The investigators propose to implement and apply a set of teleseismic imaging techniques to better constrain the nature of physical and chemical processes in the assembly, stabilization, and post-stabilization reworking of the Slave craton (Northwest Territories, Canada). The seismic analyses will be performed on data that are currently being collected by the POLARIS project augmented with data from a sub-array to be deployed by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) between 2004-2006. The lithosphere will be imaged and characterized using established approaches such as body wave and surface wave tomography, and shear-wave splitting analysis. In addition, the augmented POLARIS array will allow the application of high-resolution imaging techniques based on 2D inversion of teleseismic scattered waves. To date, these novel approaches have produced high quality images of subduction zone complexes, but they have yet to be fully exploited in stable continental regions. The detailed seismic images obtained through these analyses will be integrated with recent geological, geochemical and geophysical data in order to unravel the tectonic history of one of Earths oldest cratons. This work should yield an improved understanding of the accretionary history and evolution of cratons in general, thereby establishing improved and perhaps new hypotheses to ground and inspire future investigations of continental dynamics.
