2024-03-29T08:55:13Zhttps://kuscholarworks.ku.edu/oai/requestoai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/81272020-08-19T13:37:00Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Separating the Kinetic and Sorption Parameters of Mixed Chlorinated Solvents in Contact with Granular Iron
Huang, Bei
Devlin, John F.
Macpherson, Gwendolyn L.
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Peltier, Edward F.
Brookfield, Andrea
Geology
Chlorinated solvents
Competition
Granular iron
Kinetic iron model
Sorption
Transportat model
Chlorinated solvents and nitroaromatic solvents in drinking-water supplies are an important concern for public health. Granular iron, the most common medium in permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), is very effective at removing organic chemicals, such as chlorinated solvents and nitroaromatic compounds, from groundwater. In an effort to improve barrier designs, studies have been undertaken to examine the iron surface, as well as the reaction kinetics of granular iron. The development of the kinetic iron model (KIM) in 2009, which was derived specifically for PRB settings, made it possible for the first time to assess the simultaneous contributions of sorption and reaction to contaminant degradation rates in iron PRBs, providing a new tool to improve PRB design. This work extended the previous studies that used the KIM by applying the kinetic model to study the effects of iron aging on the reaction kinetics of chlorinated solvents and nitroaromatic solvents. It was found that over time and exposure to water and oxidizing organics, iron tended to lose sorption sites associated with the highest reactivities , but gained reactive sorption capacity to sites with lower reactivity. In the short term, the increasing sorption capacity led to overall faster reaction rates than were observed with new iron. The results also indicated that the KIM parameters were more than simple fitting parameters. As expected, the nitroaromatic compounds tested (4ClNB and 4AcNB) reacted faster than the chlorinated solvents tested (PCE and TCE). Analysis of the data with the KIM indicated the rate differences were due to the surface reaction rate constant, not sorption. This result matched expectations based on earlier studies of these classes of organic chemicals. To test the accuracy of the estimated kinetic and sorption parameters, determined with novel methods in this work, a one dimensional transport model with Langmuir sorption and KIM kinetics was developed to generate synthetic data sets. The model was prepared with the ability to assess intra- and interspecies competition between TCE and PCE in the column experiments. Synthetic data were analyzed with the methods used to interpret the laboratory data and accurate estimates of the input parameters were calculated, validating the methodology. Finally, the activation energy of the 4-chloronitrobenzene reacting with two types of granular iron, Connelly iron and QMP, in batch reactors was obtained to assess the role of mass transfer in controlling the kinetics. Previous work had indicated that mass transfer was not rate controlling with Connelly iron, but QMP was a texturally different form of granular iron that needed further testing. QMP exhibited slower reaction rates compare to Connelly iron. Based on the estimated activation energies (Ea) of the reduction reactions, the reaction mechanism(s) for 4ClNB transformation on Connelly iron and QMP iron were both electron transfer controlled, and the result also suggest that the different transformation rates were therefore related to phases on the solid surface.
2011-10-09T01:04:13Z
2011-10-09T01:04:13Z
2011-08-31
2011
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11607
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8127
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/263452018-12-17T17:41:43Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Integrating in situ Geochronology and Metamorphic Petrology: An Example from the Gruf Complex, European Central Alps
Oalmann, Jeffrey Anthony G.
Möller, Andreas
Walker, Douglas
Stockli, Daniel
Fowle, David
Egbert, Stephen
Geology
Petrology
Geochemistry
Central Alps
Gruf Complex
monazite
rutile
UHT metamorphism
zircon
Understanding the thermal evolution (i.e. the timing, rate, duration, and magnitude of thermal events) within mountain belts has important implications for the geodynamic evolution of both ancient and modern orogenies. Ultra-high temperature (UHT) metamorphism requires geodynamic or tectonic processes that bring excess heat to the lower crust. Therefore, dating UHT metamorphism can shed light on the geodynamic evolution of the geological settings in which UHT rocks are exposed. In recent years, many researchers have used accessory mineral U-Pb geochronology to date (U)HT metamorphic events. However, it is not always clear to what part of the pressure-temperature (P-T) path the ages relate. Using an in situ approach, this study combines accessory mineral U-Pb geochronology with single mineral thermometry, thermobarometric modeling, and trace element geochemistry to elucidate the P-T-time (P-T-t) evolution of sapphirine-bearing granulites from the Gruf Complex in the Central Alps. Two main questions are addressed: (1) When did the Gruf Complex experience UHT metamorphism? (2) What parts of the P-T evolution of high-grade metamorphic rocks can be dated using U-Pb geochronology of different accessory phases? Equilibrium phase diagrams calculated from whole rock and microdomain compositions and Zr-in-rutile thermometry indicate that the Gruf granulites underwent UHT metamorphism at 900–1000°C and 7.0–9.5 kbar after decompressing from ca. 800°C and 9–12 kbar. This decompression-heating event resulted in the breakdown of garnet to form orthopyroxene, sapphirine, and cordierite. A lack of inherited monazite and presence of young (34–30 Ma) monazite within UHT textures is interpreted to indicate that UHT metamorphism was the last main metamorphic event the Gruf granulites experienced, thus precluding a Permian UHT event followed by a lower temperature (700–750°C) Alpine event. Textural observations and Ti-in-zircon thermometry reveal that minor zircon growth occurred in equilibrium with garnet at 34.8 ± 1.1 Ma, and zircon was not growing, but resorbing during UHT metamorphism. Therefore, the youngest zircon rims can only be used to date post-UHT melt crystallization and cooling at 32.7 ± 0.7 Ma. The U-Pb zircon ages of variable deformed felsic dikes indicate that the lower crustal UHT rocks were juxtaposed against the midcrustal migmatites between 30 and 27 Ma and contractional deformation ceased by 25.6 ± 0.3 Ma in the Gruf Complex. Finally, U-Pb rutile ages indicate that the amalgamated Gruf Complex cooled from 700–420°C over an 11 m.y. period from 30 to 19 Ma. These results indicate that different accessory minerals can be used to date different stages of the evolution of UHT rocks. However, depending on the reactions in the rock volume, dateable accessory minerals may be crystallizing, resorbing, or not reacting at a given P-T condition. Therefore, combining accessory mineral ages with textural, geochemical, and petrological information is necessary to elucidate the P-T-t evolution of a particular rock package.
2018-04-20T22:30:27Z
2018-04-20T22:30:27Z
2017-05-31
2017
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15310
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26345
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/218532018-06-01T15:45:14Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
NEOICHNOLOGY OF BATS: MORPHOLOGICAL, ECOLOGICAL, AND PHYLOGENETIC INFLUENCES ON TERRESTRIAL BEHAVIOR AND TRACKMAKING ABILITY WITHIN THE CHIROPTERA
Jones, Matthew Frazer
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Burnham, David A.
Timm, Robert M.
Biology
Paleontology
Morphology
behavior
Chiroptera
Desmodus
ichnology
neoichnology
terrestrial locomotion
Among living mammals, bats (Chiroptera) are second only to rodents in total number of species with over 1100 currently known. Extant bat species occupy many trophic niches and feeding habits, including frugivores (fruit eaters), insectivores (insect eaters), nectarivores (nectar and pollen-eaters), carnivores (predators of small terrestrial vertebrates), piscivores (fish eaters), sanguinivores (blood eaters), and omnivores (eat animals and plant material). Modern bats also demonstrate a wide range of terrestrial abilities while feeding, including: (1) those that primarily feed at or near ground level, such as the common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) and the New Zealand short-tailed bat (Mystacina tuberculata); (2) those rarely observed to feed from or otherwise spend time on the ground; and (3) many intermediate forms that demonstrate terrestrial competency without an obvious ecological basis. The variation in chiropteran terrestrial ability has been hypothesized to be constrained by the morphology of the pelvis and hindlimbs into what are termed types 1, 2, and 3 bats. This thesis examines the terrestrial ability of a number of species of Latin American bats belonging to the families Emballonuridae and Phyllostomidae that represent many of the ecological niches and all three pelvic and hindlimb morphotypes. Within the species studied, terrestrial ability seems to be partially constrained by pelvic and hindlimb morphotype. The Type 3 bat Desmodus rotundus performed such typical quadrupedal gaits as the bound and the diagonal sequence walk. Among Type 1 bats, only Carollia perspicillata performed the diagonal sequence walk, and most Type 1 bats were restricted to an uncoordinated, asymmetrical gait herein termed the breaststrokelike crawl. Type 1 bats also frequently performed a nonambulatory behavior, termed the searching behavior, which produced distinctive tracks. Type 2 bats in this study performed terrestrial behaviors more similar to those of Type 1 bats than to Type 3. The searching behavior produces distinct radial pes track patterns, and complete trackways are indicative of well-coordinated gaits like the bound. Trackways produced by all bats shared (1) elongate manus tracks, which may include the impressions of either digit I, the wrist and distal forearm, or both, and (2) pes tracks consisting of three or five parallel digit marks. These tracks and trackways can be used to establish criteria for identification of bat trace fossils in the geologic record, and eventually used for comparisons to pterosaur trace fossils to better understand their locomotor behaviors. As the only extant quadruped capable of powered flight, bats are likely the closest living analog for understanding pterosaur locomotion.
2016-11-08T22:57:34Z
2016-11-08T22:57:34Z
2016-05-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14500
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/21853
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/300882021-03-05T16:54:48Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Seismic attribute analysis and CO2 monitoring within the Mississippian reservoir, Wellington field, Sumner County, Kansas
Haga, Lauren
Tsoflias, George
Black, Ross
Walton, Anthony
Geophysics
Geology
Energy
Geology
Geophysics
The Mississippian reservoirs are prolific hydrocarbon producers in the mid-continent of the United States but are challenging to image seismically due to their high heterogeneity and thicknesses typically below seismic resolution. In 2016, the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) conducted a pilot study in the Mississippian chert reservoir at Wellington field, Sumner County, Kansas to determine the feasibility of injecting CO2 for enhanced oil recovery (EOR) and geologic storage of CO2 in this geological environment. This study evaluates the use of seismic methods for imaging the injected CO2 in the Mississippian reservoir. Time-lapse seismic comparison of an arbitrary line extracted from the pre-injection 3-D seismic survey and a coincident post-injection 2-D line proved ineffective due to differences between a 3-D volume and 2-D profile imaging. Therefore, imaging the CO2 centered on analysis of the post-injection 2-D seismic line characteristics both near to and far from the injection well, KGS #2-32, where CO2 saturation varied from 50% to 0% respectively. Fluid substitution modeling was used to evaluate Mississippian reservoir acoustic property changes due to CO2 saturation changes. CO2 saturation levels of 10%, 25%, and 50% displayed a decrease (larger absolute value) in normal-incidence acoustic impedance of up to 2.4%, 6.1%, and 13.3% with increasing CO2 saturation, respectively. Amplitude Variation with Offset (AVO) analysis of the post-injection 2-D seismic line evaluated the amplitude response at seismic gathers near to and far from the injection well. The majority of the CDP’s (including CDP 203230 – location of KGS #2-32) exhibit significant scatter but an overall decrease in amplitude magnitude with offset is present indicating a Class I AVO response of the Mississippian reservoir. Noise identified in the gathers was suppressed using f-k filtering; however, intercept-gradient crossplots and gradient curves throughout the seismic line were too scattered to reliably identify changes in CO2 saturation. Three factors contributed to the negative result: 1) Class I AVO increasing impedance, high matrix incompressibility of carbonate reservoirs make fluid detection challenging, 2) a relatively small amount of CO2 (20,000 tons) was injected in the reservoir and 3) poor near surface conditions during data acquisition resulted in noisy seismic data. Although these challenges made it difficult to image the injected CO2 in the field, fluid substitution modeling suggests a decrease in normal-incidence acoustic impedance with increasing CO2 saturation, which may yield detectable changes in seismic data under favorable field conditions.
