Geology Commons^™

Characterizing The Internal Architecture Of Upper Bone Spring Limestone Turbidites And Mass-Transport Deposits (Mtds) Utilizing High-Resolution Image Log Technology, Jason J. Asmus

Masters Theses

Characterization of reservoir scale (less than 1 meter thick) turbidites and mass-transport deposits (MTDs) using conventional subsurface data is complex, due to millimeter-centimeter scale architectural heterogeneity exhibited by these deposits.

Limited studies of the Bone Spring carbonate turbidites and MTDs within the Delaware Basin subsurface emphasized the use of conventional wire-line log and seismic data to evaluate reservoir potential of such strata. As a result, limited resolution offered by these data sets do not allow for accurate characterization of reservoir, and sub-reservoir scale, architectural and compositional variations.

The present investigation integrates high-resolution (centimeter scale) electrical borehole image logs with conventional …

Faunal Distribution And Relative Abundance In A Silurian (Wenlock) Pinnacle Reef Complex - Ray Reef, Macomb County, Michigan, Jennifer L. Trout

Masters Theses

Niagaran (Silurian) reefs are important sources of hydrocarbons in the Michigan Basin. In addition, some of these reservoirs have been used for gas storage and may be potential CO2 sequestration sites.

Despite extensive research on Niagaran reefs, most studies concerning faunal abundance and distribution have been qualitative studies conducted by paleontologists with an emphasis on taxonomy, paleoecology, and evolution.

This study is the first quantitative study of relative abundance and general distribution of fauna throughout a single Wenlock reef located in the southern trend of the Michigan Basin. This study will build on previous work done by WMU students and …

The Impact Of Creosote Bush (Larrea Tridentata) And Biological Soil Crust On Ca Distribution In Arid Soils Of The Mojave Desert, Brittany Myers

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Ca is an important nutrient that plays a role in membrane stability and cell repair in plant life. This study examines the impact of creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) and biological soil crust on calcium cycling and distribution in desert soils in order to explore the use of Ca as a biosignature. Samples of creosote bush, biological soil crust and eolian dust were taken at two field sites in the Mojave Desert. The first site is located in Eldorado Valley, NV, a soil formed on a young (800-1200 years) alluvial fan deposit; the second site is located on a late Holocene-aged …

Penetration Forces For Subsurface Regolith Probes, Ahmed Elshafie

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Investigating planetary bodies using penetrometers can provide detailed information about its history and evolution. An estimation of subsurface density and porosity can be made from the shape of the penetration curve. Using penetrometers mounted on planetary platforms could be challenging due to the uncertainty of the subsurface composition and since the maximum allowed force for penetration is the weight of the lander or rover on the surface. Estimation of penetration forces can provide a reliable constraint on the maximum reachable depth without endangering the whole mission. Therefore, knowledge of the required penetration force to specific depths can be helpful in …

Diagenesis And Reservoir Characterization Of The Pennsylvanian Middle Atoka Formation, Sebastian And Logan Counties, West-Central Arkansas, Elvis Chekwube Bello

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Middle Atoka Formation evolved from a stable passive margin during the early Pennsylvanian time to a rapidly subsiding basin, with the sedimentary fill thickening greatly southward during the middle Pennsylvanian time. The basin dips in north-south direction. An east-west anticlines and synclines were observed.

The purpose of this study is to establish the stratigraphic units, reservoir geometry and distribution, and infer the depositional environments and reservoir quality. Well correlation and petrographic studies are used to achieve the goals.

Sandstone Point Count method was used. The Point Counts was divided into five categories. They include the framework grains (quartz, feldspar, …

Modeling Lithospheric Rheology From Modern Measurements Of Bonneville Shoreline Deformation, Eric P. Beard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Here I develop a new method for estimating differences in elevation between pairs of paleo-lake shoreline features. This method is applied to Lake Bonneville, a large lake that inundated nearly 1/3 of the state of Utah as well as parts of Nevada and Idaho from 34 to 11.5 thousand years ago. Under the weight of the lake water load, the surface of the Earth was depressed by up to 75 m. This occurred as Earth mantle rock at depth flowed outward in response to the weight of the lake. I use this new methodology to compile here a denser sample …

A Study Of The Bioherms Of The Early Ordovician Garden City Formation And A Literature Review Of Early Ordovician Organic Buildups, Heidi Pearce

