Geology Commons^™

The Effects Of Amphibole- And Sulfide-Producing Melts On Crustal Strength In Gabbros Of Lower Oceanic Crust In Oceanic Core Complexes, Mid-Atlantic And Southwest Indian Ridges, Trevor Hoffmann

Master's Theses

This study investigates gabbro-cored oceanic core complexes in the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) and the ultraslow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). Dikelets are a texture found in thin section samples from these systems that form as a result of crystal-plastic deformation. Thin section samples from the Atlantis Massif, MARK Area, and 13˚-15˚ North of the MAR and the Atlantis Bank of the SWIR were observed with petrography to find these dikelets and identify what type of dikelet is present. SEM-EDS is used to identify the mineral assemblages present in the dikelets. LA-ICP-MS is used on amphibole to determine if its …

Depositional Facies And Petrophysical Characterization Of The Leonardian Carbonate (Lower Clear Fork), Tex-Mex, S.E. Field, Central Basin Platform, West Texas, Seyram Nyamasekpor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Lower Clear Fork from Tex-Mex, S.E. Field on the Central Basin Platform is a typical complex reservoir that displays high heterogeneity in lithological and petrophysical properties. The unit represents a producing reservoir succession of Leonardian platform carbonates deposited in shallow marine water during the Early Permian. The sediment of the Lower Clear Fork is composed of a mixed succession of dolomite interbedded with anhydrite, minor clay minerals, and siliciclastics. The high heterolithic nature of the reservoir makes efficient recovery of hydrocarbons difficult. This situation requires an understanding of the variability in depositional facies in terms of mineralogy, depositional textures …

Geologic Face Mapping Methodology Utilizing Global Positioning Systems And Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Luke Whitenburg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Geologic field mapping has traditionally been a low-technology process, limited by time in the field and a delicate balance between data collection and coverage area. Advancements in Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and software packages offer new tools and techniques for collecting high volume, accurate geologic information. These tools can provide geologists with safe and efficient ways to collect and process greater volumes of field data.

Field data for this study was collected from three open pit mines using a Trimble Geo 7X GPS unit with Geo 7 Series Rangefinder module and a Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 …

Investigating Changes In Surface Water Chemistry Across The Llano Uplift And The Balcones Fault Zone In Central Texas Using Strontium And Uranium Isotopes, Hao Tuan Pham

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The landscape of central Texas is shaped by over one billion years of Earth's history. An array of lithology lies within central Texas along with two large geological structures. The Llano Uplift, characterized by Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks dating back to 1.37 billion years ago, is encircled by Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. To the southeast of the Llano Uplift lies the Balcones Fault Zone (BFZ), an extensional structural system of mostly normal faults that delineates the transition between Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and Cenozoic sedimentary cover, which are influential to the regional hydrogeology. This study investigates the hydrogeological dynamics …

The Use Of Laja In Construction In Ancient Mesoamerica: A View From The Southern Gulf Lowlands Of Veracruz, Mexico, Lauren Smith

Honors College Theses

The archaeology of the southern Gulf lowlands of Veracruz, Mexico is notable for its research pertaining to the Olmec culture (Jaime-Riveron 2016; Loughlin 2012; Pool 2006). The region was home to the Colossal Olmec Heads: large, easily identifiable sculptures crafted from the volcanic rock of the Tuxtlas Volcanic Field. The use of volcanic resources in such grand presentations may instill a bias in the research of some archaeologists, but it is important to consider how these and other volcanic resources might have been used in everyday life (e.g., Jaime-Riveron 2016: 86). The consolidated volcanic ash in this region is referred …

Investigating The Distribution Of Soil Inorganic Carbon, And The Role Of Dust Deposition In Dryland Soils, Zahra Ghahremani

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The importance of dust deposition in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, sediment redistribution, and soil formation is well-known. Anthropogenic activities such as changing land use and agricultural practices can influence dust flux deposition rates, dust organic matter content, and the chemical composition of dust. This study examines the influence of agricultural activities on aeolian deposition in a the xeric intermontane westerns USA. We investigate seasonal and spatial variations in dust deposition rates, dust organic matter, dust inorganic matter, and dust geochemistry from passive dust traps. The Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW; Owyhee Mountains, Idaho) and the Northwest Irrigation and Soils …

