NSF Org:	EAR Division Of Earth Sciences
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
Initial Amendment Date:	June 22, 2004
Latest Amendment Date:	May 18, 2007
Award Number:	0409955
Award Instrument:	Continuing Grant
Program Manager:	Robin Reichlin EAR  Division Of Earth Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	July 1, 2004
End Date:	June 30, 2008 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$0.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$191,318.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2004 = $95,659.00 FY 2005 = $95,659.00
History of Investigator:	Scott Smithson (Principal Investigator) sbs@uwyo.edu Elena Morozova (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of Wyoming 1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE LARAMIE WY  US  82071-2000 (307)766-5320
Sponsor Congressional District:	00
Primary Place of Performance:	University of Wyoming 1000 E UNIVERSITY AVE LARAMIE WY  US  82071-2000
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	00
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	FDR5YF2K32X5
Parent UEI:	FDR5YF2K32X5
NSF Program(s):	Geophysics
Primary Program Source:	app-0104  app-0105
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, 9150, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	157400
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

This study involves seismic imaging of eclogite at one of the world's classic localities. Eclogite is a unique rock type because of its physical properties such as high density, which is a response to abnormally high pressure. Eclogite is related to processes of mountain building and associated subduction. Yet we know little about the subsurface distribution of eclogites. The classic eclogite localities that we study are in the Bergen Arcs of western Norway where eclogitization is related to fluid flow along fault zones and regionally in the associated gneisses. The eclogites are formed at such high pressures that they correspond to a depth of up to 100 km. Another presumed role of eclogites is as a trigger for recycling of crustal material back down into the mantle because of their high density. What is the nature of continental crust and crust-mantle boundary beneath an eclogite terrane, where do the eclogites come from and how do they get there? What was the role of deep fluids in eclogite formation? These are the problems that we propose to clarify. With an NSF Small Grant for Exploratory Research, the investigators were able to utilize the University of Bergen research vessel for a combined land-marine seismic recording experiment to image the deep structure of the eclogite terrane. Seismic energy from marine airguns was recorded on 16 ocean bottom seismometers and 15 seismic recorders on land using new IRIS land seismic recorders to yield 250 km long profiles. Because of their unique seismic characteristics, the researchers expect to image eclogite bodies throughout the crust, deep fluid passageways that promoted eclogitization, and faults that brought eclogites up to the surface. Results should provide new information on mountain building and crustal formation, specifically how crust in mountain belts over-thickens and subsequently how deepest crust comes back up to the surface.

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