Geology Commons^™

267, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 267 - marble - metamorphic rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/267-5cd2ad41b91248f5926fcc7a3848fba8

266, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 266 - hornfels - metamorphic rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/266-b23a020c463f4f69ac3dd1ae659a2050

268, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 268 - phyllite - metamorphic rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/268-ba9597eb3c504ed5b91fe6ab00e24418

Recent Paleolimnological History Of Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (Usa), Hillary Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

This study utilizes a recently acquired, high-resolution CHIRP seismic reflection dataset and a deepwater sediment core to analyze the recent stratigraphy of Jackson Lake (Wyoming, USA). The western shoreline of Jackson Lake is situated adjacent to the Teton fault, a down-to-the-east normal fault that produces the spectacular high topography of Grand Teton National Park. The sediments of Jackson Lake are underexplored and consequently, their value as indicators of hydroclimatic and tectonic changes is unknown. Here, the sedimentary fill of Jackson Lake is explored as a natural archive of environmental change, specifically in reference to the influence of human outlet engineering …

Microstructural, Mineralogical, And Chemical Characterization Of The Handys Bend And Flax Creek Meteorites, Kentucky: Relevance For The Iron Meteorite Record, Ethan S.L. Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Iron meteorites remain the only material view into planetary cores. Despite their scientific relevance, iron meteorites are relatively rare. In June 2021 and March 2022, the Kentucky Geological Survey received requests to identify two metallic specimens discovered in central Kentucky. The specimens were given the provisional names Handys Bend (3175.2 g) and Flax Creek (286.2 g). The goal of this project is to confirm meteoritic origin, characterize their structures and chemistry, assign genetic classifications, and examine potential relations to previous discoveries. Petrography was conducted using scanning electron microscopy. Mineral phases were examined using X-Ray diffraction crystallography. Chemical compositions were determined …

Thermal Alteration Of The Mineralogy Of Calcium Sulfoaluminate Cements: Implications For The Performance Of Rapid Repair Materials, Jillian Cavellier

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) was developed in part to lessen the environmental impact of cementitious materials compared to traditional Portland cements. CSA was first put into production in the 1970s and has been undergoing various performance testing to investigate its durability. Yet to be evaluated is CSA’s response to a rapid, high temperature event. In this study, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscope imaging were used to analyze alterations in the mineralogy due to such an event. As found in previous studies, after ~125°C, ettringite has been completely dehydrated. Ettringite decomposes into bassanite and calcium …

Assessing Microplastic Contamination Within Karst Groundwater Basins In Kentucky, Maaz Fareedi

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

The input and abrasion of plastic waste in the environment has long been known to form microplastics (MPs). These ubiquitous contaminants are easily mobilized into hydrologic systems. MPs are now being found in karst aquifers around the world, including several across Kentucky, USA. Due to their size (< 5 mm in diameter), chemical properties, abundance, and wide distribution, MPs pose numerous ecological hazards, including uptake by organisms and as substrates for contaminant sorption. Karst groundwater is especially vulnerable to surface contaminants; however, knowledge of the extent of karst MP contamination is limited, with most studies focused on individual sites or small areas. In this study, we created a MP contamination dataset for 30 karst springs and 10 locations where cave sediments were characterized across Kentucky. MP concentrations in groundwater samples ranged from 0 to 41.1 items/L and yielded an average of 4.9 ± 8.7 items/L. Sediment MP concentrations ranged from 0 to 306 items/kg. We performed statistical analyses and linear regressions to examine whether groundwater MP concentrations could be explained by factors including land use, population density, basin area, numbers of sinkholes, and sinking streams. Our models revealed that population density, agrarian land use, sinking stream density, and basin area were related to MP concentrations. All factors except basin area trended positively with MP concentration, while basin area trended negatively. These relations are generally corroborated by existing literature, however they indicate that further studies with considerably larger sample sizes are needed to determine mechanistic relationships.

Visualizing And Automating Past, Real-Time, And Forecast Dynamic Hazard Maps For Shallow Colluvial Landslides In Eastern Kentucky, Nathaniel O'Leary

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Landslide hazards are a persistent threat to communities and infrastructure in Eastern Kentucky, where steep slopes, shallow colluvial soils, and variable hydrological conditions make slope failures frequent. This thesis presents an integrated approach to landslide hazard mapping (LHM) through the development of dynamic, spatiotemporal LHMs for shallow colluvial landslides. Two studies within this work investigate and refine the use of the Lu and Godt (2008) factor of safety (FS) equation to improve landslide predictions. The first study establishes a novel LHM workflow using Hydrus-1D to simulate soil moisture infiltration and fluctuations from precipitation and evapotranspiration (ET) data. This study also …

Alteration Of Ultramafic Lamprophyres And Its Effect On Rare Earth Element Distribution In The Illinois-Ketucky Fluorspar District, Zachary O. Walton

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

The ultramafic lamprophyres of the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District (IKFD) have been identified as a potential domestic source of rare earth elements (REEs). The present distribution of the REEs and the role of the carbonate alteration in the distribution of the REEs is poorly understood. Petrographic and geochemical analyses were employed to determine the nature of the mantle source region and timing of the carbonate mineralization. Ratios of ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd vs. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr demonstrate that in addition to the intrusion of primitive magma into the crust, a melt was generated from a mantle source region metasomatized by …

Re-Examination Of A Middle Mississippian Carbonate Mud-Mound Complex From The Fort Payne Formation In South-Central, Kentucky, Maxwell Mickelson

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

This study examines the origin of a 213-m (700-ft) long, Middle Mississippian, carbonate “mud-mound complex” in the Fort Payne Formation of south-central Kentucky. The complex’s well-exposed, easily accessible, and well-preserved nature provides an opportunity to understand how mounds like this developed during a time of sediment starvation, basinward of the largely abandoned Borden-Grainger Delta complex.

