Geology Commons^™

Analyzing Intensifying Storm Events Correlation To Landslide Frequency In Portland’S West Hills, Aurora Villa Juan

Student Research Symposium

As the Pacific Northwest climate changes, extreme weather, such as intensifying storms, and a shift in the type of precipitation experienced with warmer winters causing more precipitation to fall as rain instead of snow, may lead to an increased frequency of landslides. There have been several recent landslides in Portland, noticeable to the public, particularly in areas of high elevation such as Council Crest, which stands at 1,073 feet. Additionally, residents of neighboring homes have observed changes in the landscape, including those on private properties. To better safeguard both public and private property, comprehensive research and mitigation efforts are required. …

Controls On Soft Tissue And Cellular Preservation In Late Eocene And Oligocene Vertebrate Fossils From The White River And Arikaree Groups Of Nebraska, South Dakota, And Wyoming, John E. Gallucci, Grace Woolslayer, Kelsey Barker, Brian Kibelstis, Allison R Tumarkin-Deratzian, Paul V. Ullmann, David E. Grandstaff, Dennis O. Terry

School of Earth & Environment Departmental Research

Previous studies on microtaphonomy have identified multiple types of organic microstructures in fossil vertebrates from a variety of time periods and past environmental settings. This study investigates potential taphonomic, paleoenvironmental, and paleoclimatic controls on soft tissue and cellular preservation in fossil bone. To this end, fifteen vertebrate fossils were studied: eight fossils collected from the Oligocene Sharps Formation of the Arikaree Group in Badlands National Park, South Dakota, and seven fossils from formations in the underlying White River Group, including the Oligocene Brule Formation of Badlands National Park, and the Eocene Chadron Formation of Flagstaff Rim, Wyoming; Toadstool Geologic Park, …

Characterizing The Engineering Properties Of Three Lithologies From Montana And Idaho Using Acoustic Emissions And Stress-Strain Measurements, Mary Humphreys

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

In this study, stress and strain measurements from unconfined compression tests were used to determine the peak stress, yield stress, Young’s modulus, and Poisson’s ratio of 20 specimens representing three lithologies (sandstone, norite, and argillite-quartzite mix) from Idaho and Montana. Along with traditional strength and deformation parameters, crack initiation (CI) and crack damage (CD) values were also interpreted, corresponding to the stress levels associated with the formation and coalescence of microcracks as a specimen is exposed to increasing stress levels. Acoustic emissions (AE) data were collected along with traditional stress-strain data as this has become a popular method for interpreting …

Characterizing Potentially Harmful Environmental Legacy Issues Within A Declining Midwest City: A Street Sediment Study Of Northeastern Terre Haute, Indiana, Katelyn Adams '24, Ken Brown

Senior Scholarly and Creative Symposium

Urban settings face unprecedented environmental challenges that include legacy issues as well as emerging pollution problems (e.g., micro-plastics) that continually impact the public health of its communities. Determining the baseline abundances of potentially harmful contaminants in soil, sediment, air, and water is essential to protecting residents. This study examines anthropogenic pollution in street sediments collected from three neighborhoods located in northeast Terre Haute, Indiana. Using stereomicroscopy, SEM/EDS, pXRF analyses, and geospatial analysis (GIS), the goal of this work is to characterize the types of pollutants present and place important constraints on their potential sources.

Stereomicroscopy on nine street sediment samples …

Dating The Ste. Genevieve Limestone In West-Central Indiana Using Sr-Isotope Stratigraphy, Claire Wolfe '24

Senior Scholarly and Creative Symposium

A section of Mississippian limestone is exposed in quarry walls at the DePauw Nature Park in Greencastle, Indiana, but its precise age is not known. This research project aimed to date the exposed wall using 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios to determine the absolute age. Ten samples of brachiopods and ooids were collected at various levels along the stratigraphic column. Isotope ratios were measured in these samples at ALS Scandinavia using a Neptune Plus MC-ICP-MS. Those ratios were then placed on a LOESS seawater Sr-isotope curve (McArthur, 2020) to determine the absolute age range for each sample. Whereas several samples were contaminated …

Characterization Of Carbonaceous Fault Rocks, Pioneer Fault Zone, South-Central Idaho, Genna Baldassarre

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

Differing crystallinities of carbonaceous material are common in fault rocks across a range of geologic settings and spatial scales and may provide constraints on strain rate, the nature of fault slip, fluid-rock interactions, and temperature variations over the earthquake cycle. The Pioneer fault at Little Fall Creek in south-central Idaho provides an excellent opportunity to study nanostructure changes of carbonaceous matter as a function of fault deformation. At this location, the Pioneer Fault exhibits a well-defined principal slip zone (PSZ) composed of multi-layered white siliceous mineralization and black carbon to graphite with a continuously exposed adjacent damage zone that includes …

The Olmsted Fault, Southernmost Illinois: A Key To Understanding Seismic Hazard In The Northern New Madrid Seismic Zone, Christopher E. Bexfield

