Geochemistry Commons^™

Evaluation Of Practical Methods To Determine If A Karst Creek Is Gaining Or Losing: Case Study Of Leith Creek, Elizabeth Jones

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Karst landscapes are abundant in Missouri, with features such as caves, springs, and sinkholes that form through the dissolution of limestone. Leith Creek is a small stream in Polk County, Missouri fed by two springs and the shallow unconfined Springfield Plateau aquifer, a highly karstified aquifer which is made up of limestone and minor interbedded shale-mudstone units. To determine if Leith Creek is gaining or losing, stream flow, water chemistry and temperature sensors were monitored. Stream flow results required multiple visits to take measurements while temperature sensors required two visits, one to install the dataloggers and another to remove the …

Core-Top Constraints On The Ecology And Paleothermometry Of Planktic Foraminifera In The Indian Ocean, Ryan H. Glaubke, Elisabeth L. Sikes, Natalie E. Umling, Katherine A. Allen, Matthew W. Schmidt

OES Faculty Publications

The magnesium-to‑calcium ratio (Mg/Ca) of fossil foraminifera is a widely used geochemical proxy for reconstructing past ocean temperatures. Culturing experiments have shown that, for some species, nonthermal influences like salinity and carbonate chemistry play a non-trivial role in the incorporation of Mg into foraminiferal calcite. Inclusion of these variables into Mg/Ca calibrations have provided a better fit to core top and sediment trap data in some recent studies, but the widespread covariation of potential control variables in the open ocean and the lack of multivariate calibrations for some species warrants additional work. Here, we assess Mg/Ca calibrations for four common …

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

Biological Sciences Faculty Research & Creative Works

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

Cropsync: Ai-Powered Sustainable Crop Management, Ziad Doughan, Ibrahim Mneimneh, Zouheir Nakouzi, Noor Al Khaib, Samer Damaj, Jamal Chaaban, Hamza Mrad, Sari Itani

BAU Journal - Science and Technology

CropSync is a smart agriculture system that uses AI and IoT technologies to enable sustain- able crop management and precision farming. The system aims to address the challenges faced by the agriculture sector, such as increasing food production to meet global population demands while minimizing environmental impact. CropSync integrates sensors, cameras, and cloud-based analytics to provide farmers with real-time insights and recommendations for optimizing crop cul- tivation. The system upholds engineering professional and ethical standards, considering broader social, environmental, and economic implications. From a social perspective, CropSync improves food security and enhances farmers’ livelihoods through increased productivity and efficient re- …

Evaluating The Usefulness Of Geochronometers In The Packsaddle Domain For Refining The Timing Of Metamorphism Via High-Resolution Petrography, Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, Llano Uplift, Texas, Haylee Vike

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Llano uplift, central Texas, exhumes Mesoproterozoic rocks with a complex history of metamorphism, deformation, and magmatism. There are three recognized metamorphic events related to the Grenville orogeny (~1.3-0.9 Ga). The timing of these metamorphic events is not well resolved due to past methods, technology, and lack of published geologic context for many of the current dates. These current time constraints on metamorphic timing could be further refined through modern geochronologic and petrochronologic methods.

A majority of U-Pb zircon dates from the Valley Spring (~1366-1232 Ma), Coal Creek (~1326-1275 Ma), and Packsaddle (~1257-1215 Ma) domains are interpreted as crystallization ages …

Are There Neurological Impacts Of Exposure To A Burned Wildfire Site As It Recovers?, Rubye Strickland

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Wildfires are increasing with climate change, making the human health implications of exposure to burned soils an essential area of research. Metals associated with fire-impacted soils can be inhaled or accidentally ingested by surrounding communities, causing health risks. Several studies have evaluated the health impact of wildfires, but few have done so from a neurological perspective. This study explores metal changes in burned soils over time as a site naturally recovers from wildfire and how these changes may impact human neurological health. Soil samples were collected from the burned area 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the fire. …