2020-03-20T15:32:58Z
2020-03-20T15:32:58Z
2019-05-31
2019
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16573
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/30088
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/194762018-01-31T20:07:50Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Using Radar and Seismic Methods for the Determination of Ice Column Properties and Basal Conditions at Jakobshavn Isbræ and the NEEM Drill Site
Velez Gonzalez, Jose Antonio
Tsoflias, George
Black, Ross
Li, JiLu
Stearns, Leigh A
van der Veen, Cornelis J
Geophysics
Climate change
Anisotropy
Glaciology
Ice Properties
Seismic Processing
The development of preferred crystal orientation fabrics (COF) within the ice column can have a strong influence on the flow behavior of an ice sheet or glacier. Typically, COF information comes from ice cores. Observations of anisotropic seismic wave propagation and backscatter variation as a function of antenna orientation in GPR measurements have been proposed as methods to detect COF. For this investigation I evaluate the effectiveness of the GPR and seismic methods to detect COF by conducting a seismic and GPR experiment at the North Greenland Eemian Ice Drilling facility (NEEM) ice core location, where COF data is available. The seismic experiment was conducted 6.5 km North West of the NEEM facility and consisted of three multi-offset seismic gathers. The results of the anisotropy analysis conducted at NEEM yielded mean c-axes distributed over a conical region of I angle of 30 to 32 degrees. No internal ice reflectors were imaged. Direct COF measurements collected in the ice core are in agreement with the results from the seismic anisotropy analysis. The GPR experiment covered an area of 100 km2 and consisted of parallel, perpendicular, oblique and circular (radius: 35 m) acquisition patterns. Results show evidence for COF for the entire 100 km2 area. Furthermore, for the first time it was possible to image three different COF (random, disk and single maxima) and their respective transition zones. The interpretation of the GPR experiment showed a strong correlation with the ice core measurements. Glacier basal drag is also an important, and difficult to predict, property that influences glacier flow. For this investigation I re-processed a 10 km-long high-resolution reflection seismic line at Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, using an iterative velocity determination approach for optimizing sub-glacier imaging. The resultant line imaged a sub-glacier sediment layer ranging in thickness between 35 and 200 meters. I interpret three distinct seismic facies based on the geometry of the reflectors as a basal till layer, accreted sediments and re-worked till. The basal till and accreted sediments vary in thickness between 4 and 93 meters and are thought to be water-saturated actively-deforming sub-glacier sediments. A polarity reversal observed at one location along the ice-sediment interface suggests the presence of water saturated sediments or water ponding 2-4 m thick spanning approximately 240 m across. Using information from the seismic line (bed geometry, ice thickness, till thickness) as well as information available for the area of study (ice surface elevation and ice flow velocity) we evaluate the effect of sub-glacier sediment viscosity on the basal drag using a linearly viscous model and the assumption of a deforming bed. Basal drag values estimated for the study area fall within the range of physically acceptable values. However, the analysis revealed that the assumption of a deforming bed might not be compatible for the area of study given the presence of water at the ice/bed interface.
2016-01-02T18:59:30Z
2016-01-02T18:59:30Z
2015-05-31
2015
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13964
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19476
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/218972018-01-31T20:07:47Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Carbon cycling: The role of Methane and Copper in an early ocean analogue Lake Matano
Sturm, Arne
Fowle, David A
Roberts, Jennifer A
González, Luis A
Walker, J. Douglas
Peltier, Edward F
Geochemistry
Geobiology
Limnology
AOM
Carbon cycling
Early earth
Methane
Methanogenesis
Trace metals
This dissertation examines the carbon cycle of a modern ferruginous environment (Lake Matano, Indonesia), with a primary focus on the critical role of methane in carbon redistribution in this system. In addition, the mobility and availability of copper (Cu) (an essential component of microbial enzymatic systems related to methane oxidation) was evaluated in this iron-dominated, aquatic ecosystem. Fieldwork was conducted over several years to acquire the necessary samples and measurements that were used for constraining and modeling the lakes water budget, carbon cycle and copper mobility. It was determined that microbial methane oxidation was unusually high in the water column of this lake, providing possibly the highest anaerobic oxidation rates for this important greenhouse gas reported in freshwater or marine settings. Furthermore because of the nutrient limitations of the lake and its minimal photosynthetic activity it was shown that methane plays a key role in this carbon cycle and as a substrate for organic matter production, which in turn can be used as an energy source, and for cell growth. Ultimately some of this organic matter produced from methane will be buried and subsequently lithified. The availability of copper is intimately tied to this carbon cycle by its link to methanotrophy, as copper is a central part of the pMMO enzyme, which regulates enzyme expression and increases methanotrophic efficiency, and is therefore of paramount importance for the rates of methanotrophy occurring. Unexpectedly Cu is not entirely removed through sorption and co-precipitation by Fe and Mn oxides as often presumed in ferruginous and manganous environments where a lot of Fe(oxy)hydroxides and Mn oxides are present. It was found instead to be largely associated with organic matter and undergoing significant redistribution under microbial respiration between a variety of solid phases, including sulfide minerals. These discoveries deliver important insights into both the bioenergetics and microbial enzymatic evolution in the ferruginous basins of Precambrian Eons, through the continued study of one of their best modern analogue systems.
2016-11-10T23:26:08Z
2016-11-10T23:26:08Z
2015-05-31
2016
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14452
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/21897
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/197162017-12-08T21:34:35Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_7158
The relation of geology to coal stripping in southeastern Kansas
Miller, Forrest Jennings
Thesis (M.A.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1918. ; Includes bibliographical references.
2016-01-06T17:16:19Z
2016-01-06T17:16:19Z
1918
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19716
openAccess
This work is in the public domain according to U.S. copyright law and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/64352020-08-04T13:22:21Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Modeling the Near-Surface Using High-Resolution Seismic Data
Al-Zayer, Ramzy Mohammed
Tsoflias, George
Black, Ross A.
Steeples, Don
Stockli, Daniel F.
Johnson, William C.
Geophysics
High resolution
Near surface
Processing
Seismic
Velocity
Velocity model
In the Arabian Peninsula, the near-surface represents a major challenge in seismic exploration. For accurate deep subsurface reservoir imaging, an accurate near-surface velocity model is required. In this dissertation, I review the regional geology and geomorphology and the existing methods used for velocity modeling. A new method is developed, which depends on acquiring high-resolution shallow seismic data. The data is processed to obtain a near-surface velocity. The numerical modeling shows that the accuracy required for accurate imaging can be obtained through this new method. Alternative existing methods either lack the required accuracy or are very expensive to use. Three real field data cases are presented. In each case a high-resolution velocity model is obtained and used to process the conventional data. To make the new method more practical, I recommend using the CMP mode and a land streamer for data acquisition. I show that some artifacts in the data acquired using a land streamer can be overcome by using optimally-designed plate-mounded geophones. The two main factors in the design are the plate weight and area. From the experimental data, I conclude that land-streamer data over sand dune can be more coherent than conventional data, especially the first-arrival events.
2010-07-25T22:46:11Z
2010-07-25T22:46:11Z
2010-01-26
2010
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:10719
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/6435
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/292932020-07-09T20:31:11Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Simulating complex conductivity in carbonate rocks: using digital carbonate rocks and comparison to laboratory measurements
Colgin, James Edward
Zhang, Chi
Tsoflias, George
Li, Xianglin
Geophysics
Geology
Hydrologic sciences
carbonates
complex conductivity
conductivity
pore-scale
rock physics
simulation
Digital rock physics involves the modern microscopic imaging of geomaterials, digitalization of the microstructure, and numerical simulation of physical properties of rocks. This physics-based approach can give important insight into understanding properties of reservoir rocks, and help reveal the link between intrinsic rock properties and macroscopic geophysical responses. Our focus is the simulation of the complex conductivity of carbonate reservoir rocks using reconstructed 3D rock structures from high-resolution X-ray micro computed tomography (micro-CT). Carbonate core samples with varying lithofacies and pore structures from the Cambro-Ordovician Arbuckle Group and the Upper Pennsylvanian Lansing-Kansas City Group in Kansas were used in this study. The wide variations in pore geometry and connectivity of these samples were imaged using micro-CT. A two-phase segmentation method was used to reconstruct a digital rock of solid particles and pores. We then calculated the effective electrical conductivity of the digital rock volume using a pore-scale numerical approach. The complex conductivity of geomaterials is influenced by the electrical properties and geometry of each phase, i.e., the solid and fluid phases. In addition, the electrical double layer that forms between the solid and fluid phases can also affect the effective conductivity of the material. In the numerical modeling, the influence of the electrical double layer is quantified by a complex surface conductance and converted to an apparent volumetric complex conductivity of either solid particles or pore fluid. The effective complex conductivity resulting from numerical simulations were compared to results from laboratory experiments on equivalent rock samples. In general, simulated σ'eff values were below laboratory measurements, while numerical σ''eff values were within reasonable range. The imaging and digital segmentation technique, fundamental rock characteristics, and model assumptions all play an important role in the simulation process.
2019-06-12T02:18:26Z
2019-06-12T02:18:26Z
2018-12-18
2018
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16265
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29293
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/256662018-02-05T15:45:39Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
The geology of Ness and Hodgeman Counties, Kansas
Moss, Rycroft Gleason
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1931.
2017-12-22T18:09:27Z
2017-12-22T18:09:27Z
1931
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25666
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/279532019-08-27T18:10:28Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Landslide Hazard Assessment for Fayzabad District, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan
Schlagel, Nathan
Johnson, William C
Taylor, Michael H
Blum, Mike
Geology
Geomorphology
Geographic information science and geodesy
Afghanistan
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Landslide hazard model
Landslide inventory
Landslide susceptibility model
Fayzabad District is one of those most impacted by landslide hazards in Afghanistan, accounting for 71% of all national landslide fatalities reported between 2012 and 2017. Necessary elevation data did not cover the very south of Fayzabad District; consequently, this study focuses on the northern two thirds of the district, where data were available. A landslide inventory was developed by mapping landslides using DEMs and high-resolution satellite imagery to aid in development and assessment of both Heuristic and bivariate statistical models of landslide susceptibility. Landslide statistics, including length, area, width, and pertinent relationships to geology, elevation, aspect, slope, and proximity to faults and streams were quantitatively calculated using geoprocessing tools. Hazard maps were produced using landslide susceptibility and proximity of villages to mapped landslides. Mapped susceptibility results indicate that in this part of Afghanistan landslides occur primarily on north to northwest aspects in loess or soil media over gneiss bedrock. Landslides are concentrated between 1500 m and 2000 m elevation and on 18° to 45° slopes within 60 m of a stream channel and or within 1 km of a fault. Landslide dimensions plot linearly on log-log scales, simplifying the development of predictive associations. Model results encapsulate a high proportion of landslide pixels within areas of high susceptibility, although there were significant variations between Heuristic and bivariate methods. Bivariate methods performed better universally, but may be over trained when the entire dataset is used to produce statistical weights. Use of subset of data to develop weights results in a more even distribution of landslides between low- to high-susceptibility zones. Findings in both the landslide inventory and susceptibility models are supported by prior studies of landslide behavior in Afghanistan. Programmatic workflows allowed for rapid production of many model components after initial reclassification and will facilitate further research in Afghanistan, and application of the methodology elsewhere. Map products potentially provide a new tool for hazard planners and aid groups in northeastern Afghanistan, and supplemental code will allow for rapid incorporation of new datasets as they are developed.
