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

9402968布克美国-阿根廷项目的奖金将支持华盛顿大学的约翰·布克博士访问阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯，与CIRGEO-CONICET的玛丽亚·c·蓬波西洛博士合作，最终确定一个关于安第斯构造的项目，并评估在野外地区进行大地电磁学（MT）调查的可行性。最近，利用MT成像电导率结构取得了重大进展，使其成为解决水、其他流体或导电晶界相（如石墨或金属硫化物）相互连接的地质问题的重要工具。考虑合作研究的实验包括：在研究Altiplano深地壳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高地震活动和极快速垂直隆起相关的变形机制，或与科迪勒拉前大规模逆冲有关的油气储层潜力。这些实验虽然具有全球意义，但也将满足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，将其作为实地考察地点，可以将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之外，研究小组的一名成员已经能够修改MT的使用，使其能够在偏远地区的实地活动中使用，允许对早期收集的数据进行解释，以指导在其他地点的部署。阿根廷队的队员有望很快学会这项新技术，在不久的将来，他们将与美国队员成为平等的合作伙伴。*＊*

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. ***