Earth Sciences Commons^™

Structural Geology Of The Central Part Of Clarkston Mountain, Malad Range, Utah, Douglas A. Green

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The central part of Clarkston Mountain is located in northcentral Utah in the southern part of the Malad Range. It is northwest of Clarkston, Utah. The mapped area measures 2.5 mi. in the north-south direction and 6.5 mi. in the east-west direction. It is within the Basin and Range Province.

The Ute Formation of Middle Cambrian age is the oldest exposed stratigraphic unit. Other Cambrian units, in ascending order, are: Blacksmith Formation, Bloomington Formation, Nounan Formation, and St. Charles Formation. These units consist predominantly of limestone, dolostone, and shale. Units of Ordovician age include the Garden City Formation and the …

Sedimentological And Foraminiferal Characterization Of A Holocene Island Slope (130-240m), North Jamaica, Craig V. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recent carbonate sediments from (133-236m) on the northern Jamaican island slope are significantly different from shallower reef zones (l-70m) in grain constituents, textural parameters, and foraminiferal assemblages. The island slope sediment is dominated by coral fragments, calcareous algae, Halimeda plates, and foraminiferal tests. The sediment is characteristically poorly-sorted, nearly-symmetrically skewed, and mesokurtic, with a mean grain size in the fine sand range. Mineralogically, the sediment is predominantly aragonite (66%) and high-Mg calcite (22%), with some calcite (8%), and minor amounts of clays and other insoluble minerals (4%).

Q-mode cluster analyses of sediment constituents, textural parameters, and foraminiferal species and larger …

Diagenesis And Water Chemistry Of The Woodbine Group In The East Texas Basin, Helmuth Victor Wuerch

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Petrographic and SEM study of flu vial-deltaic sections of the Woodbine Group in the East Texas Basin indicates that authigenic mineral suites are controlled, in part, by the presence of organic-rich matrix.

During early, precompaction diagenesis, organic matter supplied the metabolic fuel required by sulfate-reducing bacteria to reduce sulfate in depositional waters ultimately to pyrite. With burial the sulfate supply was ultimately exhausted, and bicarbonate activity thereafter controlled the precipitation of siderite and Fe-calcite.

Matrix material supplied the components and reaction sites for the most import ant porosity-occluding reaction: kaolinite --> Fe,M g chlorite. Matrix physically inhibited the growth of …

Petrology Of The Late Proterozoic(?) - Early Cambrian Arumbera Sandstone And The Late Proterozoic Quandong Conglomerate, East-Central Amadeus Basin, Central Australia, Johnnie O. Phillips

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Throughout the James Ranges and Gardiner Range the Arumbera Sandstone forms prominent strike ridges with distinctive dark reddish slopes and pale red to orange-white cliffs. Because of their lithologic and stratigraphic similarities, the names Eninta and ''Quandong" for these units should be suppressed in favor of the name of Arumbera Sandstone, which has precedence. The stratigraphic and lithologic differences observed between the Quandong Conglomerate in the type locality and the Arumbera Sandstone in the study area suggest that these units are not equivalent. Similarites with the Areyonga Formation suggest the Quandong Conglomerate could be part of the Areyonga Formation.

Lithofacies …

Boron Composition Of Alfalfa In Utah As Related To Soils And Irrigation Waters, Robert N. Radtke Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Eighteen field plots at 15 locations were selected throughout the state to evaluate the status of the boron content in irrigation waters, soils, and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) plant tissue under irrigated conditions.

No boron deficiency symptoms were observed in any of the alfalfa plants at any of these locations, nor were any of the plant tissue boron levels inadequate. Only two locations were found in which the alfalfa plants exibited toxicity symptoms. These locations were along the Indian and Antelope Creeks in Duchesne County which contain high boron levels in the water. All the alfalfa and soil tested …

The Surficial Geology And Neotectonics Of Hansel Valley, Box Elder County, Utah, Robert M. Robison

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Hansel Valley, located at the north end of the Great Salt Lake in Box Elder County, Utah, has exposures of the lacustrine sediments of the Little Valley, Bonneville, and Gilbert lake cycles. A 1:50,000 scale map was constructed of the surface geology. Although no trenches were dug for this study, about 240m of logs were compiled in an arroyo in lake bottom sediments. Sediments from at least three lake cycles were found in this gully: 1) compact bottom deposits from the Little Valley cycle; 2) bottom sediments from an intermediate cycle (the Hansel Valley cycle); and 3) beach gravel and …

Petrology And Mineralogy Of Tertiary(?) Volcanic Rocks West And Southwest Of Kelton (Box Elder Co.), Utah, R. L. Voit

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Kelton, Utah, area has numerous, isolated basaltic outcrops of probable Tertiary age mostly in the form of cuestas with steep faces displaying columnar joints. One ash-flow tuff is located in the southeastern part of the study area. Basaltic fragments in the tuff indicate that pyroclastic activity was preceded by extrusion of basalt.

