Late Archean Crustal Evolution of the Southern Wyoming Province

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9909260FrostThe formation and evolution of the continents is a fundamental problem in tectonics and geochemistry. Despite differences between several current models, the Late Archean is recognized as a time of major crustal addition. One well-recognized process of crustal addition is by plate-tectonic-style lateral accretion. Another calls for crustal growth by magmatic addition, in which juvenile components are incorporated into magmatic arcs. This project will attempt to determine the relative importance of these two mechanisms in the southern Wyoming Archean province. Considerable current interest in the accretion of continental material to the southern edge of the Wyoming province makes the outcome of this work important and timely, and results may help understand mechanisms of the late Archean accretion pulse generally.