Collaborative Research: Investigation of the Evolution of the Southern Alps of New Zealand through Thermochronological Analysis of West Coast Granites

9909437 Brandon9910522 BaldwinThe南阿尔卑斯山的新西兰是一个相对简单的和地质年轻transpressive大陆碰撞的例子,并已相当大的最近的研究。然而，关于造山带的初始发育和早期演化仍存在重要问题。该项目将试图确定从纯横流相对运动到目前缝合断层的斜辐合几何形状之间转变的时间，这一事件是否沿澳大利亚-太平洋板块断层是历时的，以及沿阿尔卑斯断层的剪切加热是否有助于造山带的热结构。这项工作包括确定阿尔卑斯断层西下盘花岗岩的时温史和热模拟。研究结果有望澄清现代造山带发育的早期事件。

9909437 Brandon9910522 BaldwinThe Southern Alps of New Zealand are a relatively simple and geologically young example of transpressive continental collision, and has been the site of considerable recent research. However, important questions remain concerning the initial development and early evolution of the orogen. This project will attempt to determine the timing of the transition between pure transcurrent relative movement to the present obliquely convergent geometry of the suture fault, whether this event was diachronous along the Australian-Pacific plate fault and whether shear heating along the Alpine fault contributed to the thermal structure of the orogen. This work includes determining the time-temperature history of granitic rocks from the western footwall of the Alpine fault and thermal modeling. Results are expected to clarify early events in the development of the modern orogen.