Effects of Lake Bonneville on the basaltic outcrops include wave­cut terraces, scarps, and other wave-built forms in low lying areas. Massive carbonate deposits formed at levels of former shorelines of Lake Bonneville. Tertiary and Quaternary deposits cover the low- lying areas between basaltic flows, and consist of …

Petrology And Mineralogy Of Tertiary(?) Volcanic Rocks Of Snowville Area, Utah, And Tertiary-Quaternary(?) Volcanic Rocks Of Table Mountain And Holbrook Areas, Idaho, Yunshuen Wang

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Basalt flows occur in the Snowville area of north-central Utah and the Table Mountain and Holbrook areas of south-central Idaho. All basalt flows are aphanitic in groundmass, and contain olivine, plagioclase, augite, and opaque oxides. They can be distinguished by texture. Snowville basalt has predominantly subophitic to intergranular textures. Table Mountain basalt is fine grained, with stumpy groundmass plagioclase and equant ilmenite crystals. Holbrook basalt has pilotaxitic to intergranular textures, with the presence of plagioclase phenocrysts and characteristic exsolution lamellae in Fe-Ti oxides. The olivine grains in Holbrook area are intensely oxidized to Fe-Ti oxides.

Snowville basalt contains olivine phenocrysts …

Parameters Controlling Sediment Composition Of Modern And Pleistocene Jamaican Reefs, Stephen K. Boss

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Recent carbonate sediments from Jamaican north coast fringing reefs display variation in constituent composition, texture, and mineralogy related to their location on the reef. Samples were collected along lines which traversed the back reef and fore reef (0.5m to 70m).

The sediment is dominated by highly comminuted coral fragments, plates of the calcareous green alga, Halimeda, coralline algae, and the encrusting Foraminifera, Homotrema rubrum, with lesser amounts of other taxonomic groups (Foraminifera; molluscs; echinoderms). Relative abundances of these biotic components vary between sites. Q-mode cluster analysis indicates that constituent composition can be used to delineate the different reef …

Structural Geology Of The Northern Part Of Elkhorn Mountain, Bannock Range, Idaho, Stephen R. Crook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Northern Elkhorn Mountain was unmapped previous to this investigation. The mapped area is located north of Malad City, Idaho, in the Bannock Range. It is within the Basin and Range Province. The mapped area measures 5.4 mi. in the north-south direction and 8.9 mi. in the east-west direction.

The oldest exposed stratigraphic unit, within the mapped area, consists of orthoquartzite and is of Early Cambrian age. Cambrian formations of the mapped area, in ascending order, are as follows: Camelback Mountain Quartzite, Gibson Jack Formation, Elkhead Formation, Bloomington Formation, Nounan Formation, and St. Charles Formation. Units of Ordovician age are the …

The Petrology Of The Early Middle Cambrian Giles Creek And Upper Chandler Formations, Northeastern Amadeus Basin, Central Australia, James A. Deckelman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Giles Creek and upper Chandler formations crop out in the northeastern Amadeus Basin from the north flank of Ross River syncline south to the Pillar Range, and from the nose of Ooraminna anticline east to the Simpson Desert. Twenty-four sections of the Giles Creek and nineteen sections of the upper Chandler were measured by the author in this area. The Giles Creek lies disconformably above the upper Chandler Formation and conformably below the Shannon Formation. The upper Chandler is conformably underlain by the lower Chandler throughout the area except at Ross River Gorge and Wallaby No. 1 well. There …

Structural Geology Of Eastern Part Of Dairy Ridge Quadrangle And Western Part Of Meachum Ridge Quadrangle, Utah, Val A. Kienast

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A detailed geologic investigation was made of the eastern part of the Dairy Ridge Quadrangle and the western part of the Meachum Ridge Quadrangle, Utah. The area is located in north-central Utah in Rich County. It lies between lat. 41°22'30" N. and lat. 41°28'50" N. and between long. 111°21'40" W. and long. 111°25'15" W. The area measures 13.8 km in the north-south direction and 5.5 km in the east-west direction. It is on the eastern side of the Wasatch Range about 20 km west-southwest of Randolph, Utah.

