Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Geologists As Colonial Scouts: The Rogers Expedition To Otavi And Tsumeb, Namibia, 1892–1895, Selby Hearth

Geology Faculty Research and Scholarship

From 1892 to 1895, the South West Africa Company (SWACO) expedition led by geologist Matthew Rogers conducted the first geologic mapping in Namibia’s Otavi Mountains, including the now world-famous Tsumeb Mine. This paper uses archival documents from the Rogers expedition to trace his geologic contributions and to illustrate important themes in the relationships between 19th century colonial geologists, Western colonizing governments, Indigenous communities, resource extraction, and corporations. To carry out his mapping, Rogers performed a continuous balancing act between British and German colonial powers and local African leaders. The local leaders and communities he interacted with variously resisted his incursions, …

More Than Energy: Coal As A Mineral Resource, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Brochure on Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative, an Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project. Explores the benefits of utilizing lignite coal from the Williston Basin.

Core-Cm Williston Basin Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, And Critical Minerals, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet on the Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative, an Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project. Includes information on the importance of critical minerals and utilizing lignite from the Williston Basin.

Core-Cm Williston Basin Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, And Critical Minerals, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Fact sheet on the Carbon Ore, Rare Earth and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative, an Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) project. Includes information on the importance of critical minerals and utilizing lignite from the Williston Basin.

Radiological Identification Of Near‐Surface Mineralogical Deposits Using Low‐Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Peter G. Martin, Dean T. Connor, Natalia Estrada, Adel El-Turke, David Megson-Smith, Chris P. Jones, David K. Kreamer, Thomas B. Scott

Geoscience Faculty Publications

An ever‐increasing global population and unabating technological growth have resulted in a relentless appetite for mineral resources, namely rare earth elements, fuel minerals and those utilised in electronics applications, with the price of such species continuing to climb. In contrast to more established large‐scale and high‐cost exploration methodologies, this work details the application of novel multi‐rotor unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with miniaturised radiation detectors for the objective of undertaking resource exploration at lower costs, with greater autonomy and at considerably enhanced higher spatial resolutions; utilizing the ore material’s inherent low levels of characteristic radioactivity. As we demonstrate at the former …

Teaching With Digital 3d Models Of Minerals And Rocks, Graham Dm Andrews, Gabrielle Labishak, Sarah Brown, Shelby L. Isom, Holly Danielle Pettus, Trevor Byers

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

The disruption to geoscience curricula due to the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the difficulty of making mineral and rock samples accessible to students online rather than through traditional lab classes. In spring 2020, our community had to adapt rapidly to remote instruction; this transition amplified existing disparities in access to geoscience education but can be a catalyst to increase accessibility and flexibility in instruction permanently. Fortunately, a rich collection of 3D mineral and rock samples is being generated by a community of digital modelers (e.g., Perkins et al., 2019).

Effects Of Heat Treatment Of Spinels As Determined By Vis/Nir And Raman Spectroscopy And Xrd, Jill Reale, Dr. Michael B. Wolf

Celebration of Learning

Heat treatment is done to improve the color and clarity and, therefore, the value of gemstones. The objectives of this study include observing color and inclusion changes in pink spinels after heat treatment, and analyzing structural changes within differently colored spinels using Raman Spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction with a Paris Edinburgh Press. We expected the heat treatment to yield color changes and fading of small inclusions. Cut and polished spinels were heated to 1400C for 2 days or 850C for 3 days. Future experiments involve 800C, 750C, and 700C all for 1 week, 1500C for 4 days, and 1600C for …

Elastic Geothermobarometry: Corrections For The Geometry Of The Host-Inclusion System, M. L. Mazzucchelli, Pamela Burnley, R. J. Angel, S. Morganti, M. C. Domeneghetti, F. Nestola, M. Alvaro

Geoscience Faculty Publications

Elastic geothermobarometry on inclusions is a method to determine pressure-temperature conditions of mineral growth independent of chemical equilibrium. Because of the difference in their elastic properties, an inclusion completely entrapped inside a host mineral will develop a residual stress upon exhumation, from which one can back-calculate the entrapment pressure. Current elastic geobarometric models assume that both host and inclusion are elastically isotropic and have an ideal geometry (the inclusion is spherical and isolated at the center of an infinite host). These conditions do not commonly occur in natural rocks, and the consequences for inclusion pressures can only be quantified with …

