Geochemistry Commons^™

Unraveling The Causal Influences Of Drought And Crop Production On Groundwater Levels Across The Contiguous United States, Nitin K. Singh, Sheila M. Saia, Ruchi Bhattacharya, Hoori Ajami, David M. Borrok

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Groundwater depletion in agricultural-dominated regions is attributed to climate and irrigation withdrawals that support crop production. However, despite decades of effort, knowledge gaps remain in understanding the relative influence of drought and crop production on groundwater levels at the continental scale. Here, utilizing empirical observations, we simultaneously track how long-term trajectories of groundwater levels, crop production of seven crops, and drought have evolved over time, and then integrate these observations with a causality-based attribution framework to unravel the relative impact of drought and crop production on groundwater levels across the contiguous United States (CONUS). We find a dominant pattern of …

Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (Pfas) Degradation In Water And Soil Using Cold Atmospheric Plasma (Cap): A Review, Victor Somtochukwu Mbanugo, Boluwatife Stephen Ojo, Ta Chun Lin, Yue-Wern Huang, Marek Locmelis, Daoru Han

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic chemicals found in numerous industrial applications and everyday products. The excessive amounts of PFASs in water and soil, together with their link to severe health issues, have prompted substantial public concerns, making their removal from the environment a necessity. Existing degradation techniques are frequently lacking due to their low efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and potential for secondary contamination. Cold Atmospheric Plasma (CAP) technology has emerged as a promising alternative, utilizing energized reactive species to break down PFASs under ambient conditions. Therefore, this review examines the efficacy and effectiveness of CAP in degrading PFASs by …

Mineralogic Control On The Calcium And Magnesium Stable Isotopic Compositions Of Modern Microbial Carbonates, Elizabeth M. Griffith, Matthew S. Fantle, Brittan V. Wogsland, Zijian Li, Majie Fan, David J. Wronkiewicz

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Modern microbialites grow in a variety of environments including the hypersaline, turbid, low alkalinity, high magnesium (Mg) and calcium (Ca) concentrations (and Mg/Ca ∼ 4.5 mol/mol), shallow (less than 2 m deep) Storr's Lake on San Salvador Island, The Bahamas. Rather than growing via the trapping and binding of sediments, these largely micritic microbialites form via microbial processes creating crusts and mounds with laminated to clotted structures comprised of both high-Mg calcite and aragonite. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the mineralogy of representative microbialite mounds dictates their pre-burial metal isotopic compositions. The Mg and Ca …

Cold Atmospheric Plasma Induced Degradation Of Organophosphate Pesticides On Kevlar Swatches, Ta Chun Lin, Victor Somtochukwu Mbanugo, Boluwatife Stephen Ojo, Yue-Wern Huang, Marek Locmelis, Frank Daoru Han

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) was evaluated for degrading organophosphate pesticide (OP) residues (acephate, malathion, and dimethoate) from Kevlar fabrics. Fourier transform-Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging and tensile strength testing confirmed that CAP treatment preserved Kevlar's structural integrity and mechanical properties. Results show degradation efficiency increased with higher power, shorter discharge gaps, and longer exposure duration. Hyperspectral imaging supported the detection of plasma-induced spectral changes, reinforcing the presence of reactive species. The strong oxidative potential of CAP facilitated the rapid breakdown of OPs into nontoxic byproducts. These findings demonstrate the potential of CAP as a portable, energy-efficient solution …

Characterization And Leaching Feasibility Studies Of Copper Flue Dust For The Recovery Of Main And Trace Metals, Fardis Nakhaei, Marek Locmelis, Lana Alagha, Michael S. Moats, Carlos Eyzaguirre, Cory Smith

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Although copper smelter dust (CSD) is classified as hazardous waste, it also serves as a valuable secondary resource, offering potential for the recovery of critical elements. In this study, CSD samples were collected from the waste heat boiler (WHB) and electrostatic precipitator (ESP) units connected to the flash smelting furnace at a copper smelter. The representative samples were extensively characterized by particle size, and chemical and mineralogical analyses. Following sample characterization, leaching experiments were performed to evaluate the potential extraction of Cu, Fe, As, Zn, Pb, In, Ga, and Ge from the flue dusts. Distilled water, H2SO4, and HCl were …