Characterization Of Carbonaceous Fault Rocks, Pioneer Fault Zone, South-Central Idaho, Genna Baldassarre

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Differing crystallinities of carbonaceous material are common in fault rocks across a range of geologic settings and spatial scales and may provide constraints on strain rate, the nature of fault slip, fluid-rock interactions, and temperature variations over the earthquake cycle. The Pioneer fault at Little Fall Creek in south-central Idaho provides an excellent opportunity to study nanostructure changes of carbonaceous matter as a function of fault deformation. At this location, the Pioneer Fault exhibits a well-defined principal slip zone (PSZ) composed of multi-layered white siliceous mineralization and black carbon to graphite with a continuously exposed adjacent damage zone that includes …

3d Analysis Of Fe-Ti Oxides And How They Affect Crystal-Plastic Deformation In Atlantis Bank, Southwest Indian Ridge, Sarah Hill

Master's Theses

This project focuses on the importance of the relationship between Fe-Ti oxide abundance and interconnectivity, and crystal-plastic deformation in Atlantis Bank, Southwest Indian Ridge by utilizing Micro-CT scanning. This was done through comparing the Micro-CT scans of 15 samples from three different Ocean Drilling Program and International Ocean Discovery Program drill holes using the Nikon NIS Advanced Research 3-D visualization program and producing plots and statistics from MATLAB. Results indicate a wide range of textures across a range of crystal-plastic fabric intensity and Fe-Ti oxide abundance. Ultimately, there was a generally positive relationship between depth, CPF intensity, and Fe-Ti oxide …

Life On The Edge: The Cambrian Marine Realm And Oxygenation, Sara Pruss, Benjamin C. Gill

Geosciences: Faculty Publications

The beginning of the Phanerozoic saw two biological events that set the stage for all life that was to come: (a) the Cambrian Explosion (the appearance of most marine invertebrate phyla) and (b) the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE), the subsequent substantial accumulation of marine biodiversity. Here, we examine the current state of understanding of marine environments and ecosystems from the late Ediacaran through the Early Ordovician, which spans this biologically important interval. Through a compilation and review of the existing geochemical, mineralogical, sedimentological, and fossil records, we argue that this interval was one of sustained low and variable marine …

Volcanic Glass As A Proxy For Paleotopography Suggests New Features In Late-Miocene Oregon, Julian Cohen, John Bershaw, Richard Hugo

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Volcanic glass has been used extensively as a paleoaltimeter. Deuterium (²H) concentrations in glass have been found to be stable over geologic timescales, making δ²H (also known as δD) a reliable proxy for ancient water chemistry. However, continued work revolves around better understanding how different factors affect preserved water in volcanic ash. Here, we analyze δD in the Rattlesnake Tuff (RST), a widespread ca. 7 Ma ash-flow tuff, and create a paleoisoscape to assess variations in δD across Oregon during that time. To this end, 16 ash samples were collected across central and eastern Oregon from …

Public Horticulture: Process And Design Of The Lincoln Botanical Garden, Brad Kindler

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Beginning in 2012, the local non-profit, The Lincoln Botanical Garden, began organizing the conceptual design and creation of a glass conservatory within a botanical garden in Lincoln, Nebraska. These proposed urban enhancements seek to fill a gap in garden amenities in the city by providing year-round access to public horticulture programming and education.

This project, Public Horticulture: Process and Design of the Lincoln Botanical Garden, documents these efforts and makes design recommendations for a themed Glacial Erratic Garden that could be constructed within the botanical garden.

