Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Age And Paleontology Of The Turin Pit Locality, Monona County, Iowa, Samantha Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Turin Pit locality (Monona county, Iowa) has been known to paleontologists since 1908, yet the age of the fauna has been unclear. Early paleontologists considered Turin Pit to date to a pre-Illinoian interglacial (the “Aftonian).” Subsequent researchers suggested it dated to the last glaciation. This study provides a partial list of mammals in the Turin Pit fauna, and together with stratigraphic information, uses the known age ranges of taxa to estimate an age for the assemblage. The presence of Mammuthus, Aenocyon, and Castoroides combined with a magnetically-reversed till located stratigraphically above fossil-bearing deposits, suggest the Turin Pit …

Meteorological Comparison Of Three Cave Systems, Matthew Wine

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Cave systems are home to delicate underground ecosystems that can be affected by changes in surface atmospheric conditions which in turn affect underground meteorology. Modern human use of caves is typically for tourism, so understanding surface-underground weather-climate interactions is important when caves carry streams that are prone to flooding in response to surface precipitation. The purpose of this research is to document the effects of surface weather conditions on cave meteorology in three different cave system types located in different geographic locations including an island, the central USA, and at high elevations in British Columbia. The study caves include Kaumana …

Geology Of Northeastern Nebraska And Environs: Cedar, Dakota, And Dixon Counties In Nebraska, And Plymouth And Woodbury County In Iowa, Robert Matthew Joeckel, Dana Divine, P.R. Hanson, Leslie M. Howard

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

The Influence Of Long-Term Anthropogenically-Induced Compaction On Select Properties Of Soils In The Midwestern United States, Eric C. Brevik

Georgia Journal of Science

Soil compaction by heavy equipment has become one of the most important problems in modern large-scale plant production, but one area that has not received much attention is the effect of soil compaction on prairie soils over time periods in excess of about 10 years. This study addresses this issue by comparing properties in compacted to noncompacted soils in an abandoned farmyard and along a preserved stretch of the Mormon Trail. Properties compared include soil morphology, bulk density, carbon, C/N ratio, and ap­parent electrical conductivity (EC_a). Bulk density, organic carbon, and EC_a values were consistently different in …

Lithospheric Evaluation Of The Mid-Continental Rift System In Iowa From A Gravity And Magnetic Analysis, Moamen Mohamed Almaz

MSU Graduate Theses

The Proterozoic Midcontinent Rift System (MCRS) is considered one of the most important tectonic features in North America and was formed during a continental breakup event at 1.1 Ga (billion years). The MCRS is totally covered by Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks except in the Lake Superior region. Consequently, the geological characteristics of the MCRS are primarily inferred from extrapolations from the outcrop areas, drill holes, and from a variety of geophysical investigations. Iowa has a large segment of the MCRS which to date has only been partially investigated geophysically with little information regarding the lower crustal and upper mantle structure under …

Sulfur Emerges As A Nutritional Issue In Iowa Alfalfa Production, John E. Sawyer, Brian J. Lang, Daniel W. Barker

John E. Sawyer

Sulfur is often classified as a “secondary” essential element, mainly due to a smaller plant requirement, but also because it is less frequently applied as a fertilizer compared to N, P, and K. This has certainly been the case in Iowa, where research had not documented S deficiency or fertilization need for optimal crop production. However, if deficient, S can have a dramatic effect on plant growth and crop productivity – more than the classification “secondary” would imply.

Chronology And Provenance Of Last-Glacial (Peoria) Loess In Western Iowa And Paleoclimatic Implications, Daniel R. Muhs, E. Arthur Bettis Iii, Helen M. Roberts, Stephen S. Harlan, James B. Paces, Richard L. Reynolds

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Geologic archives show that the Earth was dustier during the last glacial period. One model suggests that increased gustiness (stronger, more frequent winds) enhanced dustiness. We tested this at Loveland, Iowa, one of the thickest deposits of last-glacial-age (Peoria) loess in the world. Based on K/Rb and Ba/Rb, loess was derived not only from glaciogenic sources of the Missouri River, but also distal loess from non-glacial sources in Nebraska. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages provide the first detailed chronology of Peoria Loess at Loveland. Deposition began after ~27 ka and continued until ~17 ka. OSL ages also indicate that mass …

Geochemical Variations In Peoria Loess Of Western Iowa Indicate Paleowinds Of Midcontinental North America During Last Glaciation, Daniel R. Muhs, E. Arthur Bettis Iii

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Peoria Loess deposited in western Iowa during the last glacial maximum (LGM) shows distinct geochemical and particle-size variations as a function of both depth and distance east of the Missouri River. Geochemical and particle-size data indicate that Peoria Loess in western Iowa probably had two sources: the Missouri River valley, and a source that lay to the west of the Missouri River. Both sources indicate that LGM paleowinds in western Iowa had a strong westerly component, similar to interpretations of previous workers. A compilation of loess studies in Iowa and elsewhere indicates that westerlv winds were dominant during loess transport …

Missouri River Basin: Balancing Upstream And Downstream Uses, John E. Thorson

Dams: Water and Power in the New West (Summer Conference, June 2-4)

20 pages (includes illustrations and maps).

Contains 1 page of references.

Soil Erosion, Agrichemicals And Water Quality: A Need For A New Conservation Ethic?, Christine Olsenius

Water Quality Control: Integrating Beneficial Use and Environmental Protection (Summer Conference, June 1-3)

24 pages.

Contains references.

South Dakota And The Etsi Experience, William J. Janklow

New Sources of Water for Energy Development and Growth: Interbasin Transfers: A Short Course (Summer Conference, June 7-10)

23 pages.

A Downstream Perspective On South Dakota’S Purported Sale Of Water To Etsi, Norman W. Thorson

New Sources of Water for Energy Development and Growth: Interbasin Transfers: A Short Course (Summer Conference, June 7-10)

29 pages (includes 2 maps).

Contains 13 attachments.

Upper Pennsylvanian Shoreline Deposits Form Iowa And Nebraska: Their Recognition, Variation, And Significance, J. A. Fagerstrom, R. R. Burchett

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

Correlation Of Formations Drilled In Test Holes For Interstate 480 Bridge Between Omaha, Nebraska, And Council Bluffs, Iowa, R. R. Burchett

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

The Redfield Anticline Of Nebraska And Iowa, G. E. Condra, E. C. Reed

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

The Middle River Traverse Of Iowa, G. E. Condra, J. E. Upp

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

The Red Oak-Stennett-Lewis Traverse Of Iowa, G. E. Condra

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

The Missouri Valley Traverse In Iowa North Of The Jones Point Deformation, G. E. Condra

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.