Geology Commons^™

Uncovering The Mysteries Of Retention Ponds: Comparing The Abundance And Type Of Microplastics In Storm Water Ponds In London Ontario, Natalie Rose Minda

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Microplastics are plastics <5 mm (Liu, 2019; Arthur et al., 2009). They are created in two ways: Intentionally or from the fragmentation of larger pieces of plastic (National Ocean Service, 2021). They can negatively impact human, wildlife and ecosystem health in many ways depending on the exposure, type, size, and shape of the microplastic (Campanale, 2020). Retention ponds are often created in neighborhoods to collect water in order to prevent flooding. They also often serve as habitat for wildlife. Sediment samples were collected in two ponds in London Ontario both dredged in 2016. Samples were processed in the lab and further analyzed under the microscope to isolate the microplastics. Results have not been determined yet, but the abundance and type of microplastic varies in both ponds. Plastic pollution in retention ponds should be considered more, as it poses a threat to human and ecosystem health.

Meteorite Investigation And Classification, Olivia N. Benest

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Several meteorites arrive on Earth every day, but only a small percentage of them are found. They are easiest to spot on deserts or frozen ice. Western has a large number of unclassified meteorites found in the Northwest Africa (NWA) and Oman deserts. These meteorites include chondrites, achondrites, irons, and even Lunar and Martian meteorites. Classifying a meteorite requires detailed examination by optical microscopy, as well as micro X-ray diffraction (µXRD), and Electron Probe Microanalysis (EPMA), to observe their mineralogy (metal, oxide, sulfide, and silicate mineral phases), textures (e.g. chondrules, CAIs) and composition, in order to classify their petrologic type …

Updating The Outdated Apollo Mission Lunar Impactite Classifications, Marc Mechem

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

NASA's Apollo program had six manned missions that successfully landed on the Moon, in which all returned with lunar material. Included in this lunar material were lunar impactites, being described as lunar rocks that have been affected by one or more impact events. These samples were classified about 50 years ago and have not been updated since, despite our knowledge regarding both terrestrial and lunar impactites having grown. This study aims to suggest updated classifications for the 43 total Apollo mission lunar impactite samples the University of Western has currently in their possession. This study could help develop future lunar …

The Impacts Of Mid-Holocene Warming On Water Quality In A Southwestern Ontario Kettle Pond, Morgan E. Peicheff

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

The Application Of Machine Learning To Help Identify Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 In Shales, Marc Mechem

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

No abstract provided.

You Are What You Eat: Micro-Ct Analysis Of Early Triassic Coprolites, Olivia N. Benest

Undergraduate Student Research Internships Conference

Poster summarizing coprolite research, micro-CT analysis results, and future studies.

Detrital Zircon Geochronology Of Paleoproterozoic Sedimentary Rocks From The Upper Huronian Supergroup, Canada, Carolyn M. Hill, Don W. Davis, Patricia L. Corcoran

Western Research Forum

The Huronian Supergroup is a well-known succession of primarily sedimentary rocks exposed north of Lake Huron. Deposition of the succession is constrained between 2450 and 2220 Ma (million years), which corresponds with Earth’s rise of atmospheric oxygen, however the depositional timing of the uppermost formations cannot be refined further due to a lack of interbedded volcanic rocks. A geochronological study of detrital zircon grains from sandstone and claystone beds from the two youngest Huronian formations, the Gordon Lake and Bar River formations, was completed in order to confine the maximum age of deposition.

Zircon is a mineral that commonly forms …

Seismic Landslide Hazard Mapping For Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Ali Fallah Yeznabad, Sheri E. Molnar, Hesham M. El Naggar

Western Research Forum

The lower Mainland of southwest British Columbia (BC) hosts about 3.5 million people and significant infrastructures of national importance. Southwestern BC has the highest seismic risk in Canada with significant potential to cause earthquake-induced hazards including tsunamis, liquefaction and landslides. A Cascadia mega-thrust (M_W 9) earthquake is predicted to generate $75 billion Canadian dollars in losses. This damage can be resulted from ground shaking or its secondary phenomena like landslides; ground shaking during earthquakes may trigger landslides that can damage or destroy buildings, bury roads and highways and kill and injure people. In Canada, during the past century and …