HR: 11:35h
AN: T52A-06    [Abstracts]
TI: The "Cumulative Age Distribution": a potential tool for paleo-elevation measurements and quantitative geomorphology using detrital apatite fission track thermochronology
AU: * Vermeesch, P
EM: pvermees@pangea.stanford.edju
AF: Stanford University, Braun Hall, room 320-305 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305 United States
AB: Apparent apatite fission track (AFT) ages of exhumed fault blocks generally increase with elevation. In such cases, we can predict the AFT age for any given elevation. Likewise, we can calculate the elevation corresponding to any given AFT age. Hence, it is possible to reconstruct the "provenance elevations" of detrital AFT age distributions. Implementing this idea, using a "Cumulative Age Distribution" (CAD) methodology, it might be possible to reconstruct (paleo-) topography from detrital AFT age distributions. This is illustrated using a published AFT dataset from Bullen et al. (2001,2003). The assumptions behind the CAD method are tested on a structurally and geologically simple drainage basin in the White Mountains, California. This test reveals the influence of geomorphology, depositional setting and sampling strategy on detrital AFT age distributions.
DE: 1815 Erosion and sedimentation
DE: 1035 Geochronology
DE: 1625 Geomorphology and weathering (1824, 1886)
SC: Tectonophysics [T]
MN: 2004 AGU Fall Meeting