Advisors: Ellen Paparozzi and Sam Wortman

Landslide Susceptibility And Tree Ring Eccentricity Analysis Along Unstable Slopes Of The New River Watershed, Anderson And Morgan Counties, Tn, Megan Palmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Landslides are mass movements that affect infrastructure across East Tennessee, causing problems for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). An assessment of conditions and locations of unstable slopes can aid TDOT in infrastructure management. Landslide susceptibility was evaluated for Anderson and Morgan counties, TN, off State Route 116 in the New River watershed. Susceptibility maps used a landslide inventory and six factors: elevation, slope, geology, distance from stream, rainfall, and curvature, input in forest-based classification and logistic regression models. Additionally, affected trees along these unstable slopes in Anderson and Morgan counties were cored to analyze mass movement impacts on tree …

Utilizing Electrical Geophysical Methods To Map Mycorrhizal Mycelium Networks Non-Invasively, Donald Pesonen

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Mycorrhizal mycelium networks are a key component to forest health. These networks act as a transportation system for nutrients, are major players in carbon and nitrogen cycling, and can provide some level of drought resistance to the surrounding flora. Due to the location and size of these network’s filaments, studying mycelium non-invasively has been difficult. The alternative method of laboratory grown samples, lacks the important environmental factors that play into the growth and development of mycelium. Mycelium’s inherent conductivity and moisture retention allows for these networks to be a viable target for electrical geophysical equipment. CMD-Tiny, a small shallow depth …

Mapping The Invisible: Machine Learning And Geovisualization Methods For Groundwater Management, Khalid Galal Elhaj

Dissertations

Groundwater is a vital global resource, yet mapping and managing aquifers remains challenging due to costs and complexities. This doctoral dissertation pioneers novel data-driven methodologies harnessing machine learning and hydrogeology domain knowledge to sustainably characterize and monitor aquifer systems. The overarching hypothesis investigated is that time series clustering of historical well hydrographs can enable low-cost delineation of aquifer boundaries by detecting response similarities between wells sharing the same aquifer. To test this, three interconnected studies were conducted. First, a specialized time series clustering framework was developed incorporating a global temporal alignment index and custom dissimilarity metrics tuned for hydrogeology. The …

Assessing The Potential For Magmatic Sulfides Within Southwestern Laurentia Large Igneous Province, Thomas J. Boes

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The ~1.1 Ga magmatism of the Southwestern Laurentia Large Igneous Province (SWLLIP) generated a series of mafic-ultramafic sheets, sills, and dikes emplaced within Mesoproterozoic sedimentary units and older crystalline basement rock throughout the southwest United States and northern Mexico. This large igneous province (LIP) event remains enigmatic in identifying the processes that generated this magmatism. In addition, potential links to the contemporaneous magmatism of North America's magmatic Ni-Cu-platinum group element (PGE) mineralized Mid-Continent Rift (MCR) LIP to the northeast of the SWLLIP remain unclear. The contemporaneous 1.1 Ga MCR LIP event hosts economically viable magmatic sulfide deposits in the Duluth …

Investigating Controls On Temporal And Spatial Variation Of Dissolved Uranium At Springs In Horn Creek Drainage, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, Usa, Collin Davidson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Groundwater is a critical resource in the Grand Canyon, providing water to local communities, millions of annual visitors, and ecosystems. One major concern for this critical resource is the potential for uranium contamination in conjunction with uranium mining efforts. Upper Horn Bedrock Spring (UHB) in the Horn Creek drainage of the Grand Canyon sits below the oldest uranium mine in the region, Orphan Lode mine. UHB spring contains the highest concentration of dissolved uranium in the region, eclipsing the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) set by the USEPA by an order of magnitude on average. This research and recent collaboration with …

Building And Using A Hydrology Experiment For Place-Based Learning With Native American Students, Michaela Shallue

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Geoscience has a known diversity problem, specifically a participation gap of ethnic minority representation, and it is especially severe regarding Native American representation. To address this participation gap, an identity gap needs to be addressed first. Native students need to visualize themselves as geoscientists before they can commit to geoscience programs and careers. This project uses a hands-on, place-based learning activity as an opportunity for Native students to better see themselves as geoscientists.

