NSF Org:	EAR Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Initial Amendment Date:	March 22, 2004
Latest Amendment Date:	March 22, 2004
Award Number:	0345563
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Kaye Shedlock EAR  Division Of Earth Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	April 1, 2004
End Date:	March 31, 2007 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$97,047.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$97,047.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2004 = $97,047.00
History of Investigator:	Ann Blythe (Principal Investigator) ablythe@oxy.edu
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Southern California 3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3 LOS ANGELES CA  US  90033 (213)740-7762
Sponsor Congressional District:	34
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Southern California 3720 S FLOWER ST FL 3 LOS ANGELES CA  US  90033
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	34
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	G88KLJR3KYT5
Parent UEI:
NSF Program(s):	EARTHSCOPE SCIENCE
Primary Program Source:	app-0104
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	174100
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

Analysis of rock samples from the 4-km-deep San Andreas Fault zone Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) drillhole provides an excellent opportunity to explore a fundamental question in fault mechanics regarding the frictional strength of faults, while simulataneously extending our knowledge of the regional uplift history in the Parkfield, California, area. SAFOD will provide samples through the Salinian block and from near at least one abandoned segment of the San Andreas fault system before finally intersecting the active San Andreas fault strand(s). Building on previous analysis of Pilot Hole samples collected in 2002, deep Salinian samples, as well as samples adjacent to the abandoned and active fault segments are analyzed using low temperature thermochronometry (specifically apatite and zircon fission-track dating, (U-Th)/He dating of apatite and zircon crystals, and 39Ar-40Ar dating of K-feldspar grains). The thermochronometry and complementary modeling studies characterize the long-term thermal evolution of the region and probe the faults themselves for evidence of localized thermal perturbations. Constraining frictional heating using thermochronometry presents an independent approach that can help establish the frictional properties of the San Andreas fault.

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