U.S.-Argentina Visit to Plan Research on Andean Tectonics

9402968布克这个美国-阿根廷项目奖将支持华盛顿大学的约翰·R·布克博士访问阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯，与CIRGEO-CONICET的玛丽亚·C·庞波塞洛博士合作，敲定一个关于安第斯构造的项目，并评估野外大地电磁(MT)测量的可行性。近年来，利用大地电磁方法成像导电结构取得了重大进展，使其成为解决水、其他流体或导电晶界相(如石墨或金属硫化物)之间相互联系的重要地质问题的重要工具。考虑进行合作研究的实验有：在调查阿尔蒂普罗深部地壳热状态的实验背景下对一项重要的地热资源进行详细成像，调查门多萨市周围地区的高地震活动和极快的垂直隆起相关的变形机制，或与前科迪莱拉的大规模逆冲有关的石油和天然气储藏的可能性。这些实验虽然具有全球意义，但也将满足阿根廷明确的优先事项。安第斯山脉与美国的地质历史有许多相似之处。由于其极高的形变率，使用它们作为野外场地可以将研究构造过程所需的时间从几十年加快到几年或更短时间。除了这个站点的优点之外，研究小组的一名成员已经能够修改MT的使用，使其能够在偏远地区的实地战役中使用，从而能够对早期收集的数据进行解释，以指导在其他地点的部署。预计阿根廷团队的成员将很快学会这项新技术，使他们在不久的将来成为与美国同事平等的合作伙伴。***

9402968 Booker This U.S.-Argentina Program award will support a visit by Dr. John R. Booker, of the University of Washington, to go to Buenos Aires, Argentina to work with Dr. Maria C. Pomposiello, of CIRGEO-CONICET, to finalize a project on Andean tectonics and to assess feasibility of magnetotellurics (MT) surveys in field areas. Recently there have been major advances using MT to image conductivity structure, making it an important tool for solving geological problems where interconnection of water, other fluids, or conductive grain boundary phases such as graphite or metallic sulfides are important. Experiments considered for collaborative research are: detailed imaging of an important geothermal resource in the context of an experiment to investigate the thermal state of the deep crust of the Altiplano, investigating deformation mechanisms associated with the high seismicity and extremely rapid vertical uplift in the region around the city of Mendoza, or the potential for oil and gas reservoirs associated with large scale overthrusting in the pre-Cordillera. These experiments, while of global significance, will also meet clear Argentine priorities. The Andes mountain range has many parallels to the geologic history of the U.S. Using them as a field site allows the time required to study tectonic processes to be accelerated from decades to years or less, because of their extremely high deformation rate. In addition to the merit of this site, a member of the research team has been able to modify the use of MT that will allow its use during field campaigns in remote areas, permitting interpretation of data collected in early stages to guide deployment at additional sites. This new technique is expected to be learned quickly by members of the Argentine group, allowing them to become equal partners with U.S. colleagues in the near future. ***