Collaborative Research: The Plutonic Foundation of a Very Slow-Spreading Ridge

该奖项将支持对西南印度洋裸露的下洋壳进行海洋地质和地球物理研究。 在大洋钻探作业期间，在这一区域发现了浅隆起海底上的裸露地壳岩石。 ODP 735B站点在该地区采集了400米的辉长岩垂直剖面，提供了地壳形成过程的详细记录。 然而，迄今为止，由于没有关于周围海底地质的数据，很难将这些结果放在当地的背景下。 本项目将通过进行详细的近海底观测和取样来纠正这种情况。 加拿大科学家将提供ROB ROPOS作为主要调查工具，并将对ROPOS上部署的凿岩机进行修改，以便直接对观察到的岩石进行取样。 主要目的是提供详细的近海底检查和海底取样，将现有ODP数据与当地环境联系起来，并为拟在现有钻孔周围取样的钻井提供详细的现场勘测。 额外的工作将包括新开发的英国凿岩机，以提供比ROPOS车辆更深的采样。 样品和数据将用于确定下地壳岩石独特暴露处的地壳形成过程。

This award will support a marine geological and geophysical study of exposed lower ocean crust in the southwest Indian Ocean. Exposed crustal rocks on shallow uplifted seafloor were discovered in this region during Ocean Drilling operations. ODP site 735B sampled a 400 meter vertical section of gabbros in this area providing a detailed record of crustal formation processes. To date, however, it has been difficult to place these results into a local context since no data are available on surrounding seafloor geology. The present project will rectify this situation by undertaking detailed near bottom observations and sampling. Canadian scientists will provide the ROB ROPOS as primary survey vechicle, and rock drill would be modified for deployment on ROPOS to allow direct sampling of observed rocks. The primary objective is to provide detailed near bottom examination and sampling of seafloor to tie existing ODP data to local environment and to provide detailed site survey for drilling to be proposed which would sample at sites surrounding existing hole. Additional work would include newly developed British rock drill to provide deeper sampling than could be done from ROPOS vehicle. Sample and data would be used to identify crustal formation process at this unique exposure of lower crustal rocks.