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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Geology

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

2014

Articles 1 - 5 of 5

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Zircon: Tiny Crystals With Long History And Big Uses, Jiawen Li May 2014

Zircon: Tiny Crystals With Long History And Big Uses, Jiawen Li

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

The first known written record about zircon dates back to c.1400. Zircon forms in felsic magmas and thus is commonly found in plutonic felsic rocks. Because of its physical resistibility to weathering and metamorphism, it is also often found in metamorphic and sedimentary rocks. zircon is an orthosilicate and therefore is made up of isolated silica tetrahedra with zirconium ions filling in the gaps. This common structure allows zircon to incorporate many trace elements, such as thorium and uranium. Zircons long physical and chemical durability and the trace elements give rise to its use in geochronology. Thorium in zircon retain …


From The Depths Of Great Pond (Maine): Anthropogenic And Natural Influences On Bottom Sediments And The Implications For Local Sustainability, Sara George, Clara Bicher May 2014

From The Depths Of Great Pond (Maine): Anthropogenic And Natural Influences On Bottom Sediments And The Implications For Local Sustainability, Sara George, Clara Bicher

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

As part of a Maine EPSCoR grant focusing on sustainability in the Belgrade Lakes watershed of central Maine, current research consists of collecting bottom sediment samples from Great Pond. Samples were analyzed to create a sediment map of the lake basin in regards to depth, grain-size distribution, organic content (%C), C:N ratios and phosphorus concentration. Results will aid in the understanding of the glacial formation of the lake, distribution of sediment within, and human impact on the lake. Additionally, knowing the distribution of phosphorus within the sediments may allow development of a strategy to avoid accelerated eutrophication. This research will …


The Limestone Neutralization Of Potential Acid Mine Drainage From Bald Mountain In Aroostook County, Maine, Brendan Cosgrove May 2014

The Limestone Neutralization Of Potential Acid Mine Drainage From Bald Mountain In Aroostook County, Maine, Brendan Cosgrove

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

Due to the loosening of environmental regulations in 2012, J.D. Irving, Limited may begin mining operations on massive Cu-Zn sulfide ored at Bald Mountain in Aroostook County, Maine. The Bald Mountain Project will positively and negatively impact the local economy with job creation, higher wages and income levels, but a potential decline in the recreational industry. The likely acid mine drainage (AMD) of the Bald Mountain Project can degrade aquatic ecosystems and reduce water quality and brook trout populations by metal contamination and acid loading in the local watershed. In West Virginia, in-stream limestone sand application has successfully restored streams …


Stratigraphy And Mapping Of Sandy River Floodplain Terraces, Franklin And Mercer County, Maine, Hannah Dhonau, Gift Ntuli May 2014

Stratigraphy And Mapping Of Sandy River Floodplain Terraces, Franklin And Mercer County, Maine, Hannah Dhonau, Gift Ntuli

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

Our project details the stratigraphy and chronology of floodplain terraces along the Sandy River in Franklin and Mercer Counties in Central Maine. Using field observations, USGS aerial photographs, and Google Earth imagery, we were able to identify three separate terraces and compare their locations to previous mapping projects in the area.


My Pet Mineral: Augite, Jacob Wall May 2014

My Pet Mineral: Augite, Jacob Wall

CLAS: Colby Liberal Arts Symposium

Augite is typically known for its greenish black color, nice vitreous luster, two directions of cleavage and of course its simple chemical formula: (Ca,Na,Mg,Fe2+,Fe3+Al,Ti)2[(Si,Al)2]O6]. Augite has a hardness of 5.5, 2 planes of cleavage and massive habit. Augite is an important rock-forming silicate mineral and occurs in a wide variety of basic igneous rocks, including gabbros, dolerites and basalts. Augite also occurs in ultrabasic and intermediate rocks as well as a limited number of high-grade metamorphic rocks such as granulites and charnockites. Augites range widely in composition and show a continuoius variation in chemical composition. Iron rich augites are restricted …