All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023

During the Early Ordovician organic buildups formed in shallow seas across the world. This project contains a literature review on these organic buildups with a focus on those occurring in the warm, shallow seas of North America, but also includes a study on organic buildups formed in the cold water region of Russia. The goal of the study was to characterize these Early Ordovician organic buildups in order to identify similarities and differences in their occurrence. The second part of this project is a preliminary study on organic buildups occurring in the Early Ordovician Garden City Formation in Boss Canyon, …

Inventory And Initiation Zone Characterization Of Debris Flows On Mount St. Helens, Washington Initiated During A Major Storm Event In November, 2006, Keith Vinton Olson

Dissertations and Theses

The heavy precipitation event of November 3-8, 2006 dropped over 60 cm of rain onto the bare southern slopes of Mount St. Helens and generated debris flows in eight of the sixteen drainages outside the 1980 debris avalanche zone. Debris flows occurred on the upper catchments of the Muddy River, Shoestring Glacier, Pine Creek, June Lake, Butte Camp Dome, Blue Lake, Sheep Creek, and South Fork Toutle River. Debris flows were clustered on the west and south-east sides of the mountain. Of the eight debris flows, three were initiated by landslides, while five were initiated by headward or channel erosion. …

Temporal And Crustal Effects On Differentiation Of Tholeiite To Calcalkaline And Ferro-Trachytic Suites, High Lava Plains, Oregon, Usa, Martin J. Streck, Anita L. Grunder

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Strongly bimodal, basalt-rhyolite volcanism of the High Lava Plains Province of Oregon followed the Middle Miocene flood basalts of the Pacific Northwest and extends to recent time. During the 8 m.y. of volcanism recorded in the central High Lava Plains, in western Harney Basin, three distinct mafic magmatic trends originate from primitive high-alumina olivine tholeiites (HAOT); they are tholeiitic, calcalkaline and ferro-trachytic. Tholeiitic basalts occur throughout the history and their compositions are derived by crystal fractionation while traversing the crust and mixing with evolved mafic magmas. Scavenging of apatite from crustal rocks and minor contamination with felsic melts accounts for …

Geochemistry And Geochronology Of The Central Metasedimentary Belt Boundary Thrust Zone Thrust Sheets In Southern Ontario, Grenville Province, Kenjo Agustsson

Natural Resources Management and Environmental Sciences

Studies of pre-Grenvillian (1.4–1.3 Ga) plutons offer insight into the dynamics of arc amalgamation and backarc rifting prior to continental collision in the Ottawan orogeny. The Central Metasedimentary Belt boundary thrust zone (CMBbtz) is a northeast–southwest trending thrust zone consisting of metaplutonic thrust sheets enveloped in gneissic tectonites and calcitic– dolomitic marbles. Tonalitic CMBbtz thrust sheets (Dysart and Redstone) are made up of upper amphibolite-facies, foliation-concordant metatonalites (+ amphibole ± biotite ± accessory zircon and titanite) and amphibolites (± biotite ± clinopyroxene), and are located in the southern Ontario Grenville Province. These thrust sheets are thought to have formed and …

Gps Constraints On Indo-Asian Convergence In The Bhutan Himalaya: Segmentation And Potential For A 8.2-8.8 Mw Earthquake, Dowchu Drukpa, Phuntsho Pelgay, Anjan Bhattacharya, Phillipe Vernant, Walter Szeliga, Roser Bilham

Faculty Scholarship for the Cascadia Hazards Institute

The seismogenic setting of Bhutan is unusual due to its lower-than-average 20th century seismic moment release (Drukpa et al. 2006), its absence of a reliable historical record, and its unusual location near the Shillong plateau where a great earthquake in 1897 resulted in ≈10 m of N/S shortening of the Indian plate to its south (Gahalaut et al. 2011). Despite these indicators that lower than normal convergence velocities should currently prevail, the GPS velocity between Shillong and Lhasa suggests that convergence in Sikkim and Bhutan occurs at velocities exceeding 20 mm/yr. GPS points between the Greater Himalaya and the Shillong …

3-D Seismic Interpretation, Seismic Attribute Analysis, And Well Log Interpretation Of An Area Between Ellis And Rooks Counties, Kansas, Vilma I. Perez De Pottella