Biogeochemical Controls Of Cesium-137 Migration In Surface Waters And Near Surface Sediments At The Usdoe Savannah River Site, Reid Williams

All Dissertations

Considerable concentrations of cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) and other anthropogenic radionuclides have been released into the environment at the Savannah River Site (SRS). Additionally, cesium-containing radioactive waste will be stored onsite for the foreseeable future. Therefore, the goal of this work was to identify mechanisms controlling cesium transport in surface waters and near surface sediments at SRS to further the understanding of ¹³⁷Cs migration in the vadose zone and reservoirs. It was hypothesized that a multitude of factors impact the mobility of ¹³⁷Cs at the SRS, but that the clay sediment fraction provides an important contribution in limiting …

Evidence For Subsidence Rate Variation In The Newark Basin And Its Influence On The Deposition Of Fluvial Sediments Of The Stockton Formation, Jane L. Alexander, Sean T. Thatcher, Jay Tobon, Victoria Rivelli

Publications and Research

The Stockton Formation of the Newark Basin represents an exciting time in Earth history during the early stages of rifting of the North Atlantic, with rapid subsidence and sediment deposition. Much of the previous work on this formation has been done using drill cores, with development limiting surface exposure. While this allows us to build a full stratigraphic sequence of deposition, it has the potential to miss smaller-scale variability and sedimentary structures. It is also difficult to understand the three-dimensional geometries, architecture and relationships between the depositional elements from drill core alone. An outcrop in North Bergen, NJ that was …

Compositional Characteristics And Relationships Between Oceanic Basement, Sediment, And Volcanic Arc Rocks: Geochemical Evolution Of The South China Sea And Luzon-Taiwan Arc, Antonio J. Luna

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

In this dissertation, I have characterized the geochemical signatures of the South China Sea (SCS) igneous basement and marine sediments with the intent to examine the results in the context of the understanding the origin and evolution of the SCS oceanic mafic crust, the type of sediments found in the SCS, and finally their impact on the composition of the island arc lavas within the northern Luzon Arc. This dissertation research has three main objectives:

1. Examining the origin, composition, and evolution of the SCS mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB), as well as the preexisting crustal rocks recovered near the continent-ocean transition …

Comparison Of Soil Organic Matter Fractions In Non-Grazed And Prescribed Sheep-Grazed Managed Land In Southwest Michigan, Julia M. Shreve, Katelyn Smith, Lauren Burns

Student Summer Scholars Manuscripts

The impact of prescribed sheep grazing on soil organic carbon (SOC) was investigated by comparing a 2-acre grazed and a 2-acre non-grazed (control) portion of redeveloped land previously seeded with pasture mix in Southwest Michigan. This study aimed to measure changes in SOC resulting from prescribed sheep grazing by examining two key soil organic matter (SOM) fractions: particulate organic matter (POM) and mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) along with soil physical and chemical properties (e.g., bulk density, infiltration rate, moisture content, pH, conductivity). Soil cores were collected from 5 locations within each of the 2-acre plots using a diagonal random sampling …

Manifestations Of Sulfuric Acid Speleogenesis In The Mulapampa Travertine, Central Andes Of Peru: Evidence From The Gruta Con Lago, Andrzej Tyc, Krzysztof Gaidzik, Justyna Ciesielczuk, Katarzyna Wątor

International Journal of Speleology

Sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) is a form of hypogene speleogenesis characterized by the formation of caves in carbonate rocks due to the presence of sulfuric acid. This study focuses on the Gruta con Lago, one of three caves identified in the Mulapampa travertine, located in the central Andes of Peru. These caves are accessed through collapse sinkholes, and much of their morphology results from roof breakdown. The bottom of the studied cave is situated at the current water table. Despite the absence of typical solutional features associated with SAS caves, mineralogical and geochemical evidence of speleogenesis involving H₂SO …