Stratigraphic units of Precambrian to Cambrian age crop out in the western part …

Petrology Of The Late Proterozoic(?)-Early Cambrian Arumbera Sandstone, Western Macdonnell Ranges, North-Central Amadeus Basin, Central Australia, Lonn P. Hamp

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Arumbera Sandstone consists of mappable informal units which are repeated in a vertical, cyclic succession. Sandstones of fluvial origin form resistant strike ridges separated by strike valleys, which consist of recessive sandstones and mudrocks of marine origin.

Lithofacies 1a, 2b, and 3a are probably of marine origin in intertidal environments. Trace fossil assemblages in lithofacies 3a suggest Skolithos and Cruziana inchnofacies were present. Lithofacies 1e, 2a, 2c, 3b, and 4a are probably of fluvial origin, as the result of coalescing braided stream deposits. The Arumbera Sandstone probably was deposited in a deltaic environment characterized by low wave energy, a …

The Petrology And Mineralogy Of Tertiary(?) Olivine Trachyte In The Harrington Peak Quadrangle, Southeastern Idaho, Amanda Shearer-Fullerton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Harrington Peak Quadrangle is located within the Caribou National Forest of southeast Idaho. Within this quadrangle are outcrops of olivine trachyte of Pliocene(?) age overlying sedimentary rocks of Mississippian to Tertiary age. The region contains thrust faults and later normal faults (generally trending north-south} formed during Basin and Range extension.

The Largest outcrop of olivine trachyte (approximately1 1/2 X 3 km) probably formed as the result of a fissure eruption. Two other outcrop areas show evidence of being sites of local extrusion.

Whole-rock chemical analyses revealed the olivine trachyte to have moderate amounts of SiO₂ and Al_{2O …}

Sequential Thrusting Beneath The Willard Thrust Fault, Wasatch Mountains, Ogden, Utah, Tad William Schirmer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The downstructure of viewing geologic maps, balanced and cross sections, and hanging-wall-sequence diagrams are applied to produce the first comprehensive synthesis of the structure below the willard thrust sheet.

Development of the duplex beneath the Willard thrust may be explained with a "piggyback" thrust model where younger thrust slices form below and fold an older, overlying thrust sheet. Progressive failure of the footwall ramp of the Willard thrust sheet extended the sole thrust eastward and produced a duplex consisting of thrust slices (horses) which adhered to the overriding thrust sheet where it ramped from a lower sole thrust to an …

Chemical Weathering Of Pyrite In Soils, Aaron D. Brown

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The products of pyrite oxidation, including solution phase Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺, S₂O₃^2-, S₄O₆^2-, SO₃^2- and SO₄^2- and solid phase Fe(OH)₃, were measured under controlled conditions in order to investigate the behavior of pyrite in calcareous and alkaline soils.

The distribution of sulfur oxidation products is pH dependent and can be interpreted in terms of metastable equilibrium among thiosulfate, disulfane disulfonate and sulfite. Thiosulfate and sulfite predominate in the pH range greater than about pH 7 or 8. Sulfane disulfonates are more …

Petrology Of The Middle Cambrian Ute Formation, North-Central Utah And Southeastern Idaho, Edward James Deputy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Middle Cambrian Ute Formation was studied in the Bear River Range and the Wellsville Mountains of north-central Utah and southeastern Idaho. The depositional textures and sedimentary structures found within the rocks were compared with similar modern sediments and ancient rocks to determine depositional environments, paleogeography, and diagenetic alterations.

The rocks of the Ute Formation were divided into five basic types. These five rock types were formed within four identifiable lithofacies: 1) elastic marine shelf; 2) carbonate marine shelf; 3) agitated shoal; and 4) quiet-water shoal.

The sequence of elastic and carbonate sediments is believed to have been deposited in …

Evaluation Of Low-Temperature Geothermal Potential In North-Central Box Elder County, Utah, Matthew C. Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to continue the assessment of low-temperature geothermal resources in Utah started by the Utah Geological and Mineral Survey. The area of interest with in this report is north-central Box Elder County, Utah. Exploration techniques used included chemical analyses of water from wells and springs, temperature surveys, and temperature-depth measurements in unused wells within the study area. The highest water temperatures (31, 30, and 29°C) recorded in this research were located in three separate geographic regions, suggesting that no single warm water occurrence dominates the study area.

