Geological Engineering Commons^™

Generalized Linear Inversion Using Tau-P Forward Modeling, Stephen Dade Walker

Graduate Theses

The Generalized Linear Inversion (GLI) method is used in conjunction with a tau-p forward model to successfully perform inversions of test and real-data examples. All data examples used are one-dimensional velocity profiles that represent several different cases. The stability of the technique is demonstrated in all the test-data sets. The use of simple models and wel1-control 1ed test data results in a minimum of iterations of the inversion process. Different levels of perturbation of the model and test-data examples are used to reveal insight into the robust nature of the inversion.

Statistical Analysis Of A Compound Power-Law Model For Repairable Systems, Max Engelhardt, Lee J. Bain

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Conclusions - A compound (mixed) Poisson distribution is sometimes used as an alternative to the Poisson distribution for count data. Such a compound distribution, which has a negative binomial form, occurs when the population consists of Poisson distributed individuals, but with intensities which have a gamma distribution. A similar situation can occur with a repairable system when failure intensities of each system are different. A more general situation is considered where the system failures are distributed according to nonhomogeneous Poisson processes having Power Law intensity functions with gamma distributed intensity parameter. If the failures of each system in a population …

The Mechanical Properties Of The Bonne Terre Formation Dolostone According To Carbonate Facies And Moisture Conditions, Sweetwater Mine, Viburnum Trend, Southeast Missouri, Harvey Edwin Goodman

Masters Theses

"The mechanical properties of the Bonneterre Formation dolostone are critical to the design of underground mine openings at Ozark Lead Company's Sweetwater Mine, southeast Missouri. Host rock strength and elastic moduli, as affected by carbonate facies and varying moisture conditions, can influence rock stability in this multi-horizon mine.

Lead and zinc sulfide ores occur throughout the 350 foot-thick Bonneterre formation found in the mining area. Orebodies are mined in all four carbonate facies of the Bonneterre, including the (1) micrite (mudstone/wackestone) and shale facies, (2) the oolitic (packstone/ grainstone) facies, (3) the digitate stromatolite (boundstone) facies, and (4) the planar …

Site Characterization Of Riverfront Park, Kansas City, Missouri, For The Purpose Of Hazardous Waste Site Remediation, Helen Hudson Scannell

Masters Theses

"Riverfront Park, Kansas City, Missouri is located on a point bar along the Missouri River. Portions of the site have historically been used (1950 - 1973) as a municipal landfill receiving residential, commercial and industrial wastes. Relatively high concentrations of elemental lead have been found in small areas of the surface soil within the limits of the Park. Chemicals that may be present in the landfill wastes create a potential for groundwater contamination. A Remedial Investigation, including a series of groundwater monitoring wells is necessary to characterize groundwater geochemistry and flood-induced changes in groundwater flow direction, and to assess any …

Swelling Pressure Studies Of Shales, S. L. Huang, N. B. Aughenbaugh, John D. Rockaway

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A swelling model was developed to predict the swelling pressure which occurs within shale or shale material when it is immersed in water. This model is also capable of estimating the magnitude of shale swelling when subject to humidity changes. The model was developed on a basis of the moisture susceptibility of the shale and the initial humidity of the ventilated mine air. The Moisture Activity Index (IRH) was selected to describe the susceptibility of shale to moisture because of its close association with the other physical properties, its strong correlation with the swelling of the shale, and because it …

On The Mean Time Between Failures For Repairable Systems, Max Engelhardt, Lee J. Bain

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Much of the recent work on modeling repairable systems involves Poisson processes with nonconstant intensity functions, viz, nonhomogeneous Poisson processes. Since times between failures are not identically distributed when the process is nonhomogeneous, it is not clear what concept should take the place of the mean time between failures in assessing the reliability of a repairable system. A number of alternate concepts can be found in the literature. We investigate the relationship between two of the most frequently considered alternatives: the reciprocal of the intensity function, and the mean waiting time from t until the next failure. Theorem 1 states …

Selection Of Remedial Engineering Techniques For Dioxin-Contaminated Soil Sites ; Based On Site Geological Characteristics, Jeffrey John Lux

Masters Theses

"Specific geologic, hydrologic, and topographic characteristics influence the selection of technologies employed in the remediation of sites affected by dioxin-contaminated soil. These characteristics are significant in the selection of equipment and methods for excavation and materials processing.

The only currently sociologically acceptable method of treatment of dioxin-contaminated soils is incineration. As more is learned concerning the nature of dioxin sorption to soil particles and the mobility of dioxin in the environment, long-term storage in underground mines, and land burial appear to offer strong potential alternatives. Strong public sentiment against non-destructive remedial options would have to be overcome. There are also …

Site Characterization And Remedial Engineering Options At An Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Site : Fulbright Landfill, City Of Springfield, Mo., Kathleen Carey Duckett

Masters Theses

"Fulbright Landfill is located approximately 3 miles north of the City of Springfield, Missouri along State Highway 13. Hazardous substances, including acids and cyanides, were disposed of regularly in the landfill for a period of about 7 years, from 1962 to 1969. Because of its disposal history, Fulbright Landfill was placed on the Interim National Priorities List in October of 1981. A full-scale remedial investigation and feasibility study is presently being conducted by SCS Engineers (Reston, VA).

The purpose of this thesis is to assess the nature and extent of the threat to the public or the environment based on …

Approximate Tolerance Limits And Confidence Limits On Reliability For The Gamma Distribution, Lee J. Bain, Max Engelhardt, Wei Kei Shiue

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Evaporite Diapirs In The La Popa Basin, Nuevo Leon, Mexico., Robert C. Laudon

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Reconnaissance mapping and stratigraphic work in the La Popa basin of Neuvo Leon, northern Mexico, have revealed two large structural features with cores of gypsum and anhydrite at the surface. These features are interpreted to be the surface expression of evaporite diapirs. Geostatic loading is considered to be the most important mechanism for emplacement of the domes. -from Author

Contouring And Analysis Of Rock Hardness And Point Load Strength Index Values For The Bethany Falls, Winterset, And Argentine Limestones In The Greater Kansas City Area, John Robert Cramer

Masters Theses

"A field study was conducted to evaluate the variations in selected physical properties of the Bethany Falls, Winterset and Argentine Limestones in the Greater Kansas City Area. On-site and laboratory testings of these rocks for hardness and strength were made. Data from the different sites were contoured to graphically illustrate changes in the rock properties geographically. Results of this study are presented with the hope that they may be useful preliminary information for rock excavation engineers working in the area.

The area covered by the study included Platte, Clay, Johnson, and Cass counties in Missouri, and Leavenworth, Wyandotte and Johnson …

Sequential Probability Ratio Tests For The Shape Parameter Of A Nonhomogeneous Poisson Process, Lee J. Bain, Max Engelhardt

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty Research & Creative Works

Sequential probability ratio tests for the shape parameter of one or more nonhomogeneous Poisson processes, with power intensity functions, are provided. The tests can be performed when the scale parameter is an unknown nuisance parameter; the effective loss of not knowing the scale parameter is one observation per process. The resulting tests can be expressed in terms of the maximum likelihood estimators of the shape parameters for the usual fixed sample procedure. A further advantage of the present approach is that the scale parameters for different processes, in the multiple sample procedures, need not be equal. Approximations for the operating …

Geotechnical Evaluation Of The Support Of Coal Pillars In Underground Coal Mines., John D. Rockaway, Richard W. Stephenson

Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Study Described Was Accomplished through an Investigation of Both the Intact and Insitu Geotechnical Properties of the Sub coal Strata and through the Installation of Floor Movement Monitoring Instrumentation. the Method of Bearing Capacity Analysis Developed by A. S. Vesic Was Used to Define Pillar Stability. This Method Includes Provisions for Taking into Consideration a Two-Layer System Such as Assumed for Mine Conditions Where a Weak Underclay overlies Firmer Strata.

Petrology Of North Mississippi Bauxite : A Case For Depositional Bauxite And Kaolin, Charles Nelson Thompson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In the past 55 years, there has been considerable debate over the stratigraphic position, genesis, and economic value of North Mississippi bauxite. The aluminum rich deposits are unlike most deposits found around the world. The deposits are associated with 200-300 foot thick marine to nonmarine clays overlain by feldspar poor, fluvial-deltaic sediments. The possible source areas are composed of limestone, marls, sand, and muds ranging in age from Late Cretaceous to Late Paleocene. These factors prohibit the direct application of previous theories derived from studies outside Mississippi. The deposits, therefore, cannot be considered a textbook example of bauxite formation.

To …

Ore Microscopic Technique In The Identification And Study Of Uranium Ore Minerals, Richard D. Hagni

UMR-DNR Conference on Energy

No abstract provided.

Deep Drainage As A Method Of Treating Saltland, Eric Bettenay

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

In some situations, deep drainage may be warranted to return salt-affected land to full production.

This method is being investigated at CSIRO's Yalanbee Experiment Station.

Nucleate Boiling Heat Transfer Of Liquid Nitrogen From Plasma Deposited Polymer Coated Surfaces, Donald L. Warner, Efton Park, Kenneth G. Mayhan

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In certain cases, nucleate boiling heat transfer from polymerized tetrafluoroethylene coated surfaces was more than five times the rate of heat transfer found for uncoated surfaces at a given temperature difference. It was also found that for the polymer coated surfaces the transition from nucleate to film boiling was much slower than for uncoated surfaces. © 1978.

Test Sites For Farm Dams, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

A short article outlining procedures for testing potential dam sites.

Ground Control Evaluation Of The Sahara No. 20 Mine Marion, Illinois., Marvin E. Adam

Masters Theses

"Roof falls in coal mines are the single greatest cause of mining accidents in the U.S. today. For this reason it is imperative that the mechanism of roof failures be identified. An investigation funded by the U.S. Bureau of Mines was initiated in 1970 to determine the factors influencing the deterioration of coal mine roof shale. This thesis was a portion of the investigation that concentrated on the Sahara Coal Company underground mine No. 20 near Marion, Illinois.

The regional geology was studied to determine if geological discontinuities might be an influencing factor on roof falls at the Sahara 20 …

A Seismic Investigation Over A Near-Surface Cavern, Richard D. Rechtien, David M. Stewart

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A field experiment was conducted over a near-surface cavern with the principal objective of obtaining a spatial definition of the associated Cavity Resonance phenomenon, as reported by Watkins et. al. (1967) and by Godson and Watkins (1968). The results of the experiment were inconsistent with those of the earlier investigators in that all seismic events recorded in the vicinity of the cavity, having vertical velocity components, could be readily identified as standard modes of seismic wave transmission. A persistence of strong horizontal motion was observed for late record times. This horizontal motion was consistently oriented parallel to the cavity boundary, …

A Computer-Automated Laboratory System In A University Environment, James H. Tracey, Hardy J. Pottinger, Richard D. Rechtien

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A computer-automated laboratory system at the University of Missouri-Rolla, Rolla, which serves a wide variety of instruction and research disciplines including Geophysics, Cloud Physics, and Computer Graphics, is described. The system serves as an example for campuses which are relatively small in geographic area and with budget limitations which dictate a step-by-step evolution. The paper describes 1) the constraints and economics realized in the development of the system, 2) the characteristics of the minicomputer network, and 3) an evaluation of the system philosophy and performance. Also included is a description of diverse laboratory projects supported by the computer-automated system. © …

Application Of Laser Holographic Interferometry To The Analysis Of Ground Movement Above Underground Openings, Duk-Won Park

Doctoral Dissertations

"A laser holographic interferometric technique has been recently developed and applied to research in several engineering fields. The technique has many possible applications in earth science and engineering. In this study it was shown that laser holographic ii interferometry can be used to study surface ground movements resulting from subsurface cavity collapse.

One of the most important advantages of the holographic interferometric technique is a rapid three-dimensional displacement measurement of a surface without contact or emplacement of instruments. The surface does not have to be flat or smooth allowing deflection contours to be generated on a granular surface. applied in …

The Geology And Hydrogeology Of The New Lead Belt, Missouri, Charles Scott Fletcher

Masters Theses

"In order to analyze the effects of pumping groundwater from underground lead mines upon present groundwater resources of the New Lead Belt area, the geology and hydrogeology of that area must first be determined. The primary method of investigation of this analysis was interpretation of ecologic and hydrogeologic data taken from water well logs and mineral exploration well logs, with supplemental information supplied by published and unpublished literature sources. From all these sources of data, structural contour maps of the Precambrian erosional surface; the tops of the Lamotte, Bonneterre, and Davis Formations; isopachous maps of the Davis and the Lamotte/Bonneterre …

A Geohydrologic Study Of The St. Francois County Regional Sanitary Landfill., Kent David Gastreich

Masters Theses

"The St. Francois County Sanitary Landfill is a 503.8-acre site located 1n the Old Lead Belt area of southeast Missouri. The landfill, which was opened in July 1973., is being operated by the non-profit St. Francois County Environmental Corporation. The site is largely covered by up to 80 feet of tailings finely ground dolomite of the lower Bonne Terre Formation., wh1ch are a product of decades of lead mining and milling at the Deslodge, Missouri, Mine. The landfill 1s surrounded on three sides by the Big River. Approximately 36,000 people are being served by the landfill which takes in about …

Regional Geological Engineering Mapping By Erts-1 Imagery A Case Study On Taiwan., Shih-Tsu Chen

Masters Theses

"Three types of maps of Taiwan were made by using color composites of ERTS-1 images. The three types of maps, consisting of a regional land use map, an offshore sediment distribution map, and a tectonic map, were made from a color composite imagery utilizing Diazo chrome and Esco chrome films with a planimetrically accuracy sufficient for a 1:1,000,000 scale map.

Color enhanced imagery was found to increase the accuracy level of the land use interpretation. Three color enhancement techniques were used to increase the color contrast between the scenes of different land use. Particular land use scenes required a special …

An Investigation Of The Vertical Distribution Of Sulfur Forms In Surface Mine Spoils, Henry County, Missouri, Walter Carter Von Demfange Jr.

Masters Theses

"Samples of material in the spoil banks left by surface coal mining operations in Henry County Missouri were taken from various depths and preserved to prevent further oxidation of the pyrite in the samples. Quantitative determinations were then made for sulfate and sulfide sulfur. It was shown that near the surface the sulfide sulfur concentrations were much lower than those at greater depth while sulfate concentrations were higher near the surface than at depth. Since this is probably the effect of years of oxidation of the pyrite, it can be used to show at what depth the pyrite is being …

Investigation Of Roof Shales In Illinois Coal Mines, Peter J. Conroy

Doctoral Dissertations

"This thesis describes an investigation of the relationships among the composition, physical properties and the performance of roof shales in Illinois coal mines. The study included cataloging the physical and mineralogical properties of typical roof shales, determining the interrelationships of the properties and defining the factors in the rock which effect deterioration. From the results, a classification system has been developed which may provide a means for evaluating coal mine roof stability.

A coring apparatus was developed for obtaining in situ samples from mine roofs. Five coal mines with varying geologic and roof conditions were sampled. Precautions were taken to …

A Technique For Improving Material Balance Accuracy In Reservoir Simulation Models, A. R. Merchant, Marion D. Arnold, A. Herbert Harvey

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

One criterion for determining the precision of pressures calculated by a simulation model is the accuracy of the material balance. A high degree of precision in the calculated pressures is a necessary but not sufficient condition for elimination of significant errors in the prediction of fluid migration in the reservoir. A new procedure, called error matrix technique, has been developed for reduction of material balance errors. This reduction is accomplished by adjusting potential gradients at every grid point in the simulation model so that the material balance is accurately maintained. Performance of a hypothetical oil reservoir was simulated both by …

Stratigraphic Relations Of Members Of The Needles Range Formation At Type Localities In Southwestern Utah, M. G. Best, R. T. Shuey, C. F. Caskey, S. Kerry Grant

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Needles Range Formation is one of the most extensive of the middle Tertiary ash-flow sheets in the Great Basin of Nevada and western Utah. The original definition of the formation by Mackin (1960) named two members and mentioned three type localities. Our recent studies have shown that this published information now requires revision. To provide a firm basis for stratigraphic studies of the Needles Range Formation, this paper presents geologic maps, measured sections, and paleomagnetic data for three type localities in southwestern Utah. These include the northern Needles Range and Wah Wah Springs localities previously mentioned by Mackin, plus …

Fisheries Report No Viii (8) - Report On A Visit Of Inspection To Barrow Island November 1969, A. A. Burbidge, A. R. Main

Fisheries Research Reports

The aim of the inspection was to examine the effects on the fauna and flora of the oil exploration initiated in mid-1963 by West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (WAPET) and the construction and development programme which followed in 1966 and which is now nearing completion.