Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Tropical Atlantic Temperature And Hydrologic Shifts During The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Chels Howard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is a geologic climate event that is studied heavily due to the similarities to anthropogenic climate change. This event occurred approximately 56 million years ago (Ma) and is characterized by a rapid release of carbon into the atmosphere, which resulted in an increase in temperature and a change in global climate events such as changes in patterns of evaporation and precipitation. We see this effect occurring in modern anthropogenic climate change due to the burning of fossil fuels releasing carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the atmosphere. In this study I use elemental data of …

Geospatial Analysis Of Weathering And Recession On Architectural Limestone At The 1891 Powerhouse/Icehouse In Eureka Springs, Arkansas, Stuart Bruce Wright

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this study of the architectural limestone of the 1891 Powerhouse/Icehouse in Eureka Springs, Arkansas was to analyze the environmental factors that influenced the deterioration and surface recession of this historical stone structure. The focus of this research was to examine and establish a baseline study that may assist in future monitoring and documentation of this historic limestone structure on stone weathering. A replicable methodology was specifically created toward this baseline research in hopes that it represented a solid baseline study. Observations and data analyses revealed the relationship between the architectural limestone building structure and the dominating recession …

Maximum Depositional Age Analysis Using Paired La-Icp-Ms And Ca-Id-Tims Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology, Benjamin L. Howard

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The “law of detrital zircons” states that a sedimentary unit cannot be older than its youngest detrital zircon. The youngest U-Pb date(s) from detrital zircon may thus be used to infer a given sedimentary deposit’s maximum depositional age (MDA). MDAs may be calculated in various ways using dates from zircon U-Pb geochronology. Common dating methods used for U-Pb geochronology are laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and chemical abrasion-isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS), a low- and high-resolution instrument type, respectively. Chapter 2 will systematically compare paired LA-ICP-MS and CA-ID-TIMS dates from the same zircon grains to assess the agreement …

Tree-Ring Reconstruction Of Ouachita River Streamflow, Keaton Cade Jenkins-Joyce

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Ouachita River drains the Ouachita Mountains and Upper Coastal Plain in Arkansas and Louisiana. The Ouachita River is used for navigation, power generation, recreation, water supply, and wastewater treatment. The river has been prone to low flows during drought and extreme flooding, which were principal justifications for the construction of three large multipurpose dams on the stream. It is likely that the use of the Ouachita River will be stressed by future population growth, economic expansion, and climate change. For this study, tree-ring chronologies from various locations in and near the Ouachita River drainage basin were used to reconstruct …

Shallow Groundwater Distributions And Changes With Sea Level Rise In Seattle, Washington, Taylor L. Watson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Sea level rise (SLR) associated hazards, such as coastal flooding and erosion, are pressing issues of great concern for coastal communities across the globe. Shallow and emergent groundwater can contribute to groundwater hazards such as flooding, landslides, or damage to shallow infrastructure. This study investigates the shallow groundwater within Seattle, Washington, and projects how it will respond to SLR using interpolation and numerical groundwater modeling methods. Then, a geologic modeling method is presented as a preliminary investigation of heterogeneity and anisotropy within the aquifer system. In the results for the present-day interpolation, ~6 % of the coastal buffer –the total …

Rheological Bridge Zones: A New Perspective To Explore Strain Localization And Rock Rheological Weakening, He Feng

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Strain localization, a ubiquitous geological phenomenon, emerges when rock undergoes extensive weakening and accommodates disproportionate deformation. This phenomenon spans from brittle faulting to viscous flow, known as shear zones. Despite its prevalence, discussions on weakening primarily center on highly strained samples, rather than the initial deformation state. This research delves into the evolution of localization and rheology in intact rocks.