Total dissolved solid (TDS) concentrations ranged from 294 …

Structure And Petrology Of Tertiary Volcanic Rocks In Parts Of Toms Cabin Spring And Lucin Nw Quadrangles (Box Elder Co.), Utah, Bruce Edward Scarbrough

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A series of late Tertiary rhyolitic and dacitic flows, domes, and minor pyroclastic rocks form an elongate volanic mass along the northwestern Utah-northeastern Nevada border. The structure of the flow banding and the linear arrangement of vents indicate that the mass represents a multi-sourced extrusive complex which erupted through many fissure-type conduits. A 39 km² area at the southern end of the mass was studied in detail in order to gain a better understanding of the eruptive nature and history of these Tertiary volcanic rocks. Age dating reveals that volcanism in the study area was episodic, and covered a …

Petrology Of The Middle Jurassic Twin Creek Limestone, Lincoln And Sublette Counties, Southwestern Wyoming, David R. Raubvogel

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Twin Creek Limestone of Middle Jurassic age was studied in the Tunp, Salt River, and Wyoming Ranges in southwestern Wyoming. Modern carbonate environments and their ancient analogs were compared with information obtained from field study and petrographic analysis of samples of the Twin Creek Limestone in order to delineate environments of deposition, paleogeography, and diagenetic history.

Six major lithofacies were recognized: (1) carbonate mudstone; (2) carbonate mudstone breccia; (3) fossiliferous wackestone; (4) packstone-grainstone; (5) terrigenous mudstone; and (6) sandstone. These lithofacies were deposited in a variety of environments, including outer shelf platforms (carbonate mudstone and fossiliferous wackestone), oolitic sand …

Petrology And Mineralogy Of Tertiary Volcanic Rocks In The Vicinity Of The Rozel Hills And Black Mountain, Box Elder County, Utah, Elizabeth R. Greenman

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two basalt flows and an andesite fissure eruption occur in the Rozel Hills - Black Mountain area in Box Elder County, Utah. Both basalt flows are aphanitic, and contain olivine, plagioclase, augite, and opaque oxides. They may be distinguished both chemically and on the basis of their textures. Unit 2 basalt is finer grained, and appears to be associated with a fault in the Black Mountain area. Chemically, it is similar to high-iron lavas in the Craters of the Moon, Idaho area. It has higher alkali, total iron, and titanium contents that Unit 1 basalt. Unit 1 basalt is similar …

Nonpoint Source Transport Model For Indicator Bacteria From Western Rangeland Watersheds, Everett P. Springer

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Grazing is a primary land use in much of the western United States, but little is known about grazing impacts on water quality. The most sensitive water quality indicators of grazing are the fecal indicator bacteria. The objective of this study was to develop a general transport model describing the movement of fecal indicator bacteria from upland sources to channel systems.

Model development was done using simulated rainfall and a runoff surface 30.48 m by 1.83 m.

Initially the runoff surface was smooth concrete and was used to examine the effects of distance from the outlet on coliform counts by …

Chemical Changes In Groundwater Of Northern Utah Valley, Utah, Paul E. Fairbanks

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Northern Utah Valley is one of the fastest growing areas of Utah and has increasing needs for domestic, industrial, and agricultural water. To meet these needs, groundwater and surface water systems must be understood to maximize their use. Chemical studies of the sediment mineralogy and related water-chemistry give insight to the movement of the water.

There are three major aquifers present in the valley: shallow Pleistocene; deep Pleistocene; and Tertiary. They are composed of sands and gravels and are separated by confining layers (aquitards) composed mostly of clay. Along the flanks of the bordering mountains there are undifferentiated aquifers which …

Evaluation Of Low-Temperature Geothermal Potential In Cache Valley, Utah, Janet L. De Vries

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this research was to continue the assessment of the low-temperature geothermal resources of Cache Valley, Utah initiated by the Utah Geological and Mineral Survey. Field work consisted of locating 90 wells and springs throughout the study area, collecting water samples for later laboratory analyses, and field measurement of pH, temperature, bicarbonate alkalinity, and electrical conductivity. Na⁺, K⁺, Ca⁺² , Mg⁺² , SiO₂, Fe, SO₄^-2, Cl^-, F^-, and total dissolved solids were determined in the laboratory.

