Sedimentology of glaciated basins

破译冰河时代留下的沉积记录对加拿大具有重要的经济意义。工业需要在冰川沉积学方面受过训练的跨学科地球科学专业人员，因为该国的大片地区都被最近冰河时代留下的冰川碎片所覆盖。这些复杂的矿床拥有重要的地下水含水层；他们利用计算机模型进行的科学研究可以预测气候变化和城市发展对水资源的影响，并为子孙后代的规划提供帮助。新的化学技术的应用，包括冰川沉积物中有机质的地球化学“指纹”，是水文地质学家简化厚厚的冰川沉积物覆盖地层复杂性的关键机会；在加拿大地盾工作的矿产勘探地质学家也需要这些信息。古晚古生代冰川岩（3.5 - 2.5亿年）蕴藏着油气，分布在板块构造分散的盆地中。他们的研究得出了有关东南亚构造和气候演化的基本古环境数据，以及发现碳氢化合物的岩石类型。更古老的新元古代冰川盆地（约7.5亿年至5.8亿年）表明，地球发生了灾难性的冷却，厚冰覆盖了热带地区，生物活动和正常沉积过程停止，海洋被冰覆盖（“雪球地球”）。这个大胆的模型要求我们重新检查这些岩石，并确定浮冰对气候的影响程度，以及记录冰盖生长和衰减的海平面变化。

Deciphering the sedimentary record left by ice ages is economically important to Canada. Industry needs interdisciplinary geoscience professionals trained in glacial sedimentology because large areas of the country are covered by glacial debris left by recent ice ages. These complex deposits host significant groundwater aquifers; their scientific study using computer models can predict the impact of climate change and urban development on water resources and assists planning for future generations. The application of new chemical techniques, involving geochemical 'finger printing' of organic matter in glacial deposits is a key opportunity to simplify the stratigraphic complexities of thick glacial sediment covers for hydrogeologists; information also needed by mineral exploration geologists working across the Canadian Shield. Ancient Late Paleozoic glacial rocks (350 to 250 million years old) contain oil and gas in basins scattered by plate tectonics across a wide area of SE Asia. Their study yields fundamental paleoenvironmental data regarding the tectonic and climatic evolution of SE Asia and the type of rocks that hydrocarbons are found in. Older Neoproterozoic glaciated basins (c.750 to 580 million years old) suggest catastrophic cooling of the planet where thick ice covered the tropics, biologic activity and normal sedimentary processes ceased, and oceans were iced-over ('Snowball Earth'). This bold model challenges us to re examine these rocks and identify the extent of floating ice on climate and changes in sea level that record the growth and decay of ice sheets.