Geology Commons^™

Estimating Methane Emissions From Orphaned Oil And Gas Wells In Kentucky: Results From The Initial Grant Program, T. Marty Parris, Deron W. Zierer, Stacy L. Woods, Steven E. Webb

Contract Reports--KGS

From February 2023 through August 2024, Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) scientists measured methane emissions on 119 orphaned oil and gas wells distributed among 26 counties in eastern, south-central, and western Kentucky. Early measurements were done in partnership with the Well Done Foundation using a Ventbuster flowmeter (n = 41), whereas later measurements (n = 78) were done by KGS scientists using a SEMTECH High-Flow 2 sampler or a static chamber designed and fabricated at the University of Kentucky. The measurements were done in support of the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas plugging program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s …

Projected Loss Of Rock Glacier Habitat In The Contiguous Western United States With Warming, Abigail C. Lute, John T. Abatzoglou, Andrew G. Fountain, Timothy C. Bartholomaus

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Rock glaciers support alpine biodiversity and may respond more slowly to warming than snow or glaciers. While responses of snow and glaciers to climate change are relatively well understood, a robust assessment of rock glacier environmental niche, future distributions of rock glaciers and potential for development of rock glaciers from current glaciers is lacking. Using process-relevant, high-resolution environmental descriptors, we develop a species distribution model of the topographic, geologic and hydroclimatic niche of rock glaciers that provides novel estimates of potential rock glacier distributions for different climates. We identify mean annual air temperature and headwall area as the dominant controls …

A Community-Level Investigation Of Heavy Metal Pollution In Street Sediments From Terre Haute, Indiana, Kyra Copp '25, Kenneth Brown, Nora Bedwell '26, Camden Brown '25

Annual Student Research Poster Session

Urban environments contain environmental legacy issues that can have long-term negative public health consequences. Investigating these legacy issues can help constrain potential sources and their impact on communities. This study focuses on street sediment found in Terre Haute, Indiana, a city with an extensive history of coal-fired power production, high-traffic volumes, steel manufacturing, and Pb-based paint usage. This research specifically focuses on Terre Haute’s Sheridan Park community. Six bulk street sediment samples were analyzed by pXRF at DePauw University. This analysis revealed elevated concentrations of Pb (22-152 ppm), As (8-15 ppm), Cu (35-237 ppm), and Zn (149-634 ppm) in all …

Kentucky Geological Survey Landslide Inventory [2024], Matthew M. Crawford, Evelyn M. Bibbins, Hudson J. Koch

Research Data--KGS

The KGS landslide inventory provides the locations of known landslides and areas susceptible to debris flows. Various types of landslides are represented including slides, flows, rockfalls, and creep. The data are available as ArcGIS geodatabase feature classes. Landslide locations and associated attributes are compiled from Kentucky Geological Survey research, published maps, state and local government agencies, the public, and media reports. A confidence ranking system assigns a value to each feature. A description of the feature classes is here: https://kgs.uky.edu/kgsmap/helpfiles/landslide_help.shtm

The inventory viewed in a GIS with geology, soils, slope or other terrain-based data can serve as a basis for …

Engaging Students In The Scientific Process: An Examination Of Active Learning Strategies In Introductory Geoscience Labs, Meryssa Piper

Theses and Dissertations

High-quality instruction of introductory geoscience courses entices students to major in geoscience fields and ensures undergraduate students have opportunities to learn and apply scientific information and practices. Prior studies indicate that active learning strategies in higher education settings can increase student knowledge and interest. This dissertation explores the integration of two active learning strategies in introductory geoscience laboratory courses: inquiry and gamification The first study housed in Chapter 2 investigates the level of inquiry used in introductory geoscience lab activities across the United States. Through a comprehensive analysis of these activities, this chapter assesses: (1) the degree to which instructor …

The Fifth Element In Three Dimensions: Boron Systematics Along And Across The Aleutian Volcanic Arc, Owen Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

This study uses abundances and isotope ratios of the fluid-mobile element boron (B) to better understand the role of fluids in volcanism at the Aleutian arc in Alaska. In volcanic rocks from the Aleutian volcanic front, patterns in B abundance and isotope ratios (δ11B) point to three endmembers: a sediment melt, a slab interior melt, and a slab-top melt. Most lavas from the eastern Aleutian Islands have δ11B of -2 to +5‰, similar to Aleutian sediment. Hence, sediment is likely to be the dominant B source in the Aleutian Island samples. In lavas from the western Aleutian seafloor, high δ11B …