Investigation Of Temperature, Solution Strength, And Applied Stress Effects On Cation Exchange Processes In Different Geosynthetic Clay Liner Products, Kendra Fuller

Master's Theses

An extensive laboratory test program was conducted to analyze and compare the cation exchange processes in three different varieties of sodium bentonite (Na-B) geosynthetic clay liners (GCLs) over increased conditioning durations up to 32 days and investigate the effects of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress. The goal of this test program was to establish whether the variables of temperature, solution strength, and applied stress improved or degraded the engineering properties of GCLs in laboratory testing and municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill applications. The GCLs were conditioned in liquids of increasing ionic strength, using deionized water and 2, 50, and …

Hypogenic Caves Of Syracuse Area, Sicily (Italy): Geomorphological Evidence Of Co2 Degassing, Fresh-Salt Water Mixing, And Late Condensation Corrosion, Philippe Audra, Jean-Yves Bigot, Didier Cailhol, Pierre Camps, Ilenia M. D'Angeli, Hai Cheng, R. Lawrence Edwards, Fernando Gàzquez-Sanchez, Gabriella Koltai, Giuliana Madonia, Jean-Claude Nobécourt, Marjan Temovski, Marco Vattano, Jo De Waele

International Journal of Speleology

Many caves in Sicily have been shown to have a sulfuric acid or other hypogenic origin. We studied three caves (Palombara, Scrivilleri, Monello) near Syracuse (eastern Sicily), in an area that was strongly uplifted and faulted, creating multiple Pleistocene marine terraces. Mineralogy, stable isotopes and dating methods (paleomagnetism, U/Th) were used to characterize cave sediments, some of which were related to the initial hypogenic phase (Fe and Mn oxides, calcite spar), others were introduced by surface runoff later. Many other sediments are the result of in situ weathering, such as lime sands produced by condensation-corrosion processes on the calcarenite walls. …

Hypogene Speleogenesis In Carbonates By Cooling Hydrothermal Flow: The Case Of Mt. Berenike Caves, Israel, Roi Roded, Boaz Langford, Einat Aharonov, Piotr Szymczak, Micka Ullman, Shemesh Yaaran, Boaz Lazar, Amos Frumkin

International Journal of Speleology

The Berenike hypogenic cave system near Lake Kinneret, Israel, provides a valuable case study for investigating the recently proposed Confined-Cooling-Flow (CCF) speleogenesis model. Field and speleological surveys, along with existing research, are used to provide a thorough analysis. The CCF model relies on a simple thermo-hydro-chemical scenario, involving the rise of CO2-rich hydrothermal fluids discharging into a confined layer. The cooling of these CO2-rich fluids turns them into aggressive solutions due to the inverse relation between temperature and solubility of carbonates (retrograde solubility). Previous geochemical and numerical analyses of the CCF model predict localized and persistent dissolution and speleogenesis on …

Diatom-Inferred Hydroclimate Variability In Marl Lake, Wi Over The Past ~2050 Years, Christian E. Sizemore

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Hydroclimate variability in the Midwest has increased over the past few decades, as as evidenced by increases in average precipitation and frequency of extreme hydroclimate events. Understanding natural climate variability in this region will help communities in the Midwest to better prepare and mitigate the risks associated with extreme hydroclimate variability in the future. Natural lakes in the Midwest are often effective archives of hydroclimate; many have been shown to respond directly to changes in climate both locally and regionally. We extracted a 4.5-meter sediment core, representing approximately 2050 years of sediment accumulation, from the deepest part of Marl Lake …

Analyzing Fe/Mg-Silicate Chemical Gardens As Analogs To Silicate-Rich Hydrothermal Chimneys On Early Earth And Mars, Nancy Alejandra Carman