Heterogeneous mechanical properties within the lithosphere vary based on mineralogy, microstructure, and environmental conditions. Chapter 2 characterizes microscale structures termed "bridge zones." These zones, observed through optical and electron microscopy, exhibit distinctive morphologies. Comprising fine-grained aggregates, bridge zones link weak …

Preliminary Assessment For Critical Minerals In The Terlingua Quicksilver District, Texas And Tres Marias Mine, Chihuahua, Mexico, Eduardo Lee Zuniga

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Terlingua Quicksilver district was discovered around the 1880s and was a mercury producing district from 1900 through 1946. The most productive years were during World War one and two. From 1900-1946 the Terlingua Quicksilver District (TQD) produced 150,000 flasks; 80% came from three mines: the Rainbow-Chisos, Mariposa, and Study Butte mines. The structural controls of the Mercury mineralization within these mines are breccia pipes and fractures, often located near igneous intrusions. This study will assess the potential for Critical Minerals and Rare Earth Elements in the Terlingua Quicksilver District. Fifty-five samples have been collected and analyzed for forty-four different …

The Tidal Prism, Viable Eelgrass Habitat, And The Effects Of Sea Level Rise In Morro Bay, Kaden A. Caliendo

Master's Theses

The tidal prism, or the volume of water exchanged from the sea to an estuary from mean low to mean high tide, influences system hydrodynamics and ecological functioning. Since 1884, the tidal prism in Morro Bay, California has been estimated to be decreasing over time due to sedimentation from upstream practices. What is the current tidal prism in Morro Bay and how will that change with sea level rise? How will eelgrass respond to rising sea levels?

For this study, inexpensive tidal gauges were deployed at four locations in Morro Bay from March to August 2023 to measure spatially varying …

Constraining Silicate Weathering During The Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (Meco) Using Radiolarian Ge/Si, Olivia R. Laub

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Silicate weathering has long been considered a fundamental component of the earth system and has been cited as one of, if not the primary stabilizing feedback for climate. However, recent work has shown that the role of silicate weathering in the climate system is more complicated and dynamic than previously assumed. In this study I examine the role of weathering in the enigmatic warming event, the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) that occurred approximately 40 Ma. This event works as a good case study as there are multiple features of the MECO that differentiate it from other warming events that …

Determining The P-Wave Velocity Structure In The Near-Surface Of Nw Miami, Florida, Using Quarry Blasts, Elham Moslemi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The fact that Florida is an earthquake-free region has caused seismologists to pay less attention to it. Few earthquakes in this state mean it is not a usual practice to study the propagation of seismic waves. However, utilizing data from quarry blasts, we studied wave propagation in this region. The primary objective of the project is to investigate the near-surface P-wave velocity structure and factors that may affect it. We also analyzed the amplitude of signals versus distance and blast size. A network of up to 10 Raspberry Shake instruments around the NW Miami-Lakes mining area was deployed where four …

Determining The P-Wave Velocity Structure In The Near-Surface Of Nw Miami, Florida, Using Quarry Blasts, Elham Moslemi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The fact that Florida is an earthquake-free region has caused seismologists to pay less attention to it. Few earthquakes in this state mean it is not a usual practice to study the propagation of seismic waves. However, utilizing data from quarry blasts, we studied wave propagation in this region. The primary objective of the project is to investigate the near-surface P-wave velocity structure and factors that may affect it. We also analyzed the amplitude of signals versus distance and blast size. A network of up to 10 Raspberry Shake instruments around the NW Miami-Lakes mining area was deployed where four …

Migmatite Formation, Geochronometer Petrogeneisis, And Rare Earth Element Mineralization In The Adirondack Mountains, Ny, Kaitlyn Suarez

Doctoral Dissertations

The Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York contain exposures of complex partially melted rocks, in addition to iron oxide-apatite (IOA) deposits with variable rare earth element (REE) concentrations. Previous workers have suggested that melting occurred during the ca. 1150 Ma Shawinigan and the ca. 1050 Ma Ottawan orogenies. However, there are challenges in determining the timing of melting and the number of partial melt events. Further, tectonic models must be developed to describe the petrogenesis of IOA and REE mineralization. Migmatites are present along Rt. 4/22 near Whitehall, NY. In chapter two, all layers of a single migmatitic rock were …

Heat Flow In The Southern Margin Of Salar De Atacama: Deep Groundwater Temperature Distributions And The Implications For Subsurface Flow And Land Surface Energy Budgets, Graham Thomas