Re-Evaluating Missouri’S Strategic Element Potential: A Geochemical Study Of The Mesoproterozoic Fe-Cu-Co-Ree Deposits In Southeast Missouri, Usa, Brandon James Sullivan

Doctoral Dissertations

"Iron-oxide-copper-gold (IOCG) deposits are poorly understood mineral systems. For example, we do not know why Cu- and Co-rich IOCG deposits typically occur proximal to Fe ore deposits that are notably Cu and Co-poor, such as Iron Oxide Apatite (IOA) deposits. To better understand the formation of IOA and IOCG deposits in Missouri, USA, this PhD thesis examines the genesis of the Kratz Spring IOA and the Boss Central Dome IOCG deposits. This study presents the first constraints on formation conditions and fluid sources in the studied deposits using integrated petrographic, mineral composition, and Fe isotope analyses of oxide minerals. Observations …

Ongoing Fragmentation Of The Subducting Cocos Slab, Central America, Tu Xue, Diandian Peng, Kelly H. Liu, Jonathan Obrist-Farner, Marek Locmelis, Stephen S. Gao, Lijun Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Fundamental to plate tectonics is the subduction of cold and mechanically strong oceanic plates. While the subducted plates are conventionally regarded to be impermeable to mantle flow and separate the mantle wedge and the sub slab region, isolated openings have been proposed. by combining new shear wave splitting measurements with results from geodynamic modeling and recent seismic tomography and geochemical observations, we show that the upper ~200 km of the Cocos slab in northern Central America is intensively fractured. the slab there is strong enough to produce typical arc volcanoes and Benioff Zone earthquakes but allows mantle flow to traverse …

Erratum: New Estimates Of The Magnitude Of The Sea-Level Jump During The 8.2 Ka Event, (Geology (2022), 50(1), (86–90), (10.1130/G49296.1)), Jonathan Obrist-Farner, Mark Brenner, Jeffery R. Stone, Marta Wojewódka-Przybył, Thorsten Bauersachs, Andreas Eckert, Marek Locmelis, Jason H. Curtis, Susan R.H. Zimmerman, Alex Correa-Metrio, Lorenz Schwark, Edward Duarte, Antje Schwalb, Etienne Niewerth, Paula Gabriela Echeverría-Galindo, Liseth Pérez

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

No abstract provided.

Temporal Lidar Scanning In Quantifying Cumulative Rockfall Volume And Hazard Assessment: A Case Study At Southwestern Saudi Arabia, Abdullah A. Alotaibi, Norbert H. Maerz, Kenneth J. Boyko, Ahmed M. Youssef, Biswajeet Pradhan

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Rockfalls and unstable slopes pose a serious threat to people and property along roads/highways in the southwestern mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia. In this study, the application of terrestrial light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology was applied aiming to propose a strategy to analyze and accurately depict the detection of rockfall changes, calculation of rockfall volume, and evaluate rockfall hazards along the Habs Road, Jazan Region, Saudi Arabia. A series of temporal LiDAR scans were acquired at three selected sites. Our results show that these three sites have different degrees of hazard due to their geological differences. The mean volume …

Relationships Among Mineralogy, Geochemistry, And Oil And Gas Production In The Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, Hayley Roxana Beitel

Masters Theses

"The Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) is an unconventional shale reservoir located in southeast Louisiana and southwest Mississippi. Limited mineralogical and geochemical data for the TMS have been published. The data that do exist indicate that the formation is heterogeneous. Consequently, previous investigators and oil and gas companies have not managed to effectively link mineralogical and chemical changes to oil and gas production in the TMS. These linkages are critical to establish for future exploration efforts. In this study, we attempt to establish these relationships by gathering all existing mineralogical and chemical data in the TMS, including newly acquired data from …

Multiple Generations Of Phlogopite In An Alnöite Diatreme: Insights Into The Petrogenesis Of The Avon Alkaline Igneous Province, Missouri, Nathan Gregory Limbaugh