A portable rainfall simulator was constructed, calibrated, and refined for use in teaching concepts about rainfall, runoff, and erosion. It was employed in place-based learning exercises with …

Geological Structure And Possible Mineralized Zones In Ikungi – Manyoni Area, Tanzania: Delineated From High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Data, Raymond K. Pius, Michael M. Msabi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Understanding geological structures is important in mineral exploration. Delineating subsurface geological structures, structural intersections, and complexities of potential geological settings for the formation of hydrothermal mineral deposits, such as gold requires using magnetic data, particularly, high-resolution aeromagnetic data. To define possible targets for mineral exploration, this study used linear detection and the Centre for Exploration Targeting (CET) techniques on high-resolution aeromagnetic data for structural delineation and interpretation. The study's conclusions indicate that the majority of geological features, such as faults, shears, fault intersections, and fracture systems, trend NE-SW, N-S, and occasionally NW-SE. These structures create potentially large areas that have …

Green And Blue Water Footprints Of Major Crops In The Wami/Ruvu Basin, Tanzania: Implications For Water Scarcity And Sustainability, Benson Hm Lazaro, Martine M. Hagai, Rubhera Ram Mato

Tanzania Journal of Science

Accurate estimation of the blue and green water requirements of the various crops cultivated in a water basin is essential for planning specific plant/crop irrigation schedules. In this study, the crop water requirements of the major crops grown in the Wami/Ruvu basin were determined using the FAO-CROPWAT model based on meteorological parameters: monthly maximum and minimum temperature, wind speed, mean relative humidity, sunshine hours, rainfall data, and effective rainfall for 23 hydro-meteorological stations distributed in the study area. The studied crops are rice, maize, beans, tomatoes, and sugarcane. The crop reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and actual evapotranspiration (ETc) for each crop …

Mauvais Coulee Hydrologic Simulation Data, Sharhad Wainty, Taufique H. Mahmood, Christopher Spence, Diane F. Van Hoy

Datasets

The authors compiled a hydrologic model for the Mauvais Coulee Basin using Cold Region Hydrologic Platform. The datasets include observed and simulated streamflow, observed climatic data, land use maps and hydrological representative unit maps (HRU) maps. This study detected a mechanism of hydrologic change to wetting using a cold region hydrologic model during 1990-2004 period.

Arkansas Soil Erosion And Conservation Methods In Ornamental Landscapes, Abby J. Cutsinger

ATU Scholars Symposium

This study will attempt to identify the best soil erosion mitigation methods for Arkansas ornamental landscape settings by comparing the strengths and weaknesses of known techniques. Since soil is not a renewable resource, we must apply conservation practices wherever possible, not just in agricultural settings. To determine the most effective erosion prevention techniques, this study will review soil studies conducted by the NRCS and NASA, as well as articles on best practices observed in ornamental landscape and agricultural industries. These are analyzed by comparing and contrasting techniques against known problems with Arkansas soil to determine which methods are most effective. …

Evaluating Reclaimed Mines And Heavy Metal Soil Contamination, Torin A. Matthews

ATU Scholars Symposium

Arkansas has a rich history of lead and zinc mining. While there are still some active mines, many historical mines have been abandoned and/or reclaimed. Although most reclamation procedures result in the burial and containment of target minerals, accessory minerals and elements can be leached out of waste materials/tailings piles and include heavy metals (i.e., Pb, As, Cd). We aim to evaluate the soil and watershed of a few abandoned/reclaimed mines in Pope County, AR, for the presence of heavy metals/source minerals. Soil and stream sediment geochemistry will be conducted using a portable x-ray fluorescence analyzer. Field work and sampling …

Phighting Phosphorus: The Effects Of Sedimentary Phosphorus On The Macatawa Watershed, Elizabeth Kelley, Rachel Fusik, Jake Lyon

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Lake Macatawa experiences severe eutrophication and algal blooms that negatively impact the native species and recreational usage of the lake. There have been several previously completed studies on phosphorus pollution in the water by the Hope College Day1 Watershed Group. However, these measurements do not include lake sediments, which could also be a significant reservoir of phosphorus. Our research group decided to test the sediment at the same three lake locations tested by the Watershed Group, taking two core samples at each location. These samples were dried, combusted in a muffle oven, weighed, digested from solid to liquid, and then …

Potential Non-Carbonate Buffering In An Interdunal Wetland/Slack Along Lake Michigan, Faith Huff

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Interdunal wetlands/slacks occur in Lake Michigan's coastal dunes where the wind scours the sand to the water table. Since May 2016 we have performed ecohydrological studies on the largest interdunal wetlands/slack, ~1.25 ha in size, lying within a deflated parabolic dune east of Lake Michigan at the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area, Michigan. The slack’s hydrology is influenced by Lake Michigan-Huron, appearing and increasing in size and water depth with rising lake levels and decreasing in size to drying with low levels. Prior to 2014, the slack was completely dry and dominated by upland dune species due to low lake levels. …