Masters Theses

Salar de Atacama (SdA) located in Northern Chile is home to one of the planet’s largest salar systems and lithium resources. Managing groundwater resources in salars is not obvious due to the lack of scientific understanding on the connectivity between the freshwater and brine systems. Using heat as a tracer in SdA provides a cost-effective method to further investigate groundwater flow in salars. This study employs 372 temperature-depth profiles from 90 boreholes between 2013-18 to understand the distinct thermal zones and flow between them in SdA. Three thermal zones exist within the southern margin of SdA’s thermal regime, at higher …

Examining Paleoshorelines In The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico: Insights On Sea Level History And Potential Areas Of Interest For Habitat Management, Catalina Rubiano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An inventory of multibeam bathymetry containing relict drowned and lithified paleoshorelines has been compiled and analyzed in the first ever shelf-wide investigation of paleo sea level indicators on the west Florida shelf (WFS). On the largest scale, the WFS is a wide and gently sloping terrain that is characterized by a carbonate-rich sediment regime. This framework coupled with the region’s tectonic stability provided a setting in which sea level changes since ~ 20 ka have been recorded to a remarkable degree of resolution in the form of paleoshorelines which formed at sea level and were subsequently drowned and preserved in …

Examining Paleoshorelines In The Eastern Gulf Of Mexico: Insights On Sea Level History And Potential Areas Of Interest For Habitat Management, Catalina Rubiano

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

An inventory of multibeam bathymetry containing relict drowned and lithified paleoshorelines has been compiled and analyzed in the first ever shelf-wide investigation of paleo sea level indicators on the west Florida shelf (WFS). On the largest scale, the WFS is a wide and gently sloping terrain that is characterized by a carbonate-rich sediment regime. This framework coupled with the region’s tectonic stability provided a setting in which sea level changes since ~ 20 ka have been recorded to a remarkable degree of resolution in the form of paleoshorelines which formed at sea level and were subsequently drowned and preserved in …

Deformation And Evolution Of Achondrite Parent Bodies, Yaozhu Li

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Minerals in planetary bodies record accumulated strain from deformation events such as hypervelocity impacts but potentially also parent body processes such as gravitational compaction. This work investigates olivine microstructural features that may distinguish between different impact levels versus parent body plastic deformation regimes. Achondritic meteorites from the ureilite parent body, the Moon, Mars as well as terrestrial basalt and mantle xenolith have been investigated using micro-XRD, EBSD, micro-XRF and other methods to study their parent body deformation history. A Matlab® method, unit segment length (USL), is herein developed to visualize the crystal boundary geometry and quantify the apparent subboundary density …

Hydrochemistry Of An Alpine Karst System, Northern New Mexico: Las Huertas, Kambray A. Townsend

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Las Huertas in the Sandia Mountains relies on snowmelt, monsoonal recharge, and groundwater inputs. Our hypothesis, the proportion of groundwater contribution varied spatially and temporally, was assessed by observing travertine and multiple geochemical tracers to differentiate water balance components. We report 26 samples from 13 locations (sampled between 2021-2023). Major ion and isotopic analysis indicated Las Huertas headsprings vary spatially. Capulin Spring has higher salinity; major ions suggest recharged waters are a mix of CaCO3-rich and sulfate-chloride-containing water. The proportion of groundwater to spring discharge is a mix of winter and summer precipitation. Travertine supersaturation is seasonal, with variations downstream, …

Seabed Reflection Coefficient Variability In The Mono Lake Using Seismic Reflection Sparker Data, Francis Nnamdi Okeifufe

Earth Sciences Theses and Dissertations

Acoustic reflections from a lakebed provide valuable information about the dynamic boundary between water and the lakebed, where sediments and biota in the water column eventually settle. In this study, we present a comprehensive analysis of reflected sound wave amplitudes to gain insights into the physical properties of a water-sediment boundary. We decided to carry out this analysis within the unique ecosystem of the Mono Lake basin due to the fact that the Mono Lake, a meromictic and hypersaline waterbody is situated within one of the most active yet understudied volcanic regions in the United States. The fact that the …

