Earth Sciences Commons^™

Late Maastrichtian-Late Palaeocene Planktic Foraminiferal Biostratigraphy Of The Matrix Of The Bornova Flysch Zone Around Bornova (İzmir, Western Anatolia, Turkey), Bi̇lal Sari

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Bornova Flysch Zone (BFZ), located between the Menderes Massif and the İzmir-Ankara Suture in westernmost Anatolia (Turkey), forms the westernmost part of the Anatolide-Taurides. The BFZ comprises intensely sheared Upper Cretaceous-Palaeocene matrix and blocks of various origins. The matrix of the BFZ is mainly made up of unfossiliferous flysch-type sediments (alternations of sandstones and shales). In Bornova (İzmir, western Turkey) and its surroundings, these clastics locally include planktic foraminifera-bearing pelagic micritic limestone and calcareous shale lenses and interbeds (Beytitepe Limestone). As a result of studies focusing on the planktic foraminifera-bearing pelagic interlayers in three areas (Gökdere, Işıklar and Kocaçay …

Petrology, Geochemistry, And Evolution Of The Iron Skarns Along The Northern Contact Of The Eğrigöz Plutonic Complex, Western Anatolia, Turkey, Tolga Oyman, İsmet Özgenç, Murat Tokcaer, Mehmet Akbulut

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Çatak and Küreci skarn districts are located approximately 10 km NW of Emet (Kütahya) in Western Turkey. The skarn and associated ore formations mainly occur at the contact between intrusive rocks of the Eğrigöz Plutonic Complex (EPC) and calcareous pelitic schists with limestone lenses of the Sarıcasu Formation and meta-carbonate rocks of the Arıkaya Formation. The major, trace, and rare earth element analysis of the igneous rocks indicate that they are high level, subalkaline, calc-alkaline, peraluminous to metaluminous I-type intrusions, generated in a continental arc setting. Three distinct skarn-type mineralization, differing in their host rocks and distance from the …

Compressional And Em Wave Velocity Anisotropy In A Temperate Glacier Due To Basal Crevasses, And Implications For Water Content Estimation, John H. Bradford, Joshua Nichols, Joel T. Harper, Toby Meierbachtol

CGISS Publications and Presentations

We have conducted a series of experiments designed to investigate elastic and electromagnetic (EM) velocity anisotropy associated with a preferentially aligned fracture system on a temperate valley glacier in south-central Alaska, USA. Measurements include a three-dimensional compressional wave (P-wave) seismic reflection survey conducted over a 300m × 300m survey patch, with uniform source grid and static checkerboard receiver pattern. Additionally, we acquired a multi-azimuth, multi-offset, polarimetric ground-penetrating radar (GPR) reflection experiment in a wagon-wheel geometry with 94° of azimuthal coverage. Results show azimuthal variation in the P-wave normal-moveout velocity of >3% (3765 and 3630ms^-1 in the fast and slow …

Comparison Of Pcr And Quantitative Real-Time Pcr Methods For The Characterization Of Ruminant And Cattle Fecal Pollution Sources, Meredith R. Raith, Catherine A. Kelty, John F. Griffith, Alexander Schriewer, Stefan Wuertz, Sophie Mieszkin, Michele Gourmelon, Georg H. Reischer, Andreas H. Farnleitner, Jared S. Ervin, Patricia A. Holden, Darcy L. Ebentier, Jennifer A. Jay, Dan Wang, Alexandria B. Boehm, Tiong Gim Aw, Joan B. Rose, E. Balleste, W.G. Meijer, Mano Sivaganesan, Orin C. Shanks

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

The State of California has mandated the preparation of a guidance document on the application of fecal source identification methods for recreational water quality management. California contains the fifth highest population of cattle in the United States, making the inclusion of cow-associated methods a logical choice. Because the performance of these methods has been shown to change based on geography and/or local animal feeding practices, laboratory comparisons are needed to determine which assays are best suited for implementation. We describe the performance characterization of two end-point PCR assays (CF128 and CF193) and five real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays (Rum2Bac, BacR, …

Fumigation Of A Laboratory-Scale Hvac System With Hydrogen Peroxide For Decontamination Following A Biological Contamination Incident, K. M. Meyer, M. W. Calfee, J. P. Wood, L. Michelsen, B. Attwood, M. Clayton, A. Touati, R. Delafield

United States Environmental Protection Agency: Publications

Aims

To evaluate hydrogen peroxide vapor (H₂O₂) for its ability to inactivate Bacillus spores within a laboratory-scale heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) duct system.

