kane Fracture Zone study with similar side-scan sonar data from Blanco Fracture Zone in the Pacific, as well as submersible observations and rock samples from both areas. The overall goal of the project is to decipher the structure and rock types involved in the formation of lower (Kane) and upper (Blanco) ocean crust, which are exposed at these sites due to their tectonic settings. The proposed work builds on previous observations, including four separate field programs over seven years, collaborative among these investigators and French colleagues (the French submersible Nautile was used for the two diving programs). Studies in the Kane Fracture Zone region integrate with recent Ocean Drilling Program drilling in this area by JOIDES Resolution, and provide a regional context in which to interpret these drilling cores. Both programs provide a unique opportunity to examine the continuity and detail of ocean crustal structure in a region where it is exposed along steep cliffs at the sea floor. This provides an opportunity to investigate both spatial and temporal continuity of tectonic and intracrustal petrologic processes of crustal formation, which is not possible to the level of detail proposed here using the "standard" techniques of drilling or seismic reflection profiling. ***