Terrestrial Craters As Analogues For Degraded Craters On Titan, Taylor M. Duncan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Besides Earth, Titan is the only planetary body in our Solar System to currently have flowing liquid on its surface. Previous works note that dendritic and rectangular stream networks are present on a global scale on Titan, but do not map networks in the vicinity of Titan’s impact craters: Selk and Sinlap. The objective of this work is to understand how stream networks form adjacent to Titan’s impact craters. This information will inform future missions to Titan (i.e., Dragonfly) about the fluvial morphology of streams near their landing site. I conduct an analogue study with the stream networks at three …

Investigating Mercer's Paradox: A 10be Chronology Of Moraines Deposited During The Last Glaciation At Soda Lake, Wind River Range, Wyoming, U.S.A., Lauren M. Woods

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Here I use geomorphic mapping and ¹⁰Be surface-exposure dating to address the paradox that lies within the general understanding of the mechanisms driving ice-age climate and glacial cycles. The long-standing and widely accepted Murphy-Milankovitch hypothesis suggests glacial cycles are controlled by the local intensity of summer-time insolation. By this hypothesis, glacier maxima should be achieved at times of low insolation intensity and asynchronously between the polar hemispheres, a pattern which is inconsistent with the glacial geomorphic record. The ¹⁰Be chronology I have constructed of moraines at Soda Lake, Wind River Range, Wyoming, U.S.A. shows nine glacial advances to …

Applications Of Observational Seismology: Insights Into Volcanic And Near Surface Processes, Justin T. Wilgus

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

The field of observational seismology has made tremendous progress in the past two decades. This progress has been multi-faceted in form, but significant contributions emanated from 1) increases in both the quality and the quantity of seismic data 2) advances in computational power 3) advances in algorithmic capability, including machine learning. In this dissertation I report on three distinctly different seismic applications made possible by the aforementioned progress and discuss the insights these applications have provided in understanding volcanic and near surface processes of the Earth.

In the first chapter titled, “Shear Velocity Evidence of Upper Crustal Magma Storage Beneath …

Towards Automated Mineral Identification In Martian Rocks From X-Ray Diffraction Patterns, Luke Tambakis

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The CheMin (Chemistry and Mineralogy) instrument on the Curiosity rover has provided a rich set of X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns from Martian rocks and regolith. These XRD patterns have allowed geologists to make exciting new discoveries about the mineralogy and the geological history of Mars. These discoveries pave the way for further Martian exploration and provide a deeper understanding of Martian geology. The Curiosity rover is very slow by design, travelling at about 4 cm/s. New, faster rovers are being developed to increase scientific throughput and exploration. XRD is valuable for future missions as it can produce new discov- eries …

Architecture Of Extraction: Imagining New Modes Of Inhabitation And Reclamation In The Mining Lifecyle, Erica Dewitt

Masters Theses

Mining is the primary method through which modern society obtains the minerals needed to fuel the global economy, provide for modern energy requirements, and support the built environment. Presently, mining accounts for nearly 1% of the global ice-free land surface, with a dramatic increase anticipated in the coming decades. Mining permanently changes and often destroys the pre-existing topography, hydrology, and ecology of the ground, and efforts to reclaim mining landscapes—with the aim of encouraging reforestation and soil replenishment—are often unsuccessful, rendering the land of abandoned mines both unusable and uninhabitable.

This thesis addresses the current state of mining in the …

High-Energy Storm Events And Their Impacts On Carbon Storage In Tidal Wetlands Of South Carolina, Gavin Gleasman

All Dissertations

Atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations have been increasing at an accelerating rate for the past two centuries, profoundly impacting global climate change. Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are influenced by the global carbon cycle through physical and biogeochemical pathways. Tidal wetland environments play a vital role in the global carbon cycle by offsetting atmospheric CO₂ concentrations through their natural physiochemical processes of high autotrophic productivity, allochthonous organic matter deposition, anoxic soils, and continuous accretion which promotes carbon sequestration with long-term storage at the land-ocean margin. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and United States Global Change Research …

Paradox Diapir Inclusions As A Window Into Diapiric Processes In Proximity To The Uncompahgre Uplift And The Early History Of The Paradox Basin, Utah And Colorado, Madison Clare Woelfel

