Earth Sciences Commons^™

Petrology Of The Ordovician Swan Peak Formation, Southeastern Idaho And North-Central Utah, Warren J. Schulingkamp Ii

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Swan Peak Formation in southeastern Idaho and north-central Utah is a sedimentary unit consisting of orthoquartzite, sandstone, siltite, shale, and limestone. The formation is divisible into three members, and the lower two members each are divisible into two informal lithologic subunits.

The lower member consists of a lower subunit of gray, calcareous sandy siltite composed of subangular to subrounded quartz grains cemented by quartz overgrowths, calcite, or iron oxide, and an upper subunit of black shale with minor interbedded silty quartzose sandstone and biomicrite (limestone).

The middle member consists of a lower subunit of interbedded pale green shale and …

Stratigraphy And Environmental Analysis Of The Swan Peak Formation And Eureka Quartzite, Northern Utah, George Gregory Francis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Swan Peak Formation in north-central Utah thickens westward, from zero feet near Logan to 687 feet in the Promontory Range. The unit is subdivided into three distinct members: 1) A lower member of interbedded shales, limestones, and quartzites; 2) A middle member of interbedded shales and brown quartzites; and 3) An upper member of white quartzites. The Swan Peak thins southward toward the east-west-trending Tooele Arch in the area of study; this thinning probably reflects both lesser deposition and greater subsequent erosion there than elsewhere. The lower member in northern Utah probably was deposited in shallow-shelf and/or traditional shoreface-shelf …

Evaluation Of The Filter Paper Method For Estimating Soil Water Potential, Samir Al-Khafaf

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The filter paper method for measuring soil water potential was evaluated. The method was calibrated using salt solutions (-1.4 bars to -22.4 bars), sample chamber psychrometer (-1 to -50 bars), pressure plate (-0.1 to -15 bars) and soil column at equilibrium (0 to -0.2 bars). It was found that the absolute temperature had little effect on the predicted soil water potential, but a temperature variation had a large effect. It was found that the temperature fluctuation must be small. The predicted water potential was influenced by the type of contact of the soil with the filter paper. It is suggested …

Tertiary Igneous Rocks Of Northeastern Cache Valley, Idaho, Parry D. Willard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The tuffs and limestones of the Tertiary Salt Lake Formation in northeastern Cache Valley, Franklin County, Idaho, are intruded by basic and intermediate igneous dikes and sills. The Tertiary intrusives are exposed in an area 10 miles long and 2 miles wide between Bear River and Maple Creek in the foothills of the Bear River Range east of Preston, Idaho. They trend north-northwest. The intrusives are mostly diabase but include a small body of syenodiorite and several small andesite dikes. The intrusives seem to be emplaced along early Basin and Range faults. They are limited to the Cache Valley Member …

Geology Of The Wildcat Hills, Utah, Ronald C. Howes

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Wildcat Hills, located in Curlew Valley of northwestern Utah, are composed of a series of late Tertiary extrusive and dike rocks. Five volcanic rock types have been identified: an andesite, a rhyolite, a perlite, a basalt, and a welded tuff. Hydration of obsidian pellets contained in the flows has produced some of the perlite. Diatremes in the andesite attest to the high-volatile content and the explosive extrusion of some of the lavas. A compound basalt neck indicates that basalt was extruded at the Wildcat Hills and is not an erosional remnant of the basalt flow from the base of …

Potentiometric Titration Of Sulfate Using A Lead-Mercury Amalgam Indicator Electrode, Charles W. Robbins

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A lead sensitive indicator electrode was constructed with a 70 percent lead and 30 percent mercury amalgam billet. Sulfate concentrations in pure solutions, natural waters, and soil saturation extracts were determined potentiometrically using the lead-mercury amalgam indicator electrode and a standard calomel reference electrode. Sulfate concentrations over the range 0.4 to 20 milliequivalents sulfate per liter were determined with an automatic titrator and compared to a turbidimetric method for accuracy and precision. The values obtained by the two methods from twelve saturation extracts and three subsurface drainage waters were not significantly different and the potentiometric method was generally more precise. …

Structural Geology Of The Oxford Peak Area, Bannock Range, Idaho, Larry C. Raymond

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mapped area, in southeastern Idaho, includes part of the Bannock Range, on the west, and Cache Valley, on the east. It is centered about 13 miles northwest of Preston, Idaho, and measures 12 miles in the north-south direction and 8.5 miles in the east-west direction.

