U.S.-Chile: Morphotectonic Evolution of the U.S.-Chile: Mejillones Peninsula, Northern Chile Using Precise GPS Measurement of Uplifted Coastal Terraces

0514266 pinterthis U.S.-Chile /美国-德国奖将支持卡本代尔南伊利诺伊大学的Nicholas Pinter博士和Constanza a . Casanova女士与智利安托法加斯塔北天主教大学的Gabriel a . Gonzalez博士以及德国科隆大学的Ulrich Radtke博士合作，开展题为“利用GPS精确测量抬升海岸梯田的智利北部梅吉罗内斯半岛形态构造演化”的论文强化项目。直到最近几年，这个半岛基本上还是人迹罕至的。它包含了一系列在世界上名列前茅的凸起的海岸梯田。至少有13个不同的阶地存在，由于极度干旱，在保存下来的阶地形态、阶地盖层沉积沉积物和这些沉积物中保存的丰富化石物质方面是无与伦比的。本研究的目的是绘制、精确测量和分析这一序列。研究结果将增加全球阶地海平面信息数据库，调查当地气候演变，并记录沉积匮乏的智利俯冲复岩的上新世-更新世构造演化。Radtke博士将对Casanova女士进行电子自旋共振（ESR）测年技术的培训。ESR是对软体动物的化石壳进行的，这些化石壳将在每个确定的梯田上收集。该项目的结果将公布在一个双语网站上，供美国和智利的地质学学生使用。

0514266PinterThis U.S.-Chile/U.S.-Germany award will support Dr. Nicholas Pinter and Ms. Constanza A. Casanova of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale to work with Dr. Gabriel A. Gonzalez of Universidad Catolica del Norte in Antofagasta, Chile, as well as with Dr. Ulrich Radtke at the University of Cologne in Germany, on a dissertation enhancement project entitled "Morphotectonic Evolution of the Mejillones Peninsula, Northern Chile Using Precise GPS Measurement of Uplifted Coastal Terraces." This peninsula was largely inaccessible until the last few years. It contains a sequence of uplifted coastal terraces that rank among the best in the world. At least 13 distinct terrace levels are present, and because of the extreme aridity, is unmatched in preserved terrace morphology, terrace-capping sedimentary deposits and the abundant fossil material preserved in those deposits. The goal of this research is to map, precisely measure and analyze this sequence. The results would add to the worldwide databse of terrace-based sea-level information, investigating local climate evolution, and documenting the Plio-Pleistocene tectonic evolution of the sediment-starved Chilean subduction complex. Dr. Radtke will train Ms. Casanova in the Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) dating technique. ESR is done on fossil mollusk shells that will be collected on each identified terrace level.Results of this project will be posted on a bilingual website for geology students in the U.S. and Chile.