Earth Sciences Commons^™

Structural Analysis Of Deformed Caprock Associated With A Salt Shoulder At Gypsum Valley Salt Wall, Paradox Basin, Colorado, Hanah Draper

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

This study documents the style and distribution of deformation present in Triassic-age gypsic and carbonate caprock associated with the Gypsum Valley Salt Wall Salt Shoulder in the Paradox Basin, Colorado in order to determine the mechanism and timing of deformation. Mapping of gypsic and carbonate capstone facies shows that the caprock layering that was generated during formation has been deformed by large-and-small-scale folding and faulting, brecciation, and boudinage. Deformation within the caprock resulted in widely variable orientations along the length of the salt shoulder, that also varies locally in intensity of deformation and with proximity to the passively rising diapir …

Corn Response To Wastewater-Recycled Phosphorus Fertilizers, Shane R. Ylagan, Kristofor R. Brye

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

The ability to recycle phosphorus (P) from wastewaters could provide a sustainable, continuous source of P that might also help protect surface water quality from P enrichment. The mineral struvite (MgNH4PO4 · 6H2O) is an understudied material that can be created from P- and nitrogen (N)-containing wastewater and has been shown to have agricultural fertilizer value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of electrochemically precipitated struvite (ECST), chemically precipitated struvite (Crystal Green; CG), diammonium phosphate (DAP), monoammonium phosphate (MAP), rock phosphate (RP), and triple superphosphate (TSP) on corn (Zea mays) response in a greenhouse pot study. …

Utilizing Zircon (U-Th)/He And 40ar/39ar Thermochronology To Refine The Thermal History Of The Great Unconformity Within New Mexico And Colorado, Jacoup Roiz

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The Great Unconformity beneath Paleozoic strata represents 100-1000 m.y. of missing rock record that formed through extensive weathering and erosion. Despite its global extent, the timing of Precambrian crystalline rock exhumation prior to Phanerozoic sediment deposition remains relatively unresolved in many locations. I utilized zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) thermochronology in order to constrain the long-term thermal history of Precambrian rocks in Colorado and New Mexico, and test my hypoThesis that these units below the Great Unconformity experienced multiple cooling and reheating episodes resulting in a compound surface representing multiple unconformities. In addition to a synThesis of previously reported data in the …

The Role Of Warm, Dry Summers And Variation In Snowpack On Phytoplankton Dynamics In Mountain Lakes, Isabella A. Olesky, Whitney S. Beck, Roderick W. Lammers, Cara E. Steger, Codie Wilson, Kyle R. Christianson, Kim Vincent, Gunnar Forrest Johnson, Pieter T.J. Johnson, Jill S. Baron

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Climate change is altering biogeochemical, metabolic, and ecological functions in lakes across the globe. Historically, mountain lakes in temperate regions have been unproductive because of brief ice-free seasons, a snowmelt-driven hydrograph, cold temperatures, and steep topography with low vegetation and soil cover. We tested the relative importance of winter and summer weather, watershed characteristics, and water chemistry as drivers of phytoplankton dynamics. Using boosted regression tree models for 28 mountain lakes in Colorado, we examined regional, intraseasonal, and interannual drivers of variability in chlorophyll a as a proxy for lake phytoplankton. Phytoplankton biomass was inversely related to the maximum snow …

An Integrated Feasibility Study Of Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage (Rtes) In Portland, Or, Usa, John Bershaw, Alison E. Horst, Ashley Streig, Darby Patrick Scanlon, Ellen Elizabeth Svadlenak, Jenny Liu, Peter Hulseman, Ray E. Wells, Multiple Additional Authors

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

In regions with long cold overcast winters and sunny summers, Deep Direct-Use (DDU) can be coupled with Reservoir Thermal Energy Storage (RTES) technology to take advantage of pre-existing subsurface permeability to save summer heat for later use during cold seasons. Many aquifers worldwide are underlain by permeable regions (reservoirs) containing brackish or saline groundwater that has limited beneficial use due to poor water quality. We investigate the utility of these relatively deep, slow flowing reservoirs for RTES by conducting an integrated feasibility study in the Portland Basin, Oregon, USA, developing methods and obtaining results that can be widely applied to …

Geologic Map Of The Greater Portland Metropolitan Area And Surrounding Region, Oregon And Washington, Ray E. Wells, Ralph Haugerud, Alan Niem, Wendy A. Niem, Russell Evarts, J. E. O’Connor, Ian Madin, Marvin Beeson, Multiple Additional Authors

