Collaborative Research: Tests of Models of Crustal Accretion and Magnetization at Endeavor Deep

University Of Rhode Island, Kingston RI

Investigators

Abstract

The Endeavor Deep along the Juan Fernandez microplate exposes a 50 km-long 3-4 km-deep section of young ocean crust created at very fast spreading rates. This projects involves combined geophysical surveys with in situ observations and sampling along the northeast wall of the Endeavor Deep. High-resolution DSL-120 side-scan sonar will completely insonify the scarp and be used to map regional trends in lithology and structure at 10 m resolution. Rock dredging will identify specific targets for more detailed sampling. Digital imaging and petrologic sampling transects with Jason II will groundtruth the regional view and provide a high-resolution perspective of representative sections. Deep-towed 3-component magnetometer data will map the magnetization of oceanic crust at these same scales.