Information-Theoretic Modeling Of Categorical Spatiotemporal Gis Data, David Percy, Martin Zwick

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

An information-theoretic data mining method is employed to analyze categorical spatiotemporal Geographic Information System land use data. Reconstructability Analysis (RA) is a maximum-entropy-based data modeling methodology that works exclusively with discrete data such as those in the National Land Cover Database (NLCD). The NLCD is organized into a spatial (raster) grid and data are available in a consistent format for every five years from 2001 to 2021. An NLCD tool reports how much change occurred for each category of land use; for the study area examined, the most dynamic class is Evergreen Forest (EFO), so the presence or absence of …

Luminescence, Esr And Cl Characterisation Of Quartz Extracted From Granite Source Rocks And The Derived Sediments Used For Provenance Studies, Daniela Constantin, Aditi Dave, Serban Grecu, Zuzanna Kabacińska, Mihai Ducea, Petru Urdea, Alida Timar-Gabor

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Hraunrásir: Exploring And Studying The Steaming Lava Tubes Of Fagradalsfjall Volcano (Iceland), Francesco Sauro, Riccardo Pozzobon, Martina Cappelletti, Bogdan P. Onac, Ana Zelia Miller, Groq Birkefeldt Moller Pedersen, Tommaso Santagata

FRONTIERS UNBOUND: Exploring Extreme Environments

No abstract provided.

Kentucky Surficial Geologic Map Compilation Database (Version 1), Matthew Massey

Research Data--KGS

The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS), a state-supported independent research center within the University of Kentucky, is committed to providing accurate and unbiased geologic information on natural resources, environmental issues, and natural hazards in Kentucky. While Kentucky boasts complete coverage by 1:24,000-scale geologic bedrock maps, surficial materials have been largely overlooked, except in regions with thick deposits obscuring the bedrock. Given the increasing trends in economic development and urbanization, detailed surficial geologic mapping has become crucial for supporting geotechnical planning, environmental management, and hazard assessment. In response, KGS has prioritized new, detailed surficial geologic mapping since 2004, specifically targeting areas anticipated …

Regiongrow3d: A Deterministic Analysis For Characterizing Discrete Three-Dimensional Landslide Source Areas On A Regional Scale, Nicolas W. Mathews, Ben A. Leshchinsky, Benjamin B. Mirus, Michael J. Olsen, Adam M. Booth

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Regional-scale characterization of shallow landslide hazards is important for reducing their destructive impact on society. These hazards are commonly characterized by (a) their location and likelihood using susceptibility maps, (b) landslide size and frequency using geomorphic scaling laws, and (c) the magnitude of disturbance required to cause landslides using initiation thresholds. Typically, this is accomplished through the use of inventories documenting the locations and triggering conditions of previous landslides. In the absence of comprehensive landslide inventories, physics-based slope stability models can be used to estimate landslide initiation potential and provide plausible distributions of landslide characteristics for a range of environmental …

Temporal Dynamics Of Coastal Sediment Characteristics: A Comparative Study On Pre- And Post-2004 Tsunami Event Along The Nagoor - Poompuhar Stretch, Tamil Nadu, Yamini S

Theses and Dissertations

Tsunamis represent some of the most devastating natural events for coastal regions, as exemplified by the 26th December 2004 Great Indonesian Earthquake triggered a massive tsunami across the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, causing extensive destruction in various countries, including India. This study addresses a significant gap in the literature by focusing on the detailed sedimentological aspects of coastal dynamics. Specifically, it examines the pre-tsunami (December 2004), post-tsunami (January 2005), and recent (December 2022) sediment characteristics along a 35 km stretch of the Coromandel coast from Poompuhar to Nagoor.

Eight stations were selected for sampling: Poompuhar, Chinnankudi, Kuttyandiyur, Chandrapadi, …

Coastal Sedimentary Records Of Extreme Events And Human Activity: Examples From Hurricanes And Microplastics, Nicholas T. Culligan

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Coastal regions are uniquely vulnerable to a myriad of natural and anthropogenically caused stresses such as hurricane strikes and chronic microplastic pollution. Both hurricanes and microplastics have major negative effects on global coastlines and are forecast to become more damaging in the future. However, current model trends are based on limited modern data and may not provide an accurate or comprehensive view of the future. Therefore, this dissertation investigates coastal stratigraphic records to determine long-term past trends of these presses and pulses so that researchers, stakeholders, and policy makers can use them to enact strategies to mitigate damages from worsening …

