Formation and evolution of terrestrial hypervelocity impact structures

陆地超高速撞击结构的形成和演化

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04073
• 负责人: Walton, Erin
• 金额: $ 2.03万
• 依托单位: Grant MacEwan University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=743866
• 关键词: Formation; evolution; terrestrial; hypervelocity; impact

A hypervelocity impact event occurs when an asteroid or comet strikes the Earth's surface, producing a shock wave that excavates a crater and generates new rocks, called impactites. These violent events have played a crucial role in the evolution of our geosphere and biosphere, and are associated with economic mineral, and hydrocarbon deposits. There are currently 190 confirmed impact craters worldwide, representing only a fraction of the total number anticipated in the geological record. My research program will address major research priorities identified by the impact community. These priorities include understanding the behaviour of sedimentary rocks in the impact environment, improving identification and confirmation criteria for impact craters formed in a variety of rock types, and constraining the timing of impact events. A series of short-term objectives integrating detailed petrographical and geochemical analysis of impactites, with experimental data, aided by computer modeling, will be undertaken to achieve identified research priorities. This program will focus on confirmed and possible impact structures in Canada's Alberta Basin. This sequence of sedimentary rocks has been extensively investigated for natural resources, but the potential of the Basin as host to a record of cratering events extending to the Paleozoic, has yet to be fully explored. One crater in the Alberta Basin the 25-km diameter Steen River impact structure is a world-class example of a complex crater with a central uplift. Combining results for the timing and paleogeographic location of Steen River, with conditions of breccia emplacement, cooling history, and evolution of its post-impact hydrothermal system, will be used to develop a complete picture of this understudied impact crater. A number of impact craters worldwide will be included in this program, to inform, and be informed by, our detailed characterization of impactites from the Alberta Basin. Successful achievement of these research objectives will improve the statistical database of impact events on Earth, and provide detailed investigation of new or understudied terrestrial impact craters formed in sedimentary target rocks. With the proposed research program, I will mentor one PhD, three MSc, and six undergraduate students, providing them with valuable advanced analytical equipment training. My training plan will enable HQP to become independently proficient using optical and electron microscopy, which are routinely used in the broad field of mineralogy and petrology. Additionally, HQP will gain expertise in image analysis techniques, thermal modelling, experiment design and execution, well logging, management skills, and become well-versed in the stratigraphy of an economically important basin. This training plan will prepare students for leadership roles in academia, industry, and government.

超高速撞击事件发生在小行星或彗星撞击地球表面时，产生的冲击波会挖出一个陨石坑，并产生新的岩石，这被称为撞击。这些剧烈的事件在我们的地圈和生物圈的演化中起着至关重要的作用，并与经济矿物和碳氢化合物矿床有关。目前世界上有190个已确认的撞击坑，只占地质记录中预计总数的一小部分。我的研究项目将解决影响社区确定的主要研究重点。这些优先事项包括了解沉积岩在撞击环境中的行为，改进在各种岩石类型中形成的陨石坑的识别和确认标准，以及限制撞击事件的时间。将进行一系列短期目标，将岩石学和地球化学对撞击的详细分析与实验数据结合起来，在计算机模拟的协助下，以实现确定的研究优先事项。该项目将重点关注加拿大阿尔伯塔盆地已确认的和可能的撞击结构。这个沉积岩序列已经被广泛地研究了自然资源，但是盆地作为火山口事件记录的寄主的潜力延伸到古生代，还没有得到充分的探索。阿尔伯塔盆地的一个陨石坑直径25公里的斯汀河撞击结构是一个世界级的复杂陨石坑的例子，它的中心隆起。结合斯汀河形成时间和古地理位置的结果，以及角砾岩就位条件、冷却历史和撞击后热液系统的演化，将用于形成这个尚未得到充分研究的陨石坑的完整图景。这个项目将包括世界各地的许多撞击坑，以告知我们对阿尔伯塔盆地撞击的详细描述，并从中获得信息。这些研究目标的成功实现将改善地球上撞击事件的统计数据库，并为沉积目标岩中形成的新的或未充分研究的陆地撞击坑提供详细的调查。在这个项目中，我将指导1名博士、3名硕士和6名本科生，为他们提供宝贵的先进分析设备培训。我的培训计划将使HQP能够独立熟练地使用光学和电子显微镜，这是矿物学和岩石学广泛领域的常规使用。此外，HQP将获得图像分析技术、热模拟、实验设计和执行、测井、管理技能等方面的专业知识，并精通具有重要经济意义的盆地的地层学。该培训计划将为学生在学术界、工业界和政府中担任领导角色做好准备。