Genuine Or Reproduction: A Comparision Of 3d Imaging Techniques, Erica A. Loughner, Jordan C. Oldham

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Advancements in technology associated with 3D imaging for both print and digital applications are transforming many aspects of geology. Museums, researchers, and educators are now using 3D models to depict and reproduce fossils, minerals, and crystals for study, thereby reducing the risk of damage to valuable original specimens. This project examined which of the two processes available to Cedarville University geology program produces the best quality digital image and, subsequently, the best 3D printed object of a macroscopic-sized specimen. The first method utilizes the camera on a smartphone to take overlapping photos of the entire specimen (fossil or mineral) – …

National Evaluation For Development And Exploration Potential Of Mineral Commodities In Produced Waters, Stephanie Ray

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The U.S. Geological Survey recently updated a geochemical database consisting of data for approximately 160,000 produced waters samples, primarily from petroleum and geothermal reservoirs. Using major and trace elements from conventional and unconventional well types from the database, this Thesis provides a comprehensive, national evaluation for mineral commodity potential in produced waters. Produced waters contain virtually every naturally occurring element and can range in salinity to several times that of seawater. Despite the typical outlook to view produced waters as a waste, they have potential for natural resource development.

This Thesis provides, for each mineral commodity found in the produced …

Remote Exploration: Understanding Martian Surface Processes, Sarah M. Bass, Virginia C. Gulick, Natalie Glines, Patrick Freeman

STAR Program Research Presentations

Earth and Mars share many similar physical features, including canyons, valleys, craters, volcanoes, ice, and gullies. My research focuses on two distinct projects. The first concentrates on the formation of gullies, which are channel networks generally formed on mid-latitude crater walls on Mars. Debated gully-forming processes include the melting of snowpacks, sublimation of accumulated carbon dioxide frost, melting of snow-rich dusty mantle material, and groundwater flows. Using High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) images of gullies and working with Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) in ENVI, we are able to perform detailed studies of gully morphology, including volume calculations using slope, …

Hardystonite From The Desert View Mine, California, James A. Van Fleet, Earl R. Verbeek

Faculty Journal Articles

The fluorescent mineral hardystonite is confirmed in a specimen from the Desert View Mine, California. Hardystonite had been known only from Franklin, New Jersey for over 100 years.

Fluorescent Chrysotile From Sterling Hill, New Jersey, James A. Van Fleet, Earl R. Verbeek

Faculty Journal Articles

Minerals of the serpentine group, notably chrysotile and to a lesser extent lizardite, are widely present at both Franklin and Sterling Hill. They are late-stage hydrous magnesium silicate minerals that formed by hydrothermal alteration of earlier species, among them willemite and tephroite, and are also common components of hydrothermal veins cutting the ore bodies and the enclosing marble (Dunn, 1995). Although long recognized in the area (Fowler, 1825), local serpentine was not documented as a fluorescent mineral until 2004, when a brief description of a fluorescent serpentine from Franklin appeared in The Picking Table (Cianciulli, 2004). In the present paper, …

Raman Mapping Of Mars Relevant Minerals Using Multiple Excitation Wavelenghts, Victoria Campbell, William Abbey

STAR Program Research Presentations

The purpose of this project is to map Mars relevant minerals using the Raman instrument Horiba LabRam Raman. The Raman spectrometer is a non-invasive sampling technique used to identify mineral composition of various compositions by measuring the “Raman Shift” of each mineral. This was accomplished by using a green (532nm) laser which acted as a monochromatic light source. This source was absorbed by the sample and reemitted. The frequency of the reemitted photons are then shifted up or down in comparison with original frequency, which is referred to as the ‘Raman Effect’. The samples with shorter wavelengths produced a stronger …

Documenting The Origin Of Compositional Diversity Of Subduction Zone Magmatism, Alicudi, Aeolian Arc (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) Using In Situ Plagioclase Data, Rachel Hunt