2019-05-18T18:12:38Z
2019-05-18T18:12:38Z
2018-08-31
2018
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16075
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/27953
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/241952018-01-31T20:07:47Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Sequence Stratigraphy and Depositional Controls on Oligocene-Miocene Caribbean Carbonate-Dominated Systems, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic
Ortega-Ariza, Diana
Franseen, Evan K.
Goldstein, Robert H.
Taylor, Michael H.
Ramírez-Martínez, Wilson R.
Kelly, John K.
Geology
Heterozoan
Sea level
Sedimentology
Upwelling
The first part of this dissertation (Chapter 2) focuses on 87Sr/86Sr-derived mean ages for selected Oligocene-Miocene carbonate and siliciclastic units in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Results indicate ages of middle-late Oligocene to late Miocene (ca. 29.78–5.88 Ma) and show some significant modifications to previous chronostratigraphic studies. 87Sr/86Sr-derived mean ages allow for correlation with documented processes affecting Caribbean systems during this time (e.g., regional upwelling, warming events, coral extinctions, tectonism, and sea-level changes). The middle-early late Miocene (ca. 13-10 Ma) Ponce Limestone in southern Puerto Rico is an example of one of these systems and the focus of a detailed study presented in Chapter 3. The Ponce Limestone is composed of three carbonate sequences of shallow-water deposits that developed on a gently (<3°) dipping ramp environment in response to relative sea-level fluctuations. Facies are dominated by heterozoans and large benthic foraminifera (LBF) along with coralline red algae and cool- and turbid-water tolerant photozoan corals (Montastraea, Goniopora, Porites, and Agaricia). This facies composition is atypical of tropical shallow-water environments and indicates stressed conditions. Timing of Ponce Limestone sequence deposition correlates with a known regional upwelling event that raised nutrient levels and lowered temperatures of surface waters. Although upwelling appears to have been persistent throughout Ponce Limestone deposition, the presence of photozoan corals only in the highstand and regressive portions of sequences suggests a relationship of upwelling to relative sea level, with greater intensities during transgressions. Evidence of subaerial exposure (sequence boundaries, SB1 ~13-12 Ma and SB2 ~11-10 Ma) appear to correlate with time-equivalent unconformities identified in several other Caribbean areas, which suggests a regional (tectonism) or perhaps global control (eustacy) on Ponce Limestone sequence development. The late Miocene (ca. 6.31–5.88 Ma) Cercado Formation in northern Dominican Republic (Chapter 4) is composed of three mixed carbonate-siliciclastic prograding sequences deposited over a gently dipping (<1°) ramp during an overall relative sea-level fall interrupted by two minor relative sea-level fluctuations. Facies are characterized by exceptional high-diversity shallow-water photozoan coral assemblages (e.g., Stylophora, Pocillopora, and Dichocoenia) deposited as patch reefs. The presence of these facies in the Caribbean at that time, along with the closure of the Central American Seaway, has been used to suggest a regional decrease in upwelling intensity. Regional deposits that are time-equivalent to the Cercado Formation, however, do not show the same increase in coral diversity and instead support upwelling and nutrients still affecting the Caribbean. The unique coral development in the Cercado Formation in the Arroyo Bellaco area suggests a local control that provided a suitable environment more conducive to coral development (e.g., a local paleogeographic setting that provided protection from upwelling and excessive nutrients). Additionally, even though the late Miocene Cercado Formation photozoan coral-dominated sequences in Arroyo Bellaco show similarities to modern (Pleistocene to Recent) Caribbean tropical reef systems in coral diversity, the corals developed as patches and thickets on an overall ramp system, rather than forming a rimmed platform, indicating that the photic zone was still adversely affected.
2017-05-15T22:19:55Z
2017-05-15T22:19:55Z
2016-12-31
2016
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15066
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/24195
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/191812018-01-31T20:07:54Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Petrography and paragenesis of diagenetic mineral phases in cherty and dolomitic spiculite strata, Mississippian, South-central Kansas
Montalvo, Luis Gabriel
Gonzalez, Luis A
Watney, Lynn
Roberts, Jennifer
Geology
Geochemistry
Sedimentary geology
Carbonate
Chert
Diagenesis
Dolomite
Mississippian
Spiculite
Mississippian strata in four cores from three different locations in southcentral Kansas (Rhodes field, Wellington field, and a "wildcat" well in Comanche county) were used to investigate the depositional environment, and the diagenetic history in variable cherty and dolomitic sponge-spicule-rich facies. The cores described comprises a series of lithofacies that are representative of inner-, mid and outer-ramp depositional environments, and depict conditions in which colonization of siliceous-sponges suppressed the deposition of carbonates. Paragenesis reveals that the most important and abundant diagenetic mineral phases are chert and dolomite, which partially to pervasively replaced the sediments early after they were deposited. Chertification was triggered in part by remobilization of silica from dissolution of siliceous sponge-spicule. Salinity measurements on fluid inclusions of early megaquartz revealed values consistent with seawater and evaporated seawater (early hypersalinity). This suggests that silicification processes (including chertification) began shortly after deposition of the sediments, and before complete lithification. Multiple phases of dolomite were described and are texturally different in the locations studied. Petrography and geochemistry data lead to the conclusions that primary dolomite (cD1 and wD1a) precipitation occurred in near-surface environments from potentially seawater-derived fluids and temporally associated with nodular cherts. Elevated concentrations of iron and manganese and void-filling textures characteristic of secondary dolomite phases indicate that secondary dolomitization occurred in the meteoric or subsurface realms. Two cases of regional scale events were described and include 1) an early event of nodular evaporite precipitation in the sediment column, and 2) a mineral assemblage of late stage cements comprising megaquartz, chalcedony (zebraic), baroque dolomite and calcite which has been indicated as a predictive mineral series to indicate hydrothermal fluid migration on Mississippian and adjacent units in the mid-continent by previous authors. Prospective hydrocarbon reservoirs involve facies rich in sponge-spicule debris that had undergone dissolution (either meteoric or hydrothermal), or pervasively dolomitized facies where intercrystaline porosity dominates.
2015-12-11T23:19:52Z
2015-12-11T23:19:52Z
2015-05-31
2015
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13846
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19181
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/302102021-03-05T19:18:00Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Timing and drivers of exhumation in the hinterland of the North American Cordillera from detrital zircon U-Pb and (U-Th)/He double-dating
Graham, Kathleen
Bidgoli, Tandis
Walker, J. Douglas
Moeller, Andreas
Geology
Cordillera
Detrital
Double-dating
Geochronology
Nevadaplano
Thermochronology
The late Cretaceous to early Cenozoic hinterland of the North American Cordillera is widely recognized as an orogenic plateau. Although most studies suggest that this highland was in place by the Eocene, the timing and underlying drivers of the plateau’s development and eventual demise are not well known. To better understand this evolving orogenic system, this study focuses on constraining the age, provenance, and depositional lag-time of Eocene sediments along the California continental margin. These sandstones were sourced, in large part, from the western margin of the highland and may therefore offer clues to its development. A total of 2,163 new detrital zircon U-Pb ages were obtained from 16 samples to confirm the published provenance of the sandstones and/or recover new grain-age populations. The U-Pb ages reveal the major sources for zircons: Permian-Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous arc rocks, the Paleo- and Mesoproterozoic Mojave and Mogollon Highlands, and the Idaho Batholith/Challis Volcanic Center. Samples north of the Transverse Ranges display a stronger arc signature, while samples south of them were sourced from the Mojave and Mogollon Highlands. 159 new (U-Th)/He ages obtained from a subset of the zircons analyzed from each sample, record either one or two significant age peaks. The majority of samples have a strong latest Cretaceous cooling signature; however, most samples also record Eocene cooling. The six samples from the Santa Ynez Mountains and from Vacaville area contain cooling ages that likely reflect post-depositional resetting of samples and are not considered for further interpretation. Observations from the (U-Th)/He dates suggests that most samples with probable sources inboard of the Sierra Nevada record short lag-times, indicating little to no delay between source exhumation and sediment deposition. Overall, the (U-Th)/He dates suggest that hinterland sediment source regions were affected by major pulses of exhumation in the late Cretaceous and the Paleocene to Eocene. Late Cretaceous exhumation fits well with the timing of Sevier deformation, but rapid exhumation in the Eocene is not readily explained by the tectonic framework of the region. We hypothesize that Laramide-related tectonism in combination with rapid erosion due to changing climate are responsible for this Eocene exhumation.
2020-03-29T16:29:57Z
2020-03-29T16:29:57Z
2019-12-31
2019
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16349
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/30210
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/80452020-08-19T13:31:27Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Miocene core complex development and coeval supradetachment basin evolution of Paros, Greece
Bargnesi, Evan Anthony
Stockli, Daniel F
Moller, Andreas
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Geology
Geochemistry
Core complex
Cyclades
Laser ablation
Supradetachment
(u-th)/he
Zircon
This study evaluates the tectonosedimentary evolution of Paros, Greece using apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He dating to assess the currently accepted kinematic history and resolve controversy about the formation of and sources to the Paros supradetachment basin. Overdispersed and improbable results in the footwall suite of zircons are examined using laser ablation depth-profiling to address the inherent assumption of homogeneous parent nuclide distribution in the zircon (U-Th)/He technique. Results from footwall zircon (U-Th)/He analyses indicate rapid cooling in excess of 100 degrees C/km from 11 - 7 Ma, which confirms rapid core complex exhumation along the Naxos-Paros low-angle extensional detachment. The suite of detrital zircons preserves the multi-stage Mesozoic-Cenozoic tectonometamorphic history of the central Aegean Sea and was deposited synchronously with progressive core complex development. Laser ablation data suggest that parent nuclide zonation in zircon poses a significant challenge to the reliability of (U-Th)/He dating which can be corrected by forward modeling unique alpha-ejection corrections.
2011-09-22T01:25:40Z
2011-09-22T01:25:40Z
2011-05-23
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11589
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8045
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/223712018-01-31T20:07:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Near-surface void characterization and sensitivity analysis using enhanced processing procedures on passive Multi-Channel Analysis of Surface Waves (MASW) data
Nolan, Jeffery Jordan
Miller, Richard D
Walker, Douglas
Roberts, Jennifer A
Sloan, Steven D
Geophysics
MASW
passive
shear-wave
surface-wave
Enhanced processing procedures on passive multichannel analysis of surface-waves (MASW) data were utilized to identify velocity anomalies above known salt solution voids in Hutchinson, Kansas, likely caused by the changing stress field due to the migration and/or expansion of the void. Previous geophysical studies within the study area provided information about the origin of the dominant passive surface-wave energy, allowing for an optimal spread orientation consisting of both 1D survey lines and a 2D grid. Occasional passing trains throughout the night generated surface-wave energy ranging from ~4 Hz to ~20 Hz for most recorded events. The use of the 2D grid allowed for identification of the orientation of wave propagation to correct the high apparent velocities caused by the oblique source orientation. Following acquisition, enhanced processing procedures such as time window stacking, percent keep, and source stacking, generated an overtone image with a higher signal-to-noise ratio and more pronounced fundamental mode energy. This visual improvement facilitated the extraction of fundamental mode energy, ultimately increasing the accuracy of the final shear-wave velocity profile. Velocity anomalies within the velocity profiles could likely be attributed to the changing of the stress field during the movement of the void. As the void expands laterally, the roof span increases. The increasing roof span likely increases the stress and shear velocity in the overburden load causing high-velocity haloes in the velocity profile. When the roof span becomes too large to support the overburden load, the roof rock will collapse, causing the migration of the void. Upon collapse, the non-collapsed overburden should accumulate stress due to the lack of underlying support, while the collapsed rock (rubble) should decrease in shear-wave velocity.