Master's Theses or Doctor of Nursing Practice

The researched area covers the extent of the Keller 3D seismic survey [2 mi2 (5.2 km2)] and is located approximately 12 miles northeast of the city of Hays, Kansas and NW of Ellis and SW of Rooks counties, Kansas. Eight producing oil wells along with one dry hole are located within the research area. This study is focused on the Cambrian-Ordovician Arbuckle Group which is the principal oil bearing reservoir within the research area and in the region. Interpretation of the Keller 3-D seismic data, well-log correlation and a study and description of the drilling samples suggest that the Arbuckle …

Injecting Large Volumes Of Preformed Particle Gel For Water Conformance Control, Baojun Bai, Mingzhen Wei, Yuzhang Liu

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper describes Preformed Particle Gel (PPG) treatments for in-depth fluid diversion in four injection wells located in the northern section of the Lamadian reservoir, Daqing oilfield, China, which is a sandstone reservoir with thick heterogeneous pay zones. Forty-six producers were connected to the four treated injectors with an average water cut of 95.4% before PPG treatments. A large volume (more than 1 000 m³) of PPG suspension with concentrations of 1 900-2 500 mg/L and particle sizes of 0.06-3.0 mm was injected into each well, each injection spanning approximately four months. The injection PPG suspension volumes range …

Insights Into The Early Transgressive History Of Lake Bonneville From Stratigraphic Investigation Of Pilot Valley Playa, Ut/Nv, Usa, Kevin A. Rey

Theses and Dissertations

Multiple shallow sediment cores were obtained from Pilot Valley playa, a sub-basin located in the northwestern Bonneville basin. Analysis of stratigraphy, ostracodes, mineralogy, chemistry, total inorganic carbon (TIC), total organic carbon (TOC), and stable isotopes were performed to better place these sediments into proper context with respect to the Lake Bonneville cycle. Results showed Pilot Valley playa contains a nearly full sequence of Lake Bonneville deep-water marl in addition to sediments deposited before and after the Lake Bonneville cycle. Within the marl is a sequence of organic rich algal laminated marl correlated with the Stansbury oscillation. Four 14C ages ranging …

The Role Of Case-Hardening In The Development And Preservation Of Narrow, Vertical-Walled Canyons In Adršpach-Teplice, Czech Republic, Shawn Austin Wiggins

Theses and Dissertations

The geomorphology at Adršpach-Teplice, Czech Republic is dominated by vertical-walled, fracture-controlled features including slot canyons, gorges and pillars. Surfaces of canyon walls in Adršpach are case-hardened and more resistant to erosion than the bulk of the sandstone, which appears to be fundamental to the formation and preservation of canyons. Core and whole rock samples from Adršpach-Teplice were analyzed in thin section, including SEM analysis with cathodo luminescence. XRF and XRD analyses indicated that silica case-hardened surfaces are chemically and mineralogically similar to the rock interior, while iron case-hardened surfaces have an increase in iron present at the surface as the …

Applicability And Estimation Of Error For Determination Of Hydraulic Conductivity Values Based Upon Traditional Aquifer Test Methods For 2-D Groundwater Modeling, Timothy W. Freed Sr.

Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The Theis method and its derivative Cooper-Jacob method are commonly used for determining hydraulic conductivity (K) for aquifer studies using two-dimensional (2-D) groundwater modeling. Theis and derivative equations assume isotropic, homogeneous aquifers and horizontal flow. In nature, saturated permeable layers of an aquifer are often separated by less permeable layers or lenses, which commonly have K's that are lower by several orders of magnitude. The presence of such geologic features induces vertical flow during aquifer tests violating assumptions for Theis based methods. This study assesses the appropriateness and error of using Theis based equations to determine K for use in …

Geologic Observations Along The Steamboat Trace Trail, Markers 16-20, In The Vicinity Of Peru, Nemaha County, Nebraska (Including On The Indian Cave Sandstone), Robert F. Diffendal Jr.

Robert F. Diffendal, Jr., Publications

This section of the Steamboat Trace Trail from markers 16 through 20 (Figure 1) offers especially good examples of geologic features in this part of Nebraska (Figure 2). These include: The Missouri River, its valley, river cuts into the valley side, tributaries to the river, and flood control structures; Sites of active and potential landslides; Wind-deposited silts (called loess by geologists and soil scientists); Glacial deposits; Bedrock exposures of ancient sandstone, shale, conglomerate, and limestone; Fossils of ocean- and land-dwelling plants and animals; Coal deposits.