Signatures Of Fluid-Rock Interactions In Shallow Parts Of The San Andreas And San Gabriel Faults, Southern California, James P. Evans, Kaitlyn Crouch, Caroline Studnicky, Sharon Bone, Nicholas Edwards, Samuel M. Webb

Geosciences Faculty Publications

We examine deformed crystalline bedrock in the upper parts of the active San Andreas and ancient San Gabriel Faults, southern California, to 1) determine the nature and origin of micro-scale composition and geochemistry of fault-related rocks, 2) constrain the extent of fluid-rock interactions, and 3) determine the interactions between alteration, mineralization, and deformation. We used drill cores from a 470 m long inclined borehole through the steep-dipping San Gabriel Fault and from seven inclined northeast-plunging boreholes across the San Andreas Fault zone to 150 m deep to show that narrow fault cores 10 cm to 5 m wide lie within …

Deconvolving Provenance Signatures Of Pliocene-Pleistocene Coastal Loess Deposits Along The Atlantic Margin Of Argentina, Will Robert Quanrud

Theses and Dissertations

Dust derived from southern South America provides critical nutrients for autotropic marine biota in the South Atlantic Ocean, such that fluxes of wind-blown sediment may ultimately affect the concentration of atmospheric CO2. Expansive sand, silt, and loess deposits are exposed in Central Argentina, recording millions of years of eolian processes; however, the provenance and transport pathways of this dust remains unclear. Coastal loess deposits ranging in age from Pliocene to upper Pleistocene are present along the Atlantic margin of Argentina and provide information on sediment transport pathways for the last 4 million years. Nine samples of loess were collected 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. …

Crustal Structure And Evolution Of The Queen Charlotte Plate Boundary, Collin C. Brandl

Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

There are many outstanding questions in plate tectonics that remain unanswered because large regions of the Earth are unexplored, both at the surface and in the subsurface. In this dissertation, I processed and analyzed active source seismic reflection data from the historically understudied Queen Charlotte transform plate boundary. Using this dataset, I found that the southern segment of the plate boundary has active underthrusting, is analogous to subduction zone crustal slivers, and is a site of early subduction initiation. Along the entire plate boundary, I constrained the near-surface thermal gradient using the stability of gas hydrate, finding that it is …

Structural Characterization Of The Puma Diapir, Gulf Of Mexico Basin, Rodrigo Velasquez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Basin has been a significant target for oil and gas since the 1990s and continues today as a leading exploration target. This super basin is home to an estimated 200 BBOE (Billon barrels of oil equivalent), with current production totaling 60 BBOE for both USA and Mexico. Even though the overall depositional evolution of the GOM has allowed for the key elements for petroleum accumulations to be met, a complex structural framework is present. This framework results from the asymmetric spreading of the North American Plate from the Yucatan block crating the GOM basin we …

Structure Of The South-Central Skagit Gneiss Complex: Implications For Rheological Response To Magmatic Flare-Ups, Jeffery Wegener

Master's Theses

The Skagit Gneiss Complex in the North Cascades magmatic arc consists of Late Cretaceous to Eocene orthogneiss and partially migmatitic paragneiss. Orthogneiss protoliths intruded during two magmatic flare-ups, making the Skagit Gneiss an ideal location to study the relationship between flare-ups and deformation. Geologic mapping, microstructural analysis, and U-Pb dating of zircon were used to construct a timeline of magmatism, metamorphism and deformation in a portion of the Skagit Gneiss. A tonalitic gneiss intruded between ~79-73 at the beginning of the older flare-up and an ~60 Ma, tonalitic to granodioritic, leucocratic orthogneiss intruded at the end of this flare-up. NW-SE …

Assessing The Role Of Steam Explosivity In Shallow And Deep Marine Environments, Frederick Ede

Master's Theses

Volcaniclastic deposits formed in shallow and deep marine environments show strikingly different characteristics resulting from the ability of steam to assist in lava fragmentation. Deep marine deposits come from recent lava flows at Axial Seamount, formed around 1,500 m water depth, while shallow marine samples come from Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group (CRBG) lava flows that were emplaced in a shallow marine to subaerial environment and are now exposed on the Oregon coast. Volcaniclastic material from these two environments was compared using granulometry, componentry, and mapping. Lithofacies from the CRBG contained abundant ash and lapilli sized clasts with a high …