2017-01-02T21:01:30Z
2017-01-02T21:01:30Z
2016-05-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14791
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/22371
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/260492018-02-21T09:01:45Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Geology of the Greenland Sandstone, Winslow (Pennsylvanian) Formation, Eastern Madison County, Arkansas
Sandlin, Larry F.
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1968.
2018-02-20T16:04:22Z
2018-02-20T16:04:22Z
1968
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26049
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy,
use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the
work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/269342018-10-25T19:56:21Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Effects of Sedimentologic and Stratigraphic Heterogeneity on Production in Carbonate Reservoirs: An Integrated Outcrop, Synthetic Geologic Modeling, and Flow Simulation Study
Herbst, Steven Randall
Rankey, Eugene C
Hasiotis, Stephen
Barati, Reza
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Bahamas
Carbonate shoreface
Flow simulation
Geologic modeling
Heterogeneity
Petrel
Most geoscientists recognize, characterize, and understand the many scales and types of heterogeneity in carbonate reservoirs; however, systematic quantitative assessment of the impact of this range of geological variations on production from carbonate reservoirs is rare. To explore and quantify the impact of geologic heterogeneity of hydrocarbon production from carbonate shoreface reservoirs, this study couples an outcrop-derived conceptual model and petrophysical data from reservoir analogs to generate a spectrum of simple geologic models of carbonate shoreface reservoir systems. The 25 geologic models, designed to isolate and evaluate the influence of geologic variables, capture a range of heterogeneity related to depositional geometry, facies stacking patterns, diagenetic surfaces and bodies, porosity distribution, and permeability distribution. A total of 750 flow simulations of these geologic models provide a means to quantify the impact, relative importance, and risk associated with each geologic factor on original oil in place (OOIP), production rate, and cumulative production. Results reveal how geological parameters influence OOIP and dynamic production measures. For example, in the absence of flow baffles (subaerial exposure surfaces or flooding units), the presence of clinoformal geometries does not markedly influence static or dynamic production metrics. In contrast, the presence of flow barriers along clinoform surfaces can result in marked (in excess of 30%) changes in production, accompanied by minimal change in OOIP. Changing either facies proportions (e.g. foreshore:upper shoreface:lower shoreface) or porosity (mean porosity) impacts both static and dynamic reservoir attributes, in many cases by more than 10% from the base model. Collectively, these results, derived from systematic analysis of a suite of simple (but fully constrained) models, quantify the impacts and risks associated with a range of geological parameters. These insights can be used to characterize, understand, and predict the important roles and risks of geological variability on production of comparable subsurface reservoirs.
2018-10-22T22:15:15Z
2018-10-22T22:15:15Z
2017-05-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15141
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26934
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/40692018-01-31T20:08:05Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Microbial Activity during Biodegradation and its Effects on Groundwater Velocity in a Contaminated Aquifer
Schillig, Peter Curtis
Devlin, John F.
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Roberts, Jennifer A.
Goldstein, Robert H.
Geology
Hydrology
Point velocity probe
Groundwater velocity
Ground-penetrating radar
Transient heterogeneity
Bioclogging
Bioremediation
A petroleum hydrocarbon plume was introduced into a controlled flow gate within the relatively homogenous Borden aquifer, Canada. Down-gradient of the release, O2 was added to stimulate microbial activity and biodegradation in the aquifer. Changes in groundwater velocity associated with biological activity, were measured with point velocity probes (PVPs) arranged into multilevel standpipes and installed into the flow gate. PVP results were compared with electromagnetic wave velocity measurements from a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey conducted in the same flow gate. Following the addition of O2, PVP and GPR measured velocities nearest the O2 source changed in a consistent manner throughout the experiment. GPR velocities measured outside the influence of the added O2 did not indicate the same trend. Results from flow modeling combined with gas and biomass measurements, show that PVP and GPR velocity changes were likely caused by factors related to elevated levels biological activity in the aquifer.
2008-08-05T12:57:50Z
2008-08-05T12:57:50Z
2008-03-26
2008
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:2396
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/4069
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/187922017-12-08T21:31:50Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_7158
The anticlinical theory of oil and gas
Foster, William Henry
Thesis (M.A.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1915. ; Includes bibliographical references.
2015-11-03T14:48:49Z
2015-11-03T14:48:49Z
1915
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/18792
openAccess
This work is in the public domain according to U.S. copyright law and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/292922020-07-09T20:39:36Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Interoperability between the StraboSpot graph database and GIS software– A Malpais Mesa Use Case
Bunse, Emily
Walker, J. Douglas
Stearns, Leigh A.
Taylor, Michael H.
Geographic information science and geodesy
GeoJSON
GIS
Graph Databases
Relational Databases
REST
StraboSpot
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used by field geoscientists for decades to digitally collect data with several benefits: observations can be made in the field at a map independent scale while using multiple basemaps, the burdensome task of digitizing handwritten field notes and maps back in the office is eliminated, and the use of global positioning systems (GPS) has led to more precisely located observations. Despite the numerous advantages of using GIS in the field geosciences, the lack of agreement upon a standard schema for relational database management systems used in GIS along with new geospatial technologies and the popularization of mobile applications has led to the development of a novel geologic data management system, StraboSpot. StraboSpot consists of a mobile application available for Android and iOS devices for data collection and an online graph database for data storage, management, and sharing. The issue of schema creation has been solved with the development of a lexicon through contributions from the structural geology and tectonics, sedimentology, petrology, and microstructural communities and the utilization of a graph database for storage, which is schema-less by definition. Users of StraboSpot can collect, store, and share their geologic data, making it an all-in-one solution for geoscientists to publish their data using open source techniques. Data is stored in a users’ StraboSpot account which can hold multiple StraboSpot projects consisting of multiple datasets containing Spots. A Spot is a point, line, or polygon containing a set of observations over a user-defined spatial extent. The spatial extent of a Spot can be in real world coordinates (when set using maps or georeferenced aerial imagery), pixel coordinates (when set using a photo) or other systems as needed. Tags, “sticky-note”-like categories, can be used to conceptually group Spots. StraboSpot does not have the cartographic and analysis tools found in a GIS, so it became necessary to establish connections between StraboSpot and commonly-used GIS software, ArcGIS and QGIS. GIS connections – an ArcMap Add-In and QGIS Plug-In – have been designed and programmed which have download and upload capabilities with StraboSpot. Download or upload of a StraboSpot project and dataset occurs through deserialization/serialization and parsing of JSON (Java Script Object Notation) and GeoJSON transferred between the GIS and StraboSpot’s graph database via RESTful communications. I traveled to Malpais Mesa, Inyo County, CA in October 2016, accompanied by two other University of Kansas students working on StraboSpot, to beta test StraboSpot’s mobile app. Malpais Mesa was chosen due to the complexity of the area – it is situated in the Eastern California Shear Zone and the westernmost range of the Basin and Range province – which would adequately test for bugs in the mobile application and create robust StraboSpot data which I then used in the development of the GIS connections. Most importantly, it was an excellent location to compare the geoscientist’s workflow with the capabilities and structure/interface of StraboSpot. The interoperability between StraboSpot and the GIS connections provides users with a user-friendly and seamless method of downloading data collected in the field, performing various analyses such as running topology, and then uploading the “cleaned up” data for further use in StraboSpot. Geoscientists will also be able download all their StraboSpot data and create professional map products using the cartographic layout tools in GIS. The raw data behind those map products will be easily shared through StraboSpot leading to greater transparency, reproducibility, and reuse of geologic data.
2019-06-12T02:16:09Z
2019-06-12T02:16:09Z
2018-12-31
2019
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16219
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29292
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/79942020-08-18T13:18:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Synapsid Burrows in the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone, Utah
Riese, David
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Martin, Larry D.
Goldstein, Robert H.
Geology
Paleontology
Eolian
Interdune
Invertebrate
Rhizoliths
Trace fossils
Vertebrate burrows
Enigmatic structures below interdune deposits of the Lower Jurassic Navajo Sandstone near Moab, Utah are interpreted as synapsid burrows based on similar morphologies to fossil and extant synapsid burrows. Two types of burrows are distinguished by their size. Type I burrows are large diameter and comprise complex, high density sinuous tunnels, Y- and T- branched tunnels, sinuous ramps, and chambers. Type I burrows at one locality weather into mounds averaging 33 m x 22 m and extend ~ 1 m above the surface. Type I burrows are dorsoventrally flattened, in cross section averaging 9.3 cm wide and 4.2 cm high, and are sand filled and structureless. These burrows mostly have smooth walls, though some have scalloped walls. Type I burrows represent a new ichnogenera and ichnospecies Labyrinthopolis odieri. These burrows are best explained by multiple individuals living together in social groups similar to modern vole (social) and mole rats (eusocial), and likely represent permanent dwelling structures for foraging, nesting, hiding, and food storage. Type II burrows are mega diameter with simple, inclined tunnels ~ 35 cm wide and ~ 20 cm high, and exhibit well-preserved bilobate morphology along the underside of the tunnel. The walls preserve a series of 3 or 4 thin (~ 4-8 mm), inclined scratch marks from the upper part of the wall and along the floor. Type II burrows represents a new ichnogenera and ichnospecies Schemalitus psalihyponomes. Type II burrows were likely constructed by therapsids based on similarities to therapsid burrows found in South Africa and Antarctica, and likely represents a permanent shelter used for dwelling and brooding. Alternate excavators for Type I and II burrows are rejected by reviewing and comparing burrow morphologies of fossil and extant vertebrate groups because morphologies are consistent within the major groups in both fossil and extant vertebrates. Burrow morphologies reflect the tracemaker's anatomy, social structure, media consistency, and food availability.
2011-09-04T12:00:54Z
2011-09-04T12:00:54Z
2011-05-03
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11565
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/7994
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/279102019-08-27T18:10:28Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Diagenetic controls on porosity, thermal history, and hydrocarbons in the Wolfcamp A, eastern Midland Basin, Texas
Dezoeten, Erich Gustaaf
Goldstein, Robert H
Franseen, Evan K
Roberts, Jennifer A
Geology
Sedimentary geology
diagenesis
hydrothermal
maturity
permian basin
porosity
wolfcamp
A detailed study of a Wolfcamp A core from the eastern Midland Basin, west Texas, is used to understand the diagenetic history of the region and the controls on carbonate macroporosity. Transmitted-light microscopy, UV-epifluorescence, cathodoluminescence, and SEM-EDS microscopy, as well as δ18O, δ13C, 87Sr/86Sr, and fluid inclusion analyses were performed. The diagenetic history could be divided into stages: Early Stage occurred near the sediment-water interface; Burial Stage occurred during burial and before tectonic fracturing; and Fracturing Stage occurred with the onset of tectonic fracturing and overlaps with late events of hydrocarbon migration. Macropores in carbonate mud-poor packstones were largely occluded by compaction, Early Stage and Burial Stage calcite cements, and host little extant porosity. Mud-rich packstones, however, host both primary intraparticle and late moldic porosity and are better reservoir facies. Within the Burial Stage (Leonardian or Guadalupian) highly saline evaporated seawater (17.4 – 18.5 wt%) refluxed into the Wolfcamp A, displaced connate water, and was heated to burial temperatures (68 – 83 °C) before precipitating calcite cement. 87Sr/86Sr of the calcite cement is more radiogenic than Leonardian or Guadalupian seawater, which is likely due to rock-water interaction with more radiogenic siliciclastics. Afterwards, in the Ochoan, even more highly saline evaporated seawater (17.4 – 26.8 wt%) refluxed and mixed with or displaced the Leonardian or Guadalupian refluxed fluid; it precipitated anhydrite cement during active reflux, prior to being heated to burial temperature. 87Sr/86Sr of the anhydrite cement (0.707491) supports precipitation from Ochoan seawater. At the onset of the Fracturing Stage, there is a fracturing event and a dramatic rise in fluid temperatures from 68 – 93 °C to 130 - 160 °C, which is well above the modeled maximum burial temperature of 85 °C. Mean δ18Ocement shifts to markedly more negative values from the Burial Stage (-2.77‰) to the Fracturing Stage (-5.28‰), which supports an increase in temperature. Characteristics of the Th record indicate tectonic valving of hydrothermal fluids. Relatively non-radiogenic 87Sr/86Sr for high temperature cements (0.707464 – 0.707846) suggest a fluid origin from a sedimentary basin rather than basement. The most likely source for the hydrothermal fluids is the much deeper Val Verde Basin. A modern geothermal gradient map shows a high-gradient plume, directed northward from the Val Verde Basin, with NE-SW- and NW-SE-oriented boundaries. NE-directed Laramide compressive stress resulted in NE-SW and NW-SE fracture sets. Laramide fracturing in the Val Verde Basin and Midland Basin resulted in long-distance (at least 300 km) northward migration of deep hot fluids along these NE-SW and NW-SE fracture zones within certain stratigraphic intervals. Cenozoic uplift south and west of the Val Verde Basin resulted in meteoric water infiltration into deep reservoirs. This caused northward fluid displacement and migration of hydrothermal fluids. The paragenesis indicates that much hydrocarbon generation and migration occurred in the Cenozoic, which is much more recent than previously estimated.
