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Theses and Dissertations

2009

Geology

Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Analysis Of Electromagnetic And Seismic Geophysical Methods For Investigating Shallow Sub-Surface Hydrogeology, Eric M. Parks Dec 2009

Analysis Of Electromagnetic And Seismic Geophysical Methods For Investigating Shallow Sub-Surface Hydrogeology, Eric M. Parks

Theses and Dissertations

An integrated electromagnetic (EM) and seismic geophysical study was performed to evaluate non-invasive approaches to estimate depth to shallow groundwater in arid environments with elevated soil salinity where the installation of piezometers would be impractical or prohibited. Both methods were tested in two study areas (semi-arid and arid respectively), one in Palmyra, Utah, USA near the shore of Utah Lake where groundwater is shallow and unconfined in relatively homogeneous lacustrine sediments. The other area is Carson Slough, Nevada, USA near Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Amargosa Valley. The area is underlain by valley fill, with generally variable shallow depths …

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Dinosaurian Faunas Of The Cedar Mountain Formation And La-Icp-Ms Detrital Zircon Ages For Three Stratigraphic Sections, Hirotsugu Mori Nov 2009

Dinosaurian Faunas Of The Cedar Mountain Formation And La-Icp-Ms Detrital Zircon Ages For Three Stratigraphic Sections, Hirotsugu Mori

Theses and Dissertations

The Cedar Mountain Formation contains the most diverse record of Early Cretaceous dinosaurs in the western hemisphere. However, analyses of its faunas have been hindered because 1) most taxa are based on incomplete/fragmentary materials or incomplete descriptions, 2) most sites and some horizons preserve few taxa, and 3) the stratigraphy and geochronology are poorly understood. To help resolve these stratigraphic and correlation problems U-Pb LA-ICP-MS detrital zircon ages were obtained at significant sites and horizons. These dates indicate all sites at or near the base of the formation are no older than 122 to 124 Ma, thus all basal stratigraphic …

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A La-Icpms Sr Isotope And Trace Element Study Of Plagioclase And Clinopyroxene Of The Higganum Dike, Connecticut: Determining The Magma Source Of The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, Caprise Steadman Harper Nov 2009

A La-Icpms Sr Isotope And Trace Element Study Of Plagioclase And Clinopyroxene Of The Higganum Dike, Connecticut: Determining The Magma Source Of The Central Atlantic Magmatic Province, Caprise Steadman Harper

Theses and Dissertations

The Higganum dike of Connecticut is one of the earliest basaltic dikes of the Central Atlantic Magmatic province and is geochemically representative of the widespread low-Ti basaltic lavas (~1 wt % TiO2) that make up the majority of the province in North America. Liquid compositions calculated from Cr-rich clinopyroxene cores from the Higganum dike are significantly more primitive than the bulk rock with average Mg# s of 0.63 compared to the Higganum dike which has Mg #'s ~ 0.55. However, the negative Nb and positive Pb anomalies that are seen in trace element patterns of the low-Ti group are also …

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Isotopic Evaluation Of Carbon Dioxide In Soil Gas In Utah For A More Accurate Input Variable In Groundwater Age Determining Models, Rachelle Hart Oct 2009

Isotopic Evaluation Of Carbon Dioxide In Soil Gas In Utah For A More Accurate Input Variable In Groundwater Age Determining Models, Rachelle Hart

Theses and Dissertations

In order to achieve a more accurate input value for groundwater age determining models, δ13CVPDB values for soil gas were evaluated at 50 cm depths in locations throughout Utah in order to define correlations between δ13C and environmental parameters. 16 sites were chosen that exploited large changes in elevation and latitude which provided variations in climate, precipitation, plant community, etc. Gas samples were collected over 1-1½ years, and soil samples were collected at depth during installations. Field and laboratory studies were also used to evaluate CO2 and δ13C change with depth. It was discovered that in mountainous recharge areas, the …

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Variable Uplift From Quaternary Folding Along The Northern Coast Of East Timor, Based On U-Series Age Determinations Of Coral Terraces, Nicole L. Cox Mar 2009

Variable Uplift From Quaternary Folding Along The Northern Coast Of East Timor, Based On U-Series Age Determinations Of Coral Terraces, Nicole L. Cox

Theses and Dissertations

Surveys of emergent terraces and U-series ages for ten sites along the coast of East Timor provide estimates of late Quaternary differential vertical strain in the most mature region of the Banda Arc-continent collision complex. Over a distance of ~180 km vertical displacement rates vary between 0.0 and 1.6 meters per 1000 years for the last 150,000 years. Two models of terrace formation (constructional and erosional) are applied to interpret terrace ages from coral ages and to estimate uplift rates. The highest uplift rates are from three sites over a distance of 15 km along the coast. Uplift rates were …

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Predicting The Effect Of Wetland Restoration On Phosphorus Retention, Northwest Minnesota, Ryan J. Whittaker Jan 2009

Predicting The Effect Of Wetland Restoration On Phosphorus Retention, Northwest Minnesota, Ryan J. Whittaker

Theses and Dissertations

Water quality in the Red River Valley and downstream in Lake Winnipeg has been diminishing due to excess nutrients from agriculture. One method to reduce nutrient loading to surface water is to create or restore wetlands in agricultural areas that drain cropped fields. It is commonly believed that wetlands improve water quality, but research has shown that restoring wetlands can actually release phosphorus (P) into solution. Reducing conditions caused by soil flooding can release Fe-bound P, since ferrous Fe is more soluble than ferric Fe. Little is known concerning how the soils in the Red River Valley will be affected …

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Carbon Dioxide Flooding Induced Geochemical Changes In A Saline Carbonate Aquifer, Alyssa Boock Jan 2009

Carbon Dioxide Flooding Induced Geochemical Changes In A Saline Carbonate Aquifer, Alyssa Boock

Theses and Dissertations

Carbon dioxide (CO2) has been injected into depleted oil reservoirs for enhanced oil recovery for several decades. Injection of CO2 into geologic formations in the Williston Basin is currently under consideration for long-term CO2 storage to reduce anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. The Madison Group in the North Dakota Williston Basin provides the greatest potential for geologic sequestration in either deep saline aquifers or depleted oil reservoirs. Little is known about the geochemical reactions that take place when supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into deep saline aquifers at geologic conditions similar to those found in potential sequestration units of …

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