Geography, Geology and the Environment

A comparison of the geological, geodynamic and rheological evolution of the northern and southern Rockall Basin using a 3D modelling approach.

Supervisors: Dr Stuart Egan (Keele), Dr Stuart Clarke (Keele) and Dr Geoffrey Kimbell (British Geological Survey)

Summary

The aim of this project is to apply and develop 3D numerical lithosphere-scale modelling techniques, combined with the analysis of geological and geophysical data, in order to determine the interplay of geological, rheological and geodynamic processes that have controlled the evolution of the Rockall Basin, NE Atlantic margin. The modelling will be used to test different hypotheses regarding the timing and nature of extensional and compressional events, and the influence of thermal anomalies, and spatially and temporally varying lithospheric rheology. This project aims to exploit a combination of the geodynamic modelling facilities and expertise at Keele University and the extensive knowledge of the geology and geophysics of the NE Atlantic margin at BGS.