The thickness and Poisson’s ratio of the Earth’s crust beneath the North Central US
Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Major
Geology and Geophysics
Research Advisor
Gao, Stephen S.
Advisor's Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Funding Source
Opportunities for Undergraduate Research (OURE)
Abstract
The crustal thickness, structure, and composition (as reflected by the Poisson’s ratio) have been disputed for decades. Major geological structures in the area include the Mid-Continent Rift (MCR) and the Black Hills batholiths. In this project, we improved the spatial resolution of the H (crustal thickness) and PR (Poisson’s ratio) measurements in the region between N41 and N50 latitudes, and W90 and W110 longitudes by using broadband seismic data recorded by the USArray. In the region of the MCR we have established evidence for the original thinning of the crust by the receiver functions study and have provided evidence for the intrusion of mafic rocks and deposition of clastic sedimentary rocks which were responsible for the later crustal thickening. To the east a mid-crustal reflector can be identified at a depth of 20-30km. The Paleozoic sediments occur in most regions of the Superior Craton, Trans-Hudson Orogeny, Yavapai province and MCR.
Biography
Samantha Lucker is a senior graduating in May 2014 with a degree in Geology/Geophysics and a minor in communications. Her emphasis has been in geophysics and after graduation she plans to study gas hydrates in the Gulf of Mexico.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hall
Presentation Date
16 Apr 2014, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
The thickness and Poisson’s ratio of the Earth’s crust beneath the North Central US
Upper Atrium/Hall
The crustal thickness, structure, and composition (as reflected by the Poisson’s ratio) have been disputed for decades. Major geological structures in the area include the Mid-Continent Rift (MCR) and the Black Hills batholiths. In this project, we improved the spatial resolution of the H (crustal thickness) and PR (Poisson’s ratio) measurements in the region between N41 and N50 latitudes, and W90 and W110 longitudes by using broadband seismic data recorded by the USArray. In the region of the MCR we have established evidence for the original thinning of the crust by the receiver functions study and have provided evidence for the intrusion of mafic rocks and deposition of clastic sedimentary rocks which were responsible for the later crustal thickening. To the east a mid-crustal reflector can be identified at a depth of 20-30km. The Paleozoic sediments occur in most regions of the Superior Craton, Trans-Hudson Orogeny, Yavapai province and MCR.
Comments
Joint project with Yi Jiang