The Bannock Range, in the western part of the mapped area, consists of Precambrian and Cambrian stratigraphic units. The Precambrian units are as follows: (1) lower Precambrian argillite, (2) Precambrian quartzite, and (3) upper Mutual Formation. The Brigham Formation, which overlies the Mutual, is probably of Cambrian age; however, the lower part may be …

The Effect Of Early Spring Clipping And The Level Of Nitrogen Fertilizer On The Yield Of Improved Pastures, North Logan, Utah, Dechar Sumrit

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The influence of agronomic practices on forage production and chemical composition of grass-legume pasture mixture was studied at the Utah State University Dairy Farm, North Logan, Utah, during spring and summer, 1970. The soil is a well-drained Millville silt loam that has about a 1 percent slope. It is high in potash, phosphorus, and lime, having a pH of 7.9.

Analysis of the clipping management showed that the early spring clipping decreased the yield of forage. The losses in total yield due to spring clipping were approximately four to five times the yields received in early spring clipping. The grasses …

Effect Of Time And Rate Of Application Of Nitrogen On The Yield Of The Mexican Wheat Under The Semi-Arid Conditions Of Tunisia, Habib M. Halila

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of the time and rate of application of nitrogen on the yield of high yielding varieties of wheat was studied under the semiarid conditions of Northern Tunisia.

Analysis of the experimental data showed that nitrogen increased the yield of wheat in most locations which were chosen for this experiment.

In high rainfall areas, late application of nitrogen (tillering, jointing stages) was more effective than early applications. The optimum yield was obtained by applying 90 kilograms of nitrogen per hectare.

In the medium to low rainfall area, early applications (seeding time) were more effective than the late ones. The …

The Effect Of Alternate Wetting And Drying On The Ammonium And Nitrite Nitrogen Transformation In Soils, Virupax C. Baligar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Investigations were carried out to study the effect of alternate wetting and drying cycles on the mineralization, nitrification, and denitrification of soil nitrogen in two soils, in the presence or absence of added ammonium and nitrite. Soils were analyzed at the end of each drying cycle for total inorganic nitrogen, ammonium, and nitrite nitrogen. Gaseous products, i.e., ammonia, and the oxides of nitrogen (NO and NO₂) were collected in the course of drying for determination.

The drying cycles accelerated the rate of nitrogen mineralization in both soils and further increased the oxidation of applied and available ammonium. The …

Role Of Transition Metals In Nitrite Decomposition In Soil, J. S. Bajwa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Iron and copper increased the decomposition of nitrite significantly during the first two hours of reaction when 150 parts per million (ppm) of nitrite and nitrogen was added to an acidic soil. Manganese was found to have a slight effect. There was no additional effect of the added metals after two hours reaction time.

The higher concentration of metals was not effective in catalyzing the decomposition of the added nitrite in nitrogen. All the added nitrite nitrogen was not recovered and the deficit could be due to the formation of nitrogen gas.

A Comparative Study Of Boron Adsorption By A Calcareous And An Acid Soil, Namik M. Ali Rashid

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The adsorption of boron by Aiken clay loam and Vernal sandy loam was studied in the boron equilibrium concentration range of 0 to 40 ppm. Adsorption data were obtained at 11, 20 and 30°C. The data were analyzed by the application of the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. It was concluded that, in both soils, the adsorption of boron occurred on three distinct sites or regions.

The acid ferrigenous Aiken soil had a higher adsorption capacity for boron than the calcareous Vernal soil when compared on a unit mass basis. On the unit area basis, however, the Vernal soil adsorbed more boron …

Calcium Carbonate Dissolution And Precipitation In Water: Factors Affecting The Carbonate Saturometer Method, Lyle M. Dabb

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The carbonate saturometer method developed by Weyl (1961) was studied in respect to the effect of several variables on the solubility of carbonates. The solubility of three solid carbonate materials was measured in four different salt solutions, at four ionic strengths, and at two different temperatures. The solids studied included: calcite, dolomite, and a calcareous soil.