2019-05-12T18:59:03Z
2019-05-12T18:59:03Z
2018-05-31
2018
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15831
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/27910
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/258222018-01-31T23:29:56Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Monitoring induced seismicity near the Wellington oil field, South-Central Kansas
Nolte, Keith Alexander
Tsoflias, George P
Black, Ross
Franseen, Evan
Geophysics
Geology
anisotropy
Induced seismicity
shear-wave
Seismicity in the United States midcontinent has increased by orders of magnitude over the past decade. Spatiotemporal correlations of seismicity to wastewater injection operations have suggested that injection-related pore fluid pressure increases are inducing the earthquakes. In this investigation, I examine earthquake occurrence in southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma and its relation to the change in pore pressure. The main source of data comes from the Wellington Array in the Wellington oil field, in Sumner County, KS, which has monitored for earthquakes in central Sumner County, KS since early 2015. A catalog of earthquakes was built from this data. These earthquakes were then analyzed for spatial and temporal changes, stress information, and anisotropy information. The region of seismic concern has been shown to be expanding through use of the Wellington earthquake catalog, and has revealed a northward progression of earthquake activity reaching the metropolitan area of Wichita. The stress orientation was also calculated from this earthquake catalog through focal mechanism inversion. The calculated stress orientation was confirmed through comparison to other stress measurements from well data and previous earthquake studies in the region. With this knowledge of the stress orientation, the anisotropy in the basement could be understood. This allowed for the anisotropy measurements to be correlated to pore pressure increases. The increase in pore pressure is monitored through time-lapse shear-wave anisotropy analysis. Since the onset of the observation period in 2010, the orientation of the fast shear-wave has rotated 90°, indicating a change associated with critical pore pressure build up. The time delay between fast and slow shear wave arrivals has increased, indicating a corresponding increase in anisotropy induced by pore pressure rise. In-situ near-basement fluid pressure measurements corroborate the continuous pore pressure increase revealed by the shear-wave anisotropy analysis over the earthquake-monitoring period. This research is the first to identify a change in pore fluid pressure in the basement using seismological data. The shear-wave splitting analysis is a novel application of the technique, which can be used in other regions to identify an increase in pore pressure. This increasing pore fluid pressure has become more regionally extensive as earthquakes are occurring in southern Kansas, where they previously were absent. These monitoring techniques and analyses provide new insight into mitigating induced seismicity’s impact to society.
2018-01-30T03:35:51Z
2018-01-30T03:35:51Z
2017-05-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15261
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25822
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/104062018-01-31T20:08:10Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Ichnotaxonomic assessment of Mazon Creek area trace fossils, Illinois, USA
LoBue, David J.
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Selden, Paul A.
Walton, Anthony W.
Paleontology
Carboniferous
Ichnology
Ichnotaxonomy
Mazon creek
Trace fossils
The Francis Creek Shale Member (FCSM) of the Mid-Pennsylvanian Carbondale Formation along Mazon Creek in northern Illinois is known for soft-bodied organisms preserved within siderite concretions. Trace fossils, though less well known, also occur in concretions. Several hundred trace-fossil-bearing concretions were examined from collections at The Field Museum, Chicago, and The University of Kansas Natural History Museum, Lawrence. Identification was based on accepted diagnostic criteria and comparison with like specimens. Described were 24 ichnogenera and 28 ichnospecies, including a new ichnospecies of Pennatulites and a new ichnogenera of coprolite--Funiculichnus spiralis, unnamed trace fossils including a bivalve-locomotion trail, spiral and amorphous coprolites, and two possible galls, and several deformation structures and body fossils misidentified as trace fossils. Trace-fossil assemblages indicate a Skolithos-Cruziana ichnofacies transition from shallow, high-energy to deeper, lower-energy nearshore marine environments, which is consistent with previous interpretations that the FCSM was deposited in a nearshore, deltaic environment.
2012-11-19T23:33:49Z
2012-11-19T23:33:49Z
2010-08-12
2010
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11065
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/10406
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/265542018-06-21T08:02:27Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Stratigraphy of Lower Mississippian rocks in southwestern Missouri
Kaiser, Charles Philip
Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1946.
2018-06-20T15:29:04Z
2018-06-20T15:29:04Z
1946
Dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26554
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/279282019-08-27T18:10:28Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Preservation Potential of Permian Gypsum Beds, Nippewalla Group, USA
Lockamy, Dru
Olcott Marshall, Alison
Kamola, Diane
Marshall, Craig
Walker, Doug
Geology
Biomarker
Gypsum
Microbial life
Nippewalla Group
Permian
ABSTRACT During the Permian, what is now southern Kansas and northern Oklahoma was a drying inhospitable environment, as evidenced by the extensive red-beds and evaporites of the Nippewalla Group. Due to the fact that animals could not live in much of this extreme environment, there is a lack of a traditional fossil record in these units. Thus, this study focuses on detecting biomarkers, the chemical traces of organisms. The red-beds and gypsum were analyzed in order to assess their biomarker contents. Geochemistry similar to that found in the Nippewalla Group has been hypothesized to prevent the preservation of biomarkers due to the presence of hematite, which indicates oxidizing conditions. Due to these circumstances, a series of methods were used to investigate the detection of biomarkers. Thin sections of each rock and mineral sample, as well as two thick sections, were prepared in order to investigate the presence of fluid inclusions and any preserved organic matter through the use of fluorescence microscopy. The extractable organic matter and the total organic carbon (TOC) were also analyzed, allowing for the identification of n-alkanes, hopanes, methyl-hopanes, nor-hopanes, and isoprenoids, pristane and phytane, mostly within the gypsum. The presence of these biomarkers indicate that they can be preserved in oxidizing conditions, at least in the presence of gypsum, as it is likely the key factor to the biomarkers sustainability. The gypsum contained a number of fluid inclusions where organic material could be preserved. Also, the gypsum could create microenvironments and provide a barrier between the surrounding oxic environment and the inner anoxic environment. Understanding the preservation potential of gypsum is important as biomarkers can provide paleoenvironmental insight into the environmental conditions of the Permian. They can also provide clues to possible preservation pathways within the gypsum on Mars as the paleoenvironment of the Nippewalla Group was similar to the environment on Mars based on mineralogy and sedimentology.
2019-05-12T19:19:59Z
2019-05-12T19:19:59Z
2018-05-31
2018
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15799
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/27928
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/264852018-09-20T19:43:32Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Influence of Organic Matter Source, Abundance, and Growth Habit on Depositional Textures and Associated Pore Attributes of Hypersaline Lacustrine Microbial Deposits (Holocene, Bahamas)
Hubert, Hannah
Rankey, Eugene C
Olcott-Marshall, Alison
Zhang, Chi
Sedimentary geology
Petroleum geology
lacustrine
microbial
microbialite
pre-salt
Discovery of lacustrine microbialite reservoirs in South Atlantic pre-salt has motivated the search for analogs for perspectives on their deposition and initial porosity. Although previous efforts mapped spatial patterns and produced facies models of large microbial lacustrine systems, details of the origins of microbialite fabrics are less well constrained. To address these unknowns, this study evaluates the influence of organic matter source, abundance, and growth habit on Holocene microbialite fabrics. Integrated multi-scale analyses characterize fabrics of Holocene microbialites in a small, shallow, hypersaline, alkaline lake in the southern Bahamas. The results of analyses reveal: systematic distribution of surface sediment, unlithified microbial mats, and microbialites; microbialite fabrics vary considerably on several scales, and porosity varies from 43 to 59%; and organic matter abundance, rather than source, is interpreted to control fabric. Although ultimate preservation is unknown, understanding the genesis of primary fabrics may provide insights into pore evolution in reservoir analogs. Discovery of lacustrine microbialite reservoirs in South Atlantic pre-salt has motivated the search for analogs for perspectives on their deposition and initial porosity. Although previous efforts mapped spatial patterns and produced facies models of large microbial lacustrine systems, details of the origins of microbialite fabrics are less well constrained. To address these unknowns, this study evaluates the influence of organic matter source, abundance, and growth habit on Holocene microbialite fabrics. Integrated multi-scale analyses characterize fabrics of Holocene microbialites in a small, shallow, hypersaline, alkaline lake in the southern Bahamas. The results of analyses reveal: systematic distribution of surface sediment, unlithified microbial mats, and microbialites; microbialite fabrics vary considerably on several scales, and porosity varies from 43 to 59%; and organic matter abundance, rather than source, is interpreted to control fabric. Although ultimate preservation is unknown, understanding the genesis of primary fabrics may provide insights into pore evolution in reservoir analogs.
2018-06-07T21:37:11Z
2018-06-07T21:37:11Z
2017-08-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15432
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26485
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/84992020-08-27T14:02:57Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_7158
Variations of Seminula Argentea (Shepherd)
Miller, Raymond Foster
2011-11-23T15:34:42Z
2011-11-23T15:34:42Z
1912
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8499
en_US
openAccess
This work is in the public domain according to U.S. copyright law and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/249802017-12-08T21:43:44Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Stratigraphy of Johnson County, Kansas
Newell, Norman Dennis
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1931.
2017-09-21T14:45:17Z
2017-09-21T14:45:17Z
1931
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/24980
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/314932021-03-05T16:54:48Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Stable Isotope Geochemistry and Paleohydrology of the Poison Strip Sandstone, Early Cretaceous, Eastern Utah
Robertson, Clay Henry
Ludvigson, Gregory
Stotler, Randy
Fowle, David
Geology
Geochemistry
Cedar Mountain Formation
Cretaceous
Diagenesis
Paleohydrology
Poison Strip Sandstone
Stable Isotope
The Poison Strip Sandstone Member is a unique unit in the early Cretaceous Cedar Mountain Formation of eastern Utah. A previous chemostratigraphic study of the Poison Strip Sandstone at the Ruby Ranch Road (RRR) section east of Green River, Utah produced a noteworthy dataset with interesting δ18O results (Ludvigson et al., 2015). The Poison Strip at the type section of the Ruby Ranch Member contains poikilotopic calcite cements that yield δ18O values that range between -16 and -13.5‰ VPDB (Ludvigson et al, 2015). These isotopic values represent a major departure from the typical δ18O values of about -8‰ VPDB documented during earlier studies of the Cedar Mountain formation and have either major paleoclimatic or later diagenetic implications for the unit. Through detailed petrographic, diagenetic, and stable isotopic analysis, we were able to determine that that the atypical δ18O values produced from the poikilotopic calcite cements of the Poison Strip Sandstone are the result of deep burial diagenesis. The precipitation of poikilotopic calcite cements were likely influenced by petroleum migration through the basin and may have also been impacted by hydrothermal fluids. Preliminary temperature and depth estimates of 2 – 3km and 73 to 90° C were calculated from the intergranular volumes and isotopic data.
