Graduate Research, University of Wyoming, 2013-present

Advisor: Dr. Barbara John

Timing and Generation of Lower Oceanic Crust at Mid-Ocean Ridges: Correlating Age Differences at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

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Oceanic crust covers more than two thirds of the Earth’s surface (McCulloch et al.). Despite its prevalence, little is known about ocean crust due to exposures at depths of more than five kilometers below sea level (Rioux et al.). At present, the limited sampling of in situ oceanic crust (Dick et al.) contributes to our fragmented understanding of the processes involved in oceanic crustal accretion. The majority of samples analyzed from mid-ocean ridges are obtained from the surface of the ocean floor.  Surface samples engage a broader study area (Baines et al.) but lack a known origin. Surface samples cannot be related to a specific depth or classified as upper or lower crust. Both components are pivotal in answering a fundamental question: how does crustal age vary with depth at mid-ocean ridges? This study addresses the processes of crustal accretion and cooling at the fast spreading East Pacific Rise by conducting U/Pb and (U/Th)He zircon analysis coupled with previously collected magnetic data on core drilled from rare exposures of upper and lower gabbroic oceanic crust. 


© Rose Aubrey Pettiette 2013