Temperature profiles were measured in 12 additional, …

Structure And Petrography Of The Tertiary Volcanic Rocks Between Death Creek And Dairy Valley Creek (Box Elder Co.), Utah, E. Matthew Hare

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Several volcanic flows lie between Death Creek and Dairy Valley Creek, near Etna, Utah. The major, central portion of the volcanic flows is composed of dacite and dacite vitrophyre. An elongate ridge in the southeastern corner of the study area and several small outcrops in Death Creek Valley are composed of rhyolite and rhyolite vitrophyre. Additional rock types include conglomerate, volcanic ash, and tuffaceous sedimentary rock of the Tertiary Salt Lake Formation, Paleozoic limestone, and Tertiary basalt.

Dacite and dacite vitrophyre samples are porphyritic, containing phenocrysts of plagioclase, quartz, biotite, amphibole, orthopyroxene, and iron-titanium oxides. Rhyolite and rhyolite vitrophyre samples …

Petrology Of The Lower Middle Cambrian Langston Formation, North-Central Utah And Southeastern Idaho, Gary Jay Buterbaugh

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Lower Middle Cambrian Langston Formation was studied in the Bear River Range of north-central Utah and southeasternmost Idaho and the Wellsville Mountains of north-central Utah. The depositional textures and sedimentary structures preserved within the rocks were compared with characteristics of similar modern sediments and ancient rock to determine environments of deposition, paleogeography, diagenetic alteration and pattern of dolomitization.

The rocks of the Langston Formation were divided into eleven different rock types. These eleven rock types were formed within four recognizable lithofacies: 1) upper peritidal; 2) inner carbonate shelf; 3) inner clastic shelf; and 4) outer clastic shelf.

The general …

Genesis Of A Vertisol And An Associated Palexeroll In Northern Utah, Robert C. Graham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The genetic relationship between a Vertisol and an associated Mollisol with an argillic horizon was studied. These soils are taxadjuncts of the Hawkins and Ostler series, respectively. They occur in the Wasatch Mountains of northern Utah and have similar parent materials, altitudes, and slope percentages. Ostler soils have a dense cover of Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and occur preferentially on north aspects. Mule's ear (Wyethia amplexicaulis) is the dominant vegetation on Hawkins soils, which are most frequent on south aspects. Erosion is prevalent on Hawkins soils because the mule's ear does not adequately cover the soil …

Petrology Of The Middle Cambrian Blacksmith Formation, North-Central Utah, Howard William Hay Jr.

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The dolostones and dolomitic limestones of the Middle Cambrian Blacksmith Formation were studied in the Bear River and Malad Ranges and the Wellsville Mountains of north-central Utah. The depositional textures and sedimentary structures retained within the rocks form the basis of subdivisions of measured sections, interpretation of depositional paleogeography, and reconstruction of environments.

Other studies of modern carbonate environments and their ancient analogues provided the basis for interpretation of the depositional textures found within the rocks of the Blacksmith Formation. Four identifiable lithofacies were recognized within the study area. These facies include: (1) oolite shoal; (2) restricted lagoon; (3) low- …

Petrology Of The Arumbera Sandstone, Late Proterozoic(?) - Early Cambrian, Northeastern Amadeus Basin, Central Australia, Keith T. Conrad

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Arumbera Sandstone forms distinctive strike ridges with dark reddish slopes and orange-white cliffs throughout most of the northeastern Amadeus Basin. It is divisible into four readily mappable informal units. The ridge-forming units, 2 and 4, are divided into three and two subunits, respectively.

Unit 1, Subunit 2b, Unit 3 and Subunit 4b are generally comprised of recessive, pale-red to grayish-red, medium- to thin-bedded, fineto medium-grained arkose with major proportions of siltstone and mudshale. These sedimentary bodies are interpreted as a complex system of coastal to nearshore-marine environments including tidal flats, tidal channels, estuaries and beaches. Evidence includes: (1) predominance …

Petrology Of The Middle Cambrian Blacksmith Formation, Southeastern Idaho And Northernmost Utah, David Paul Zelazek

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Blacksmith Formation of Middle Cambrian (Albertan) age was studied in southeastern Idaho and northernmost Utah. Lithology and sedimentary structures were compared with modern environments and ancient rocks to determine environments of deposition, paleo-geography, diagenetic alterations and patterns of dolomitization.

The Blacksmith Formation can be divided into five basic rock types. Rock type A has cryptalgalaminae, mudcracks, and lacks bioturbation. Rock type A is inferred to have been deposited in the upper intertidal to supratidal environment. Rock type B is extremely dolomitized and brecciated. It is inferred that rock type B was deposited in the upper intertidal to supratidal environment. …