2021-02-27T20:46:15Z
2021-02-27T20:46:15Z
2019-12-31
2019
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16882
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/31493
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/241802018-01-31T20:07:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Stable isotope paleohydrology of pedogenic carbonates in the Wayan Formation (Albian) from the wedge-top depozone in the North American Cretaceous Western Interior Basin
Ross, Jeffrey Bryce
Ludvigson, Greg A
Moeller, Andreas
Gonzalez, Luis A
Walker, Doug
Paleoclimate science
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Albian
Cretaceous
Geochronology
Paleohydrology
Pedogenic Carbonates
Stable Isotope
Determining the presence and effects of orogenic rain shadows on paleoclimate is challenging, but critical to understanding overall moisture and heat transport. This thesis presents new data and interpretation for the climate system of the Cretaceous greenhouse world, which is a major keystone in Earth system science. Stable isotopic paleohydrologic data on mid-Cretaceous paleosols spanning from paleoequatorial sites in Colombia to paleoarctic latitudes in Alaska have been used to constrain the oxygen isotope mass balance of the Albian hydrologic cycle. At mid-latitudes (40-50°N paleolatitude), sideritic paleosols predominate, indicating paleoenvironments with positive precipitation – evaporation (P-E) balances, local exceptions with negative P-E balances occur on the immediate leeward side of the Sevier Orogen, where calcic paleosols in the wedge-top depozone record paleoenvironments with negative P-E balances in the orographic rain shadow. Stratigraphic sections in the Wayan Formation of Idaho (WF) were sampled from the wedge-top depozone. The units consist of stacked m-scale mudstone paleosols separated by m-scale sandstone-siltstone beds. Sections were sampled for organic carbon isotope profiles, and B-horizons from 6 well-developed paleosols were sampled for detrital zircons to determine maximum depositional ages. The first of these from the WF has produced a U-Pb concordia age of 101.0 ± 1.1 Ma, placing it in the uppermost Albian. This same WF section has produced a stratigraphic trend of upwardly decreasing δ13C values ranging from -24 upwards to -27‰ VPDB, suggesting correlation to the late Albian C15 C-isotope segment. Pedogenic carbonates from the WF principally consist of micritic calcite, with carbon-oxygen isotope values that array along meteoric calcite lines (MCLs) with δ18O values that range between -9.47 up to -8.39‰ VPDB. At approximately 42°N paleolatitude, these MCL values produce calculated paleoprecipitation values of -8.12 to -7.04‰ VSMOW, a range that is consistent with the estimates produced from other proxies at the same paleolatitudes across North America. These results indicate that despite the orographic rain shadow effect, the processes of meridional atmospheric moisture transport in this locale were similar to those in more humid mid-latitude paleoenvironments elsewhere in the continent.
2017-05-15T03:17:50Z
2017-05-15T03:17:50Z
2016-12-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14929
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/24180
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/122132020-10-14T14:22:22Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Heterogeneity and Depositional Variability of Reef Sand Aprons: Integrated Field and Modeling of the Dynamics of Holocene Aranuka Atoll, Republic of Kiribati, Equatorial Pacific
Wasserman, Hannah
Rankey, Eugene C.
Reeder, Stacy Lynn
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Geology
Carbonate
Hydrodynamic
Kiribati
Sediment
Tides
Waves
Depositional facies represent the net product of a complex set of processes that impact sediment supply and transport through geomorphic systems. Although the general facies motifs of many isolated platforms throughout the geologic record are well documented, the details of geomorphological and sedimentological patterns, and the physical oceanographical processes controlling sedimentological differentiation, are less well constrained. On isolated carbonate platforms, accumulation of reef-derived debris in platform-top reef sand aprons form expansive geomorphic elements, and can host prolific hydrocarbon reserves. To better understand the nature and scale of reef sand apron accumulations, this project integrates remote sensing, field, petrographical, and granulometrical observations of surficial Holocene sediments with physical oceanographical observations and modeling of Aranuka Atoll, Republic of Kiribati in the western equatorial Pacific. These results illustrate trends in hydrodynamics, geomorphology, and sedimentology from the platform margin to the platform interior. Current meter data and modeling illustrate how the tides (2.5 m spring tidal amplitude) modulate wave energy (open-ocean, annual average swell height of ~2 m; distal swell height can be larger) to produce dominant on-platform flow (speeds up to 90 cm/s) on the northern reef sand apron. These hydrodynamical influences are interpreted to have led to the development of the expansive northern reef sand apron (2000 m wide); the southeastern apron, with currents that reverse with the tides, includes a narrower sand apron. Concomitantly, the hydrodynamical patterns and platformward decrease in energy across the reef sand apron, coupled with changes in biota, are interpreted to control variability in sedimentary structures, bottom types and sediment attributes. Sediment near the margin on the reef sand apron contains well-sorted coral and red algal-rich coarse sand and gravel, transitioning to poorly sorted, foraminifera-rich, medium to coarse sand toward the lagoon. The lagoon includes even finer sediment. Collectively, the results of this study illustrate that selective winnowing,differentiation of sediment size, type, and sorting (e.g., depositional porosity and permeability), and nature and size of geomorphic elements, are linked ultimately to the hydrodynamical patterns across the platform. The results of this study provide a predictive conceptual model for the depositional variability and processes active on reef sand aprons, including some ancient reservoir analogs.
2013-09-29T15:02:09Z
2013-09-29T15:02:09Z
2013-08-31
2013
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13004
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/12213
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/97032020-08-31T15:16:27Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Thermochronometric analysis of the North Lunggar Rift: Implications for the timing of extension initiation and structural style of deformation in southern Tibet
Sundell, Kurt E.
Taylor, Michael H.
Stockli, Daniel F
Stearns, Leigh A.
Geology
Low-angle normal faults
Metamorphic core complex
North lunggar rift
Tibet
(u-th)/he thermochronology
Active north-trending rifts in southern Tibet are kinematically linked to conjugate sets of strike-slip faults along the Bangong-Nujiang Suture zone (BNS), but the initiation age of the strike-slip faults is currently unknown. Apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometric analysis of the North Lunggar Rift shows the timing of onset of extension is 14 - 7 Ma, with a later episode of rapid extension and topography building exhumation at 5 - 3 Ma that continues into the present-day. Deformation of the North Lunggar Rift is driven primarily by isostatic rebound of the footwall at depth, as tectonic unloading and denudation exert a positive buoyancy force. This process causes the central portion of the North Lunggar Range to have the highest geothermal gradient and the greatest relief due to doming and increased uplift. Because the geothermal gradient is highest in the center of the footwall the amount of cumulative exhumation is lowest, but still exhibits the highest relief, as doming can cause uplift without denudation. Comparison between active local and regional structures and accumulated strain indicates that there was a regional change in lithospheric boundary conditions during the late Miocene - Pliocene that may have resulted in a switch from pure extension to constriction. The Tibetan Plateau may be a modern analogue to Basin and Range style extension demonstrating a causal linkage between thickened crust and the development of large magnitude extensional systems and metamorphic core complexes. Deformation accommodation in the Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau is best characterized by a combination of previously proposed models that rely on regional boundary conditions. Crustal thickening and orogenic collapse drove the initial onset of extension in the Himalaya and Tibet, and constriction in the upper crust and east directed flow of the lower crust resulted from the continued northward under-thrusting of the Indian slab that confined and forced ductile material eastward toward the free boundary, which once a threshold was reached caused a change in lithospheric boundary conditions driving an increase in rift activity, the initiation of strike-slip faulting along the BNS, and accelerated eastward extrusion of central Tibetan lithosphere.
2012-06-03T13:40:48Z
2012-06-03T13:40:48Z
2011-01-01
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11739
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/9703
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/302212021-03-05T16:54:48Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Advective Transport: Importance to Groundwater Remediation and Illustration of Basic Transport Concepts to Introductory Audiences
Banks, Andrew Todd
Hill, Mary C
Devlin, Rick F
Stotler, Randy
Hydrologic sciences
Environmental engineering
Environmental geology
Data integration
Groundwater education
Groundwater flow and contaminant transport modeling
GroundWaterTutor
In-situ groundwater remediation
Interactive computer module
Developing effective transport models with meaningful results requires a solid understanding of transport concepts and the underlying mechanics the model, and how data can be best integrated into the model. This research makes contribution to each of these three requirements: concept education, understanding simulated mechanics, and integrating data into models. (1) How can groundwater flow and transport processes be well communicated to introductory audiences, while providing a foundation for complex model development and interpretation? The first part of this work presents GroundWaterTutor, a freely available computer module for groundwater education. GroundWaterTutor provides a simple, interactive environment for learning how key system characteristics affect hydraulic heads and the flow of tracer particles. The software was developed using MATLAB in conjunction with MODFLOW 2005 and MODPATH 6, and thus provides a solid foundation from which students can expand to simulating more complex situations. GroundWaterTutor is distributed as a set of freely available standalone executables. (2) How do simulated advection interact with dispersion in groundwater remediation simulations? This question is addressed in the context of the following research question: How well do advection-based metrics for assessing the effectiveness of active in situ groundwater remediation strategies work? Results are important to developing an efficient optimization framework for in-situ active remediation systems. (3) Can heteroscedastic data, like concentration data, be integrated into models, such as groundwater models, without log-transformations, which make results hard for many users to interpret? Here the use of error-based weighting methods are investigated, which provide more intuitive regression models than log-transformation in the presence of highly variable (e.g. heteroscedastic) data. For this problem, log-transformation produced good model fit, while the error-based weighting formulations tested worked poorly.
2020-03-29T17:18:44Z
2020-03-29T17:18:44Z
2019-05-31
2019
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16625
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/30221
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8411-132X
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/314882024-01-16T16:42:58Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Evaluation of Seismicity Trends in Kansas to Determine Possible Source Mechanisms Using Focal Mechanism Inversion and Spectral Analysis
Intfen, John William
Miller, Richard D.
Walker, J. Douglas
Zhang, Chi
Geophysics
Secondary education
Focal Mechanism
Induced Seismicity
Stress Drop
High b-value, proper stress orientation and low stress drop are three factors that support the suggestion that a majority of events in central Kansas are induced as a result of changes in pore pressure. Furthermore, stress orientation and seismic trends align with regional lineations interpreted from magnetic data. These linear trends are likely influencing seismicity in the northern part of the state and the feature that supports the suggestion that injection of wastewater in an area 90km away is influencing seismicity in Smith, Jewell and Republic counties in Kansas. Kansas seismicity started in 2014 and rapidly increased in frequency, culminating in the largest recorded earthquake in state history on November 12th, 2014. This size event led to a drastic increase in interest and therefore the number of seismic stations distributed in areas previously determined aseismic. This resulted in the discovery of new earthquake clusters located outside historically active seismic areas. The Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) deployed a temporary and permanent station array to significantly improve coverage offered by a temporary network installed by the United States Geological Survey in 2013. This enhanced KGS network along with other stations installed across the state revealed new clusters in Jewell and Saline County, areas that were considered seismically quiescent. The focus of this research is to explore the characteristics of seismic activity clustering in locations outside the high profile area in south-central Kansas with the most proliferate seismic activity (Harper and Sumner Counties). These focus areas include Reno, Salina, and Jewell Counties where new clusters of seismic activity have developed since 2016. These three areas are host to notable clusters and were chosen base on unique and historically inconsistent seismic activity. For each of the three study areas (Jewell, Saline, and Reno) four focal mechanism algorithms determined the focal sphere orientation of 95 events using 34 different stations and the maximum horizontal stress for each area was calculated using a Michael 1984 inversion. Stress orientations in iv Reno County are consistent with those calculated in Oklahoma but rotates almost 90ᵒ further north in Jewell County. Brune stress drop was calculated for 90 events in each of the three study areas to compare with stress drops calculated in the south portion of the state (Harper and Sumner counties) and across the Central United States. Low stress drops throughout the state are consistent with the range of stress drops found for induced events in Oklahoma (Hough, 2014; Sumy et al., 2014) and other parts of the Central United States (Boyd et al., 2017).