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Hydrothermal systems have been proposed as environments for prebiotic chemistry on early Earth. Ancient Mars was an ocean world and could also have had hydrothermal vents supporting biological or prebiotic processes. The Strytan Hydrothermal Field (SHF) in Iceland is a basalt-hosted alkaline vent that forms massive hydrothermal Mg-saponite chimneys and is a potential analog to basalt-hosted alkaline vents that may have existed at the Eridania basin on Mars, where saponite deposits are thought to have formed from ancient hydrothermal activity. Chemical garden experiments have previously been used to simulate aspects of hydrothermal chimney growth for other types of vent systems; …

Zebra Limestone From The Gypsum Valley Salt Diapir, Colorado, Rebecca Navarrette

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Zebra rocks displaying alternating light and dark-colored millimeter to centimeter thick bands of crystals have been found at the Gypsum Valley salt diapir, Colorado in the Paradox Basin where they are associated with gypsic diapiric caprock. Elucidating their origin may provide crucial information about intermittent fluid flow at the margin of salt diapirs and about Zebra rock formation, which often is associated with carbonate-hosted lead-zinc mineralization (Mississippi Valley Type, MVT) and hydrothermal dolomite -hosted hydrocarbon reservoirs.

The Gypsum Valley Zebra rocks consist of calcite, i.e., it is a Zebra limestone. It shows a finely crystalline light banding and coarsely crystalline …

Method Development For The Quantification Of Critically Valuable Elements In Permian Basin Produced Waters, Carley Oliver

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Produced waters (PW) are a major byproduct of the oil and gas industrial hydraulic fracturing processes that create a major waste disposal issue with a need for disposal, treatment, and reuse method developments. The current primary disposal method is subsurface injection, which can lead to high pressures in the subsurface. PWs are often highly saline from mineral leaching due to long residence in subsurface reservoirs. According to the USGS National Minerals Information Center, bromine, calcium chloride, iodine, lithium, magnesium, and sodium chloride have been found in and extracted from these domestic subsurface brines, suggesting that there may be other economically …

Constraining The Evolutionary Stages Of A Hypogene Karst System By Combining Morphological, Geochemical And Geochronological Data - The Example Of Carbonate Breccia-Hosted Melnička Peštera, Marjan Temovski, Zsófia Ruszkiczay-Rüdiger, Kata Molnár, László Rinyu, Alexander Wieser, Oscar Marchhart, László Palcsu

International Journal of Speleology

A combination of morphological observations, geochemical data from calcite minerals and geochronology by burial age dating and U-series is used to constrain the geological and geomorphological setting and the evolutionary stages of a hypogene karst system. This methodological suit is applied to Melnička Peštera, a horizontal cave developed in carbonate breccia overlying dolomite marble in Melnica locality (N. Macedonia), where hydrothermal karst development occurred in both dolomite and calcite marble. The passage morphology of the cave, having a reverse triangle, Laughöhle cross-sections, suggests development near the water table by slowly moving waters. Calcite crusts are found throughout the cave, and …

Revealing The Ongoing Speleogenetic Processes In An Underwater Cave Through The Application Of Natural Radionuclides And Stable Isotopes: Case Study From The Hypogene Buda Thermal Karst, Anita Erőss, Katalin Hegedűs-Csondo, Petra Kovács-Bodor, Dénes Szieberth, Ákos Horváth, György Czuppon, Andrea Mindszenty Dr, Szabolcs Leél-Őssy, Judit Mádl-Szőnyi

International Journal of Speleology

The underwater Molnár János Cave in the hypogene Buda Thermal Karst system (Budapest, Hungary) provides a unique site to study the effects of flowing groundwater and the interplay of fluids of different origin. The aim of the present study is to characterize the groundwater in different parts of the cave with temporal resolution, hence describe the recent speleogenetic processes within the cave. This study uses natural radioisotopes (uranium, radium, and radon) besides stable isotope ratios of oxygen and hydrogen to identify the different fluid components. The results show that the majority of the cave is situated in the flow path …