Methods and Results

Experiments were conducted in a closed-loop duct system, constructed of either internally lined or unlined galvanized metal. Bacterial spores were aerosol-deposited onto 18-mm-diameter test material coupons and strategically placed at several locations within the duct environment. Various concentrations of H₂O₂ and exposure times were evaluated to determine the sporicidal efficacy and minimum exposure needed for decontamination. For the unlined duct, high variability was observed in the …

Effects Of Chiloquin Dam On Spawning Distribution And Larval Emigration Of Lost River, Shortnose, And Klamath Largescale Suckers In The Williamson And Sprague Rivers, Oregon, Barbara A. Martin, David A. Hewitt, Craig M. Ellsworth

United States Geological Survey: Publications

Chiloquin Dam was constructed in 1914 on the Sprague River near the town of Chiloquin, Oregon. The dam was identified as a barrier that potentially inhibited or prevented the upstream spawning migrations and other movements of endangered Lost River (Deltistes luxatus) and shortnose (Chasmistes brevirostris) suckers, as well as other fish species. In 2002, the Bureau of Reclamation led a working group that examined several alternatives to improve fish passage at Chiloquin Dam. Ultimately it was decided that dam removal was the best alternative and the dam was removed in the summer of 2008. The U.S. …

The Mineral Industry Of Nebraska

United States Geological Survey: Publications

In 2013, the value of the nonfuel mineral production1 in the State of Nebraska was $166 million,2 0.2% of the total U.S. nonfuel mineral production, ranking it 39th in the country. In 2012, the corresponding value was $160 million,2 0.2% of the Nation’s total nonfuel mineral production, ranking it 36th among the 50 States. In 2013, on a per capita basis, nonfuel mineral production in Nebraska in 2013 had a value of $89 compared with the national average of $238. In 2012, the per capita value was $86 compared with the national average of $241. The value of nonfuel mineral …

Impacts Of Migratory Sandhill Cranes (Grus Canadensis) On Microbial Water Quality In The Central Platte River, Nebraska, Usa, Jason R. Vogel, Dale W. Griffin, Hon S. Ip, Nicholas J. Ashbolt, Matthew T. Moser, Jingrang Lu, Mary K. Beitz, Hodon Ryu, Jorge W. Santo Domingo

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Wild birds have been shown to be significant sources of numerous types of pathogens that are relevant to humans and agriculture. The presence of large numbers of migratory birds in such a sensitive and important ecosystem as the Platte River in central Nebraska, USA, could potentially serve a significant source of birdderived pathogens in the water/sediment and riverine environment. In 2009 and 2010, a study was completed to investigate the potential water-quality impacts of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese on the microbial water quality of the central Platte River during their spring migration period. Fecal material, river-bottom sediment, and water …

Assessing Total Nitrogen In Surface-Water Samples: Precision And Bias Of Analytical And Computational Methods, David L. Rus, Charles J. Patton, David K. Mueller, Charles G. Crawford

United States Geological Survey: Water Reports and Publications

The characterization of total-nitrogen (TN) concentrations is an important component of many surface-water-quality programs. However, three widely used methods for the determination of total nitrogen—(1) derived from the alkaline-persulfate digestion of whole-water samples (TN-A); (2) calculated as the sum of total Kjeldahl nitrogen and dissolved nitrate plus nitrite (TN-K); and (3) calculated as the sum of dissolved nitrogen and particulate nitrogen (TN-C)—all include inherent limitations. A digestion process is intended to convert multiple species of nitrogen that are present in the sample into one measureable species, but this process may introduce bias. TN-A results can be negatively biased in the …

