Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Rounding Of Quartz And K-Feldspar Sand From Beach To Dune Settings Along The California And Oregon Coastlines: Implications For Ancient Sandstones, John H. Whitmore, Raymond Strom

Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations

Sand samples were collected from seven different locations along the California and Oregon coastlines where beach sediments and eolian coastal dunes are in close proximity (< 0.5 km) to each other. Beach sand was collected from the swash zone and dune sand was taken from the crests or lee faces of dunes. Loose sand was impregnated with epoxy and thin sections were cut. The slides were stained for K-feldspar. About 100 quartz and 100 K-feldspar sand grains were measured and scored for rounding from each environment and from each location (14 total slides). Roundness was scored according to the roundness scale of Powers (1953) and Folk (1955) on a scale of 0-6 to the nearest 0.5. All the slides were analyzed over a two-week time period by the same worker to try and minimize bias. In order to compare rounding of similar sized sand grains from the coupled environments a size sample of 1.0 standard deviations from each side of the mean (size) was selected from the dune sample and then compared with the same size/mineral population from the beach sample (where there is a much wider range of sand grain sizes). T tests were used to see if significant rounding occurred from the beach to the dune (2 tails, unequal variance, Microsoft Excel) in this size population for each mineral.

It was found that long axes of most sand grains were in the 100-500 um range. Graphing grain size against rounding showed only a small increase of rounding (small positive slopes) regardless of mineral species. P values indicated the rounding in the same size populations of quartz grains does not change significantly over this short transport distance (0.21 mean change). K-feldspar on the other hand always showed a statistically significant change in rounding (0.66 …

How The Coconino Sandstone Of The Grand Canyon Supports Young-Earth Creation And A Global Flood, John H. Whitmore

Science and Mathematics Faculty Presentations

The Coconino Sandstone is a well-known and recognizable rock layer near the top of the Grand Canyon. Most interpret it as the fossilized remnants of desert sand dunes that formed about 275 million years ago. It is often used as a “silver bullet” of how Scripture is wrong when it comes to a literal interpretation of Noah’s Flood (by Christians and non-Christians alike). In this talk, Whitmore will summarize some easy to understand research that he and others have published which refutes old earth views of the Coconino and instead supports a view that the Coconino was formed underwater. His …

Understanding Feathered Dinosaurs, Michael D. Sprague

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Young-earth creationists hold to separate creations of birds and land animals due to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1:20-25, which describes their creations on different days. As such, they oppose the conventional model of theropod-to-bird evolution. For many years, there were few Mesozoic birds known, namely Hesperornis and Icthyornis. Specimens such as Archaeopteryx, found in 1861, seemed to strengthen the argument for the proposed transition. However, even after John Ostrom reinvigorated the idea of dinosaur-to-bird evolution in 1960 with the discovery of Deinonychus, evidence of this transition was still sparse. In the 1990’s, exquisitely-preserved dinosaur fossils began to pour out …

Petrographic Analysis Of The Oriskany Sandstone (Lower Devonian) From The Ellisburg Storage Pool, Potter County, Northcentral Pennsylvania, Emily R. Jackson

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Three Lower Devonian Oriskany Sandstone cores, EW-216 (core 1), EW-415 (core 2), and EW-706 (core 3), were obtained from Dominion Transmission’s Ellisburg Storage Pool, located in Potter County, northcentral PA. The goal of the project was to create a petrographic analysis and description of the cores, with special attention given to any deformational features associated with stress/strain indicators. Extended Range Helium Porosimeter measurements, XRD analysis, and thin section production were completed by Calgary Rock and Materials. The cores were then analyzed using a petrographic microscope; a complete description from the analysis was written for each core. Photographs were taken of …

A Correlation And Stratigraphy Of Detailed Measured Core Sections Of The Waynesville And Liberty Formations (Katian; Richmondian) - Transecting Warren, Clinton, And Fayette Counties Of Ohio, Mark P. Guilliams

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

The stratigraphy of the Cincinnatian is difficult to understand and interpret which has resulted in various models for deposition ranging from a layer cake model with continuous beds to completely discontinuous beds. The interest of this study is the Liberty and Waynesville Formations (previously part of the Bull Fork Formation); these are Late Ordovician (Katian; Richmondian) units of predominantly limestone and shale. This project assesses the continuity of fine scale beds within these formations across a small area (approx. the size of Ohio’s Clinton County) by correlating measured sections from drill cores. The project involved the study of five rock …

A Description Of A New Allosaurus (Dinosauria: Theropoda) Skull With Comparison To Additional Specimens, Michael D. Sprague

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Allosaurus was a genus of large theropod dinosaur from the Late Jurassic Period (Kimmeridgian to early Tithonian). The history of the taxonomic classification of Allosaurus species is muddled at best, and the number of recognized species varies significantly between researchers. Most Allosaurs from the Morrison Formation are typically lumped into a single species, Allosaurus fragilis. Given the amount of variation seen in Allosaurs through the Morrison, the genus may more diverse than generally recognized. A nearly complete Allosaurus skull (CM 279) located in the Creation Museum in Petersberg, KY is described, with comparison of its skull morphology to two other …

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) – …

The Relationship Between Static Water Levels, Bedrock Topography, And Glacial Drift Thickness For The Cedarville, Greene County, Ohio Area, Joel G. Twinem

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Cedarville, Ohio, is an area covered in glacial deposits from the Pleistocene age. During this time, the Silurian dolomitic bedrock was exposed and worn down. Glacial till composed of sand and gravel was deposited atop the dolomite in wake of the glaciers retreat. The combination of vuggy bedrock and permeability of the overlying sediments cause the area to be very conducive to aquifer storage and movement. This study attempts to determine the relationship between bedrock topography, till thickness, and static water level, as well as the implications for future drilling. 26 static water levels were measured in the field using …

Characterization Of Massive Vs. Laminated Texture Of The Coconino Sandstone (Permian), Arizona From The Study Of Thin Sections, Sarah C. Rouse

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

This project seeks to contribute to the work of Dr. John Whitmore and Sarah Maithel on the Coconino Sandstone (Permian) of Arizona. More than one hundred thin sections are available for study from this sandstone. Each thin section was examined both macroscopically and microscopically to determine if the sample is "laminated" or "massive." The purpose of this project is to define what "laminae" are and then develop reliable quantitative criteria that can differentiate between the laminated and massive samples. These criteria might then be applied to distinguish patterns that occur across the deposit, which in turn may provide insight into …

Understanding Feathered Dinosaurs, Michael D. Sprague

The Research and Scholarship Symposium (2013-2019)

Young-earth creationists hold to separate creations of birds and land animals due to a literal interpretation of Genesis 1:20-25, which describes their creations on different days. As such, they oppose the conventional model of theropod-to-bird evolution. For many years, there were few Mesozoic birds known, namely Hesperornis and Icthyornis. Specimens such as Archaeopteryx, found in 1861, seemed to strengthen the argument for the proposed transition. However, even after John Ostrom reinvigorated the idea of dinosaur-to-bird evolution in 1960 with the discovery of Deinonychus, evidence of this transition was still sparse. In the 1990’s, exquisitely-preserved dinosaur fossils began …

Young Earth Flood Geology In The Grand Canyon, John H. Whitmore

Science and Mathematics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

So, You Want To 3d Print A Landscape? An Outline Of Some Methods, Dylan J. Mckevitt, Thomas L. Rice, Emily Jackson, Victoria Couser

Alumni Book Gallery

No abstract provided.