Characterization And Delineation Of Potential Evaporite Geohazards Using Electrical Resistivity Methods Along Fm 2185, Culberson County, Texas,
2021
Stephen F Austin State University
Characterization And Delineation Of Potential Evaporite Geohazards Using Electrical Resistivity Methods Along Fm 2185, Culberson County, Texas, Lenora Diane Perkins
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Extensive karst development within the Delaware Basin of West Texas and southeastern New Mexico poses a significant geohazard threat to infrastructure. Dissolution of regional evaporite strata have led to manifestations of karst geohazard phenomena including sinkholes, subsidence features, and caves. The study area is located within the Gypsum Plain in Culberson County, Texas, and includes outcrops of Castile and Rustler strata that host gypsum karst geohazards. Land reconnaissance surveys conducted during the summer of 2019 documented numerous surficial manifestations of karst features proximal to Farm to Market Road 2185 (FM 2185). In combination with traditional survey techniques, electrical resistivity methods …
Migmatite-Like Textures In Anthracite: Further Evidence For Low-Grade Metamorphic Melting And Resolidification In High-Rank Coals,
2021
University of Kentucky
Migmatite-Like Textures In Anthracite: Further Evidence For Low-Grade Metamorphic Melting And Resolidification In High-Rank Coals, James C. Hower, Susan M. Rimmer, Maria Mastalerz, Nicola J. Wagner
Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications
Previous studies demonstrated that melting, initiated by supercritical fluids in the 375–400 °C range, occurred as part of anthracite metamorphism in the Appalachian Basin. Based on the known behavior of vitrinite at high temperatures and, to a lesser extent, at high pressures, it was determined that the duration of the heating, melting, and resolidification event was about 1 h. In the current study, featureless vitrinite within banded maceral assemblages demonstrates the intimate association of melted and resolidified vitrinite with anthracite-rank macerals. By analogy with metamorphosed inorganic rocks, such associations represent diadysites and embrechites, i.e., cross-cutting and layered migmatites, respectively. Even …
Sub-Surface Structural Analysis Of The Appalachian Basin In Morrow County, Ohio,
2021
Stephen F Austin State University
Sub-Surface Structural Analysis Of The Appalachian Basin In Morrow County, Ohio, Adrian Isaiah-Sias Valdez
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Located in the western most region of the Appalachian Basin, Morrow County, Ohio, was once one of the largest oil-producing regions in the nation and continually produces today. To date, approximately 30 million barrels of oil and 6.5 billion cubic feet of gas have been produced, primarily from the Copper Ridge Dolomite. Past studies suggest that regional remnant doming within the Copper Ridge accounts for production, however it is hypothesized that faulting within the basement rock exerts an important control on trapping and migration of hydrocarbons. In order to gain insight into the underlying structure and the causes of significant …
Taphonomy Of Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Morrison Formation Apatosaurus Sp. Vertebrae Found Associated With Teeth From Allosaurus Sp. And Ceratosaurus Sp., And Body Size Extrapolation From The Associated Theropod Teeth.,
2021
Utah State University
Taphonomy Of Late Jurassic (Tithonian) Morrison Formation Apatosaurus Sp. Vertebrae Found Associated With Teeth From Allosaurus Sp. And Ceratosaurus Sp., And Body Size Extrapolation From The Associated Theropod Teeth., Greg C. Agyan
All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023
An Apatosaurus sp. locality from Dinosaur National Monument designated DNM-15 was excavated in 1985, and associated with two Allosaurus teeth and one Ceratosaurus tooth that were near one of the caudal vertebrae. The Ceratosaurus tooth was buried between an overlying rib and that same caudal vertebra. The caudal vertebrae of the DNM-15 Apatosaurus were intact and articulated, but the anterior skeleton was mostly absent, with a row of articulated sacral vertebrae in close association with a femur. Two other Allosaurus teeth were reported near the preserved ilium of the Apatosaurus, but they could not be located in the collections. …
A Triple Oxygen Isotope Analysis Of Altered Oceanic Crust And Its Buffering Effect On The Steady State Oxygen Isotope Composition Of Seawater,
2021
University of New Mexico
A Triple Oxygen Isotope Analysis Of Altered Oceanic Crust And Its Buffering Effect On The Steady State Oxygen Isotope Composition Of Seawater, Jesse P. Mcgunnigle
Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs
The secular chemical marine sediment trend showing an increase in δ18O over geologic time has traditionally been investigated using δ18O modelling of ancient ocean compositions, ocean surface temperatures, and sample diagenetic alteration. This study presents a triple oxygen isotope mass balance for the oceans using high precision δ18O and Δ'17O measurements of altered oceanic crust. The mass balance model predicts an ice-free seawater with δ18O = -0.29‰ and Δ’17O = -0.002‰ with steady state reached at approximately (0.5 to 1)×109 years. Modifications to the hydrothermal alteration and …
