Neoproterozoic Glaciation in Antarctica?

南极洲新元古代冰川作用？

• 批准号: 1059489
• 负责人: Edmund Stump
• 金额: $ 7万
• 依托单位: Arizona State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-09-01 至 2012-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1059489&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Neoproterozoic; Glaciation; Antarctica

Intellectual Merit: The assignment of the PI to the role of Chief Scientist at the Central Transantarctic Mountains field camp by the Office of Polar Programs has presented the PI with the opportunity to re-examine a unique geological locality at the head of Nimrod Glacier. During the 1985-86 field season, a diamictite interpreted to be of glacial origin was discovered by the PI on the Cotton Plateau. Relative dates indicated that the diamictite is of Neoproterozoic age. It is believed that this is the first evidence of Neoproterozoic glaciation in Antarctica. During the 1985-86 field season, the PI also discovered a volcanic rhyolite at Cotton Plateau interbedded with the sedimentary sequence containing the diamictite. In this proposal, the PI proposes to sample the rhyolite for U-Pb analyses on zircons to provide an age for the diamictite and allow for correlation of this deposit with the global Neoproterozoic glacial subdivisions. Detailed examination of rocks in the vicinity of the diamictite will also be undertaken to identify additional localities with a glacial affinity, thus our understanding of Antarctica?s role during this important interval of Earth history.Broader impacts: A student currently working on a M.S. thesis on rocks collected in the Transantarctic Mountains will be involved in the fieldwork and follow up lab work. The proposed field work will give a broader context for the thesis work. Because the field work will be conducted from the CTAM camp, the student will have the opportunity to interact with a broad range of other geologists. Scientifically, the Neoproterozoic glaciation is currently a research theme of great international interest and the ability to demonstrate and accurately date Neoproterozoic glaciation in Antarctica will have significant scientific impact.

智力优势：极地项目办公室指派PI担任中央跨南极山脉野外营地的首席科学家，使PI有机会重新研究尼姆罗德冰川顶部的一个独特地质位置。在1985年至1986年的野外季节，PI在棉花高原发现了一种被解释为冰川起源的杂岩。相对定年表明，杂岩的时代为新元古代。这被认为是南极洲新元古代冰川作用的第一个证据。在1985- 1986年的野外季节，PI还在棉花高原发现了一个火山流纹岩，与含有杂屑岩的沉积序列互层。在本提案中，PI建议对流纹岩进行采样，对锆石进行U-Pb分析，以提供杂岩的年龄，并将该存款与全球新元古代冰川细分进行关联。还将对杂岩附近的岩石进行详细检查，以确定与冰川密切相关的其他地点，从而了解我们对南极洲的了解。更广泛的影响：一名正在攻读硕士学位的学生。论文中的岩石收集在跨南极山脉将参与实地考察和后续实验室工作。拟议的实地工作将为论文工作提供更广泛的背景。由于实地工作将从CTAM营地进行，学生将有机会与其他地质学家广泛互动。科学上，新元古代冰川作用是目前国际上非常感兴趣的研究主题，证明南极新元古代冰川作用并准确定年的能力将产生重大的科学影响。