Exhumation and Topographic Evolution of the Post-Orogenic Appalachians Determined by Apatite U-Th/He Dating

古山脉的显著残余高程很难解释，但在长期不活动的造山带中存在几个隆起的山地地形的例子。这项研究将调查巴尔的摩峡谷中存在大量后中新世沉积所提出的建议，即尽管早些时候造山作用停止了近200年，但在过去的20年里，新英格兰阿巴拉契亚山脉已经有多达3公里的物质被移走。该项目涉及应用一种相对较新的辐射测量技术，该技术有可能探测和量化如此大规模的剥蚀。预计结果将测试该地区最近可能的折返作用，并为了解板内和造山后岩石抬升过程提供洞察。

9909393PazzagliaSignificant residual elevation of ancient mountain ranges is difficult to explain, but several examples of elevated mountainous topography in long-inactive orogens exist. This study will investigate the suggestion made by the presence of a large volume of post Miocene sediments in the Baltimore Canyon that as much as 3 kilometers of material has been removed from the New England Appalachians in the last 20 My, despite cessation of orogenesis nearly 200 My earlier. The project involves application of a relatively new radiometric technique that has the potential to detect and quantify denudation of such magnitude. Results are expected to test the possible recent exhumation in this area and to provide insight into intraplate and post-orogenic processes of rock-uplift.