Development Of A Liquid Chromatography Method For The Quantification Of Carbohydrates In Peat Soils, Christopher Klaver, Parker Diaz, Abigail Brewer, Gael Figueroa-Enriquez, Madison Smith

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Peatlands are an important carbon sink. However, climate change threatens to cause the peatlands to release their stored-up carbon. This would result in lots of carbon dioxide and methane to be released into the atmosphere due to the increased peat decomposition. This would end up forming a positive feedback loop, and thus resulting in more and more carbon lost from the peat. The biochemical composition of the peat is an indicator of the degradation state of the peat as well as its ongoing vulnerability to decomposition. In this study, we developed an HPLC method for analyzing the carbohydrate composition of …

No "Butts" About It: The Heavy Metal Impact Of Cigarette Litter, Faith Huff, Connor Monson, Spencer Whittington

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Cigarettes are the most common litter globally. Following smoking, the filter is left with carcinogenic compounds, tar and metals. All of which are highly toxic for wildlife, affecting reproduction, behavior and mortality rate in animals. The heavy metals that are left within the filter also have potential to leach from the cigarettes and enter the groundwater system. As these heavy metals enter the system, it leads to adverse effects on the environment and can cause detrimental health effects in humans, such as cell damage, induced carcinogenic processes and loss of cellular functions. Much research that exists currently only focuses on …

Temperature Sensitivity Of Nitrogen Mineralization In Peat From Bogs Across A Michigan Transect, Madison Smith, Hannah Sturgeon, Abigail Brewer, Gael Figueroa-Enriquez, Christopher Klaver

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

In this study, seven peat bogs across a latitudinal transect of Michigan were used to analyze inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) release from peat to predict the impact that climate warming has on peatland nitrogen cycle. More nitrogen release is expected in samples kept at warmer temperatures (simulated climate warming) and also from samples from lower latitudes in the transect. 1-m peat core samples were taken at each site. 20 g of acid washed sand was added to upper chambers of microlysimeters (two-chambered filter towers). 50 g of peat was added onto the sand and was left to equilibrate for …

Stream-Borne Floating Mismanaged Waste In Holland, Michigan: Focus On Foam, Sam J. Haakenson, Reina A. Duron

23rd Annual A. Paul and Carol C. Schaap Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2024)

Streams and storm drain systems link terrestrial roadside litter to rivers and lakes, which eventually supply floating debris to the global ocean. To better understand this linkage, we evaluated the kinds and quantity of floating mismanaged solid waste being transported in five streams within the Lake Macatawa watershed in the environs of Holland, Michigan. We deployed floating litter booms in the four smallest streams. These consisted of a rip-stop nylon sleeve encasing pool noodle floats strung on a wire rope. These were placed diagonally across the stream and anchored to fence posts set into the stream banks. In the largest …

Investigating Geomorphic Controls On The Luminescence Properties Of Quartz Sand In A River System, Jenna Mills

Student Research Symposium

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating of quartz sand grains is used to date young deposits across disciplines in geology and archaeology. OSL dating requires that the quartz mineral is sensitized, or pre-conditioned to produce a luminescence signal following exposure to ionizing radiation. The geological processes that enhance the OSL sensitivity (photons released per given radiation dose and sediment mass) remain uncertain. Our Research Objectives are to investigate the geomorphic controls (bedrock source, fluvial transport, and hillslope processes) on OSL sensitivity using sediment collected along the Pagliara River in NE Sicily.

The Pagliara catchment (13km²) is tectonically active and …

Glacial Resource Analysis – Castner Glacier, Alaska, Logan Erichsen

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Glaciers cover much of the 49th U.S. state of Alaska. While many of these are deep blues, just as many are “rock” glaciers which means the glacier is covered in sediment. This sediment can be transported many miles through the mountain ranges. With the current climate melting these glaciers they are receding. Sediment and rock samples can now be safely collected from different locations where glaciers have released sediment that was locked in the ice for an untold number of years. Much of the USGS data comes from the 1940’s through 1960’s due to the size and remoteness of Alaska. …