Assessing Soil-Related Terroir Factors In Sunnyslope District Vineyards Of Southwest Idaho,
2021
Boise State University
Assessing Soil-Related Terroir Factors In Sunnyslope District Vineyards Of Southwest Idaho, Rachael Nicole Haggen
Boise State University Theses and Dissertations
Terroir is the set of factors including climate, soil, and management practices that influence the character of a wine. Of these factors, soil texture and chemistry is a major determinant in wine grape quality (van Leeuwen et al., 2009). Understanding the characteristics of the soil is key to making decisions that support the production of the highest possible quality grapes from the resources available. Few studies have been conducted in the Snake River Valley AVA (SRVAVA). This study seeks to build upon the data already available and provide analysis of vineyard-scale terroir in a leading grape growing district of the …
Dolomite Stoichiometry As A Proxy For Fluid Chemistry,
2021
Western Michigan University
Dolomite Stoichiometry As A Proxy For Fluid Chemistry, Cameron J. Manche
Dissertations
The origin of massive dolomites is a contentious issue in geology. Because modern dolomite is rare, interpretation of ancient dolomites requires the use of proxy resources, most of which provide ambiguous information. High-temperature dolomite synthesis experiments have shown that dolomite stoichiometry, the degree of cation ordering, and reaction rate are controlled by Mg:Ca, temperature, molarity, and salinity of the formative solution. Thus, it is posited here that dolomite stoichiometry may be a useful proxy for fluid chemistry, as are stable isotope and trace element composition of ancient dolomites. High-frequency sample intervals (cm-scale) from the Cretaceous Upper Glen Rose Formation (Comanche …
Petrogenesis Of Hawaiian Lavas: Investigations Using Radiogenic And Non-Traditional Stable Isotopes,
2021
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Petrogenesis Of Hawaiian Lavas: Investigations Using Radiogenic And Non-Traditional Stable Isotopes, Christopher Defelice
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Earth’s mantle is the most voluminous part of the planet and is inaccessible to direct investigations. It is only possible to study it through indirect methods, such as the chemical makeup of erupted lavas. The Hawaiian Islands are thought to be the product of the mantle plume hypothesis, sometimes called a hot spot. Material from the Earth’s mantle is brought to the surface and erupted as magnesium rich lavas and form basalts. Hawaii is the longest lived active hot spot on Earth and makes it an ideal candidate for understanding the evolution of the Earth’s mantle and how lavas cool …
Joint Spacing In The Caples Lake Granodiorite Of The Sierra Nevada Batholith In Eldorado National Forest, California: A Comparative Analysis Of Joint Sets And Data Resolution,
2021
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Joint Spacing In The Caples Lake Granodiorite Of The Sierra Nevada Batholith In Eldorado National Forest, California: A Comparative Analysis Of Joint Sets And Data Resolution, Jimmy Wood
Theses/Capstones/Creative Projects
Joints are the most common deformation structure in the Earth’s upper crust and exert a significant influence on structural stability, landscape morphology, and fluid flow . Therefore, a greater understanding of fracture parameters (e.g., length, aperture, etc.) allows us to more accurately predict their presence, persistence, and prevalence, in the subsurface . We study the fracture spacing of two sub-orthogonal joint sets—66 NE-246 SW and 330 NW-150 SE—in the Caples Lake granodiorite of the Sierra Nevada Batholith, California. Specifically, we investigate 1) their spacing distributions with a keen interest in power-law (fractal) spacing, 2) distribution comparisons between master and cross …
Carbon-Isotope Chemostratigraphy And Fluvial Sedimentology Of The Moenave Formation, Utah,
2021
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Carbon-Isotope Chemostratigraphy And Fluvial Sedimentology Of The Moenave Formation, Utah, Jordan Oefinger
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
The end Triassic extinction (ETE) is one of the largest mass extinction events of the Phanerozoic, and it has been hypothesized that this event, as well as the Triassic-Jurassic (TJ) boundary, are preserved within the Moenave Formation of the Colorado Plateau. Identification of this boundary within southwest Utah sections of the Colorado Plateau region is critical for better understanding the relationship between climate change and the ETE in terrestrial, low latitude paleoenvironments. The Moenave Formation is well exposed in Blacks Canyon of Zion National Park and in the nearby Warner Valley, where detailed sedimentologic observations and carbon isotope sampling have …