2021-02-27T20:21:07Z
2021-02-27T20:21:07Z
2019-12-31
2019
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16803
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/31488
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1770-1252
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/215002021-08-26T20:53:49Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_7158
Notes on the geology of Giles County, Virginia
Croneis, Carey
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1923.
2016-09-12T14:12:06Z
2016-09-12T14:12:06Z
1923
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/21500
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/254912017-12-08T21:43:43Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
A highly weathered drift in the Kansas River Valley between Manhattan and Kansas City, Kansas
Hoover, W. Farrin
Thesis (M.A.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1932.
2017-11-27T18:12:28Z
2017-11-27T18:12:28Z
1932
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25491
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/129522020-10-20T13:12:54Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Fluid Flow, Thermal History, and Diagenesis of the Cambrian-Ordovician Arbuckle Group and Overlying Units in South-Central Kansas
King, Bradley Donald
Goldstein, Robert H.
Franseen, Evan K
Fowle, David A.
Geology
Geochemistry
Arbuckle group
Carbon dioxide
Diagenesis
Fluid-flow
Hydrothermal
Kansas
A diagenetic study of the Cambrian-Ordovician Arbuckle Group to the Middle Pennsylvanian Cherokee Group in south-central Kansas produced evidence of regional advective fluid flow and more localized fracture-controlled fluid flow affecting porosity. Late-stage megaquartz, baroque dolomite, and calcite produced high homogenization temperatures (86-144C), greater than can be explained by burial, necessitating hydrothermal fluids. Fluid inclusion salinities evolved from connate to those influenced by evaporites. Homogenization temperatures and 18O in baroque dolomite suggest warmer fluids stratigraphically shallower. The 87Sr/86Sr values indicate a regional advective aquifer during baroque dolomite precipitation, which may have been more locally controlled during calcite precipitation. Ouachita tectonism caused tectonically valved and gravity-driven fluid flow sourced from the Anadarko basin and possibly involved sandstone aquifers or basement. Mechanisms of ancient fluid flow appear to contrast with the modern system, which is separated internally by seal facies. The ancient aquifer system was vertically connected during migration of hydrothermal fluids.
2014-02-05T15:58:41Z
2014-02-05T15:58:41Z
2013-12-31
2013
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13070
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/12952
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/206712018-01-31T20:07:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Metamorphic and Structural Evolution and Provenance of the Blue Ridge Area, Fremont County, Colorado
Berndt, Tyson
Moller, Andreas
Walker, J. Douglas
Stearns, Leigh
Geology
Geochemistry
Geochronology
Paleoproterozoic
Quartz Pebble Conglomerate
New field studies combined with U-Pb zircon/apatite geochronology, thermodynamic equilibrium modeling, whole-rock/rare earth element geochemistry, heavy mineral comparison, and petrographic analysis yield new insights into the age and timing of deposition, deformation, metamorphism, and the provenance and boundary relationships of exposed Precambrian metasedimentary and associated granitic and pegmatitic rock in the Blue Ridge area, Fremont County, Colorado. The Blue Ridge area is comprised of alternating layers of quartzite, schist, and quartzitic-gneiss, and is in contact with ~ 1.7 Ga granitic basement at both its northern and southern boundary, with ~1.4 Ga concordant and discordant pegmatite dikes exposed throughout. Previous research has used the boundary relationships and U-Pb crystallization and detrital zircon ages to propose two hypotheses: 1) The northern boundary is depositional in nature and represents original sedimentation of quartz-rich sediment sourced from the adjacent granitic basement onto a weathered granitic surface after a period of very efficient and rapid weathering at 1.7 Ga due to altered ocean chemistry (Jones et al. 2009, Medaris et al. 2003, Cox et al. 2002); and; 2) The major deformational and tectonic events that are responsible for the present configuration at Blue Ridge occurred during emplacement of granitic basement at 1.7 Ga (Mai 2002) and/or during inboard deformation associated with the ca. 1.66 – 1.60 Ga Mazatzal orogeny (Jones et al. 2009). My field observations coupled with geochronologic and geochemical data acquired from previously undocumented structural marker units infer that an episode of deformation occurred at ~1.4 Ga during pegmatite emplacement, and that an additional pulse of igneous activity occurred at ~1.1 Ga associated with emplacement of the Pike’s Peak batholith. The newly identified structural marker units include syndeformational pegmatite dikes located at both the northern and southern boundary, an amphibole-bearing leucosome infiltrating quartzite and augen-gneiss along the southern boundary, and the identification of granodiorite and an associated cross-cutting diabase dike that appear to cross-cut existing metasedimentary units. The presence of attenuated and ductiley deformed pegmatite dikes found at both boundaries, combined with published U-Pb zircon ages ca. 1436 – 1431 Ma from pegmatites at Blue Ridge (Jones et al., 2009), show that movement and deformation occurred at this time. U-Pb geochronologic data from the amphibole-bearing leucosome define discordia arrays with lower intercept ages of 1097 ± 93 Ma and 1109 ± 43 Ma for zircon and 1185 ± 39 Ma for apatite. The granodiorite yielded little to no zircon, but had a U-Pb apatite lower intercept age of 1016 ± 65 Ma. Sm/Nd isotopic data of the diabase dike revealed a depleted mantle model age of 1.2 Ga. Field observations coupled with geochemical and petrographic analyses from the northern boundary show that the contact of granite with metasedimentary rocks was initially depositional in nature, but subsequently deformed as a shear zone ca. 1.4 Ga. Rare earth element (REE) patterns from the northern granite and adjacent metasedimentary rocks are very similar, leading to the interpretation of the granite being the source for the metasediments. Heavy mineral comparisons across the northern boundary are less clear, but apatite/zircon ratios within the granite and basal quartz pebble conglomerate (QPC) of the metasedimentary package display moderate similarities. Additionally, new pressure-temperature (P-T) thermodynamic modeling based on schists and quartz-schists combined with garnet-biotite thermometry was used to quantify that amphibolite-grade metamorphism reached a maximum pressure of 5.2 kb and a maximum temperature of 635 oC.
2016-04-11T16:14:51Z
2016-04-11T16:14:51Z
2015-12-31
2015
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14342
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/20671
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/209212018-01-31T20:07:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Controls on the Architecture of Lower Ismay Zone of the Honaker Trail Formation (Pennsylvanian), San Juan River, Utah, USA
Lechtenberg, Karen Suzanne
Goldstein, Robert H
Franseen, Evan K
Lieberman, Bruce
Geology
Algal Mounds
Build and Fill
Honaker Trail Formation
Lower Ismay
Paradox Basin
Stratigraphy
This study of the Pennsylvanian Lower Ismay zone of the Paradox Formation, Paradox Basin, Utah, USA intends to improve understanding of build-and-fill processes and carbonate sequence stratigraphy. Closely spaced, centimeter-scale stratigraphic sections reveal lateral and vertical heterogeneities in phylloid algal bafflestone and packstone of a mound-building phase and in fossil-rich wacke-packstone of a topography-filling phase. Ten lithofacies and one sublithofacies were documented through field study and petrographic analyses. Facies are organized into 10 units within 2 sequences distinguished by lateral geometries and surfaces representing changes in depositional environment. Sequence 1 comprises Units 1-5 and provides evidence of an overall relative shallowing from 50-100m depositional depth to subaerial exposure. A relative sea-level rise was recorded between Units 4 and 5. Sequence 1 consists of lithofacies 1 through 5: 1) Black Laminated Mudstone (BLM); 2) Spicule Mudstone (SM); 3) Crinoid Packstone (CP); 4) Algal Bafflestone (AB); and 5) Algal Packstone (AP). The algal facies (Lithofacies 4 and 5) created relief-building geometries. The sequence was exposed and 5-7m of the topographically highest beds were erosionally truncated to create the famous undulose geometries of the algal facies, commonly known as the “mounds.” Sequence 2 comprises Units 6-10, and shows evidence of an overall relative rise and fall in sea level. Facies of Sequence 2 fill in and drape underlying topography created by Sequence 1. It consists of the following lithofacies: Fusulinid Packstone (FP; 6); Skeletal Wacke-Packstone (SWP, 7); Skeletal Wacke-Packstone-Chaetetes (SWP-C, 7a); Peloidal Mudstone (PM, 8); Quartz Sandstone (QS,9); and Quartz Siltstone (QSt, 10). The build-and-fill model is an enhancement of sequence stratigraphic models. It applies where carbonate strata exhibit subtle paleotopography, were subject to non-optimal carbonate productivity and high-amplitude sea-level changes. The stratigraphic succession in the Lower Ismay algal mounds shows evidence of relative shallowing and deepening during a relief-building phase. A subaerial exposure surface on the top of the algal facies indicates relative deepening was followed by shallowing during a relief-filling phase. The Lower Ismay zone provides an example of build-and-fill geometries that underwent different conditions than typical build-and-fill sequences, ultimately adding to our understanding of the processes that yield build-and-fill geometries.
2016-06-03T18:16:41Z
2016-06-03T18:16:41Z
2015-12-31
2015
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14361
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/20921
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/145612018-01-31T20:08:06Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
High-resolution shear-wave reflection profiling to image offset in unconsolidated near-surface sediments
Bailey, Bevin
Miller, Richard D
Steeples, Don
Roberts, Jennifer A
Geophysics
Love wave
Near-surface
Shear waves
Unconsolidated sediments
S-wave reflection profiling has many theoretical advantages, when compared to P-wave profiling, such as high-resolution potential, greater sensitivities to lithologic changes and insensitivity to the water table and pore fluids, and could be particularly useful in near-surface settings. However, S-wave surveys can be plagued by processing pitfalls unique to near-surface studies such as interference of Love waves with reflections, and the stacking of Love waves as coherent noise, leading to possible misinterpretations of the subsurface. Two lines of S-wave data are processed and used to locate previously unknown faults in Quaternary sediments in a region where earthquake activity poses a threat to surface structures. This study provides clear examples of processing pitfalls such as Love waves with hyperbolic appearances on shot gathers, and a CMP section with coherent noise that is easily misinterpreted as reflections. This study demonstrates pros and cons of using SH reflection data in the near surface.
2014-07-05T17:14:09Z
2014-07-05T17:14:09Z
2014-05-31
2014
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13337
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/14561
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/108332020-09-23T14:07:41Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Neogene to Quaternary tectonics of the Garlock Fault and the Eastern California shear zone in the northern Mojave Desert, California
Rittase, William Michael
Walker, J. Douglas
Taylor, Michael H.
Stockli, Daniel F.
Walton, Anthony W.
