Investigating the tectonic evolution of the canadian cordillera through structural, metamorphic and multifaceted geochronologic studies

大陆、微大陆和岛弧在俯冲带边界的碰撞是一个基本的造山过程（即造山作用）。这些山带（造山带）的地质构造包括变形和变质事件的复杂叠加。我建议的研究将集中在研究这些与碰撞造山带相关的相互关联的构造过程。在加拿大科迪勒拉，我的研究生已经并将继续在实验室进行地质测绘和显微镜分析的构造和变质元素项目。这项研究的另一个组成部分将包括确定精确的时间限制（地质年代学），这对重建地质历史和发展构造模型至关重要。一旦通过野外测绘和显微镜分析严格确定了地质关系，将使用各种地质年代学技术分析放射性矿物（如锆石、独居石）的铀(U)和铅（Pb）同位素。这些方法包括同位素稀释-热电离质谱法（ID-TIMS），以及使用离子和电子显微探针和激光烧蚀-电感耦合质谱法（LA-ICPMS）对薄片和颗粒进行矿物原位分析。我对野外地质学和地质年代学的综合方法已被证明是非常有效的。我为加拿大南部科迪勒拉的构造过程提供了高度精确的年龄限制，并阐明了一些复杂的晶体化学过程，这些过程困扰着用于U-Pb地质年代学的放射性矿物。预计提出的研究将完善我们目前对与碰撞造山带相关的构造过程的理解，更具体地说，是加拿大科迪勒拉下大陆地壳的合并和雕刻。

The collision of continents, microcontinents, and island arcs at subduction zone boundaries is a fundamental mountain building process (i.e. orogenesis). The resultant geology of these mountain belts (orogens) includes a complex superposition of deformation and metamorphic events. My proposed research will focus upon investigating these interrelated tectonic processes associated with collisional orogens. In the Canadian Cordillera, my graduate students I and will continue to carry out a program of geologic mapping accompanied by microscope analysis in the lab of the structural and metamorphic elements. Another component of this research will include determination of precise timing constraints (geochronology) that are crucial for reconstructing the geologic history and developing tectonic models. Once the geologic relationships are rigorously determined via field-based mapping and microscope analysis, uranium (U) and lead (Pb) isotopes of radiogenic minerals (e.g. zircon, monazite) will be analyzed using a variety of geochronologic techniques. These include Isotope Dilution-Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ID-TIMS) and in situ analysis of minerals in thin section and grain mount using ion and electron microprobes and Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). My integrated approach to field geology and geochronology has proven to be very effective. I have provided highly precise and accurate age constraints for tectonic processes in the southern Canadian Cordillera, and have elucidated some of the complex crystal-chemical processes that plague radiometric minerals used for U-Pb geochronology. It is anticipated that the proposed research will refine our current understanding of tectonic processes associated with collisional orogens, and more specifically, the amalgamation and sculpting of the continental crust underlying the Canadian Cordillera.