Tectonics And Sedimentary Facies Interpretation Of The Mesozoic Giron Group, Colombia, Hernando Martinez-Sacristan, Ricardo Mier-Umana, Nazrul I. Khandaker, Stanley Schleifer, Diana Lucia Leon-Martinez

Publications and Research

Preliminary field investigations involving exposed Giron Group sediments in Colombia provided some interesting geologic information in terms of provenance, depositional environments, and development of the Mesozoic synrift sedimentary basins in Colombia. Overall, the synrift Triassic-Jurassic rift-related volcanic rocks, redbeds, and evaporites are prominent in Colombia, and a thick basin sequence of Cretaceous sandstones and shales dominates the central part of the Cordillera Oriental. These were mostly deposited in dominantly north-trending grabens. Identified sedimentary rock types were arkose, clast-and-matrix-supported conglomerate, red mudstone, variegated sandstone, siltstone and breccia. Extensive kaolinitization was noticeable in several sandstone samples. Among the notable sedimentary structures were …

Tsunamis: Desprevenidos Por La Realidad De La Geología Un Estudio De La Posibilidad Y Precauciones Por Un Tsunami En Puerto López, Manabí, Ecuador, Abigail Eurich

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean about once every 1.5 years (Berninghausen, 1962). Forty-nine Tsunamis are recorded to have hit the western coast of South America since 1562, though only 3 hit the coast of Ecuador specifically (Berninghausen, 1962). However, it is still important to recognize the possibility of having a tsunami in Ecuador and plan accordingly. On a very complex junction of the Nazca and South American plate, with the Nazca and Carnegie Ridges as well as the Galapagos hotspot, this part of the world is apt to many earthquakes, submarine landslides, and volcanic activity which all have the …

Geogram 2012, David J. Keeling, Wku Department Of Geography And Geology

Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences Publications

No abstract provided.

Catching Air - Those Magnificent Jumping Suwannee Sturgeons, Ken Sulak

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

It starts deep at the bottom of the dark silent river, three to four powerful tail beats and three sharp acoustic clicks. Then, a sudden upturn of the body and the fish explodes upward, 100 pounds going vertical, catching air, lots of air. A good jump can power a big fish, six to nine feet into the air. You have to be quick to get a photo, hang time is only about a second, but an accomplished jump by a big old Suwannee River Gulf Sturgeon is impressive; a magnificent display of power. The exit is almost vertical. The tail …

Intercalibration Studies Of 210Po And 210Pb In Dissolved And Particulate Seawater Samples, Thomas Church, Sylvain Rigaud, Mark Baskaran, Anupam Kumar, Jana Friedrich, Pere Masque, Viena Puigcorbé, Guebuem Kim, Olivier Radakovitch, Gi Hong, Hui Choi, Gillian Stewart

Environmental Science and Geology Faculty Research Publications

Documented is an intercalibration (IC) exercise for both ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in seawater aliquots distributed between up to eight international laboratories that followed individual protocols. Dissolved and particulate samples were provided by GEOTRACES during two IC cruises at baseline stations in the North Atlantic and North Pacific oceans. Included were surface and/or deep dissolved and particulate samples at each site, plus complete profiles analyzed by the laboratory of the lead author. An unspecified solid phase standard was also distributed with ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in secular equilibrium to confirm spike calibrations. The ²¹⁰Po activities reported n …

Discriminant Analysis Of Xrf Data From Sandstones Of Like Facies And Appearance: A Method For Identifying A Regional Unconformity, Paleotopography,And Diagenetic Histories, Stephen Paul Phillips

Theses and Dissertations

The placement of an unconformable surface within a stratal succession affects the interpreted thickness of units and sequences in contact with that surface. Unit thickness influences the interpretation of basin subsidence, paleotopography, diagenesis, and depositional style. Accurate placement of an unconformity results in true formational thicknesses for formations associated with that unconformity. True thicknesses aid in producing more precise surface to subsurface correlations, isopach maps, and paleogeographic maps. An unconformity may be difficult to identify in the stratal succession due to similar rocks above and below the unconformity and the presence of multiple candidate surfaces. Using statistical discriminant analysis of …

The Geologic Records Of Dust In The Quaternary, Daniel R. Muhs

United States Geological Survey: Staff Publications

Study of geologic records of dust composition, sources and deposition rates is important for understanding the role of dust in the overall planetary radiation balance, fertilization of organisms in the world’s oceans, nutrient additions to the terrestrial biosphere and soils, and for paleoclimatic reconstructions. Both glacial and non-glacial processes produce fine-grained particles that can be transported by the wind. Geologic records of dust flux occur in a number of depositional archives for sediments: (1) loess deposits; (2) lake sediments; (3) soils; (4) deep-ocean basins; and (5) ice sheets and smaller glaciers. These archives have several characteristics that make them highly …

Whose Islands Are These Anyway?, David J. Keeling

Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences Faculty Publications

This opinion piece addresses Argentina's growing political rhetoric about its claims to the Malvians/Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic.

