Collaborative Research:Application of Detrital Zircon Isotope Characteristics and Sandstone Analysis of Beacon Strata to the Tectonic Evolution of the Antarctic Sector of Gondwana

智力优势：该项目的目标是通过结合碎屑锆石同位素特征和沉积学数据来解决前陆盆地与其构造环境之间的关系。为了实现这一目标，研究所将制定详细的地质年代学，并分析泥盆纪泰勒群和二叠纪-三叠纪维多利亚群砂岩中碎屑锆石的Hf和O同位素。这些数据将使他们能够更好地确定物源和盆地填充，并了解东南极洲和西南极洲现在被冰覆盖的源区的性质。这些项目将记录南极洲西部可能未暴露/未知的地壳地形，调查南极洲东部在泥盆纪至三叠纪期间暴露于侵蚀的冰下地形，并确定跨南极山脉中部泥盆纪至三叠纪冈瓦纳盆地的演变起源和构造历史。碎屑锆石数据将在河流扩散/排水模式、砂岩岩石学和层序地层学的背景下进行解释。这种解释将确定源地形和不断变化的沉积物来源。古水流分析和层序地层学将确定与沉积盆地发展有关的构造条件变化的时间和性质，并记录冈瓦纳南极部分的构造历史。这项研究的结果将回答有关冈瓦纳大陆泛大洋边缘，南极克拉通和灯塔沉积盆地及其各自在全球构造和南极洲地质和生物历史中的作用的问题。比肯盆地和邻近的高地通过改变极地气候、形成泥炭的沼泽的发展、植物对景观的殖民化，在冈瓦纳冰川的发展和消亡中发挥了重要作用，并且是中生代脊椎动物进入南极洲的迁徙路线。更广泛的影响：这项建议包括支持两名研究生谁将参加实地考察，也支持其他学生参加实验室研究。研究结果将纳入本科和研究生阶段的课堂教学，并将有助于培养下一代野外地质学家。与K-12科学班的互动将通过视频/计算机会议和南极卫星电话连接实现。另一项外联工作是伯德极地研究中心与哥伦布科学和工业中心之间的合作。

Intellectual Merit: The goal of this project is to address relationships between foreland basins and their tectonic settings by combining detrital zircon isotope characteristics and sedimentological data. To accomplish this goal the PIs will develop a detailed geochronology and analyze Hf- and O-isotopes of detrital zircons in sandstones of the Devonian Taylor Group and the Permian-Triassic Victoria Group. These data will allow them to better determine provenance and basin fill, and to understand the nature of the now ice covered source regions in East and West Antarctica. The PIs will document possible unexposed/unknown crustal terrains in West Antarctica, investigate sub-glacial terrains of East Antarctica that were exposed to erosion during Devonian to Triassic time, and determine the evolving provenance and tectonic history of the Devonian to Triassic Gondwana basins in the central Transantarctic Mountains. Detrital zircon data will be interpreted in the context of fluvial dispersal/drainage patterns, sandstone petrology, and sequence stratigraphy. This interpretation will identify source terrains and evolving sediment provenances. Paleocurrent analysis and sequence stratigraphy will determine the timing and nature of changing tectonic conditions associated with development of the depositional basins and document the tectonic history of the Antarctic sector of Gondwana. Results from this study will answer questions about the Panthalassan margin of Gondwana, the Antarctic craton, and the Beacon depositional basin and their respective roles in global tectonics and the geologic and biotic history of Antarctica. The Beacon basin and adjacent uplands played an important role in the development and demise of Gondwanan glaciation through modification of polar climates, development of peat-forming mires, colonization of the landscape by plants, and were a migration route for Mesozoic vertebrates into Antarctica. Broader impacts: This proposal includes support for two graduate students who will participate in the fieldwork, and also support for other students to participate in laboratory studies. Results of the research will be incorporated in classroom teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels and will help train the next generation of field geologists. Interactions with K-12 science classes will be achieved by video/computer conferencing and satellite phone connections from Antarctica. Another outreach effort is the developing cooperation between the Byrd Polar Research Center and the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus.