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Geology

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University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Masters Theses

2015

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Experimental Limestone Dissolution And Changes In Multiscale Structure Using Small- And Ultra Small- Angle Neutron Scattering, Chad Alan Novack Dec 2015

Experimental Limestone Dissolution And Changes In Multiscale Structure Using Small- And Ultra Small- Angle Neutron Scattering, Chad Alan Novack

Masters Theses

Small angle neutron scattering (SANS), ultra-small angle neutron scattering (USANS), and backscatter electron (BSE) imaging, along with neutron computed tomography (NCT) were used in this study to experimentally quantify pore size, distribution, and connectivity of dissolved limestone geometries. Eight samples of Indiana limestone of two different initial permeabilities (2-4 mD and 70 mD ) [millidarcy] were reacted with HCl [hydrochloric acid] solutions at differing pH (2 and 4), and flow rates (0.1 and 10 cm3/min) [cubic centimeters per minute] to describe a broad range of parameters that affect limestone dissolution. NCT was first used to image the dissolution …

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Late Tertiary Tectonic Uplift In The Southern And Central Appalachians, Mary Sheela Biswal Dec 2015

Late Tertiary Tectonic Uplift In The Southern And Central Appalachians, Mary Sheela Biswal

Masters Theses

The exposed Appalachian Mountains extend about 2500 km from Newfoundland to Alabama with the highest peaks >2000 m above sea level. The last orogeny that affected Appalachian crust was the 325-260 Ma Alleghanian. Even with minimal erosion rates, it is highly unlikely that the Appalachians could have sustained such elevations for over 200 m.y., suggesting that recent tectonic uplift has produced today’s mountainous topography. The multiple phases of Tertiary uplift are related to poorly understood processes, but a large amount of data from today’s mountain chain and the adjacent Coastal Plain indicate the present high topography is anomalous and clearly …

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Europan Double Ridge Morphology As A Test For Hypothesized Models Of Formation, Ashley Caroline Dameron Aug 2015

Europan Double Ridge Morphology As A Test For Hypothesized Models Of Formation, Ashley Caroline Dameron

Masters Theses

Double ridges on the Jovian satellite Europa consist of two ridges with a central trough. Several hypotheses exist describing their formation. Explosive cryovolcanism would result in granular ice depositing as two self-symmetric ridges flanking a central fracture, lying at or below the angle of repose (AOR). Cryo-sediments deposited by tidal squeezing and low-viscosity cryolavas emplaced by effusive cryovolcanism would likely have shallow slopes, although ridge symmetry is not expected. A second group of hypotheses involves brittle deformation of the crust, namely by diapirism, shear heating, and buckling of the lithosphere due to compression. Because these models involve uplifting vertical fractures, …

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Measurement Of Hysteretic Shale Capillary Pressure – Saturation Relationships Using A Water Activity Meter, Brendan Michael Donnelly Aug 2015

Measurement Of Hysteretic Shale Capillary Pressure – Saturation Relationships Using A Water Activity Meter, Brendan Michael Donnelly

Masters Theses

Capillary pressure is the pressure difference across the interface of two immiscible fluids within a porous medium due to the interfacial tension between fluids and is related to both the properties of the fluids and the porous medium. Capillary pressure within a porous medium will change depending upon its degree of saturation. Understanding the relationship between capillary pressure and saturation for a rock allows for the modeling of multi-phase flow. Many traditional methods of measuring capillary pressure are unsuitable for the characterization of shale due to their inability to measure the high capillary pressures found within the small pores. Furthermore, …

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Establishing A Chronology Of Late Quaternary Glacial Advances In The Cordillera De Talamanca, Costa Rica, Rebecca Susan Potter Aug 2015

Establishing A Chronology Of Late Quaternary Glacial Advances In The Cordillera De Talamanca, Costa Rica, Rebecca Susan Potter

Masters Theses

Little research has focused on glacial events in the tropics. Providing an absolute glacial chronology in Costa Rica will build a foundation for future glacial chronologies and paleoclimate reconstructions in the highlands of Central America. Evidence of past glaciation, including moraines and glacial lakes, is preserved within formerly glaciated valleys in the Cordillera de Talamanca. Orvis and Horn (2000) constrained deglaciation ages of the most recent glacial event in the Cordillera de Talamanca based on radiocarbon dates of glacial lake sediments. Radiocarbon ages indicated complete deglaciation after 12.4 ka cal BP but before 9.7 ka cal BP (Orvis and Horn, …

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Survival And Growth Rate Of Translocated Freshwater Mussels Lampsilis Fasciola And Medionidus Conradicus, Laura L. Pullum Aug 2015

Survival And Growth Rate Of Translocated Freshwater Mussels Lampsilis Fasciola And Medionidus Conradicus, Laura L. Pullum

Masters Theses

Freshwater mussels (Family Unionidae and Margaritiferidae) are a widely threatened group of bivalve molluscs, particularly in the Southeastern United States. Translocation of freshwater mussels is an increasingly common conservation method. However, there are relatively few studies that quantitatively investigate the factors influencing translocation success or failure. In October 2013, hundreds of Medionidus conradicus and Lampsilis fasciola were translocated to the Pigeon and Nolichucky Rivers in Tennessee, with an interim partial survey (June 2014) and a full survey (October 2014). In this study, I analyze this field-collected data to determine the mechanism(s) that currently influence the outcomes of Tennessee mussel translocation. …

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Geostatistical Analysis Of Point Soil Water Retention Parameters For Flint Sand, William Blake Roberts Aug 2015

Geostatistical Analysis Of Point Soil Water Retention Parameters For Flint Sand, William Blake Roberts

Masters Theses

Geostatistics were employed to characterize sub-core scale heterogeneity and identify spatial structure in previously published water retention data (Kang et al., 2014) obtained using neutron radiography for Flint sand. The water retention data were parameterized using the Brooks and Corey (BC) model. The BC parameters investigated were: saturated water content (Ѳs), residual water content (Ѳr), air entry value (ψa), and pore size distribution index (λ). Spatial dependency in the BC parameters was identified using semivariograms. Of the four BC parameters analyzed, two were found to be spatially correlated, Ѳ …

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Characterizing Groundwater Ch4 And 222rn In Relation To Hydraulic Fracturing And Other Environmental Processes In Letcher County, Ky, St. Thomas Majeau Ledoux May 2015

Characterizing Groundwater Ch4 And 222rn In Relation To Hydraulic Fracturing And Other Environmental Processes In Letcher County, Ky, St. Thomas Majeau Ledoux

Masters Theses

Hydraulic fracturing of shale deposits has greatly increased the productivity of the natural gas industry by allowing it to exploit previously inaccessible reservoirs. However, previous research has demonstrated that this practice can contaminate shallow aquifers with CH4 [methane] from deeper formations. This study compares concentrations and isotope compositions of CH4 sampled from domestic groundwater wells in Letcher County, Kentucky in order to characterize its occurrence and origins in relation to neighboring hydraulically fractured natural gas wells. Additionally, this study tests the reliability of 222Rn [radon] as an alternative tracer to CH4 in identifying processes of gas …

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