NSF Org:	OCE Division Of Ocean Sciences
Recipient:	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
Initial Amendment Date:	November 15, 2007
Latest Amendment Date:	November 15, 2007
Award Number:	0646563
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Bilal U. Haq OCE  Division Of Ocean Sciences GEO  Directorate for Geosciences
Start Date:	December 1, 2007
End Date:	November 30, 2011 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$392,444.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$392,444.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2008 = $392,444.00
History of Investigator:	Peter Lonsdale (Principal Investigator) pfl@mpl.ucsd.edu Paterno Castillo (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	University of California-San Diego Scripps Inst of Oceanography 8622 DISCOVERY WAY # 116 LA JOLLA CA  US  92093-1500 (858)534-1293
Sponsor Congressional District:	50
Primary Place of Performance:	University of California-San Diego Scripps Inst of Oceanography 8622 DISCOVERY WAY # 116 LA JOLLA CA  US  92093-1500
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	50
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	QJ8HMDK7MRM3
Parent UEI:	QJ8HMDK7MRM3
NSF Program(s):	Marine Geology and Geophysics
Primary Program Source:	01000809DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	0000, 1620, OTHR
Program Element Code(s):	162000
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.050

ABSTRACT

The study will improve the understanding of processes that accompany the transition from continental to oceanic crust, and the Gulf of California provides one of the most accessible locations for studying this transition. Recent imaging of the Gulf of California reveals new information about the rifting history and transition to sea floor spreading. However, only direct sampling will be able to provide the age models, lithology and chemistry as much of the Gulf seafloor lacks clear magnetic anomaly signatures. An initial cruise of dredging by the PIs recovered a variety of rock types related to older continental crust, the preexisting arc and synrift volcanism, including older basalts. Placing these samples in geologic framework will require the type of detailed sampling planned for an ROV sampling and multibeam bathymetry cruise. The research will significantly advance our understanding of the magmatic history of the Gulf of California rift system, and provide insights regarding several significant issues: how the source of the volcanic rocks has varied laterally and temporally and how this relates to processes in the mantle; and how the volcanism and magmatism has affected the rift kinematics.

The broader impacts include strong international collaboration; development of a project web site for research dissemination to community and public, links to the San Diego Museum, and training of two graduate students. The project will collect an important suite of samples for the use of the broader MARGINS community.

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