All Master's Theses

Processes that generate magma compositional diversity are important to document because composition affects degree of explosivity, which impacts hazard mitigation. Magnesium to silicon rich magmas are produced by processes such as magma recharge, assimilation, and fractional crystallization (RAFC) that occur in subvolcanic magma chamber(s). This study evaluates how magma chamber processes contribute to compositional diversity at Alicudi Volcano, Italy. Analytical and petrographic data from ten samples that span the subaerial history include whole rock major and trace elements and strontium/neodymium isotopes, and plagioclase textural types, major and trace elements, and strontium isotopes; numerical modeling was also conducted. Integration of these …

Mines And Minerals Of The Western Kentucky Fluorspar District, Warren H. Anderson, Thomas N. Sparks

Map and Chart--KGS

This map shows all the known and identified mines, mineral prospects, and igneous intrusions (dikes or sills) in the Western Kentucky Fluorspar District, compiled from thousands of maps and files, creating an up-to-date, comprehensive catalog for the district. The district has been extensively mined for more than 120 years and was once the largest producer of fluorspar (fluorite) in the United States.

Millions of tons of vein ore minerals (fluorite, zinc, lead, and barite) has been produced from these mines, and substantial reserves still remain. New mining and exploration activity has renewed interest in the district, and the industry will …

Documenting Magnatic Processes At Filicudi Island, Aeolian Arc, Italy: Integrating Quantitative Modeling And Plagioclase Textural And In Situ Compositional Data, Michelle Harris

All Master's Theses

Documenting the physiochemical processes that influence magma composition is critical for forecasting eruption styles and managing volcanic hazards. Compositional diversity of magmas develops through recharge, assimilation, and fractional crystallization (RAFC) within subvolcanic magma reservoirs. Integration of MELTS modeling, whole rock, plagioclase textural and in situ elemental and isotopic data from Filicudi Island, Italy allow documentation of the roles and relative chronology that RAFC played in the magmatic evolution and elucidates aspects of the magma plumbing system structure.

Results indicate a polybaric magma plumbing system with deeper (3.5-4 kilobars) and shallower (0.5-1.2 kilobars) storage regions. Within the deeper system, FC acted …

Yellow-Fluorescing Calcite From Sterling Hill, James A. Van Fleet, E. R. Verbeek

Faculty Journal Articles

No abstract provided.

Microbial Nanowires: Is The Subsurface "Hardwired"?, Dimitrios Ntarlagiannis, Estella A. Atekwana, Eric A. Hill, Yuri A. Gorby

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Earth's shallow subsurface results from integrated biological, geochemical, and physical processes. Methods are sought to remotely assess these interactive processes, especially those catalysed by micro-organisms. Using saturated sand columns and the metal reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, we show that electrically conductive appendages called bacterial nanowires are directly associated with electrical potentials. No significant electrical potentials were detectable in columns inoculated with mutant strains that produced non-conductive appendages. Scanning electron microscopy imaging revealed a network of nanowires linking cells-cells and cells to mineral surfaces, "hardwiring" the entire length of the column. We hypothesize that the nanowires serve as conduits …

In The Heat Of The Law, It's Not Just Steam: Geothermal Resources And The Impact On Thermophile Biodiversity, Donald J. Kochan, Tiffany Grant

Donald J. Kochan

Significant research has been conducted into the utilization of geothermal resources as a ‘green’ energy source. However, minimal research has been conducted into geothermal resource utilization and depletion impacts on thermophile biodiversity. Thermophiles are organisms which have adapted over millions of year to extreme temperature and chemical compositions and exist in hot springs and other geothermal resources. Their ability to withstand high temperatures makes them invaluable to scientific and medical research. Current federal and California case law classify geothermal resources as a mineral, not a water resource. Acquisition of rights to develop a geothermal resource owned or reserved by the …

Agenda: Introduction To The Legal Foundation Of Federal Land Management, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Introduction to the Legal Foundation of Federal Land Management (December 1-3)

Materials prepared for the course held at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado on December 1-3, 2004

Course instructors: Charles Wilkinson; Sarah Krakoff; Kathryn Mutz; Ann Morgan; Maggie Fox

Contents:

Introduction -- Agenda -- Summaries of laws -- Case studies. Travel management; Oil and gas development; Timber/fuels reduction -- How to influence agency decision makers -- Natural resource related legal and policy resources for the non-legal professional