Nebraska's Wetlands: Their Wildlife And Ecology, Paul A. Johnsgard

Conservation and Survey Division: Faculty and Staff Publications

1 An Overview of Nebraska's Wetlands

2 The Missouri Valley • Natural History Profiles of Some Missouri Valley Wetland Species • The Missouri Valley Wetlands

3 The Niobrara Valley Region • Natural History Profiles of Some Niobrara Valley Wetland Species • The Niobrara Valley Wetlands

4 The Platte Valley Region • Natural History Profiles of Some Platte Valley Wetland Species • The Central Platte Valley Wetlands • The North Platte Valley Wetlands

5 Other River Valley Wetlands • Natural History Profiles of Some Typical Riverine Species • The Elkhorn Valley Wetlands • The Loup Valley Wetlands • The Republican Valley …

Bioactive Trace Metal Distributions And Biogeochemical Controls In The Southern Ocean, Christopher Measures, Mariko Hatta, Maxime Grand

Faculty Publications

Extensive sampling in many regions of the Southern Ocean has demonstrated that surface water concentrations of dissolved Fe are low enough to limit phytoplankton growth. In contrast, there is currently no evidence that other bioactive elements (e.g., Mn, Zn, Co) are similarly limiting. Although atmospheric input of dissolved Fe to Southern Ocean surface waters appears to be low, resuspension of sediments from shallow regions around islands and the Antarctic coastline can inject significant amounts of Fe into the surrounding waters, stimulating primary production and providing a natural laboratory for studying the response of biological systems to natural Fe fertilization processes. …

A New Model For The Spectral Induced Polarization Signature Of Bacterial Growth In Porous Media, Andre Revil, Estella A. Atekwana, C. Zhang, Abderrahim Jardani, Schaun M. Smith

Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The complex conductivity of porous materials and colloidal suspensions comprises two components: an in-phase conductivity associated with electromigration of the charge carriers and a quadrature conductivity associated with the reversible storage of the charges at some polarization length scales. We developed a quantitative model to investigate the frequency domain induced polarization response of suspensions of bacteria and bacteria growth in porous media. Induced polarization of bacteria (α polarization) is related to the properties of the electrical double layer of the bacteria. Surface conductivity and α polarization are due to the Stern layer of counterions occurring in a brush of polymers …

Interseismic Strain Accumulation Along The Western Boundary Of The Indian Subcontinent, Walter Szeliga, Roger Bilham, Din Mohammad Kakar, Sarosh H. Lodi

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of the Sciences

Despite an overall sinistral slip rate of ≈3 cm/yr, few major earthquakes have occurred in the past 200 years along the Chaman fault system, the western boundary of the India Plate with the Eurasia Plate. GPS and InSAR data reported here indicate sinistral shear velocities of 8–17 mm/yr across the westernmost branches of the fault system, suggesting that a significant fraction of the plate boundary slip is distributed in the fold and fault belt to the east. At its southernmost on‐land segment (≈26°N), near the triple junction between the Arabia, Eurasia, and India Plates, we find the velocity across the …

Geochemical And 40ar/39ar Constraints On The Evolution Of Volcanism In The Woodlark Rift, Papua New Guinea, Joseph Paul Catalano

Earth & Environmental Sciences - Theses

The tectonic mechanisms producing Pliocene to active volcanism in eastern Papua New Guinea (PNG) have been debated for decades . In order to assess mechanisms that produce volcanism in the Woodlark Rift, we evaluate the evolution of volcanism in eastern PNG using 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology and whole rock geochemistry.

Active volcanism in southeastern Papua New Guinea occurs on the Papuan Peninsula (Mt. Lamington, Mt. Victory and Waiwa), in the Woodlark Rift (Dobu Island, SE Goodenough Island, and Western Fergusson Island), and in the Woodlark Basin . In the Woodlark Basin, seafloor spreading is active and decompression melting of the upper mantle …