This is a project to carry out trace element and isotopic analyses on samples from the East Pacific Rise at 9 16' to 9 40' N and 13 30' to 15 N that have been obtained by dredging on a fine scale. The objectives are to investigate trace element and isotopic heterogeneity among lavas from a single magma chamber, to study nature of ridge segmentation and its controls on fine scale geochemistry, examine temporal variability and test hypothesis the local Pb-Pb correlations are isochrons recording the age of local mantle heterogeneity. %%% One of the most interesting results of geochemical measurements on rocks dredged from the sea floor in recent years has been fine scale variations of composition along the axis of mid-ocean ridges where the rocks are formed. These compositional variations appear to be related to tectonic segmentation of the ocean ridge axes themselves, but the details are not well understood. This project, being carried out by an established geochemist (White) and a bright young geochemist (Castillo), who was engaged in the initial collection on the sample set, on a suite of rocks from an area where much geophysical data exists, should yield significant insight into the relationship between tectonic and magmatic segmentation of ridge crests.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
8912069
Program Officer
Bilal U. Haq
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1989-08-01
Budget End
1991-07-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
$50,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Cornell University
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Ithaca
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
14850