Assessing patterns of deformation across the Precordillera thrust belt of northwestern Argentina: A multiple thermochronometer study of foreland exhumation

Julie Fosdick博士被授予美国国家科学基金会地球科学博士后奖学金，在图森的亚利桑那大学开展一项研究和教育计划。本项目旨在利用Bermejo盆地和Precordillera褶皱冲断带的基岩和碎屑地热年代学，量化阿根廷西北部安第斯山脉中部地壳增厚和冲断带挖掘的时间变化。研究结果还将对第三系前陆和山间盆地地层的源-汇热史进行刻画。研究结果将在更大的区域背景下进行评估，以阐明阿根廷西北部前科迪勒拉中部前陆挖掘和变形的空间格局、时间和速率，以研究安第斯造山带中部构造样式和盆地演化的沿走向变化。汇聚的板块构造系统以遍布世界各地的令人印象深刻的山带为代表，形成了重要的地形特征，为世界盆地提供了沉积物。然而，现有的沿俯冲带大陆变形模型不能充分解释构造构造的多样性和规模，这促使人们需要更好地了解调节造山带发育的地质过程。了解这些过程也很重要，因为它们与地震和火山灾害以及自然资源的分布有关。该项目包括亚利桑那大学和阿根廷布宜诺斯艾利斯大学的详细教育和推广计划。该研究员将讲授两个高年级和研究生水平的研讨会：科迪勒拉造山系统的挖掘和控制机制（一年级，UA）和热年代学应用于构造问题（二年级，UBA）。最后，博士后将指导学生的研究项目，以扩大她的教学和指导经验，为在地球科学领域的学术生涯做准备。

Dr. Julie Fosdick has been awarded an NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a research and education plan at the University of Arizona, Tucson. This project aims to quantify temporal changes in crustal thickening and thrust belt exhumation along the central Andes of northwestern Argentina by employing bedrock and detrital geo-thermochronology of the Bermejo Basin and Precordillera fold-thrust belt. Results from this study will also characterize the source-sink thermal history of Tertiary foreland and intermontane basin strata. Findings will be evaluated in the larger regional context to elucidate the spatial pattern, timing, and rates of foreland exhumation and deformation in the central Precordillera of northwestern Argentina to investigate along-strike changes in structural style and basin evolution within the Central Andean orogen.Convergent plate tectonic systems are represented by impressive mountain belts throughout the world, forming significant topographic features that provide sediment to the world's basins. However, existing models for continental deformation along subduction zones do not sufficiently explain the diversity and magnitude of tectonic structures, motivating the need to better understand the geologic processes that modulate the development of orogenic belts. These are also important processes to understand because they are linked to seismic and volcanic hazards and the distribution of natural resources. The project includes a detailed education and outreach program at the University of Arizona and the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two upper-division and graduate level seminars will be taught by the fellow: Exhumation and Controlling Mechanisms in Cordilleran Orogenic Systems (Year 1, UA), and Thermochronology Applied to Tectonic Problems (Year 2, UBA). Lastly, the postdoctoral fellow will mentor student research projects to broaden her teaching and mentorship experience in preparation for an academic career in the geosciences.