Gravel Geology And Muskoxen Paleontology Of A Late Pleistocene Fossil Site In Saltville, Virginia,
2021
East Tennessee State University
Gravel Geology And Muskoxen Paleontology Of A Late Pleistocene Fossil Site In Saltville, Virginia, Nickolas A. Brand
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Two distinct studies within the Saltville Valley of southwestern Virginia revealed insights into local Pleistocene geology and paleontology. A variety of analytical techniques were applied to gravel deposits within the paleontological site of SV-5/7 that revealed this unit is very poorly sorted, has a subangular matrix, and contains significant components of silt and sand in addition to rounded cobbles. These results suggest that rather than being deposited by fluvial processes as previously suggested, these gravels were likely the result of one or many debris flows. Additionally, the identity of fossil muskoxen from Saltville was reassessed using cranial and dental material. …
Prograde Metamorphism And Upper-Crustal Cooling In The Northern Panamint Range, California: New Insights Into The Jurassic And Mid-Cretaceous Evolution Of The Southern Sevier Fold-Thrust Belt,
2021
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Prograde Metamorphism And Upper-Crustal Cooling In The Northern Panamint Range, California: New Insights Into The Jurassic And Mid-Cretaceous Evolution Of The Southern Sevier Fold-Thrust Belt, Elijah A. Turner
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
The Jurassic-Cretaceous southern Sevier fold-thrust belt, which experiences changes in orientation and structural style as it approaches intersection with the Mesozoic continental arc, has been pervasively overprinted by Neogene-Quaternary faulting, rendering its evolution enigmatic. Raman spectroscopy of carbonaceous material (RSCM) thermometry data from 14 samples and zircon (U-Th)/He (ZHe) thermochronology data from 23 samples collected in the northern Panamint Range illuminate the history of metamorphism and upper-crustal cooling associated with this belt of shortening structures. Best estimate peak temperatures derived from RSCM thermometry increase from 166 ± 19°C at 2.5 km structural depth (measured from the top of the exposed …
The Biggest Snowball Fight In Earth History: Stratigraphy, Facies Analysis, And Geochronology Of The Pocatello Formation,
2021
Utah State University
The Biggest Snowball Fight In Earth History: Stratigraphy, Facies Analysis, And Geochronology Of The Pocatello Formation, Matthew W. Ellison
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
The Snowball Earth Hypothesis details a time in Earth’s history (the Cryogenian period) where the entire planet was encapsulated by kilometer thick ice sheets for two, multi-million-year glaciations. The first, known as the Sturtian, lasted from 717 – 660 million years ago while the second, known as the Marinoan, lasted form approximately 650 – 635 million years ago. Snowball Earth was caused by a few processes that sort of built upon each other: Rodinia began splitting apart ~740 million years ago which allowed for increased rates of silicate weathering. High rates of silicate weathering resulted in CO2 drawdown which …
Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of River Incision And Terrace Deposition In Response To Climate And Tectonics In Southern Taiwan,
2021
Utah State University
Spatial And Temporal Patterns Of River Incision And Terrace Deposition In Response To Climate And Tectonics In Southern Taiwan, Dominique M. Shore
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Geologists often look at the Earth’s surface to understand the underlying processes that cause mountain formation. As tectonic forces drive uplift of Earth’s surface, processes of erosion transport sediment to lower elevations. Climate can play a large role in landscape formation as well as increased precipitation, accelerating rates of erosion. Rivers leave markers of landscape evolution through terrace landforms, former river floodplains that are left behind when rivers incise into a valley. To better understand landscape response to uplift, this research investigated the initial linkages between uplift, hillslope erosion (mass wasting) and river incision. At some point, it is thought …
Effects Of The Triassic-Jurassic Central Atlantic Magmatic Event Recorded In Continental Strata In Western Pangea: The Δ13c Record Of Warner Valley & Zion National Park,
2021
University of Arkansas, Fayetteville
Effects Of The Triassic-Jurassic Central Atlantic Magmatic Event Recorded In Continental Strata In Western Pangea: The Δ13c Record Of Warner Valley & Zion National Park, Dennis Mmasa
Graduate Theses and Dissertations
The Triassic is a period of abrupt climate change bracketed by mass extinctions including one driven by the eruption of the Central Atlantic Magmatic Province (CAMP) in the Late Triassic. The Moenave Formation (MF) of Utah and Arizona is ideal to investigate effects of the CAMP on continental strata distal to the eruptive center. This study focuses on the C-isotopic composition of bulk carbonate C from two localities, Blacks Canyon, Zion National Park, UT and Olsen Canyon within Warner Valley, UT. The data collected was used to document a chemostratigraphic record to compare to globally established records and bulk organic …
