ECORD Summer School: Geodynamics of mid-ocean ridges. 31 Aug-11 Sep, Bremen

ECORD Summer School 2009
Geodynamics of mid-ocean ridges

The ECORD Summer School will be held from August 31st until September 11th, 2009 at the MARUM, University of Bremen.

The thematic focus of the summer school is slow spreading mid-ocean ridges, which is more diverse in lithology and structure than fast-spread oceanic crust. Some portions of the slow-spreading ridges produce basaltic volcanic centers on the axis, with accretion occurring through a crustal magma chamber at the ridge axis. Other portions of the slow-spreading ridges feature modes of crustal accretion that are dominantly tectonic. Oceanic core complexes form episodically, commonly near the ends of slow-spreading segments. The domal cores of these features are interpreted as exposures of lower crust and/or upper mantle rocks exhumed along low-angle detachment faulting. In these areas, Ocean Drilling offers a unique opportunity to access lithologies that were initially emplaced at the base of the lithosphere. Drilling in proximity of hydrothermal vents has provided a wealth of new insights into the fluid-rock interactions and the development of seafloor massive sulfide deposits. Slow-spread crust is also a rich and diverse habitat for microbial communities.
Topics ranging from mantle melting to tectonic exhumation of mantle to hydrothermal/microbial interactions will be covered in lectures. Participants will be introduced to a full range of IODP related topics from general introduction to the program to compiling IODP proposals. Ocean Drilling cores from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge stored at the IODP Bremen Core Repository (BCR) will be used to get an insight into “shipboard” methodologies applied on the drilling vessels of the program: a wide spectrum of methods including core curation, visual core description, physical properties measurements, and petrographic observations will be taught according to the high standards on IODP expeditions. A registration form will be circulated in spring 2009.

The deadline for application to get an ECORD Scholarship is April, 12th, 2009.