Earth Sciences Commons^™

Hydrothermal Water-Rock Reaction Modeling With Microbial Considerations: Rabbit Creek Area, Yellowstone National Park, Wy, Shanna Law

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Water-rock reactions at depth are the main control on aqueous hydrothermal chemistries of hot springs and other thermal features. Thermophilic microbes living in the hydrothermal system are a secondary control on aqueous hydrothermal chemistries and are expected to have increasing influence as spring temperatures decrease. The Rabbit Creek area of Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is an ideal case study for investigating the geologic and biologic controls on aqueous hydrothermal chemistries due to the proximity of the drill core Y-5 to geochemically diverse hydrothermal features (17.3⁰C to 92.2⁰C ± 0.1⁰C; field pH values 6.50 to 9.60 ± 0.05).

The modeling program …

Integrated Geophysical Methods To Characterize Subsidence In Butte, Montana, U.S.A., Kristen Prudhomme

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Geophysical investigations, designed to characterize unique subsidence features of unknown natural origin, provide imaging analysis of potential causes of subsidence. Recent subsidence in the alluvial plain in Butte, Montana is unrelated to historic mining in the area. This study aims to utilize a combined application of shallow electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), self-potential (SP), and frequency-domain electromagnetic (FDEM) methods in order to develop a better understanding of the particular set of hydrogeological and environmental conditions that contribute to this unique phenomena. Geophysical measurements provide lateral and vertical variations of electrical resistivity in the subsurface to a depth of 10 m while …

Investigation On Relationships Between Optical Properties And Cell Concentrations Of Microalgae, Zhaoming Zhou

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Biofuel from microalgae is a very promising renewable energy resource. Growth of microalgae depends on ambient temperature, appropriate nutrients in water, and light condition for photosynthesis. As microalgae grow, the depth of light penetration decreases and the growing conditions at depth deteriorate. Monitoring of microalgae concentration during their growing phase is imperative to ensure efficiency in biomass production. Conventionally, cell concentration (number of cells per unit volume) of microalgae solution is estimated by taking images of samples under microscope and then counted and estimated using the Metallized Hemacytometer Hausser Bright-Linewe (MHHBL) method developed by Hausser Scientific. This method of measuring …

Uav-Based Geotechnical Modeling And Mapping Of An Inaccessible Underground Site, Elizabeth Anne Russell

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Digital photogrammetry is becoming a more common method used for mapping geological and structural rock mass features in underground mining. The issue of capturing geological and structural data in inaccessible, unsupported areas of mines remains even when utilizing terrestrial photogrammetric methods; thus, geotechnical models of mines are left with incomplete datasets. Large unsupported underground voids, like stopes, have the potential to cause major failures, but by filling in the geotechnical data gaps in inaccessible areas, potential failures can be predicted through kinematic analysis of the area’s mapped discontinuities. Implementation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in underground mines and recent advances …