Theses and Dissertations

The northernmost extent of the New Madrid seismic zone in the central USA has been investigated using an integrated approach involving both compressional-wave (P) and horizontally polarized-wave (SH) seismic reflection and regional and dedicated borehole geophysical information in order to assess seismic hazard and risk. Our study area, centered around southernmost Illinois and western Kentucky, USA, represents an area of concentrated facilities (e.g., lock and dam sites and chemical plants on the Ohio River near its confluence with the Mississippi River) as well as an area of high potential soil amplification due to earthquake shaking. Integrated high-resolution seismic reflection profiles …

Volcanic Glass As A Proxy For Paleotopography Suggests New Features In Late-Miocene Oregon, Julian Cohen, John Bershaw, Richard Hugo

Geology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Volcanic glass has been used extensively as a paleoaltimeter. Deuterium (²H) concentrations in glass have been found to be stable over geologic timescales, making δ²H (also known as δD) a reliable proxy for ancient water chemistry. However, continued work revolves around better understanding how different factors affect preserved water in volcanic ash. Here, we analyze δD in the Rattlesnake Tuff (RST), a widespread ca. 7 Ma ash-flow tuff, and create a paleoisoscape to assess variations in δD across Oregon during that time. To this end, 16 ash samples were collected across central and eastern Oregon from …

Building And Using A Hydrology Experiment For Place-Based Learning With Native American Students, Michaela Shallue

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

Geoscience has a known diversity problem, specifically a participation gap of ethnic minority representation, and it is especially severe regarding Native American representation. To address this participation gap, an identity gap needs to be addressed first. Native students need to visualize themselves as geoscientists before they can commit to geoscience programs and careers. This project uses a hands-on, place-based learning activity as an opportunity for Native students to better see themselves as geoscientists.

A portable rainfall simulator was constructed, calibrated, and refined for use in teaching concepts about rainfall, runoff, and erosion. It was employed in place-based learning exercises with …

Public Horticulture: Process And Design Of The Lincoln Botanical Garden, Brad Kindler

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Beginning in 2012, the local non-profit, The Lincoln Botanical Garden, began organizing the conceptual design and creation of a glass conservatory within a botanical garden in Lincoln, Nebraska. These proposed urban enhancements seek to fill a gap in garden amenities in the city by providing year-round access to public horticulture programming and education.

This project, Public Horticulture: Process and Design of the Lincoln Botanical Garden, documents these efforts and makes design recommendations for a themed Glacial Erratic Garden that could be constructed within the botanical garden.

Advisors: Ellen Paparozzi and Sam Wortman

The Use Of Laja In Construction In Ancient Mesoamerica: A View From The Southern Gulf Lowlands Of Veracruz, Mexico, Lauren Smith

Honors College Theses

The archaeology of the southern Gulf lowlands of Veracruz, Mexico is notable for its research pertaining to the Olmec culture (Jaime-Riveron 2016; Loughlin 2012; Pool 2006). The region was home to the Colossal Olmec Heads: large, easily identifiable sculptures crafted from the volcanic rock of the Tuxtlas Volcanic Field. The use of volcanic resources in such grand presentations may instill a bias in the research of some archaeologists, but it is important to consider how these and other volcanic resources might have been used in everyday life (e.g., Jaime-Riveron 2016: 86). The consolidated volcanic ash in this region is referred …

Investigating The Distribution Of Soil Inorganic Carbon, And The Role Of Dust Deposition In Dryland Soils, Zahra Ghahremani

Boise State University Theses and Dissertations

The importance of dust deposition in the biogeochemical cycling of nutrients, sediment redistribution, and soil formation is well-known. Anthropogenic activities such as changing land use and agricultural practices can influence dust flux deposition rates, dust organic matter content, and the chemical composition of dust. This study examines the influence of agricultural activities on aeolian deposition in a the xeric intermontane westerns USA. We investigate seasonal and spatial variations in dust deposition rates, dust organic matter, dust inorganic matter, and dust geochemistry from passive dust traps. The Reynolds Creek Experimental Watershed (RCEW; Owyhee Mountains, Idaho) and the Northwest Irrigation and Soils …

The Effects Of Amphibole- And Sulfide-Producing Melts On Crustal Strength In Gabbros Of Lower Oceanic Crust In Oceanic Core Complexes, Mid-Atlantic And Southwest Indian Ridges, Trevor Hoffmann

Master's Theses

This study investigates gabbro-cored oceanic core complexes in the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) and the ultraslow spreading Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). Dikelets are a texture found in thin section samples from these systems that form as a result of crystal-plastic deformation. Thin section samples from the Atlantis Massif, MARK Area, and 13˚-15˚ North of the MAR and the Atlantis Bank of the SWIR were observed with petrography to find these dikelets and identify what type of dikelet is present. SEM-EDS is used to identify the mineral assemblages present in the dikelets. LA-ICP-MS is used on amphibole to determine if its …

3d Analysis Of Fe-Ti Oxides And How They Affect Crystal-Plastic Deformation In Atlantis Bank, Southwest Indian Ridge, Sarah Hill