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

This geologic map encompasses the greater Portland metropolitan area (the metro area), an urbanized region astride the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers in Oregon and Washington. The metro area includes the Portland-VancouverHillsboro metropolitan area, defined by the U.S. Census as the 23rd largest such area in the U.S., having a population of more than 2.2 million people (https://www.census.gov/dataviz/visualizations/026/508.php). The map area extends beyond the urbanized core to include outlying towns and cities and the bounding fault zones that separate the metro area from the adjacent Coast Range and Cascade Range (or Cascades; figs. 1, 2, and 3). The …

Geomorphology And Chronology Of Sand Stringer Deposition Beyond The Ice Margin: Southeastern Minnesota And Western Wisconsin, Usa, Richard J. Mataitis

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The purpose of this Master’s thesis is to investigate linear, aeolian deposits termed “sand stringers” located within western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota. Previous research has investigated their spatial distribution, and to a minor extent, their composition and absolute age. However, further sedimentological and absolute age data are needed from a greater distribution of sand stringers to understand their formation and depositional chronology. To build on previous research we 1) remotely mapped the spatial distribution and orientation of sand stringers in western Wisconsin and southeastern Minnesota, 2) collected absolute age data using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) from four stringers in western …

Understanding South Dakota Farmers’ Intentions To And Adoption Of Conservation Practices: An Examination Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Edem Avemegah

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Conservation agriculture practice is a sustainable farming method based on three principle: crop diversification, minimal soil disturbance or movement and permanent or semi-permanent of soil cover. Government and stakeholders within the agricultural sector in the United States are promoting conservation farming practices but limited voluntary adoption still exists among producers at the farm level. This research study investigated the factors that influence the adoption of conservation practices among producers in the eastern and central parts of South Dakota (SD). A modified theory of planned behavior (TPB) is used as a framework alongside socioeconomic and demographic indicators to understand farmers’ current …

Crop Rotations, Tillage And Cover Crops Influences On Soil Health, Greenhouse Gas Emissions And Farm Profitability, Jasdeep Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study assessed the effects of three levels of crop rotation: [2-yr; corn (Zea mays L.)- soybean (Glycine max L.), 3-yr; corn-soybean-oat (Avena sativa L.) or 4-yr; cornsoybean- oat-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)], two tillage [conventional-till (CT) and no-till (NT)], and two winter cover cropping systems [cover crop (CC) or fallow control (NC)] on soil biochemical and physical properties, greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), microbial community composition, crop yield and farm profitability under silty clay loam soil of south eastern South Dakota. Experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a split-split plot treatment arrangement with four replications. Rotations, tillage …

Management Implications Of A Rye Cover Crop On Nutrient Cycling And Soybean Production In Southeast South Dakota: Focus On Rye Seeding Rates And Termination Timing, Benjamin Brockmueller

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Winter rye (Secale cereale L.) has become an important cover crop in South Dakota; yet, concerns over negative impacts on cash crop yields is one important limitation to the widespread adoption of winter rye in cropping systems. Two field studies were implemented at the Southeast Research Farm near Beresford, SD investigating the impacts of five seeding rates (0-90 kg ha^-1) and termination timings (April 19th- May31st) with the objectives of examining the roles of winter rye management practices on soybean production and yield from nutrient cycling of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) in the agroecosystem. Plant, residue, …

The Impact Of Subsurface Physical Characteristics On The Effectiveness Of Subsurface Drainage In The Northern Great Plains, Mehmet Emin Budak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

World-wide, salinity and sodicity problems are increasing in coastal, irrigated and dryland agricultural systems. Traditional reclamation techniques for saline sodic soils include improving soil drainage by installing subsurface drainage, leaching with high quality water, and applying a source of calcium. However, due to differences in the soil parent material these traditional approach treatments were ineffective in removing sodium and other salts out of the soil profile of South Dakota. Understanding how the surface and subsurface soil characteristics and management interact to affect the sustainability of these systems is the first step in remediation. Each region and soil have a slightly …

Stratigraphy Of The Mio-Pleistocene Sequence In The Göktepe Region Based On The Fossilrecord (Muğla, Sw Turkey), Özlem Yilmaz, Tali̇p Güngör, Mi̇ne Sezgül Kayseri̇ Özer, Funda Akgün, Serdar Mayda, Tümel Tanju Kaya, Ati̇ke Nazi̇k, Yeşi̇m Büyükmeri̇ç

