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：本项目旨在结合碎屑锆石同位素特征和沉积学资料，研究前陆盆地及其构造环境之间的关系。为了实现这一目标，pi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来源和盆地填充，并了解南极洲东部和西部现在被冰覆盖的源区的性质。PIs将记录西南极洲可能未暴露或未知的地壳地形，调查东南极洲在泥盆纪至三叠纪期间暴露于侵蚀的冰下地形，并确定横贯南极山脉中部泥盆纪至三叠纪冈瓦纳盆地的演化物源和构造历史。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。这种解释将确定物源地形和演化中的沉积物物源。古海流分析和层序地层学将确定与沉积盆地发育相关的构造条件变化的时间和性质，并记录冈瓦纳南极板块的构造历史。这项研究的结果将回答关于冈瓦纳Panthalassan边缘、南极克拉通和Beacon沉积盆地的问题，以及它们在全球构造和南极洲地质和生物历史中的作用。Beacon盆地及其邻近高地通过改变极地气候、形成泥炭泥沼、植物对地貌的殖民作用，在冈瓦纳冰川的发展和消亡过程中发挥了重要作用，是中生代脊椎动物进入南极洲的一条迁徙路线。更广泛的影响：该提案包括支持两名研究生参加实地考察，并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的课堂教学，并将有助于培训下一代实地地质学家。与K-12科学课程的互动将通过视频/计算机会议和从南极洲的卫星电话连接来实现。另一项外联努力是伯德极地研究中心与哥伦布科学与工业中心之间正在发展的合作。

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.