Structural Re-Orientation Of Magmatic Fabrics And Layering In The Lower Oceanic Crust: Hole Gt1, Wadi Tayin Massif, Samail Ophiolite,
2021
The University of Southern Mississippi
Structural Re-Orientation Of Magmatic Fabrics And Layering In The Lower Oceanic Crust: Hole Gt1, Wadi Tayin Massif, Samail Ophiolite, Justin Guillot
Master's Theses
This thesis aims to re-orient borehole images of layered gabbros sampled beneath Hole GT1 in the Wadi Tayin massif of the Oman ophiolite by the Oman Drilling Project to better constrain models of crustal accretion. The gabbro glacier model proposes that crystallized basalt flows down and away from the crystallization site to form the lower crust while the sheeted sill model proposes that basaltic melt crystallizes at multiple levels in the crust through sills. Hole GT1 provides an unprecedented 400 m, 100% recovery, look at the lower oceanic crust. Cores lose their geographic orientation when drilled, requiring use of the …
An Integrated Approach For The Assessment And Monitoring Of Land Deformation In The Riyadh City And Its Surroundings For Identifying The Controlling Factors,
2021
Western Michigan University
An Integrated Approach For The Assessment And Monitoring Of Land Deformation In The Riyadh City And Its Surroundings For Identifying The Controlling Factors, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Aljammaz
Dissertations
An integrated approach (remote sensing, field, geodesy, geology, and hydrogeology) was conducted to assess and monitor land deformation at Riyadh city and its surroundings. Two settings were investigated. The first, Jinadriyah area (1.5 km2), an urban area located east of Riyadh city, was selected to assess deformation associated with urbanization over desert lands. The second location was Al Kharj area (19,790 km2) to the south of Riyadh city, a reclaimed desert land that was selected to assess the deformation associated with agricultural groundwater extraction from fossil aquifers. My investigations revealed high subsidence rates (up to -30 …
Small-Scale Resuspension And Redistribution Of Surface Sediments In The Northeast Gulf Of Mexico,
2021
The University of Southern Mississippi
Small-Scale Resuspension And Redistribution Of Surface Sediments In The Northeast Gulf Of Mexico, Austin Harris
Master's Theses
Following the release of ~4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico from the Macondo wellhead, a vast area of the seafloor contained recently deposited marine sediments contaminated by the oil spill. The initial deposition of these contaminated marine sediments was likely not the end of the journey for the particles. Downslope gravitational processes and events of increased current speed in the deep ocean setting can result in recently deposited sediments to resuspend and be moved laterally with the current flow, increasing the area effected by the oil spill. Erosion experiments performed in a closed-loop resuspension flume were …
Effects Of Differences In Cell Wall Biochemistry On The Microbial Decomposition Of Sphagnum (Peat Moss),
2021
Hope College
Effects Of Differences In Cell Wall Biochemistry On The Microbial Decomposition Of Sphagnum (Peat Moss), Alexis Koehl, Christian Lundy, Trevor Hile, Erik Schoonover
20th Annual Celebration of Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity (2021)
Globally, peatlands store twice as much carbon as there is in the atmosphere as CO2. As average global temperatures continue to rise, the growth or decay of these carbon stores will play an important feedback for future climate change. This study examined the mechanisms behind the rate of decomposition in Sphagnum mosses, specifically the differences in cell wall chemistry between species. We hypothesized that mosses from different microtopographies will differ in rate of decomposition, as previous studies have shown that hummock mosses have higher concentrations of recalcitrant structural carbohydrates in their cell walls compared to hollow mosses. The …
Biis: The Last British Ice Sheet, A Review Of The Most Recent Major Glaciation Of Great Britain And Ireland,
2021
Wayne State University
Biis: The Last British Ice Sheet, A Review Of The Most Recent Major Glaciation Of Great Britain And Ireland, Benediktas Gaskevicius
Honors College Theses
The British Irish Ice Sheet was a substantial ice mass covering the British Isles during the most recent glaciation that ended around 11,700 years ago. Oftentimes referred to as the BIIS, it is subdivided into two sections, a western and eastern side that covered Great Britain and Ireland, with the Irish basin in the middle. Some notable areas of study around Great Britain and Ireland include the ’Bizzle’ in Northern England, which was transformed by the effects of the eastern margin of the BIIS, the Carstair Kames in Scotland, a locality known internationally for its esker system, The Minch region …