The mound complex is formed of small, accretionary mounds that accreted onto the flanks of an eroded structural high and onto the backs of each other, apparently for protection from storms. Each sub-mound is composed of micrite-rich wackestone, comprising one of two biofacies: 1) alternating …

Assessing Plastic Pollution On Shorelines And In Coastal Sediments, Victoria Madison Fulfer

Open Access Dissertations

Plastics have become pollutants around the world, entering the marine environment predominantly from many land-based sources. A small proportion of plastics in the marine environment also come from sea-based activities such as fishing, boating, and shipping. Once in the environment, the low density of most plastic polymers allows transport around the globe by winds, rivers, currents, waves, floodwaters, and tides. As a result, the ultimate fate of present and past plastic pollution is poorly constrained; however, much material in the sea is thought to accumulate in marine sediment over time.

Plastics in the environment have a wide range of morphologies …

Slope Unit Maker (Sumak): An Efficient And Parameter-Free Algorithm For Delineating Slope Units To Improve Landslide Modeling, Jacob B. Woodard, Benjamin B. Mirus, Nathan J. Wood, Kate E. Allstadt, Benjamin A. Leshchinsky, Matthew M. Crawford

Faculty, Staff, and Affiliated Publications--KGS

Slope units are terrain partitions bounded by drainage and divide lines. In landslide modeling, including susceptibility modeling and event-specific modeling of landslide occurrence, slope units provide several advantages over gridded units, such as better capturing terrain geometry, improved incorporation of geospatial landslide-occurrence data in different formats (e.g., point and polygon), and better accommodating the varying data accuracy and precision in landslide inventories. However, the use of slope units in regional (> 100 km²) landslide studies remains limited due, in part, to the large computational costs and/or poor reproducibility with current delineation methods. We introduce a computationally efficient algorithm …

Optimizing Field-Linked Simulations Of Dry Season Uptake And Monsoon Infiltration Within An Aspen-Mixed Conifer Forest, Raymond J. Hess

Master's Theses

Climate models forecast that headwater catchments in the western U.S. will undergo a reduction in snowpack, early season snowmelt, and increases in evapotranspiration. The resulting extended dry season will stress vegetation in mountainous watersheds throughout the Upper Colorado River Basin. We investigate infiltration patterns and root water uptake in response to dry season disturbances within the East River watershed in Colorado. To do this, we collected soil cores, measured matric potential and sap flow, and monitored tree xylem and soil for stable isotopes of water (2H, 18O) in two soil profiles to 90 cm depth (with three Engelmann spruce and …

108, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 108 - peridotite - igneous rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/108-de2d9c9cc2b1434b981d025a7e9fb2fc

Basal Topography And Carbon Accumulation Rate Of A Rare Northern California Coastal Fen, Sarah Leidinger

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Increasingly, the importance of peatlands as biodiversity hotpots, year-round water storage features, and significant carbon sinks are being recognized. Despite this, they are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems globally. While some peatland conservation and restoration initiatives are being developed, a greater understanding of small peatlands is needed to make management decisions. This study aims to determine the timing of peat formation, peat volume, and carbon accumulation rates of the Conspicuous Scoop Fen, a small (2.1-acre) fen near Bridgeville, California (~840 m.a.s.l.). During the summers of 2022 and 2023, I collected 39 m of peat cores at 14 sampling locations. …

150, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 150 - pegmatite - igneous rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/150-135e099a4d4145848c7f26c0c2d5c438

190, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 190 - sandstone - sedimentary rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/190-29d202409b1246a1b550db9c6f41b25c

220, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 220 - slate - metamorphic rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/220-39857764278746049e60bd9238ed3891

247, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 247 - schist - metamorphic rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/247-aea85a461ca2414489bd0b04a4df3bdcN

260, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 260 - breccia - sedimentary rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/260-6711f31b529448739ead7cf0a33b94ee

262, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 262 - breccia - sedimentary rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/262-5a77a879cec743c3b724644ce5490914

265, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 265 - gneiss - metamorphic rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/265-9ea30b81d35c49d1bb066367002d1fac

271, Scott Brande

All 3D Rock Models

Model 271 - marble - metamorphic rock

SketchFab link: https://sketchfab.com/3d-models/271-370135d0aba44ec38c87c827123db334

Assessing The Ore Mineralization Depth And Crustal History Of Plutons In Northeastern Washington Using Thermodynamic Modeling Of Wall Rock Assemblages, David William Miller