Riparian Evapotranspiration In Nebraska, Brent M. Hall, David L. Rus

United States Geological Survey: Water Reports and Publications

With increasing demands being placed on the water resources of Nebraska, characterizing evapotranspiration (ET) from riparian vegetation has gained importance to water users and managers. This report summarizes and compares the results from several studies of the ET from cottonwood-dominated riparian forests, riparian grasslands, and common reed, Phragmites australis, in Nebraska. Reported results show that the highest seasonal ET amounts were associated with Phragmites australis, followed by riparian forests, with riparian grasslands experiencing the lowest total ET of the studied vegetation communities.

Lithogeochemical And Stable Isotope Characteristics Of Bristol And Northern Thorneloe Townships And Its Correlation With Gold Mineralization, Zachary Grant Stevison

Wayne State University Theses

The Porcupine Mining Camp located in the southwestend of the Abitibi Greenstone Belt has been mined extensively for its prolific precious and base metal enrichment. This study targeted Bristol and Northern Thorneloe, fifteen kilometers southwest of Timmins, ON, an area that is of economic interest for its gold mineralization. Rock samples were collected (drill- core and outcrop) throughout both townships and analyzed for their major and trace element composition, These were used to determine hydrothermal alteration signatures as well as specific elemental enrichment that relate to gold mineralization in Bristol-Thorneloe Township. Quartz-carbonate and quartz-carbonate-tourmaline vein samples were also collected near …

Class I Waste-Disposal Wells And Class Ii Brine-Injection Wells In Kentucky, Thomas N. Sparks, David C. Harris, J. Richard Bowersox

Map and Chart--KGS

This map shows locations of disposal wells permitted and regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under parts of their Underground Injection Control program. Only UIC Class I and Class II disposal wells are illustrated and described. EPA defines Class I as industrial and municipal waste-disposal wells and Class II as oil- and gas-related injection wells (EPA, 2012a). Disposal wells are designed to protect underground sources of drinking water. The primary function of this map is to provide general information about type, name, location, geology, and depth of injection zone for these disposal wells on a statewide basis.

Kentucky Geological Survey Procedures For Groundwater Tracing Using Fluorescent Dyes, James C. Currens

Information Circular--KGS

Karst terrain often develops from an ancestral landscape of surface-flowing streams, which leaves behind a relict pattern of the surface watershed divides. If caves only developed in ancestral watersheds, then groundwater tracing, for the purpose of groundwater basin mapping, would be unnecessary. But lithologic, structural, and hydrologic factors conspire to ensure that some caves extend headward faster than their neighbors and encroach upon adjacent groundwater basins to pirate drainage under the original surface divides. In many areas, groundwater basin boundaries have been significantly reorganized, to the point that there is little relationship to the ancestral surface watershed boundaries.

Joint Orientations In The Red River Gorge Geological Area, East-Central Kentucky, Steven L. Martin

Information Circular--KGS

The Red River Gorge Geological Area and Clifty Wilderness Area of Daniel Boone National Forest and Natural Bridge State Park in east-central Kentucky provide an excellent opportunity to observe and study differential weathering and erosion, mass wasting, and jointing in the development of cliffs, rock shelters, and natural arches. Joints in the study area have varying orientations, but dominant northeast- and northwest-striking orientations are prevalent. Jointing in the study area is related to unloading of overburden and regional tectonic stresses. Unloading joints result from removal of overburden from a rock mass, and orientations of joints are controlled by either residual …

Determining The Sediment Source Area Through Petrographic Analysis Of The Hermosa Formation, Silverton, Southwestern Co, Kristina P. Pourtabib

Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Pennsylvanian/Permian Hermosa Formation in southwestern Colorado is composed of arkosic sandstone, marine limestone, and shale that formed at a time when the region consisted of open-marine carbonate shelves and coastal plains. During the time of deposition, there were many tectonically active highlands in the region, including the Ancestral Rocky Mountains, San Luis Highlands, and the Uncompahgre, Emery, Zuni-Defiance-Kaibab Uplifts. Previous studies have attributed the source of the main sediment supply of the Hermosa Formation to the Uncompahgre branch of the Ancestral Rocky Mountains with smaller amounts of elastics from the Defiance-Zuni uplifts (Wengerd and Matheny, 1958; Wengerd and Strickland, …

Evolution Of Guano Under Different Environmental Conditions: A Mineralogical Approach, Alexandra M. Giurgiu, Bogdan P. Onac, Tudor Tămaș, Joan J. Fornos

School of Geosciences Faculty and Staff Publications

The phosphate minerals from three Romanian caves that host bat guano deposits have been investigated. The XRD and SEM analyses have revealed the presence of seven phosphates (brushite, francoanellite, hydroxylapatite, leucophosphite, taranakite, vashegyite and variscite) along with the more common gypsum, calcite and various allochthonous clay minerals. The occurrence of these phosphate minerals highlights the decomposition and various reactions that take place between the phosphate-rich solutions leaching out from the guano and different cave sediments and/or bedrock. The variation of the environmental conditions in the vicinity and within the guano accumulations is responsible for the type of mineral that is …

Contribution Of The Pacific Decadal Oscillation To Global Mean Sea Level Trends, B. D. Hamlington, R. R. Leben, M. W. Strassburg, R. S. Nerem, K-Y. Kim

CCPO Publications

Understanding and explaining the trend in global mean sea level (GMSL) have important implications for future projections of sea level rise. While measurements from satellite altimetry have provided accurate estimates of GMSL, the modern altimetry record has only now reached 20 years in length, making it difficult to assess the contribution of decadal to multidecadal climate signals to the global trend. Here, we use a sea level reconstruction to study the 20 year trends in sea level since 1950. In particular, we show that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) contributes significantly to the 20 year trends in GMSL. We estimate …

Arsenic And Phosphorus Biogeochemistry In The Ocean: Arsenic Species As Proxies For P-Limitation, Oliver Wurl, Louise Zimmer, Gregory A. Cutter

OES Faculty Publications

Arsenic and phosphorus are biochemically very similar, and hence arsenate (As⁵⁺) is toxic by interfering with the energy metabolism, in particular during P limitation. However, many phytoplankton detoxify As by reducing arsenate to arsenite (As³⁺), and/or methylating it to mono and dimethyl As. Such As detoxification becomes operative in oligotrophic waters when phosphate concentrations are below those for As; therefore, we evaluated the potential use of these detoxification products as indicators of P-limitation by measuring As speciation during the US GEOTRACES North Atlantic transect. The distribution of As³⁺ concentrations in surface waters is similar to …

Aluminum In Silica Phases Formed In Hot Springs, Nancy W. Hinman, J. Michelle Kotler

Geosciences Faculty Publications

Sinters are difficult to characterize with traditional methods and are often described by their chemical composition alone. Yet information about the depositional environment and possible diagenetic processes is available in atomic structure. This study probes the atomic structure of siliceous sinters from two geothermal areas using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic techniques. Specifically, this study demonstrated that Al is present in tetrahedral coordination with or without octahedral coordination in geyserites from Yellowstone National Park, WY, USA and Geyser Valley, Kamchatka, Russia.

Compressional And Em Wave Velocity Anisotropy In A Temperate Glacier Due To Basal Crevasses, And Implications For Water Content Estimation, John Bradford, Joshua Nichols, Joel T. Harper, Toby W. Meierbachtol

Geosciences Faculty Publications

We have conducted a series of experiments designed to investigate elastic and electromagnetic (EM) velocity anisotropy associated with a preferentially aligned fracture system on a temperate valley glacier in south-central Alaska, USA. Measurements include a three-dimensional compressional wave (P-wave) seismic reflection survey conducted over a 300 m x 300 m survey patch, with uniform source grid and static checkerboard receiver pattern. Additionally, we acquired a multiazimuth, multi-offset, polarimetric groundpenetrating radar (GPR) reflection experiment in a wagon-wheel geometry with 94 degrees of azimuthal coverage. Results show azimuthal variation in the P-wave normal-moveout velocity of less than 3% (3765 and 3630 ms …