It was found that the three solid carbonate materials varied in solubility from a low in the soil carbonates to a high in dolomite.

Increasing the ionic strength of the solution increased the solubility of most of the solid carbonate materials.

By decreasing the …

Relationship Of The Soil Water Content And Microclimate To The Plant Growth Water Use Relationship Of Several Plants, Philip Dean Sandberg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Studies involving field plots, lysimeters, and garbage can lysimeters showed that an intermediate soil water level produced the most growth for a given amount of water use by oats, corn, and barley. For crested wheatgrass the lowest water level produced the most growth per water used. Field plots which were covered with sheet metal between the rows produced more plant growth per water used than the uncovered plots for the crops used in this study. One year's data were obtained on the effect of positioning the garbage can lysimeters. One half of the cans were placed on the soil surface …

Structural Geology Of Eastern Part Of The Smithfield Quadrangle, Utah, Cheryl Leora Galloway

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The mapped area represents the eastern three-fourths of the Smithfield quadrangle, Utah. This quadrangle is located in the central part of northern Utah about 8.6 miles south of the Utah-Idaho State Line. The Bear River Range, along the eastern margin of the quadrangle, consists of stratigraphic units ranging in age from Precambrian to Devonian. The Salt Lake Formation of Tertiary age rests unconformably on Precambrian quartzite and Paleozoic units along the western side of the range. The Lake Bonneville Group overlaps Cambrian rocks in the southern part of the area and overlaps the Salt Lake Formation in the northern part. …

The Effect Of Chemical Competition On Thermodynamics Of Bacterial Adsorption, Deorao R. Khairnar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this investigation was to study the effect of chemical competition on thermodynamics of bacterial adsorption. This was done using an experimental system consisting of Mendon silt loam soil as the adsorbent, Staphylococcus aureus as a common adsorbate and sodium chloride (NaCl), sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and peptone as competitive adsorbates.

The bacterial adsorption on soil both with and without chemical competition followed Langmuir type isotherms. From the equilibrium data, thermodynamic functions such as free energy, ΔF°, enthalpy, ΔH°, and entropy, ΔS°, were calculated. Observed positive ΔH° values indicated that the bacterial uptake in both noncompetitive and competitive …

Cation Exchange And Transport In Soil Columns Undergoing Miscible Displacement, Sung-Ho Lai

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A mathematical model was developed to predict the exchange of one cation by another in a soil column undergoing one dimensional cation solution displacement under steady state flow conditions. The model allowed prediction of both the solution and exchanger phase concentration of the cation in question.

The model consists of a material balance equation which is a parabolic type partial differential equation. The assumption was made that equilibrium was reached instantaneously between the cations in the solution phase and the exchanger phase. This assumption reduced the material balance equation to a form that allowed numerical solution providing the data concerning …

A Kinetic Approach To The Inactivation Of Zinc By Various Soil Constituents, Shingara S. Sandhu

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The adsorption reaction of zinc onto prochlorite, pyroxene, and biotite minerals, from dilute solution (water) was studied under isothermal conditions by agitated nonflow experiment method. The equilibrium concentration of zinc in the solution was determined both by radioactive tracer technique and adsorption spectrophotometer methods. The data were collected at three temperatures.

The data were treated by the equation:

∂θ/∂t = k₁(1-θ)C - k_-1θ

where θ is the fraction of total surface coverage and C is the equilibrium concentration of zinc in solution, k₁ and k_-1 are the rate constants for the adsorption and reverse …

Source Rocks And Sediments In Drainage Area Of North Eden Creek, Bear Lake Plateu, Utah-Idaho, Larry W. Mcclurg

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Bear Lake Plateau extends north-south across the north central corner of Utah and the southeastern corner of Idaho. North Eden Creek drains westward through part of the plateau and is crossaxial across both strikes of beds and other structures in the area. The formations in the area mapped are of Triassic, Jurassic, and Tertiary age, although only Jurassic and Tertiary rocks contribute sediments to North Eden Creek. The formations consist of sandstones (Nugget), limestones (Twin Creek), and conglomerates (Wasatch). A local extrusion of basalt occurs in the southwestern part of the drainage area.

