OPP 9615161 Lawver and Dalziel Abstract Antarctica is the Earth's most isolated continent. It is surrounded by actively spreading ridges except in the South American sector. Antarctica is the only glaciated continent on the planet, and as such constitutes a unique element in the Earth's environment. The tectonic evolution of its plate boundaries, and of features within the Antarctic plate, controlled development of the seaways around and through the continent prior to and during the onset of glaciation. In addition to its unique role in the present day planetary environment and its classic one as the Okeystone of GondwanalandO during Paleozoic and early Mesozoic times, Antarctica has played an important role in global dynamics over the past 1.0 billion years, and indeed throughout Earth history. Because Antarctica is ice covered, few continent-wide compilation maps have been attempted. This award supports a project to produce a set of digital geologic reference maps of the Antarctic. A new tectonic map of the Antarctic plate will incorporate: geological data, both from previously-published maps, from new papers and from unpublished sources; and terrestrial and marine tectonic data, including seafloor structure derived from Geosat satellite gravity data, and seafloor age and spreading history information. Moreover, it will be based on the sub-ice topography. In addition to a tectonic map, a series of reconstructions centered on Antarctica, starting with the early Neoproterozoic and continuing through to the Cenozoic will be produced. These maps will be presented in digital form on a CD-ROM, so that they can be easily reproduced and used by others. The digital information will be compiled in a format that will allow future data sets to be easily added to the database and to allow old data to be easily updated, modified or discarded. Besides the maps mentioned above, the CD-ROM will include digitized versions of updated ice-thickness and sub-ice top ography maps, and an archive of available data as other investigators wish to contribute. Other data, such as aerogeophysical and paleomagnetic data, would be covered with separate chapters in the accompanying text and separate files on the CD-ROM. About 1000 copies of the CD and accompanying text will be available for the cost of postage and handling. Further copies can be distributed for the cost of reproduction, postage and handling.