Water-Rock Interaction And Life, Nancy W. Hinman

Geosciences Faculty Publications

Water-rock interactions play a critical role in the origin, existence, and prospects of life. Minerals are sources of energy and nutrients. Life uses aqueous chemical gradients to access and use minerals. Chemical disequilibrium, therefore, represents one type of biotic signature. Life also controls other types of disequilibrium, including isotopic disequilibrium and morphology. Water is a fundamental contributor to all of these biosignatures, acting as a medium for mass transfer and a reservoir for components. Distinguishing biosignatures from abiotic signatures challenges instrumental capabilities. Finally, the ubiquity and heterogenous distribution of life on Earth challenges the ability to interpret different types of …

A Geophysical Investigation To Locate Missing Graves Utilizing Ground Penetrating Radar, Electromagnetic, And Magnetic Methods, Jared Wyatt Shank

Browse all Theses and Dissertations

Old cemeteries often have graves that are unmarked because gravestones are missing or degraded and the graves are in areas for which maps or other historical documents are incomplete. This is the case for one cemetery in southwestern Ohio, known as Stevenson Cemetery, which contains graves of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 veterans. The immediate goal of this study is to locate unmarked graves in this cemetery using geophysical techniques. The broader goal is to evaluate three geophysical techniques to determine the effectiveness of each.

The three geophysical techniques evaluated in this study are magnetics, electro-magnetics, and ground-penetrating radar. …

The Relative Contribution Of Methanotrophs To Microbial Communities And Carbon Cycling In Soil Overlying A Coal-Bed Methane Seep, Christopher T. Mills, Gregpry F. Slater, Robert F. Dias, Stephanie A. Carr, Christopher M. Reddy, Raleigh Schmidt, Kevin W. Mandernack

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Seepage of coal-bed methane (CBM) through soils is a potential source of atmospheric CH₄ and also a likely source of ancient (i.e. ¹⁴C-dead) carbon to soil microbial communities. Natural abundance ¹³C and ¹⁴C compositions of bacterial membrane phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and soil gas CO₂ and CH₄ were used to assess the incorporation of CBM-derived carbon into methanotrophs and other members of the soil microbial community. Concentrations of type I and type II methanotroph PLFA biomarkers (16:1ω8c and 18:1ω8c, respectively) were elevated in CBM-impacted soils compared with a control site. Comparison …

Improved Method For Quantifying The Air-Sea Flux Of Volatile And Semi-Volatile Organic Carbon, Emily Hauser, Rebecca M. Dickhut, Renee Falconer, Andrew S. Wozniak

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

A method for quantifying the diffusive air-sea exchange of gaseous organic carbon (OC) was developed. OC compounds were separated into two operational pools-those that were kinetically air limited in diffusion across the air-sea interface and those that were water limited-during simultaneous air/water sampling. The method separates OC compounds into low Henry's law constant (low-H) semivolatile OC (SOC) and high Henry's law constant (high-H) volatile OC (VOC) pools that can be categorized by relating diffusion kinetic parameters to Henry's Law constant. Air limited (low-H; H << similar to 0.1 L atm mol(^-1)) compounds were collected in pure water traps and were quantified as dissolved OC, whereas …

Predicting Fracture Density In The Eagle Ford (Boquillas) Formation, Val Verde Basin, Texas, Sean Kimiagar

Earth & Environmental Sciences Theses - Archive

Fracture density in hydrocarbon reservoirs is an important variable for efficient production of oil and gas in tight reservoirs. Fracture density is the fracture surface area per unit of volume, and the higher the reservoir fracture density, the higher its recovery factor. Being able to estimate the induced fracture density in advance of hydraulic fracturing will therefore help increase the knowledge of the reservoir and production efficiency. Theoretical considerations indicate that fracture density is related to strain energy. The purpose of this study is to verify the hypothesis that fracture density can be predicted under constant strain conditions using the …