Masters Theses

“Alkaline Ultramafic Carbonatite (AUC) complexes, although rare, are valued for diamonds and REEs, and as windows into subcontinental and mantle processes as recorded by rock fabrics, mineral spatial relationships, and mineral compositions. We report specifically on olivine and phlogopite petrographic relationships and compositions from the Devonian alnoite diatreme-facies of the Avon Alkaline Igneous Province, Missouri. The diatreme alnoite is a mixture of domains of olivine magmaclasts (OM) set in a crystal-rich melilite matrix. OM are highly fractured, serpentinized olivine pseudomorphs with variable amounts of pristine olivine fragments. Larger olivine domains typically exhibit clear crystal faces and irregular “channels” indicative of …

A Bayesian Framework To Unravel Food, Groundwater, And Climate Linkages: A Case Study From Louisiana, Nitin K. Singh, Ruchi Bhattacharya, David M. Borrok

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Advancing our understanding of the connections among groundwater, food, and climate is critical to meet global food demands while optimizing water resources usage. However, our understanding of the linkages among groundwater, food, and climate is still limited. Here, we offer a Bayesian framework to simulate crop yield at a regional scale and quantify its relationships and associated uncertainty with climate, groundwater, agricultural, and energy-related variables. We implemented the framework in the rice-producing regions of Louisiana from 1960-2015. To build a parsimonious model, we used a probability-based variable selection approach to detect the key drivers of rice yield. Rice yield increased, …

Mineral Compositions Of Meteorite Samples Alha 77005, Nwa 7397, Nwa 5480, And Ausson: Implications For Geodynamic Processes On Their Parent Bodies And Meteorite Reclassification, Kaylin Agnata Tunnell

Masters Theses

“This study investigates the major, minor, and trace element compositions of minerals from a series of meteorites which represent different stages of planetary evolution including two sample from Mars (ALHA 77005 and NWA 7397), one sample from Vesta (NWA 5480), and one ordinary chondrite (Ausson). The goal of this study is to investigate if petrogenetic tracers commonly employed to understand terrestrial samples can also be applied to extraterrestrial samples. The data presented here show that mineral trace element data allow for novel insight into the magmatic history of meteorite samples. For example, V/Sc and Fe/Mn ratios in olivine provide insight …

History Of Natural And Anthropogenic Activities In Lake Izabal, Eastern Guatemala: Using Geochemical Evidence To Record Recent Contamination, Elisandra Hernandez

Doctoral Dissertations

”Water is essential for human subsistence. Stable freshwater supplies are needed as a source of food, drinking water, for transportation, recreation and economic development. Despite their recognized importance, anthropogenic activities have altered freshwater ecosystems around the world. Lake Izabal is the habitat for diverse aquatic species of flora and fauna, some of which are endemic and endangered. Its importance notwithstanding, anthropogenic activities developed in Lake Izabal’s catchment in recent years have compromised its status. This study used paleolimnological techniques to link past and recent anthropogenic activities such as mining operations and recent tilapia aquaculture. Relative abundances and concentrations of Pb, …

A Granger Causality Analysis Of Groundwater Patterns Over A Half-Century, Nitin K. Singh, David M. Borrok

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Groundwater depletion in many areas of the world has been broadly attributed to irrigation. However, more formal, data-driven, causal mechanisms of long-term groundwater patterns have not been assessed. Here, we conducted the first Granger causality analysis to identify the "causes" of groundwater patterns using the rice-producing parishes of Louisiana, USA, as an example. Trend analysis showed a decline of up to 6 m in groundwater level over 51 years. We found that no single cause explained groundwater patterns for all parishes. Causal linkages were noted between groundwater and area harvested, number of irrigation wells, summer precipitation totals, and drought. Bi-directional …

A Metasomatized Lithospheric Mantle Control On The Metallogenic Signature Of Post-Subduction Magmatism, David A. Holwell, Marco Fiorentini, Iain Mcdonald, Yongjun Lu, Andrea Giuliani, Daniel J. Smith, Manuel Keith, Marek Locmelis

