Late Archean Crustal Evolution of the Southern Wyoming Province

大陆的形成和演化是构造学和地球化学中的一个基本问题。尽管目前的几种模式存在差异，但晚太古代被认为是一个主要的地壳补充时期。一个公认的地壳添加过程是板块构造式的侧向增生。另一种说法是岩浆补充作用导致的地壳生长，其中幼年成分被并入岩浆弧中。该项目将试图确定这两种机制在怀俄明州南部太古代省的相对重要性。目前对怀俄明州南缘大陆物质增生的兴趣相当大，这使得这项工作的结果重要而及时，其结果可能有助于普遍理解晚太古代增生脉冲的机制。

9909260FrostThe formation and evolution of the continents is a fundamental problem in tectonics and geochemistry. Despite differences between several current models, the Late Archean is recognized as a time of major crustal addition. One well-recognized process of crustal addition is by plate-tectonic-style lateral accretion. Another calls for crustal growth by magmatic addition, in which juvenile components are incorporated into magmatic arcs. This project will attempt to determine the relative importance of these two mechanisms in the southern Wyoming Archean province. Considerable current interest in the accretion of continental material to the southern edge of the Wyoming province makes the outcome of this work important and timely, and results may help understand mechanisms of the late Archean accretion pulse generally.