OCTOBER 27-29, 2001, BANFF, CANADA

Mantle Lithosphere and LITHOPROBE:
Views Of Continental Evolution From the Bottom Up
- a workshop to assess how the mantle lithosphere
affects crustal architecture and processes.

OVERVIEW

LITHOPROBE, having pioneered a program of Lithospheric research across the earth sciences, now faces the challenge of assembling and integrating results acquired in ten transects that collectively span Canada and sample four billion years of Earth history. Beyond the data legacy that LITHOPROBE will leave, a process of global synthesis has been implemented to provide a comprehensive framework for the structure and evolution of the continental crust. To foster this synthesis, LITHOPROBE is organizing a series of thematic workshops. Previous workshops addressed two themes, "Tectonic and Magmatic Processes in Crustal Growth" and, "Where Crust Meets Mantle: LITHOPROBE Perspectives on the Crust-Mantle Boundary".

The importance of mantle lithosphere processes in determining the nature and evolution of continental crust is recognized in the third workshop. "Mantle Lithosphere and LITHOPROBE: Views Of Continental Evolution From the Bottom Up" will be held at the Banff Centre for Conferences October 27-29, 2001.

Attendance at the workshop is limited to 50, and will include scientists representing LITHOPROBE Transects, PanLITHOPROBE synthesis, invited experts, and other relevant groups, including students, that bear on this cross-disciplinary theme. The meeting will focus on geophysical, geological and geochemical evidence concerning the nature and evolution of mantle lithosphere and the role of the mantle lithosphere in crustal processes.

The format includes moderated discussion sessions, poster sessions, and a final synthesis and outlook session. Discussion sessions will begin with short presentations from selected speakers designed to summarize succinctly the state of our current understanding, pose critical questions and set the stage for ensuing discussions. All participants will be encouraged to participate in the structured moderated discussions by contributing key points, illustrated by two or three slides or overheads. Poster sessions will be the primary vehicle for the presentation of 'in depth' scientific results. Moderators will be tasked to focus the synthesis of contributed data, concepts, and relationships.

We invite members of LITHOPROBE and related communities to contribute to this workshop by:

1) Pre-registering their interest in attending the workshop by May 1, which will allow us to determine the level of interest. Please indicate your interest in participating with a tentative title, a brief outline of relevant expertise and experience, and describe how you propose to contribute to the workshop or what you would like to learn from the workshop. By June 1 participants will be invited to the workshop on the basis of this information.

2) Submitting an abstract concerning your contribution/poster to the website by July 15.

SCIENTIFIC THEMES AND SESSION TOPICS

1) Composition and Properties of Continental Mantle Lithosphere

2) Current Processes in the Continental Lithosphere

3) Processes within Continental Mantle and their Effect on the Crust

4) Secular Variations in Continental Lithospheric Processes

These themes will be refined and focussed in response to pre-registration and abstract information from prospective attendees. Consult the website and second circular.

TIMETABLE

May 1: Deadline for Pre-Registration. A firm commitment will be expected at this time, since it may not be possible to accept all applications. If the workshop is oversubscribed efforts will be made to balance the discipline, expertise, and level of seniority of participants. Students and Postdocs who can contribute to this synthesis are encouraged to apply.

June 1: Second circular including information on guest speakers/participants.

July 15: Deadline for abstract submission to website.

August 1 - October 25: Additional information posted on website.

THIRD PAN-LITHOPROBE WORKSHOP, BANFF CENTRE

Saturday, October 27

Afternoon - 7:00 pm: Arrival and Registration. Posters put up. Dinner period.

7:00-9:00 pm: Ice Breaker and Poster Viewing

Sunday, October 28

9:00 am: Oral session, Theme 1

12:30 pm: Lunch

1:30 pm: Poster viewing

2:30 pm: Oral Session, Theme 2

6:00-8:00 pm: Workshop Dinner

8:00 pm: Poster viewing with refreshments

Monday October 29

8:00 am: Oral session, theme 3

11:00 am: Oral session, theme 4

12:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm: Oral session theme 4(cont.)

3:00 pm: Break

3:30 pm: Synthesis and Outlook, (with panel discussion)

5:30 pm: Workshop conclusion

MEETING VENUE

All discussion and poster sessions will be in the Trans Canada Pipeline Pavilion at the Banff Centre, which is located in a park-like setting five minutes walk from downtown Banff. Accommodation will be at the Banff Centre, which also has exercise facilities. Banff is located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, approximately 130km west of Calgary, Alberta and is served by Calgary International Airport. There is a direct bus service from the airport to Banff.

ANTICIPATED COSTS

Accommodation rates are C$142/day (single), C$87/day (double occupancy room) plus 12% tax and include breakfast, lunch, coffee/drink breaks, gratuities and printed abstract volume. Evening meals are extra. There will be no registration fee. LITHOPROBE will host a conference dinner on the Saturday evening.

CONVENORS

Dante Canil dcanil@uvic.ca
University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia

Michael Bostock bostock@geop.ubc.ca
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia

Gerry Ross gmross@nrcan.gc.ca
Geological Survey of Canada-Calgary, Calgary, Alberta

Chris Beaumont chris.beaumont@dal.ca
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

MORE INFORMATION

For Pre-Registration, contact:

Michael Bostock
Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences
The University of British Columbia
147-2219 Main Mall
Vancouver, B.C.
V6T 1Z4
bostock@geop.ubc.ca
fax: 604-822-6047
phone: 604-822-2449

For Abstract Submission and other information see Website:
http://is.dal.ca/~bllee/panlithws3/ (from March 1)

or contact:

Chris Beaumont
Oceanography Department
Dalhousie University
Halifax, N.S.
B3H 4J1
chris.beaumont@dal.ca
fax: 902-494-3877
phone: 902-494-3779