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Ore deposits are loci on Earth where energy and mass flux are greatly enhanced and focussed, acting as magnifying lenses into metal transport, fractionation and concentration mechanisms through the lithosphere. Here we show that the metallogenic architecture of the lithosphere is illuminated by the geochemical signatures of metasomatised mantle rocks and post-subduction magmatic-hydrothermal mineral systems. Our data reveal that anomalously gold and tellurium rich magmatic sulfides in mantle-derived magmas emplaced in the lower crust share a common metallogenic signature with upper crustal porphyry-epithermal ore systems. We propose that a trans-lithospheric continuum exists whereby post-subduction magmas transporting metal-rich sulfide cargoes play …

Exploration For Alteration Halos Around The Ag-W Deposits In Southeastern Missouri, Usa, Daniel Joseph Warbritton

Masters Theses

"The St. Francois Mountains in SE Missouri are an extensive terrane of granitic ring complexes and associated rhyolites. They were an important source of Ag, W, and Sn and mined intermittently from the 1800s until the 1950s. The Ag-W ores occur in the Silvermine Granite and rhyolite roof rocks. The deposits are classified as a xenothermal ore system with mineralization occurring in quartz veins and surrounding greisen (up to 2.5 m). Exploration for hydrothermal ore deposits often focuses on the identification of alteration halos in the surrounding host rocks. In the vast majority of xenothermal ore deposits, such as in …

Provenance, Redox Conditions, And Diagenesis Of Shales In Chang 7 Member Of Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China, Bin Sun

Doctoral Dissertations

“This study aims to decipher provenance, redox conditions, and burial history of shales in Chang 7 Member of Upper Triassic Yanchang Formation, Ordos Basin, China. The first paper discusses the origins of single-channeled, vertical, sinuous, and calcite-bitumen-filled cracks in the shales. Results show that in early diagenesis, unconsolidated mud was expanded open by escaping gases produced during organic matter maturation under hydrothermal influences. Calcite initially filled the cracks; bitumen and pyrite came in later and occupied the cracks in various ways. Compaction occurred next and folded the calcite- and bitumen-filled cracks into sinuous shapes. The second paper uses geochemical and …

Avon Alkaline Igneous Province, Missouri: Characterization Of Subcontinental Mantle Source And Evolution Via Chemical Analysis Of Olivine, Zachary William Freeman

Masters Theses

"This article presents the crystallization age of, and composition of olivine phenocrysts within an alnoite of, the Avon Alkaline Igneous Province (AAIP) of Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri. The AAIP is an ultramafic igneous province consisting of approx. 80 known intrusives of diverse lithology and texture. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹ Ar geochronology indicates an emplacement age of 386 +/- 1 Ma, which establishes the AAIP as the only known Devonian-age ultramafic igneous body in the Midwestern U.S. Study of the AAIP provides a unique opportunity to characterize the Devonian-age subcontinental mantle and the processes that generated the suite of ultramafic rocks present …

A Geochemical Investigation Of Co₂ Sequestration And Site Characterization At Two Missouri Locations, Robert Allen Swain

Masters Theses

"The feasibility of sequestering CO₂ in saline aquifers of Lamotte Formation sandstone was investigated at wells located near Thomas Hill power plant, Moberly, MO and Sioux City Power Plant in Florissant, MO. Governing factors of using aquifers for CO₂ disposal include water salinity, potential for carbonic acid buffering, rate of precipitation of carbonate minerals following CO₂ introduction into the host aquifer, and the integrity of the Davis and Derby-DoeRun shale as a trap rock to prevent migration of the CO₂ phase and carbonic acid into the overlying potable Ozark Aquifer.

Both in situ and laboratory methods …

Mineral And Geochemical Attributes Of The Midcontinent Rift Sequence; An Application For Deep Carbon Dioxide Sequestration, Alsedik Mohamed Ali Abousif

Doctoral Dissertations

"The potential for using the Oronto Group of the Midcontinent Rift (MCR) Sequence for CO₂ sequestration has been disparaged because of low porosity-permeability characteristics, which are largely a result of extensive calcite cementation. This study investigated the potential for using the MCR as a target for CO₂ sequestration by examining reactions involving detrital host-rock minerals at high pressure-temperature conditions that could provide dissolved Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Fe²⁺, and then precipitating these cations as carbonate minerals. The effect of carbonic acid on cement dissolution was also evaluated with respect to enhancing porosity and …