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The sedimentary basins in SW Turkey (e.g., Kale-Tavas, Yatağan, and Ören basins) that developed after the closure of the Neotethys Ocean allow the reconstruction of the tectonic and paleogeographic history of the region. Due to the rich coal reserves, the Yatağan Basin provides a substantial amount of data to infer the paleoenvironment and paleoclimate during the middle Miocene to Pleistocene. Our work provides new paleontological and radiometric data to constrain the age, paleoclimate, and depositional environment of terrestrial deposits of this basin. We present fossil findings such as mammal bones, gastropods, and palynomorph assemblages from the base of the Turgut …

Sedimentology And Hydrocarbon Potential Of The Late Ordovician Glacial Deposits On Thearabian Platform And Southeastern Turkey, Muhi̇tti̇n Şenalp, Sema Teti̇ker

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Late Ordovician glacial deposits are widespread and constitute a significant portion of the Early Paleozoic stratigraphic sequence of the cover rocks of the Arabian and African platforms. The glaciation lasted less than one million years between the Late Ashgillian (445 Ma) and Early Silurian (444 Ma) but it had a strong impact on the whole area. It has been proven that the glaciofluvial sandstones form important oil and gas reservoirs in Saudi Arabia and in North African and other Middle Eastern countries, including SE Turkey, but their heterogeneity and internal lithofacies characteristics have not been fully understood yet. In …

Apmdisc: An Online Computer Program For The Geochemical Discrimination Ofsiliciclastic Sediments From Active And Passive Margins, María Abdelaly Rivera-Gómez, John Selvamony Armstrong-Altrin, Surendra P. Verma, Lorena Díaz-González

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

An online computer program called APMdisc (Active and Passive Margin discrimination) for the discrimination of siliciclastic sediments from active and passive margin settings was written in Java along with the ZK framework. APMdisc calculates four complex discriminant functions (DFilr(A-P)M and DFmlr(A-P)M; DFilr(A-P)MT and DFmlr(A-P)MT), which represent linear combinations of log-ratios of all ten major elements (M) and ten major and six trace elements (MT), respectively. In these equations, ilr and mlr stand for isometric log-ratio and modified log-ratio transformations of the chemical composition of active and passive margin sediments, respectively. The ilr transformation provided the same results as the mlr …

In Situ Magnetic Susceptibility And Gamma Radiation Data In The Candela-Monclovaintrusive Belt, Northeast Mexico: Case Studies Of The Cerro Colorado And Cerromarcelinos Plutons, Jose Alberto Batista Rodriguez, Edgar Rodriguez, Pedro Rodriguez Riojas, Roberto Diaz Martinez, Antonio Rodriguez Vega, Felipe De Jesus Lopez Saucedo

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Cerro Marcelinos (CM) and Cerro Colorado (CC) plutons are part of the Candela-Monclova intrusive belt (NE Mexico), which is mid-Eocene in age (43-35 Ma). It intrudes into the Sabinas Basin, primarily made up of limestones, of Lower and Upper Cretaceous age. Around several intrusions, including the CM and CC plutons, mineralizations are known. However, how much hidden mineralizations would occur is not known. Trends within the plutons and in contact aureoles are also poorly described at present. Therefore, we provide here in situ magnetic susceptibility (MS) and gamma ray spectrometry (GS) data along two composite transects, one in each …

Paleobathymetric Evolution Of The Miocene Deposits Of The Gömbe Sector Of The Lycianforeland And Aksu Basins In Antalya, Turkey, Fati̇h Seçki̇n Şi̇ş, Tanja J. Kouwenhoven, Ayten Koç, Nuretdi̇n Kaymakci

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The evolution of the Lycian Foreland and Aksu basins are associated with the Africa-Eurasia convergence and collision of intervening continental blocks. Both basins developed around the Beydağları, a Mesozoic carbonate platform, which constitutes the main component and western limb of the Isparta Angle. The Gömbe Basin is an integral part of the Lycian Foreland Basin that comprises mainly Eocene to Late Miocene turbidites, onto which the allochthonous Lycian and Antalya nappes thrust over. The Aksu Basin, however, developed in the inner part of the Isparta Angle and is bounded by the Aksu Thrust in the east. During their evolution, these …

Mineralogical, Petrographic, And Geochemical Characterization Of Colored İscehisarmarbles (Afyonkarahisar, W-Turkey), Meti̇n Bağci

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The İscehisar marbles are located 25 km northeast of Afyonkarahisar on the Ankara highway in the vicinity of the town of İscehisar. These marbles have economic importance in the Afyon region. The purpose of this study was to reveal the mineralogical, petrographic, and geochemical characteristics of the İscehisar marbles, displaying different colors, structures, textures, and other different features. Based on polarized light microscopy investigations, the İscehisar marbles can be classified into 3 subgroups: from bottom to top 1) calcitic marbles composed of calcite minerals, 2) transition/interlayer marbles, and 3) dolomitic marbles. According to the field descriptions, each subgroup has various …