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Layered evaporite sequences, cyclic, kilometer-thick deposits of salt, are among the most unusual and fascinating lithologies that geologists encounter. There is no recent analogue to their formation, and their ability to flow when subject to differential pressure makes them unique. Salt structures serve as sources for halite, bittern salts, metals, and hydrocarbons and can be used for storage of materials, including hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and nuclear waste. Basins in which layered evaporite sequences are deposited receive detrital input sporadically from adjacent areas, depositing inclusions of non-evaporite lithologies that are entrained when salt flows. These inclusions are exposed in a …

Growth Of Purple Sulfur Bacteria Allochromatium Vinosum On Solid Phase Metal Sulfides As Sulfur And Electron Sources, Hugo Alarcon

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) are photosynthetic microorganisms known for their vital roles in geochemical cycles, especially the sulfur cycle, within anoxic photic environments. PSB are also key contributors to the nitrogen, carbon, and oxygen cycles. This study focuses on the autotrophic growth of Allochromatium vinosum, a model strain of PSB, that utilize solid-phase metal sulfides (MS) as both sulfur and electron donors. Through characterizing the growth profiles of A. vinosum on pyrite (FeS2), nickel sulfide (NiS), and iron monosulfide (FeS) nanoparticles, respectively, and investigating the bacteria-MS interaction mechanisms, this work expands our current knowledge of the metabolic capabilities and flexibility …

Quantifying The Contribution Of Atmospheric And Land Surface Characteristics To The Prediction Of Sub-Pixel Scale Surface Soil Moisture In The Jornada Experimental Range Through Interpretable Machine Learning, Stephanie Nicole Marquez

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study presents machine learning-based approaches for understanding and predicting plot-scale soil moisture's spatial variability using hydrometeorological and biogeophysical data from in-situ, multi-sensor and remote sensing sources. The high-resolution input features include numerical and categorical data such as land surface temperature, ground albedo, 1-day, 1-week and 2-week antecedent precipitation, soil type, land cover type, distance to nearest vegetation individual, terrain slope and elevation, and normalized differenced vegetation index (NDVI). Soil moisture measurements are collected within a 3 km x 3 km desert grid with Campbell Scientific Hydrosense II-12 soil moisture sensors and validated with a gravimetric method of measuring volumetric …

Chemostratigraphic And Paleoclimatic Studies Of Cloverly Formation, Northern Wyoming, U.S.A, Queen Amarachi Kalu

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Early – Late Cretaceous transition in Western North America recorded a period of rapid climatic and tectonic change in Earth’s history. Major climate events associated with large igneous province eruptions caused several instances of ocean anoxic events (OAE) and perturbations to the global carbon (C) – cycle. These perturbations to the global C-cycle are observed in the bulk organic C record of both marine and terrestrial deposits and can be used to correlate units across major depositional basins. Major efforts are being made to generate time-constrained palaeontologic and paleoclimate information from the North American Cordilleran foreland basin and C-isotope …

Reservoir Characterization Of The Utica Shale Play Using Well Log Data In Columbiana, Ohio, Tyler L. West

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Ordovician Utica shale play is rapidly developing throughout the Appalachian Basin. The play is a mixed carbonate-siliciclastic system that grades from primarily carbonates at its base in the Lexington/Trenton limestones into primarily shale within the Utica shale. As of January 2021, it is the third highest-producing dry shale gas play in the contiguous U.S., although it is known to produce wet gas and oil in various parts of the basin. In addition to being an unconventional reservoir, the Utica shale, an informal unit in Ohio where the main fairway is located, is a known source rock for much of …

Volatile Cycling And Metasomatism In Flat-Slab Subduction Zones Of The Central Andes, Coleman Hiett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Flat-slab subduction, where an oceanic plate subducts horizontally below a continental margin for hundreds of kilometers, is an enigmatic but prevalent tectonic configuration in which chemical cycling and alteration of the continental plate is poorly constrained. Geochemical investigations in regions of modern and ancient flat-slab subduction in the Central Andes afford an opportunity to study this process. Certain elements naturally occur with varying number of neutrons in their nuclei (isotopes), and measurements of isotope ratios within geologic materials inform on chemical sources and geologic processes. This research leverages stable isotope analyses and other geochemical tools to investigate volatiles and other …