Predicting Esherichia Coli Levels In The Trinity River For Issuing Contact Recreation Warnings In The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Angela Jo Kilpatrick

Earth & Environmental Sciences Theses - Archive

E. coli is an indicator for the potential of waterborne illness. However, tests for E. coli take 18 to 24 hours to produce results. During this time, citizens may be exposed to high levels of bacteria. As contact recreation increases in the Trinity River through the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, methods to predict E. coli levels from instantaneously measured water quality parameters may provide a better way to protect public health than the current standard methods.Predictive models were created using multiple linear least-squares regression for the three segments of the Trinity River that flow through the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Initial results …

Fracking Up The Future: Recommendations For Hydraulic Fracturing In Gonzales County, Tx, Jennifer Ince, Philip Queller, Devon Rood, Kara Shervanick

Earth and Environmental Geosciences Student Works

Despite its economic appeal, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has sparked bitter controversy. Allegations of toxic fracking fluids and fracking-induced droughts have made fracking a major public health and environmental concern in the United States. Fracking is dependent on local conditions to a large degree; therefore, we focus on Gonzales County, located within Texas’ Eagle Ford shale region, in order to address county-specific concerns. However, our findings can be applied to help create sustainable practices for fracking in any context. Unfortunately, regulations are limited due to the 2005 Energy Policy Act that prevents federal agencies, including the EPA, from regulating fracking. In …

Thermobarometry Of Metamorphosed Pseudotachylyte And Determination Of Seismic Rupture Depth During Devonian Caledonian Extension, North Norway, Susan E. Leib

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Crustal faulting has long been known as the source of shallow seismicity, and the seismogenic zone is the depth (3-15 km) within the crust that is capable of co-seismic slip, largely under brittle conditions. However, some continental seismicity occurs at depths >> 15 km. I performed thermobarometry of mylonitic pseudotachylyte to determine the P-T of a seismogenic extensional fault in the Caledonian Norwegian margin. Two shear zones (Eidsfjord and Fiskfjord) located in northern Norway exhibit brittle extension propagating into the ductile regime of the lower crust as evidenced by the presence of pseudotachylyte. Averages from Eidsfjord (653 ± 38°C and 570 …

Shear-Wave Imaging And Birefringence In A Complex Near-Surface Geological Environment, Ali Z. Almayahi

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Multiple geophysical and geological data sets were compiled, reprocessed, and interpreted using state-of-the-art signal processing and modeling algorithms to characterize the complex post-Paleozoic geology that overlies the southwestern projection of the Fluorspar Area Fault Complex (FAFC) in western Kentucky. Specific data included 21.5 km of SH-wave seismic reflection, 1.5 km of P-wave seismic reflection, 2 km of electrical resistivity, vertical seismic profiles, Vp and Vs sonic-suspension logs, and 930 lithologic borehole logs. The resultant model indicates three general northeast–southwest-oriented fault zones pass through the study area as southwestern extensions of parts of the FAFC. These fault zones form two significant …

Spatio-Temporal Variability In Groundwater Discharge And Contaminant Fluxes Along A Channelized Stream In Western Kentucky, Ganesh N. Tripathi

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Spatio-temporal variability in groundwater discharge and contaminant fluxes along a channelized stream in western Kentucky

Surface and groundwater discharges and contaminant fluxes can vary with time and space depending upon the hydrogeological processes and geological setting of the area of interest. This study examined a ~300-m-long, channelized reach of a first-order perennial stream, Little Bayou Creek, in the Coastal Plain of far western Kentucky during the period October 2010–February 2012. Along the study reach, springs discharge groundwater contaminated by the chlorinated organic compound trichloroethene (TCE) and radionuclide technetium-99 (⁹⁹Tc) released as a result of past activities at the …