Introduction To The Legal Foundation Of Federal Land Management, University Of Colorado Boulder. Natural Resources Law Center

Introduction to the Legal Foundation of Federal Land Management (December 1-3)

1 v. (various pagings) : ill., maps ; 28 cm

Materials prepared for the course held at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado on December 1-3, 2004

Course instructors: Charles Wilkinson; Sarah Krakoff; Kathryn Mutz; Ann Morgan; Maggie Fox

Contents:

Introduction -- Agenda -- Summaries of laws -- Case studies. Travel management; Oil and gas development; Timber/fuels reduction -- How to influence agency decision makers -- Natural resource related legal and policy resources for the non-legal professional

Investigating The Geoelectrical Response Of Hydrocarbon Contamination Undergoing Biodegradation, D. Dale Werkema, Estella A. Atekwana, Anthony L. Endres, William August Sauck, Daniel P. Cassidy

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

A newly proposed geoelectrical model for hydrocarbon contaminated sites predicts high conductivities coincident with the contaminated zone as opposed to the traditionally accepted low conductivity. The model attributes the high conductivities to mineral weathering resulting from byproducts of microbial redox processes. To evaluate this conductive model, in situ vertical conductivity measurements were acquired from a light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) contaminated site. The results showed high conductivities coincident with the zone of contamination and within the smear zone influenced by seasonal water table fluctuations. We infer this zone as an active zone of biodegradation and suggest significant microbial degradation under …

Mineral And Fuel Resources Map Of Kentucky, Warren H. Anderson, Garland R. Dever Jr.

Map and Chart--KGS

The production of minerals and fuels in Kentucky is a multibillion dollar industry. Historically, coal, oil, natural gas, limestone, sand and gravel, clay, fluorite, barite, lead, iron, phosphate, zinc, and brines have been produced in the State. These resources have greatly influenced the development of Kentucky by providing raw materials for the early settlers who settled the State and for current industrial and economic development. Electrical power for homes, businesses, and factories; materials for constructing houses, buildings, automobiles, and roads; and products we consume in everyday life come from the earth's mineral and fuel resources.

Generalized Classification Of Economic Minerals

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

Information And Regulations Pertaining To Industrial Minerals In Nebraska, Raymond R. Burchett

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

Mining In Maine : Past, Present, And Future, Carolyn A. Lepage

Maine Collection

Mining in Maine : Past, Present, and Future

by Carolyn A. Lepage, Michael E. Foley, and Woodrow B. Thompson

Maine Geological Survey, Department of Conservation, Augusta, Me., 1990.

Contents: Introduction / The Early Years: Pre-Civil War / The Civil War to World War II / The War Years of the 1940's / The Postwar Years: 1940's to 1960 / The 1960's / The 1970's / Maine Mineral Resources Association / The 1980's / Current Mining and Exploration / Future Potential / Acknowledgments / References

The Fourth Of July Depends Upon Minerals, R. R. Burchett

Conservation and Survey Division

No abstract provided.

Important Geological Features And Localities Of Maine, Maine Geological Survey

Maine Collection

Important Geological Features and Localities of Maine

Executive Department, Maine Geological Survey : Maine State Planning Office

(December, 1982).

Contents: Introduction / Purpose of this Study / The Geology of Maine / Important Publications / Catalogue of the Critical Geologic Features of Maine / Recommendations for Further Research / Publications / Conclusions / Acknowledgements / References Cited / Critical Areas Program List of Geological Planning Reports

Geologic Map And Coal Sections Of The Red Point Quadrangle, Eugene G. Elllis, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Joseph R. Frank

All U.S. Government Documents (Utah Regional Depository)

Red Point quadrangle, in Emery County in central Utah, was mapped in 1979 as a part of the U.S. Geological Survey's progress to evaluate lands in the public domain for potential coal leasing. Mapping was done using U.S. Forest Service color aerial photographs at a scale of 1:15,640 and U.S. Geological Survey black-and-white aerial photographs at a scale of 1:30,000. The quadrangle was mapped previously by Spicker (1931) at a scale of 1:62,500.