Integrated Biostratigraphy And Benthic Foraminifera Of The Middle-Upper Eocenedeposits Of Urtsadzor Section (Southern Armenia), Elena Zakrevskaya, György Less, Eleonora Bugrova, Ekaterina Shcherbinina, Taron Grigoryan, Lilit Sahakyan

Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences

The Urtsadzor section, typical for the Paleocene-Eocene of Southern Armenia, is composed of hemipelagic to shelf succession. Planktonic foraminifera (PF), larger benthic foraminifera (LBF), and nannofossils were studied from Priabonian sediments of Urtsadzor section that enabled direct correlation of the biohorizons of these three groups. We present here the results of the microfossil study from the Bartonian and Priabonian parts of the section, with a special focus on larger and smaller benthic foraminifera (SBF). The 350 m thick studied interval corresponds to the planktonic foraminiferal zones P12/E10-11 to P15/E15, the nannofossil zones NP16 to NP19, the LBF zones SBZ17 to …

Tidal-Groundwater Study Of The Slaughter Beach Salt Marsh In Slaughter Beach, De, Michael Powers

West Chester University Master’s Theses

Seasonal and decadal monitoring of salt marsh at Slaughter Beach, DE documented long-term and short-term variations in number and sizes of salt ponds. Over 400 salt ponds ranging in size between 0.5 m² to 0.11 km² were identified on 5.5 km² salt marsh platform. The purpose of this study is to quantify hydrologic conditions and measure groundwater discharge of a salt marsh, particularly the impact of tidal forces on groundwater fluctuation.

Four wells with nests of mini-piezometers with ONSET Pressure Transducers were installed along a transect crossing the largest salt pond (0.11 km²) in the …

Climate And Surging Of Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada, Ellyn M. Enderlin

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

Links between climate and glacier surges are poorly understood but are required to enable prediction of surges and mitigation of associated hazards. Here, we investigate the role of snow accumulation, rain, and temperature on surge periodicity, area changes, and timing of surge initiation since the 1930s at Donjek Glacier, Yukon, Canada. Snow accumulation measured in three ice cores collected at Eclipse Icefield indicates that a cumulative accumulation of 15.5 ± 1.46 or 16.6 ± 2.0 m w.e. occurred in the ten to twelve years between each of its last eight surges, depending on ice motion spatiotemporal offset corrections. Although we …

Structure, Evolution, And Mesoscopic Deformation Patterns Near The Tourmaline Hill Salt Sheet, Umberatana Station, South Australia, Lillian Ruth Lueck

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Halokinetic structures have been proven to serve as both structural and stratigraphic traps for petroleum and mineralizing ore fluids, making them critical to the energy and technology needs of society. Although modern exploration for these resources uses often uses 3-D seismic imagery, these data often cannot resolve the complexity of the strata within 300 meters of the salt sediment interface, an area that is critical to the trapping or migration of fluids. Because of this lack of constraint, drilling near salt risks encountering unexpected overturned strata, repeated units, overpressure, or abrupt changes in stress state, making it imperative to understand …

Body Wave Analysis For Low-Angle Thrust Quakes On Titan: Implications For Dragonfly, John William Owens

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Little is known of the structure and seismic nature of planetary bodies that have an outer shell of ice instead of a rocky crust. These bodies are called icy satellites and one such body, Saturn’s moon Titan, is unique because of its thick atmosphere, methane cycle, and assumed salty subsurface ocean. NASA’s Dragonfly mission, set to launch in 2026, will use a robotic rotorcraft to transport various instruments, including a seismometer, to the Shangri-La dune field on Titan. Until then, Titan’s seismic regime can be estimated by simulating wave propagation through assumed subsurface layers using source models. Ridge belts with …

Cobalt Partitioning And Solubility In Low-Temperature Carbonate-Hydrothermal Systems, Seth Kurtis Coursey

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Cobalt mineralization has been documented in low temperature Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits in southeast Missouri. Lead and zinc are the most economically important metals in these deposits and are contained within galena (PbS) and sphalerite (ZnS), respectively. Cobalt is also mined in some of the deposits with cobalt-bearing ores, e.g., siegenite ((Ni,Co)3S4) and fletcherite (Cu,(Ni,Co)2S4), occurring stratigraphically below main-stage galena and sphalerite. The hydrothermal fluids responsible for cobalt mineralization are thought to be chemically distinct from the predominant MVT ore-bearing fluids and represent a distinct mineralizing event. Cobalt is likely transported as CoCl2 in hydrothermal fluids and sourced from structures …

