Geology Commons^™

Extensive Frost Weathering Across Unglaciated North America During The Last Glacial Maximum, J. A. Marshall, J. J. Roering, A. W. Rempel, S. L. Shafer, P. J. Bartlein

Geosciences Faculty Publications and Presentations

In unglaciated terrain, the imprint of past glacial periods is difficult to discern. The topographic signature of periglacial processes, such as solifluction lobes, may be erased or hidden by time and vegetation, and thus their import diminished. Belowground, periglacial weathering, particularly frost cracking, may have imparted a profound influence on weathering and erosion rates during past climate regimes. By combining a mechanical frost-weathering model with the full suite of Last Glacial Maximum climate simulations, we elucidate the meters-deep magnitude and continent-spanning expanse of frost weathering across unglaciated North America at ∼21 ka. The surprising extent of modeled frost weathering suggests, …

Boulders As A Lithologic Control On River And Landscape Response To Tectonic Forcing At The Mendocino Triple Junction, Charles Shobe, Georgina Bennett, Gregory Tucker, Kevin Roback, Scott Miller, Joshua Roering

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

Constraining Earth’s sediment mass balance over geologic time requires a quantitative understanding of how landscapes respond to transient tectonic perturbations. However, the mechanisms by which bedrock lithology governs landscape response remain poorly understood. Rock type influences the size of sediment delivered to river channels, which controls how efficiently rivers respond to tectonic forcing. The Mendocino triple junction region of northern California, USA, is one landscape in which large boulders, delivered by hillslope failures to channels, may alter the pace of landscape response to a pulse of rock uplift. Boulders frequently delivered by earthflows in one lithology, the Franciscan mélange, have …

Application Of Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes And Molecular Biomarkers To Paleoclimatic And Paleoecological Reconstructions, Mingqiu Hou

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Compound-specific stable isotope analysis and biomarker-based paleothermometry have been increasingly applied to for paleoclimate and paleoecology studies. The first project aims to reconstruct the paleoclimate in the Qaidam Basin during the last glacial period. Qaidam Basin in the Northern Tibetan Plateau is a critical eolian factory located at a unique geographic location that links the Westerlies and the Asian summer monsoons. However, how the interactions of two climatic systems influence the paleohydrology that in turn impacts the eolian production in the Qaidam Basin has been seldom explored. Our compound-specific hydrogen isotope and U^K ₃₇ temperature data found that the …

Redefining The Age Of The Lower Colorado River, Southwestern United States, R. S. Crow, J. Schwing, K. E. Karlstrom, M. Heizler, P. A. Pearthree, P. K. House, S. Dulin, Susanne U. Jänecke, M. Stelten, L. J. Crossey

Geosciences Faculty Publications

Sanidine dating and magnetostratigraphy constrain the timing of integration of the lower Colorado River (southwestern United States and northern Mexico) with the evolving Gulf of California. The Colorado River arrived at Cottonwood valley (Nevada and Arizona) after 5.24 Ma (during or after the Thvera subchron). The river reached the proto–Gulf of California once between 4.80 and 4.63 Ma (during the C3n.2r subchron), not at 5.3 Ma and 5.0 Ma as previously proposed. Duplication of section across newly identified strands of the Earthquake Valley fault zone (California) probably explains the discrepancy. The data also imply the start of focused plate motion …

Early Mesoproterozoic Evolution Of Midcontinental Laurentia: Defining The Geon 14 Baraboo Orogeny, L. Gordon Medaris Jr, Brad S. Singer, Brian R. Jicha, David H. Malone, Joshua J. Schwartz, Esther K. Stewart, Amanda Van Lankvelt, Michael L. Williams, Peter W. Reiners

Faculty Publications - Geography, Geology, and the Environment

New geochronologic data from midcontinental Laurentia demonstrate that emplacement of the 1476–1470 Ma Wolf River granitic batholith was not an isolated igneous event, but was accompanied by regional metamorphism, deformation, and sedimentation. Evidence for such metamorphism and deformation is best seen in siliciclastic sedimentary rocks of the Baraboo Interval, which were deposited closely following the 1.65–1.63 Ga Mazatzal orogeny. In Baraboo Interval strata, muscovite parallel to slatey cleavage, in hydrothermal veins, in quartzite breccia, and in metamorphosed paleosol yielded 40Ar/39Ar plateau ages of 1493–1465 Ma. In addition, U–Th–total Pb dating of neoblastic overgrowths on detrital monazite gave an age of …

Geology And Fossils Of North Central Texas (Fort Worth To Mineral Wells): Texas Academy Of Science February 28 2021, R. Larell Nielson

Faculty Publications

The 2021 Texas Academy of Science Geology field trip will be a virtual field trip that you may run at any time. It will have two parts;Part 1 consists of a video discussion of each stop( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJKSgqtLvw0)and Part 2 consists of this field trip guidebook (for use when visiting each of the locations). The field trip will start at Holiday Park,near Benbrook,southwest of Fort Worth,Texas, and will end at the Mineral Wells Fossil Park, west of Minerals Wells, Texas. T

Investigating The Recent History Of A Changing Planet With Innovative Isotopic Techniques And New Geologic Archives, Ryan A. Venturelli

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Globally averaged Earth surface temperatures indicate a 0.8°C warming since 1880. Though this warming is a result of anthropogenic influence that has exceeded natural forcings, a thorough understanding of Earth's climate system requires a knowledge of changes in global temperatures beyond the instrumental record. To achieve this, we must supplement the temporally limited observational record with proxy records of environmental conditions in the geologic past. Though the foundational questions underlying interrogations of the geologic past are seemingly simple (What happened? When?), the accuracy of their answers depend upon accessibility and availability of geologic materials as well as the capabilities of …

Forest Structure And Climate Change Mitigation Potential: A Case Of Wilolesi And Ikonongo Forested Hills In Iringa Municipality, Tanzania, Evarist Fundisha, Hamidu Seki, Anasia Saria

Tanzania Journal of Science

Vegetation plays major roles in carbon storage and ecosystem functioning by modifying the rate of carbon fluxes thereby mitigating climate change. However, the focus of assessing the potentials for different vegetation on climate change mitigation has for so long been conducted outside cities, towns and municipalities. This study was conducted in Wilolesi and Ikonongo hills located in Iringa as representative of the Municipality forested hills in Tanzania to assess vegetation structure and their potential for climate change mitigation. Random sampling technique was employed to establish 20 rectangular plots of 20 m x 40 m (0.08 ha) in each hill to …

Seismic Attributes Analysis As A Precursor To Hydrocarbon Indicators: A Case Study Of “Ok” Field, Niger Delta, Oluwatoyin Ologe, Mary Olowokere

Tanzania Journal of Science

Seismic data volume was employed to gain more insights into the complexities of the hydrocarbon hosting units within and outside the vicinity of well control in the OK-field Niger Delta to overcome wrong deductions from complexly faulted subsurface configuration for the oilfield exploration programme. The methodology involved integration of well log with seismic data, seismic structural analysis and seismic attributes analysis. Horizons and fault interpretations were carried out to produce subsurface attribute maps. Lithologic panels derived from well log data showed that the study area is characterized by sand-shale interbedding. Two hydrocarbon bearing reservoirs were delineated within the study interval, …

Analyzing The Electricity Consumption And Costs Of Electrical-Powered Machines When There Is Orepass Failure In Underground Mine, Bartłomiej Skawina, Abubakary Salama

Tanzania Journal of Science

In underground mining environment where the loss of orepasses is a dominant factor, the mine may face a challenge of improving the loading and hauling operations. Some of the options will be to rehabilitate the lost orepasses, or developing the new ones. When the rehabilitation cost is high, alternative strategies should be applied to compensate for the orepasses failure. One of the possible options is to use diesel or electric Load-Haul-Dumps (LHDs). The use of diesel-powered LHDs will increase heat and gas emissions which increase environmental concerns and ventilation costs, while adoption of electric-powered vehicles needs to be analysed. Therefore, …

Mineralogy And Geochemistry Of Shale-Hosted Copper Of The Middle Buanji Group, Chimala Area, South-Western Tanzania, Almachius Mutasingwa, Michael Msabi, Neema Jackson, Seetharamaiah Jagarlamudi

Tanzania Journal of Science

The mineralogical and geochemical assessments are presented in this paper to constrain the mineralogy and copper concentrations of the shale-hosted copper in the Middle Buanji Group of the Upper Paleoproterozoic (1.67 Ga). The XRD analysis revealed that illite and chamosite are the major clay minerals present in the shales together with pseudomalachite, quartz, and muscovite that constitute over 95% by proportion of the sample. The minerals biotite, birnessite, ferroselite, bearsite, chloritoid, and anatase are present in association with shale-hosted copper in low amounts (i.e., <5% by proportion of the sample). The pseudomalachite [Cu5(PO4)2(OH)4] is considered as ore mineral of copper in the shales of the Middle Buanji Group. Field observations revealed the presence of different shale layers within the Middle Buanji Group such as red, grey and green/blue in which copper mineral is distributed. On average, the copper concentrations in the shale layers were unevenly distributed throughout the red-grey-green shales layers with values of 0.31 wt%, 5.2 wt% and 13.19 wt%, respectively. A noticeable amount of copper mineralization up to 25.7 wt% was restricted within the green shale layer as compared to red (0.31 wt%) and grey (10.9 wt%) layers. Keywords: Pseudomalachite; Supergene enrichment; Shale-hosted copper; Green shale layer

High-Precision U-Pb Age Constraints On The Permian Floral Turnovers, Paleoclimate Change, And Tectonics Of The North China Block, Qiong Wu, Jahandar Ramezani, Hua Zhang, Jun Wang, Wan Yang, For Full List Of Authors, See Publisher's Website.

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Permian marine-terrestrial system of the North China block provides an exceptional window into the evolution of northern temperate ecosystems during the critical transition from icehouse to greenhouse following the late Paleozoic ice age (LPIA). Despite many studies on its rich hydrocarbon reserves and climate-sensitive fossil flora, uncertain temporal constraints and correlations have hampered a thorough understanding of the records of geologic, biologic, and climatic change from the North China block. We present a new chronostratigraphy based on high-precision U-Pb chemical abrasion-isotope dilution-thermal ionization mass spectrometry (CA-ID-TIMS) geochronology of tuffs from a near-complete latest Carboniferous-Permian succession in North China. The …

A Reimagining Of The Chacoan World, Larry Benson, Richard W. Loose

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

A new paradigm of the Chacoan world is presented, wherein Chaco Canyon is considered to be a mostly unoccupied architectural complex that functioned primarily as a pilgrimage destination. Chaco was the political, religious, and social focal point of people living in outlying regions. The resident population of the Canyon consisted of a small number of caretakers, charged with maintaining great house structures, food supplies, and their ceremonial contents. Chacoan chiefdoms were mostly located in large, well-watered, agriculturally-based communities situated at the base of mountains that ring the San Juan Basin, e.g., the Chuskas. Chiefly elites lived year-round in those areas, …

Nebraska Statewide Groundwater-Level Monitoring Report 2020, Aaron R. Young, Mark E. Burbach, Leslie M. Howard, Sue Olafsen Lackey, Robert Matthew Joeckel

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

The term “groundwater” has come to be all but synonymous with Nebraska. Nearly three-quarters of the total volume of the High Plains Aquifer lies beneath the state. Groundwater maintains our streams, our ecosystems, our people, and our vitally important agricultural economy. Nebraska’s total groundwater resource is vast, yet it is also vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic changes, necessitating a long-term commitment to wise management through informed decision-making. Monitoring, studying, and reporting form the essential basis for such management and, ultimately, for meeting the myriad challenges presented by change.

Microstructural Characteristics Of Deformed Quartz Under Non-Steady-State Conditions, Hamidreza Soleymani

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Because of the long timescale of many geological processes (millions of years), it has been traditionally assumed that the existing forces acting on the rocks at deep crustal levels are in equilibrium (i.e., steady-state). An alternative assumption, however, suggests that rocks in the lower crust and upper mantle are continuously evolving and exchanging energy at various time scales. Under the latter assumption (i.e., non-steady-state), certain geologic systems may never attain equilibrium regardless of the length and the time scale of operating geologic events. These two “endpoint” assumptions suggest there is a wide range of geologically reasonable conditions under which rocks …

Characterization And Oil Recovery Enhancement By A Polymeric Nanogel Combined With Surfactant For Sandstone Reservoirs, Mustafa Mohammed Almahfood, Baojun Bai

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The characterization and enhanced oil recovery mechanisms of a nanosized polymeric cross-linked gel are presented herein. A negatively charged nanogel was synthesized using a typical free radical suspension polymerization process by employing 2-acrylamido 2-methyl propane sulfonic acid monomer. The synthesized nanogel showed a narrow size distribution with one peak pointing to a predominant homogeneous droplet size. The charged nanogels were also able to adsorb at the oil-water interfaces to reduce interfacial tension and stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, which ultimately improved the recovered oil from hydrocarbon reservoirs. In addition, a fixed concentration of negatively charged surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate or SDS) was …

Optimization Of The Distribution Of Drilling Boreholes In Methane Production From Coal Seams, Anna Wątor, Jarosław Chećko, Tomasz Urych

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The paper presents an evaluation of methane production from coal seams. The Warszowice-PawłowicePółnoc deposit was selected for numerical modelling of methane production. The numerical model was made for a fragment of this deposit of about 2 km². The numerical model was constructed for 6 seams. Three deposits were selected for simulation of methane production. Three horizontal boreholes were designed within the model area, referring to the existing Suszec-19 borehole. A number of simulations related to methane production from the selected deposits were performed. They included different variants of the number of boreholes and also took into account the …

When Dinosaurs Walked Through Diamonds: Constraining The Age Of Early Cretaceous Footprints In Volcanic Crater Sediments, Yasmin Jackson

SMU Journal of Undergraduate Research

The volcanic rocks of the Catoca Diamond Mine, northeastern Angola, were formed in an eruption ~118 million years ago. Above these rocks, researchers discovered Early Cretaceous mammalian, crocodilian, and sauropod dinosaur footprints in crater lake sediments. These footprints are among the relatively few vertebrate fossils from the Cretaceous Period (145-66 million years ago) found in Sub-Saharan Africa. The ~118 million-year-old age, which is the maximum age of the footprints, is provided by the uranium and lead isotope ratios in the zircon crystals from these volcanic rocks. The presence of dinosaur footprints limits the minimum age to 66 million years ago. …

Reassessing Hydrothermal Heat Discharge And The Relationship Of Hot Springs In The North Oregon Cascades, Aaron Alexander Orr

Dissertations and Theses

Reservoir temperatures of hydrothermal systems in the Pacific Northwest reflect the feasibility of geothermal energy production and the tectonic framework of the region. Multicomponent geothermometry techniques were applied to new and historic water chemistry data in the north-central Oregon Western Cascades and the lower Wind River Valley in southern Washington in order to recalculate reservoir temperatures. Revised reservoir temperatures, water chemistry, and isotope data were used to determine relationships between hot springs in the north-central Oregon Cascades. Geothermal reservoir temperatures were estimated for the lower Wind River Valley (98.44 ± 0.96°C) and for Austin and Bagby Hot Springs (100.10 ± …

Evaluation Of Undeveloped Hard Coal Deposits And Estimation Of Hard Coal Reserves In The Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland, Tomasz Urych, Jarosław Chećko, Marek Rosa, Anna Wątor

Journal of Sustainable Mining

The article presents the results of works concerning evaluation of undeveloped deposits in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin and an estimation of hard coal reserves which can be developed by 2050. Evaluation of hard coal deposits was established on criterions choice and their score determination. On the basis of obtained the final score and after consultations with experts in the field of hard coal mining, there were selected three areas of undeveloped deposits with the amount of about 1.99 Gt (billion metric tons) of anticipated economic resources which can extend the coal reserve base located in the direct vicinity of …

Relationship Between Individual Chamber And Whole Shell Mg/Ca Ratios In Trilobatus Sacculifer And Implications For Individual Foraminifera Palaeoceanographic Reconstructions, Gerald T. Rustic, Pratigya J. Polissar, Ana Christina Ravelo, Peter Demenocal

School of Earth & Environment Departmental Research

Precisely targeted measurements of trace elements using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) reveal inter-chamber heterogeneities in specimens of the planktic foraminifer Trilobatus (Globigerinoides) sacculifer. We find that Mg/Ca ratios in the final growth chamber are generally lower compared to previous growth chambers, but final chamber Mg/Ca is elevated in one of thirteen sample intervals. Differences in distributions of Mg/Ca values from separate growth chambers are observed, occurring most often at lower Mg/Ca values, suggesting that single-chamber measurements may not be reflective of the specimen’s integrated Mg/Ca. We compared LA-ICPMS Mg/Ca values to paired, same-individual Mg/Ca measured via …

Concentrated Lunar Resources: Imminent Implications For Governance And Justice, Martin Elvis, Alanna Krolikowski, Tony Milligan

History and Political Science Faculty Research & Creative Works

Numerous missions planned for the next decade are likely to target a handful of small sites of interest on the Moon's surface, creating risks of crowding and interference at these locations. The Moon presents finite and scarce areas with rare topography or concentrations of resources of special value. Locations of interest to science, notably for astronomy, include the Peaks of Eternal Light, the coldest of the cold traps and smooth areas on the far side. Regions richest in physical resources could also be uniquely suited to settlement and commerce. Such sites of interest are both few and small. Typically, there …

185, Scott Brande

RockDoc - 3D Rock Models

Model created by Dr. Scott Brande

Study rock about 4 inches long.

Rock Glaciers And Related Cold Rocky Landforms: Overlooked Climate Refugia For Mountain Biodiversity, Stefano Brighenti, Scott Hotaling, Debra S. Finn, Andrew G. Fountain, Masaki Hayashi, David Herbst, Jasmine E. Saros, Lusha M. Tronstad, Constance I. Millar

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Mountains are global biodiversity hotspots where cold environments and their associated ecological communities are predicted to be threatened by climate warming. Considerable research attention has been devoted to understanding the ecological effects of alpine glacier and snowfield recession. However, much less attention has been given to identifying climate refugia in mountain ecosystems where present-day environmental conditions will be maintained, at least in the near-term, as other habitats change. Around the world, montane communities of microbes, animals, and plants live on, adjacent to, and downstream of rock glaciers and related cold rocky landforms (CRL). These geomorphological features have been overlooked in …

Exploiting Common Senses: Sensory Ecology Meets Wildlife Conservation And Management, Laura K. Elmer, Christine L. Madliger, Daniel T. Blumstein, Chris K. Elvidge, Esteban Ernández-Juricic, Andrij Z. Horodysky, Nicholas S. Johnson, Liam P. Mcguire, Ronald R. Swaisgood, Steven J. Cooke

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Multidisciplinary approaches to conservation and wildlife management are often effective in addressing complex, multi-factor problems. Emerging fields such as conservation physiology and conservation behaviour can provide innovative solutions and management strategies for target species and systems. Sensory ecology combines the study of ‘how animals acquire’ and process sensory stimuli from their environments, and the ecological and evolutionary significance of ‘how animals respond’ to this information. We review the benefits that sensory ecology can bring to wildlife conservation and management by discussing case studies across major taxa and sensory modalities. Conservation practices informed by a sensory ecology approach include the amelioration …

Appendices To "The Importance Of The Museum In Antebellum U.S. Western Territorial Exploration: Part 2. The Roles Of Hayden And Meek In A Paradigm Shift In Geologic And Paleontologic Studies", Joseph H. Hartman

Datasets

Appendices associated with the article: Hartman, Joseph H., 2021, The importance of the museum in antebellum U.S. western territorial exploration: Part 2. The roles of Hayden and Meek in a paradigm shift in geologic and paleontologic studies. Earth Sciences History, v. 40, no. 2, p. 1–44.

The “World's Greatest Mineral Locality:” HaiǁOm, Ndonga, Herero, And The Early Colonial Histories Of Tsumeb, Namibia, Selby Hearth

Geology Faculty Research and Scholarship

The Tsumeb copper mine in the Otavi Mountains of Namibia is famous both for its spectacular mineral specimens and for its unparalleled diversity of mineral species. The site was mined for nearly 100 years, first by Anglo-German and then by multinational companies; however, prior to that, the site was central to the economies of the Ndonga, Haiǁom, and Herero, who mined, smelted, crafted, and traded the copper. This paper attempts to fill a major gap in the early history of Tsumeb: how did control of Tsumeb’s copper transfer from local communities to Germany? By synthesizing a wide variety of sources, …

Atmosphere/Landscape Co2 Interactions In Mammoth Cave National Park: Hydrochemistry Of Cascade River, Great Onyx Cave, Jessica Williams

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

High-resolution analysis of water/CO₂/carbonate rock geochemistry was conducted at the Great Onyx Groundwater Basin in Mammoth Cave National Park. The purpose of this work has been to undertake hydrochemical characterization of the karst groundwater in Cascade River, the largest cave stream in the upper level of Great Onyx Cave, which is below a relatively pristine karst landscape.

Hydrochemical monitoring of Cascade River at Biz Falls using field, laboratory, and high-resolution electronic data-sonde measurements has provided a detailed picture of the stream’s behavior with respect to the transport and influence of carbon dioxide in the surface and groundwater system …

Characterizing The Geomagnetic Field At High Southern Latitudes: Evidence From The Antarctic Peninsula, Joseph Biasi, Joseph Kirschvink, Roger Fu

Other Staff Materials

Due to a dearth of data from high-latitude paleomagnetic sites, it is not currently clear if the geocentric axial dipole (GAD) hypothesis accurately describes the long-term behavior of the geomagnetic field at high latitudes. Here we present new paleomagnetic and paleointensity data from the James Ross Island (JRI) volcanic group, located on the Antarctic Peninsula. This data set addresses a notable lack of data from the 60°–70°S latitude bin and includes 251 samples from 31 sites, spanning 0.99–6.8 Ma in age. We also include positive fold, conglomerate, and baked contact tests. Paleointensity data from three methods (Thellier- Thellier, pseudo-Thellier, and …

Mgrre_Pureoilscouttickets_Gillen_1_21091080490000, Michigan Geological Repository For Research And Education

Legacy Scout Tickets from Pure Oil Company

No abstract provided.