CAREER: Magmatism in the African Western Rift: Lithospheric Structure and Melting Dynamics

9508112 Furman本项目的目标是了解非洲西部裂谷与大陆伸展有关的碱性火山岩的成因。 这项研究将利用年轻火山岩的地球化学来记录软流圈和岩石圈熔体之间的相互作用，并描述这两个源储层的相对贡献。 该项目的结果将有助于约束全球地球动力学模型的源-储混合，也将促进了解大陆环境中的交代作用，岩浆作用和裂谷作用之间的关系。 这项建议是一项长期研究计划的一部分，该计划综合了实地、地球化学、同位素、实验和地球物理数据，以确定大陆裂谷中熔融和熔体提取的动力学。 选择非洲裂谷进行详细研究是因为它是裂谷相关岩浆活动的典型地点。 对适当样品的综合分析是解释的关键，这项研究将为评估大陆裂谷环境中的岩浆动力学提供最可靠的数据集。 这项建议的教育部分是一项重点努力，鼓励非洲裔美国学生参与地球科学。 将编制一个关于非洲地理和资源的初中/高中教学单元（7-9年级）。 本单元将提供一个平衡，以目前的重点对非洲遗产的创造性方面，通过提出一个车辆，通过它非洲裔美国学生可以表达对科学的热情，同时仍然发展的文化认同感。 为非科学专业的大学课程将以同样的目标开发，但材料将更加详细和严格。 在为这两门课程编写教材时将采用现代和创造性的教学技术。

9508112 Furman The goal of this project is to understand the genesis of alkalic volcanic rocks associated with continental extension in the African Western Rift. This research will use the geochemistry of young volcanic rocks to document interaction between asthenospheric and lithospheric melts and characterize the relative contributions from these two source reservoirs. The results of this project will help constrain global geodynamic models of source reservoir mixing, and will also advance understanding of the relationships between metasomatism, magmatism and rifting in continental environments. This proposal is part of a long-term research program that integrates field, geochemical, isotopic, experimental and geophysical data to determine the dynamics of melting and melt extraction in continental rifts. The African Rift was selected for detailed study because it is the type locality for rift-related magmatism. Comprehensive analysis of appropriate samples is critical to interpretation, and this research will provide the most robust data set for assessment of magma dynamics in the continental rift environment. The educational component of this proposal represents a focused effort to encourage participation of African-American students in the earth sciences. A middle/high school instructional unit (grades 7-9) will be developed on African geography and resources. This unit will be provide a counterbalance to current foci on the creative aspects of African heritage, by presenting a vehicle through which African-American students can express enthusiasm for science while still developing a sense of cultural identity. A college course for non-science majors will be developed with the same goal, but the material will be significantly more detailed and rigorous. Modern and creative pedagogical techniques will be used in developing educational materials for both courses.