Burning With Potential: Understanding The Relationship Between Biochar And Agriculture Of The Northern Glaciated Plains Ecoregion, Kaitlyn Abrahamson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Achieving global sustainable agriculture is one of the most incredible challenges of this century, yet many continue to try to solve this problem through the development of precision technologies. Biotechnologies, such as biochar, can perform like a precision technology while protecting agricultural land from soil erosion and fertility loss. The Northern Glaciated Plains ecoregion of the United States is little researched in the benefits from the use of biochar through improved soil nutrient capture and water retention, crop health improvements, and yield increases. The study plot has four sections of corn stover biochar and eight sections of control sections. This …

Mildly Hydrophobic Biobased Mulch: A Sustainable Approach To Controlling Bare Soil Evaporation, Jesse Lee Barnes, Michael John Nicholl

Geoscience Faculty Research

© 2020 The Authors. Vadose Zone Journal published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Soil Science Society of America Mulching with polyethylene film is the conventional approach to decrease evaporative water loss from agricultural soils, but it is not environmentally sustainable. In this study, a laboratory experiment was conducted to test the potential utility of partially polymerized soybean oil (PSO) coated sands as a surface treatment to reduce bare soil evaporation. Evaporation was tracked for 23.8 d from saturated sand columns treated with a surface layer (1 or 2 cm) of either coated medium sand (MS-PSO) or coated coarse …

Soil Physical And Hydrological Properties, And Greenhouse Gas Emissions Under Integrated Crop-Livestock Agroecosystems, Navdeep Singh

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cover crops (CCs) and grazing play a critical role in successful implementation of the integrated crop-livestock system (ICLS) because they can have a direct impact on soils and greenhouse gas emissions. The objectives of this study were to (i) evaluate the short-term impacts of CCs [grass dominated cover crops (GdC) and legume dominated cover crops (LdC)] and grazed CCs and corn (Zea mays L.) residue under oat (Avena sativa L.)–CC–corn rotation on soil physical and hydrological properties; (ii) quantify the architecture of soil pores using X-ray computed tomography (CT) for soils managed under long-term ICLS, native grazed pasture and corn-soybean …

The Enigmatic Curvature Of Central Iberia And Its Puzzling Kinematics, Daniel Pastor-Galan, Gabriel Gutierrez-Alonso, Arlo Brandon Weil

Geology Faculty Research and Scholarship

The collision between Gondwana and Laurussia that formed the latest supercontinent, Pangea, occurred during Devonian to early Permian times and resulted in a largescale orogeny that today transects Europe, northwest Africa, and eastern North America. This orogen is characterized by an "S" shaped corrugated geometry in Iberia. The northern curve of the corrugation is the well-known and studied Cantabrian (or Ibero-Armorican) Orocline and is convex to the east and towards the hinterland. Largely ignored for decades, the geometry and kinematics of the southern curvature, known as the Central Iberian curve, are still ambiguous and hotly debated. Despite the paucity of …

Isotopic And Geochemical Tracers Of Groundwater Flow In The Shivwits Plateau, Grand Canyon National Park, Jonathan W. Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

As the impacts of global climate change on water resources continue to become more apparent, proper understanding and management of groundwater resources will be needed as supplies become more strained. Traditional methods of characterizing groundwater systems are time-intensive, costly, and can be difficult to complete in remote areas. Using ambient geochemical tracers from discrete sampling could aid in characterizing spring systems through determining flow paths, recharge areas, and carbon cycling. However, using discrete seasonal samples to understand the hydrogeology of complex, mixed-lithology aquifers has not been extensively examined. Here we explore using δ¹³C of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), …

“The Tale Of 3,000 Zircons”: An Investigation Of Grenville Sedimentation In Amazonia Using U/Pb Detrital Zircon Geochronology, Felicia R. Harris

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

The continental collision between Laurentia and Amazonia that generated Rodinia and the Grenville Orogen is proposed to be one of the largest, hottest and longest-lived orogens in Earth history. Subsequent erosion and weathering led to a mountain range’s worth of sediment recycled into clastic systems across North America, otherwise known as the “Great Grenville Sedimentation Event”. The Sunsas orogeny in Amazonia is correlative to the Grenville in North America and is proposed to be the result of final Rodinian collision at 1200-1000 Ma. Despite the connection between the two ranges and the robust sedimentary record in North America, little work …

Classifying Tornadic Storms In The Tennessee Valley, Clara Hochmuth

Summer Community of Scholars Posters (RCEU and HCR Combined Programs)

No abstract provided.