Particle-size analyses of 15 samples from …

Areal And Temporal Variations In Developmental Phases Of Syringa Vulgaris L. Throughout The Western United States, Joseph Michael Caprio

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This paper presents the results of the analysis of 10 years of information 1957-1966 on three phases-- begin, peak and end bloom-- of the purple common lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.) using data recorded at approximately 1,000 locations throughout the Western Region of the United States.

The pattern of geographical advance of the various bloom phases is determined by both a manual mapping procedure developed by the author and by standard statistical methods. Manually drawn isophanes for the various elevations for begin bloom phase are based entirely upon the first 5 years of record, 1957-1961. A Zones of Adjustment map to …

Transpiration And Dry Matter Response To Atmospheric Humidity, Matric Suction, And Fertility, Gordon Edgar Warrington

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Growth chamber studies showed that a relationship exists between transpiration and dry matter production of spring wheat (Tritiaum Aestivum L. var . Thatcher). A temperature of 27 C for a 16-hour day,and 21 C at night were used throughout the experiment. Relative humidities (RH) of 12, 25, 71, and 83 percent and matric suctions of 1, 3, and 9 bars were used a l ong with six fertility levels and a 20-day growing period. An equation was developed from previous equations by De Wit and Arkley to describe the transpiration ratio (Tr = mass of water transpired/mass of dry …

Magnesium Ion Inhibition Of Calcium Carbonate Precipitation And Its Relation To Water Quality, John J. Hassett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The effect of Mg⁺⁺ ion on the solubility of calcium carbonate was determined using P. K. Weyls "carbonate saturometer."

The amount of calcium carbonate precipitated or dissolved was measured for five series of waters when equilibrated with solid carbonate.

It was found that the effect of Mg⁺⁺ ion on solubility depend upon the nature of the solid phase: surface area, coprecipitated Mg⁺⁺, minerology, etc.

Pure low area calcite showed an increase in solubility which could be explained by ion-pair formation, while its other carbonates departed from this behavior.

Some Aspects Of Geochemistry And Mineralogy Of Bear Lake Sediments, Utah-Idaho, Dean F. Davidson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Bear Lake is located in southeastern Idaho and north-central Utah. The lake has a maximum altitude of 5923 feet and an area of approximately 110 square miles. Surrounding the lake are carbonates, shales, and sandstones of lower Paleozoic through middle Mesozoic ages. The many streams and springs that originate in these rocks are probably the main contributors to the chemistry of the lake. Water from Bear River, which flows into the north end of the lake, also contributes to its chemistry.

Quartz, aragonite, dolomite, calcite and clay minerals are the main minerals in the lake-bottom sediments. Quartz is generally the …

Paleoecology Of The Lowermost Part Of The Jurassic Carmel Formation, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah, R. Joseph Dover

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Paleoecology of the lowermost Carmel Formation, San Rafael Swell, Emery County, Utah, was studied at nine localmes 2 to 21 miles apart. Eight of the sections contain fossiliferous calcilutites and oölmc limestones in the basal 35 to 135 feet measured. Thickness of the fossiliferous beds ranges up to 10 feet. Beds of barren calcilutites, calcarenites, oölmc limestones, intraclastic limestones, calcareous sandstones, and bedded gypsum, separate the fossiliferous beds. A parallel-bedded, basal quartz sandstone, 0.5 to 7 feet thick, everywhere overlies the Navajo Formation.