All Master's Theses

Critical minerals are essential for advanced technologies across all economic sectors, but domestic deposits are unconstrained and underutilized, leaving the U.S. economy vulnerable to disruption. In northeastern WA, several ore-bearing plutons may be a significant resource; however, their formation depths, a component responsible for ore genesis, are unknown. To constrain regional ore formation depths, the mineral assemblages of calc-silicate and pelitic rocks from the contact aureoles of two Cretaceous plutons, located in the Adams Mountain and Hunters (AMH) quadrangles in the hangingwall of the Kettle detachment fault (KDF), were quantitatively constrained with scanning electron microscopy and XMapTools and compared to …

The Effects Of Environmental Factors On Tsunami Propagation And Inundation: A Comparison Of Earth With Other Planetary Bodies, Austin Halstead

All Master's Theses

Tsunamis are a universal hazard in any environment with oceans or lakes. Having a firm understanding of them is essential because of this. However, the vast number of tsunami studies have been solely on Earth, despite the growing evidence of oceans and lakes being on, or having once existed on, other planets and moons. In this study, I investigated tsunami behavior in non-Earth environments by testing the effects of varying viscosity and gravity. I conducted simulations using GeoClaw, Flow3D®, and VolcFlow on established tsunami benchmarks to identify consistent patterns in tsunami flow patterns and inundation. The results show …

Beach Erosion And Recovery Since Hurricane Ivan In 2004 Along A Headland-Bay Coast In Treasure Beach, Jamaica, Elandé Engelbrecht

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Anthropogenic climate change is causing sea-level rise and shoreline changes that threaten the environment and economy of coastal communities in Caribbean Island nations. To assess this risk, this study quantifies shoreline changes at Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth Parish on the south coast of Jamaica from 2001 to 2023. The effects of storm events on erosion were also assessed. Over 10 km of shoreline are assessed with about half being sandy pocket beaches ranging from 300 to 900 m in length, separated by rocky headlands and beach rock outcrops. Sand beach erosion trends since 2001 are assessed for seven sandy …

Eruption Initiation Mechanisms And Timescales At A Very-High-Threat Washington Volcano: Clues From Crystal Cargo In Lavas From Mount Baker (Koma Kulshan), Emily Yoder

All Master's Theses

Understanding the timescales of pre-eruptive processes is key for improving forecast models of future eruptions. Mount Baker (Koma Kulshan), WA, is part of the northern Cascade volcanic arc and classified as a very high threat volcano. However, we lack an understanding of the duration of time between the final magmatic process before eruption (potentially the process that initiated the eruption) and the eruption itself. This study focuses on (1) estimating eruption initiation timescales via diffusion chronometry and (2) determining eruption initiation mechanisms for three andesitic lava flows from Mount Baker: Dobbs Creek (~119 ka), Dobbs Cleaver (~105 ka), and Swift …

Constraining Magma Oxidation State Through Zircon Trace Elements: Estimating Tungsten Mineralization Potential In Northeastern Washington, Robin Gaudette

All Master's Theses

The oxidation state of a magma (measured by oxygen fugacity, fO₂) controls what reactions are favored during crystallization and what elements are concentrated and potentially precipitated into minerals, making it a key factor in ore-forming processes as some commodity elements are best concentrated under specific redox conditions. Tungsten (W) is best concentrated under reducing magmatic conditions, a characteristic that makes constraining magma oxidation state, done through analysis of zircon trace elements, an essential tool in plutonic tungsten deposit exploration.

This research analyzes the zircon trace elements of several Cretaceous-age intrusions in the region surrounding the now-inactive Germania tungsten …

Timescales Of Magma Storage And The Pre-Eruptive History For The Most Recent Lava Flow At Mount Baker (Koma Kulshan), Wa, Desiree Cunningham

All Master's Theses

Mount Baker, ranked as a very-high threat volcano in the United States, is in a well-populated area in northern WA, putting many at risk in the event of a future eruption. Previous work on Mount Baker focused on understanding the magmatic architecture beneath the volcano and has identified multiple magmatic components that contributed to different eruptions throughout its history. The youngest lava flow in the Mount Baker Volcanic Field is the 9.8 ka Sulphur Creek lava flow. The last study conducted on this flow by Garvey (2022) determined the most recent magma mush configuration that was tapped for this eruption. …

A New Method To Invert For Interseismic Deep Slip Along Closely Spaced Faults Using Surface Velocities And Subsurface Stressing-Rate Tensors, Hanna Elston, Michele Cooke, John Loveless, Scott Marshall

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

Inversions of interseismic geodetic surface velocities often cannot uniquely resolve the three-dimensional slip-rate distribution along closely spaced faults. Microseismic focal mechanisms reveal stress information at depth and may provide additional constraints for inversions that estimate slip rates. Here, we present a new inverse approach that utilizes both surface velocities and subsurface stressing-rate tensors to constrain interseismic slip rates and activity of closely spaced faults. We assess the ability of the inverse approach to recover slip rate distributions from stressing-rate tensors and surface velocities generated by two forward models: (a) a single strike-slip fault model and (b) a complex southern San …