U.S.-Argentina Visit to Plan Research on Andean Tectonics

小行星9402968 这个美国-阿根廷项目奖将支持约翰·R·布克，华盛顿大学，前往阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯与玛丽亚C。 CIRGEO-CONICET的Pomposiello将最后完成一个关于安第斯构造的项目，并评估在实地进行大地电磁测量的可行性。 最近有重大进展，使用MT成像导电性结构，使其成为解决地质问题的重要工具，其中水，其他流体或导电晶界相，如石墨或金属硫化物的互连是重要的。 考虑进行合作研究的实验有：在研究Altiplano地壳深部热状态的实验背景下，对重要地热资源进行详细成像，研究与门多萨市周围地区的高地震活动和极快垂直隆起相关的变形机制，或与前科迪勒拉大规模逆冲推覆有关的油气藏的潜力。 这些试验虽然具有全球意义，但也符合阿根廷明确的优先事项。 安第斯山脉与美国的地质历史有许多相似之处。由于其极高的变形率，将其用作野外场地可以使研究构造过程所需的时间从几十年缩短到几年或更短。 除了这个地点的优点外，研究小组的一名成员还能够修改MT的使用，使其能够在偏远地区的实地活动中使用，从而能够解释早期阶段收集的数据，以指导在其他地点的部署。 预计阿根廷小组的成员将很快学会这种新技术，使他们在不久的将来成为美国同事的平等伙伴。 ***

9402968 Booker This U.S.-Argentina Program award will support a visit by Dr. John R. Booker, of the University of Washington, to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina to work with Dr. Maria C. Pomposiello, of CIRGEO-CONICET, to finalize a project on Andean tectonics and to assess feasibility of magnetotellurics (MT) surveys in field areas. Recently there have been major advances using MT to image conductivity structure, making it an important tool for solving geological problems where interconnection of water, other fluids, or conductive grain boundary phases such as graphite or metallic sulfides are important. Experiments considered for collaborative research are: detailed imaging of an important geothermal resource in the context of an experiment to investigate the thermal state of the deep crust of the Altiplano, investigating deformation mechanisms associated with the high seismicity and extremely rapid vertical uplift in the region around the city of Mendoza, or the potential for oil and gas reservoirs associated with large scale overthrusting in the pre-Cordillera. These experiments, while of global significance, will also meet clear Argentine priorities. The Andes mountain range has many parallels to the geologic history of the U.S. Using them as a field site allows the time required to study tectonic processes to be accelerated from decades to years or less, because of their extremely high deformation rate. In addition to the merit of this site, a member of the research team has been able to modify the use of MT that will allow its use during field campaigns in remote areas, permitting interpretation of data collected in early stages to guide deployment at additional sites. This new technique is expected to be learned quickly by members of the Argentine group, allowing them to become equal partners with U.S. colleagues in the near future. ***