Molluscs dominate faunal assemblages. Shells are recrystallised to calcite, but external sculpture is preserved in sufficient detail …

Structural Geology Of Southeastern Margin Of Bear River Range, Idaho, Clinton L. Davis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Seven Cambrian formations and two Ordovician formations, with a total thickness of 9,000 feet, crop out west of the Paris thrust fault and comprise the upper plate. Slices of three Ordovician formations, one Silurian formation, two Mississippian formations, and one formation each of Pennsylvanian and Permian age comprise the low plate. Mesozoic units are not present in the mapped area. Two Tertiary formations and unconsolidated Quaternary deposits are also present.

The major structural feature is the Paris thrust fault which extends north-south throughout the area. It was active during the Laramide orogeny. This fault involved eastward movement and placed Cambrian …

Salinity And Water Potential Sensor For Evaluation Of Soil Water Quality, Melvin Dee Campbell

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate response times of a salinity sensor and a soil psychrometer. Influences of pressure, temperature and molar concentration changes were to be measured.

Salinity sensor response times ranged from 50 to 130 minutes during solution adsorption while desorption response times were perhaps ten times as long. Temperature affected both response times and equilibrium values, but pressure did not affect either.

Soil psychrometer response times ranged from from 40 to 80 minutes for either adsorption or desorption of solution. However, other factors probably related to indirectness of measurement made the soil psychrometer fail to …

Environmental Analysis Of The Swan Peak Formation In The Bear River Range, North-Central Utah And Southeastern Idaho, Philip L. Vandorston

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Swan Peak Formation in the Bear River Range of northern Utah and southeastern Idaho varies in thickness from 0 feet to over 400 feet. It consists of three units: (1) a lower unit of interbedded quartzites, shales, and limestones; (2) A middle unit of interbedded quartzites and shales; (3) An upper unit of nearly homogeneous quartzites. The different sedimentary structures, ichnofossils, body fossils, and mineral compositions of each unit represent different environments of deposition. The lower unit probably was deposited in a shallow-shelf environment, and its sediments grade upward into probably shoreface-, tidal-flat-, and lagoonal deposits of the middle …

A Formula To Express Evapotranspiration As A Function Of Soil Moisture And Evaporative Demands Of The Atmosphere, Aldo L. Norero

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A mathematical expression was developed and tested which describes the relation between evapotranspiration and soil moisture. A general premise of this mathematical model is that the evapotranspiration-soil moisture relationship is determined by interaction of climatic, soil and plant factors. The basic model is

dETa/dYs = -ke[1-(ET_a/ET_mx)]

in which ET_a is the actual evapotranspiration, Ψ_s is the total soil water potential, k is a proportionality coefficient, ∈ is the soil moisture extraction capacity of the atmosphere , and ET_mx is the evapotranspiration that would occur from a particular crop-soil unit when soil moisture was …

Catalytic Effect Of Soil Components On The Nitrite Transformation In Buffer Acid Solutions, Laxman G. Kuratti

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nitrite decomposition in buffer solutions of pH 3, 4, and 5 was observed to be a first order reaction with rate constants (k) 6.39 x 10^-3, 1.15 x 10^-3, and 0.17 x 10^-3, respectively. When 10 grams of two different soils were introduced, the reaction was catalyzed in all three pH conditions studied. This effect, however, was more pronounced in pH 5.

When 10 grams of soil were introduced, all the added nitrite was not recovered. The deficit ranged from 17 to 30 parts per million when 150 parts per million nitrite nitrogen was …

The Hyrum And Beirdneau Formations Of North-Central Utah And Southeastern Idaho, James F. Eliason

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Hyrum and Beirdneau Formations of North-central Utah and Southeastern Idaho represent rocks of late Middle Devonian (Givetian) to upper Upper Devonian (Famennian) age. They are disconformably underlain by the Early Devonian Water Canyon Formation in most cases and disconformably overlain by the Devonian-Mississippian Leatham Formation or the Mississippian Lodgepole Formation.

The Hyrum Formation is divided into five members based on lithology and color changes. The five members are: (1) Samaria, (2) Lower Dolomite, (3) Lower Carbonate-detritus, (4) Upper Dolomite, and (5) Upper Carbonate-detritus Members. The Samaria Member is the only fossiliferous unit within the Hyrum Formation.

The Beirdneau Formation …