Master's Theses

This project focuses on the importance of the relationship between Fe-Ti oxide abundance and interconnectivity, and crystal-plastic deformation in Atlantis Bank, Southwest Indian Ridge by utilizing Micro-CT scanning. This was done through comparing the Micro-CT scans of 15 samples from three different Ocean Drilling Program and International Ocean Discovery Program drill holes using the Nikon NIS Advanced Research 3-D visualization program and producing plots and statistics from MATLAB. Results indicate a wide range of textures across a range of crystal-plastic fabric intensity and Fe-Ti oxide abundance. Ultimately, there was a generally positive relationship between depth, CPF intensity, and Fe-Ti oxide …

Geologic Face Mapping Methodology Utilizing Global Positioning Systems And Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Luke Whitenburg

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Geologic field mapping has traditionally been a low-technology process, limited by time in the field and a delicate balance between data collection and coverage area. Advancements in Global Positioning Systems (GPS), Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and software packages offer new tools and techniques for collecting high volume, accurate geologic information. These tools can provide geologists with safe and efficient ways to collect and process greater volumes of field data.

Field data for this study was collected from three open pit mines using a Trimble Geo 7X GPS unit with Geo 7 Series Rangefinder module and a Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 …

Landslide Susceptibility And Tree Ring Eccentricity Analysis Along Unstable Slopes Of The New River Watershed, Anderson And Morgan Counties, Tn, Megan Palmer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Landslides are mass movements that affect infrastructure across East Tennessee, causing problems for the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT). An assessment of conditions and locations of unstable slopes can aid TDOT in infrastructure management. Landslide susceptibility was evaluated for Anderson and Morgan counties, TN, off State Route 116 in the New River watershed. Susceptibility maps used a landslide inventory and six factors: elevation, slope, geology, distance from stream, rainfall, and curvature, input in forest-based classification and logistic regression models. Additionally, affected trees along these unstable slopes in Anderson and Morgan counties were cored to analyze mass movement impacts on tree …

Utilizing Electrical Geophysical Methods To Map Mycorrhizal Mycelium Networks Non-Invasively, Donald Pesonen

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

Mycorrhizal mycelium networks are a key component to forest health. These networks act as a transportation system for nutrients, are major players in carbon and nitrogen cycling, and can provide some level of drought resistance to the surrounding flora. Due to the location and size of these network’s filaments, studying mycelium non-invasively has been difficult. The alternative method of laboratory grown samples, lacks the important environmental factors that play into the growth and development of mycelium. Mycelium’s inherent conductivity and moisture retention allows for these networks to be a viable target for electrical geophysical equipment. CMD-Tiny, a small shallow depth …

Investigating Changes In Surface Water Chemistry Across The Llano Uplift And The Balcones Fault Zone In Central Texas Using Strontium And Uranium Isotopes, Hao Tuan Pham

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

The landscape of central Texas is shaped by over one billion years of Earth's history. An array of lithology lies within central Texas along with two large geological structures. The Llano Uplift, characterized by Proterozoic metamorphic and igneous rocks dating back to 1.37 billion years ago, is encircled by Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks. To the southeast of the Llano Uplift lies the Balcones Fault Zone (BFZ), an extensional structural system of mostly normal faults that delineates the transition between Paleozoic-Mesozoic sedimentary rocks and Cenozoic sedimentary cover, which are influential to the regional hydrogeology. This study investigates the hydrogeological dynamics …

Depositional Facies And Petrophysical Characterization Of The Leonardian Carbonate (Lower Clear Fork), Tex-Mex, S.E. Field, Central Basin Platform, West Texas, Seyram Nyamasekpor

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The Lower Clear Fork from Tex-Mex, S.E. Field on the Central Basin Platform is a typical complex reservoir that displays high heterogeneity in lithological and petrophysical properties. The unit represents a producing reservoir succession of Leonardian platform carbonates deposited in shallow marine water during the Early Permian. The sediment of the Lower Clear Fork is composed of a mixed succession of dolomite interbedded with anhydrite, minor clay minerals, and siliciclastics. The high heterolithic nature of the reservoir makes efficient recovery of hydrocarbons difficult. This situation requires an understanding of the variability in depositional facies in terms of mineralogy, depositional textures …

Mapping The Invisible: Machine Learning And Geovisualization Methods For Groundwater Management, Khalid Galal Elhaj

Dissertations

Groundwater is a vital global resource, yet mapping and managing aquifers remains challenging due to costs and complexities. This doctoral dissertation pioneers novel data-driven methodologies harnessing machine learning and hydrogeology domain knowledge to sustainably characterize and monitor aquifer systems. The overarching hypothesis investigated is that time series clustering of historical well hydrographs can enable low-cost delineation of aquifer boundaries by detecting response similarities between wells sharing the same aquifer. To test this, three interconnected studies were conducted. First, a specialized time series clustering framework was developed incorporating a global temporal alignment index and custom dissimilarity metrics tuned for hydrogeology. The …