Li, Xingong
Geology
Garlock fault
Geomorphology
Plate boundary
Stratigraphy
Tectonics
Transform fault
This study investigates the late Tertiary and Quaternary tectonic, structural and sedimentologic history of the central Garlock fault (GF) in Pilot Knob Valley (PKV) and southwestern Searles Valley, and its interactions with the cross-cutting Eastern California shear zone (ECSZ). The interaction of these two active, orthogonally striking strike-slip fault systems has long been somewhat of a tectonic enigma. However, this work provides considerable insight into how the kinematic and structural relationships between these structures have evolved since ~5 Ma. This in turn, furthers our understanding of how the North American-Pacific transform plate margin evolves over thousand to million-year timescales. The first contribution of this dissertation is the idea that the central GF is shown herein to have experienced large temporal variations in strain release since the late Pleistocene. A long-term, late Pleistocene slip rate of 5-7 mm/yr (e.g., McGill and Sieh, 1993) is comprises a ca. 13.2-4 ka period of low slip (4.3-5.1 mm/yr) followed by a recent, ca. 4-0 ka, period of elevated slip rate (10.2-14.3 mm/yr). Evidence for elevated slip rates in the late Holocene are from a 3.5-3.2 ka alluvial fan deposit offset 43-50 m against a shutter ridge. Two soil profile development index values and an optically stimulated luminescence age from the deposit establish robust age control. High-resolution, EarthscopeTM airborne LiDAR imagery, a boulder levee on the upstream late Holocene deposit, elevation profiles of the site and three hand-excavated trenches establish tight control on fault displacement magnitudes. Periods of elevated strain release on the GF are correlated with higher strain release rates on the San Andreas fault and shortening in the Los Angeles basin, but are anti-phased with the ECSZ (e.g., Dolan et al., 2007). A second contribution of this dissertation is the stratigraphic reorganization of late Cenozoic sedimentary rocks in PKV and Searles Valley, and the tectonic implications for the GF, Searles Valley fault and the newly identified Marine Gate fault. Here, a 1000+ m package of exposed Pliocene and Pleistocene strata have been uplifted and tilted to the northeast. Based on new age and provenance data, we adopt the name Pilot Knob Formation to describe much of these rocks north of the GF and east of the Christmas Canyon gate. The Pilot Knob Formation comprises three distinct lithologic members, from oldest to youngest, the Eagle Crags Member, Randsburg Wash Member and Slate Range Member. The Eagle Crags Member is a ~5-3.7 Ma conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, claystone and evaporite derived from the Eagle Crags volcanic field to the south of PKV. The Randsburg Wash Member is a ~3.7-3.1 Ma siltstone, claystone and evaporite deposit that grades laterally into a sandstone and is locally interbedded with a rockfall deposit. The Slate Range Member is a ~3.1-0.3 Ma sandstone and conglomerate that grades, in the eastern study area, into a siltstone, claystone and evaporite deposit. Sediments comprising the Slate Range Member are derived from the Slate Range north of PKV. Outcrop relations within the Pilot Knob Formation reveal three stages for the post-Miocene tectonic development of PKV. An initial ~5-3.1 Ma stage characterized by an active sinistral-oblique-normal Marine Gate fault and GF, resulting in a transtensional pull-apart basin in northern PKV. A second, 3.1-1.2 Ma, stage of minimal transtension or transpression, corresponding to a cessation of sinistral slip on the Marine Gate fault at ca. 2.5 Ma, and a continuation of sinistral slip on the GF. Finally, a 1.2 Ma-present stage of significant N-S shortening across the northern PKV, as evidenced by uplifted and incised Pilot Knob Formation and younger sediments. Together, these three tectonic stages record the development and evolution of the Panamint Valley fault, located ~20 km east of PKV, since ~3.5-3 Ma. A third contribution of this dissertation involves quantifying the magnitude of modern N-S shortening in PKV and relating it to decreased slip on nearby strands of the ECSZ (e.g., Panamint Valley fault and Paradise fault zone). New detailed neotectonic mapping, EarthscopeTM airborne and ground-based LiDAR imagery, and chronology of Quaternary deposits exposed along the GF and Marine Gate fault, including (1) three 10Be terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) depth profiles and (2) one soil description, place bounds on the vertical components of recent deformation. A ka 10Be TCN profile age for a 16-m-high terrace tread adjacent to the GF (site PKV-1) suggests a differential incision (uplift) rate of 0.40 ± 0.13 mm/yr. A ka 10Be TCN profile age from a 12.5-m-high tread located 4.5 km west on the GF (site PKV-5) suggests a differential incision (uplift) rate of 0.23 ± 0.05 mm/yr. A 25.5-m-high terrace adjacent to the southern Slate Range (site PKV-3) was dated using a soil profile development index (PDI) technique. A soil PDI age estimate of ~162 ka brackets the maximum age of uplift, and suggests a minimum uplift rate of ~0.16 mm/yr here. Using these ages and assuming dips on the GF between 90° and 80° to the north, resultant shortening magnitudes of 0-2.2 m and 0-2.8 m at sites PKV-5 and PKV-1, respectively, and 0-0.04±0.01 mm/yr at PKV-5 and 0-0.07±0.02 mm/yr at PKV-1 are estimated. At PKV-3, we estimate the dip of the newly recognized Marine Gate fault to be 70-80° to the south, resulting in 4.4-8.7 m of N-S shortening, suggesting a 0.03-0.05 mm/yr shortening rate. The shortening rate estimated at PKV-1 corresponds to 2-4% of Panamint Valley fault slip rate. Shortening at PKV-1 and PKV-3 can be summed to partially integrate 0.08-0.12 mm/yr shortening between the GF and Slate Range, or approximately 3-7% of Panamint Valley fault slip rate. The presence of numerous active reverse faults between PKV-1 and PKV-3 suggests that this is a minimum estimate. A fourth contribution of this dissertation is a 1:12,000 scale geologic map of the central GF, northern Blackwater fault, southern Searles Valley fault and the Marine Gate fault. covering approximately 280 km². Additional contributions of this work include: (1) quantification of the thermal history of the southern Slate Range through apatite and zircon (U-Th[SM])/He thermochronometry, and (2) enhancement of a Mojave-wide soil calibration tool developed and used by Eric Kirby and Eric McDonald that will be useful for future tectonic-geomorphic applications, dating climate-induced surficial processes and archeological dating.
2013-02-17T17:49:13Z
2013-02-17T17:49:13Z
2012-12-31
2012
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12565
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/10833
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/39872020-07-20T12:25:39Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
The relationship between crustal density and volcanic rocks in the Western United States including a comparison of isostatic compensation techniques for gravity data correction
Garinger, Linda Pickett
Black, Ross A.
Walker, J. Douglas
Geology
Geophysics
Gravity modeling
Western United States
Volcanism
Isostatic anomaly
Isostatic compensation
Processes and properties controlling magma ascent may include magma viscosity, the stress regime in surrounding country rock, geometric relationship between the rising magma and connected source area (if any), and density contrast between the magma and country rock. The purpose of this study was to determine the role upper crustal density plays in the control of magma ascent through the use of gravity modeling to obtain estimates of crustal density and then relating that density to the type and location of late Tertiary and Quaternary volcanics. A comparison of commonly used isostatic correction techniques was conducted to assess the impact the differences in correction technique have on isostatic gravity anomaly values, and thus on the results of gravity modeling. The choice of isostatic correction method was found to change the isostatic correction value by as much as 30 mgal over 36 km in areas of rapidly changing elevation. However, in most areas the difference in isostatic correction values are long in wavelength and will not greatly impact gravity modeling. A new idea for preparing an isostatic correction is introduced in preliminary form. Models of crustal density contrasts were prepared for three study areas in California and Nevada through the use of forward gravity modeling on isostatic gravity anomaly datasets. The results of the gravity models were gridded layers of crustal density contrasts that would reproduce the value of the isostatic gravity anomaly in that area. The location, type and quantity of late Tertiary and Quaternary volcanics were evaluated with respect to the value of crustal density in the underlying "basement" (lowest layer). Approximately half of the late Tertiary and Quaternary basalt in the study areas has erupted through crust that is less dense than the magma was. It is likely that in these cases that a conduit exists connecting the erupting magma to a deep source to provide sufficient buoyancy force for eruption.
2008-07-21T23:34:42Z
2008-07-21T23:34:42Z
2008-06-19
2008
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:2479
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/3987
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/130172020-09-24T14:51:56Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
The Late Cenozoic tectonic evolution of Gurla Mandhata, Southwest Tibet
McCallister, Andrew T.
Taylor, Michael H.
Moller, Andreas
Stearns, Leigh A.
Stockli, Daniel F.
Geology
Gurla mandhata
Himalaya
Karakoram fault
Pecube
Thermochronology
Tibet
How strain within the Tibetan plateau is geodynamically linked to that within the Himalayan thrust belt is a topic receiving considerable attention. The right-lateral Karakoram fault plays key roles in models describing the structural relationship between southern Tibet and the Himalaya. Considerable debate exists at the southeastern end of the Karakoram fault, where the role of the Karakoram fault is interpreted in two very different ways. One interpretation states that slip along the Karakoram fault extends eastward along the Indus-Yalu suture zone, thereby bypassing the Himalayan thrust belt to its north. The other, interprets that a significant component of the slip is fed southward into the Himalayan thrust belt along the Gurla Mandhata detachment. To evaluate this debate, the late Miocene fault slip rate history of the Gurla Mandhata detachment system is reconstructed from thermokinematic modeling with Pecube of zircon (U-Th)/He and biotite and muscovite 40Ar/39Ar thermochronometric ages. This slip rate history is then compared to that of the Karakoram fault. Zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronometric data from 3 east-west footwall transects reveal cooling of the Gurla Mandhata footwall through the zircon partial retention zone, from 8.01±1.31 Ma to 2.56±0.7 Ma. Results from ~21,100 Pecube models show a southward progression of decreasing fault slip magnitude and rate along the Gurla Mandhata detachment system. The northern transect modeling results show an initiation age from 14-11 Ma with a mean fault slip rate of 5.0±0.9 mm/yr. The central transect modeling results show an initiation age from 14-11 Ma with a mean fault slip rate of 3.3±0.6 mm/yr. The southern transect modeling results show an initiation age from 15-8 Ma with a mean fault slip rate of 3.2±1.6 Ma. These fault initiation ages and fault slip rate results match estimates obtained for the Karakoram fault across several timescales, supporting the idea that the two are kinematically linked. Specifically, the data are consistent with the Gurla Mandhata detachment acting as a right-step extensional stepover along which the Karakoram fault slip is transferred into the Himalayan thrust belt of western Nepal.
2014-02-05T21:29:30Z
2014-02-05T21:29:30Z
2012-12-31
2012
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12503
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/13017
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/279552019-08-27T18:10:28Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
TWO NOVEL ICHNOSPECIES: LARGE-DIAMETER VERTEBRATE BURROWS IN THE UPPER JURASSIC MORRISON FORMATION, SOUTHEASTERN UTAH
Raisanen, Derek Charles William
Hasiotis, Stephen T
Beard, K Christopher
Roberts, Jennifer A
Paleontology
Geology
Ichnology
Jurassic Mammals
Mammal Burrows
Mesozoic Mammals
Trace Fossils
Vertebrate Burrows
Large-diameter structures in the Salt Wash Member, Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation in southeastern Utah, are interpreted as mammal burrows. All burrow types are found in pedogenically modified clayey mudstone overlain by sandstone channel deposits. The environment of deposition is interpreted as river channel and floodplain. Two types of burrows, found at two localities, reveal the hidden biodiversity of small vertebrates in an area with a paucity of such body fossils. Morphotype 1 exhibits a vertical to subvertical helical shaft leading to a subhorizontal tunnel. The helical shaft has a mean depth of 71.4 cm from the interpreted paleosurface and the mean path length is 99.4 cm. The mean dip of the whorls in the helices is 39.2°. The mean tunnel length is 42.3 cm. Both shafts and tunnels are ovoid in cross section with the horizontal diameter slightly larger than the vertical. The shaft averages 9.2 cm wide and 7.3 cm tall. The tunnel averages 10.7 cm wide and 10.7 cm tall. The tracemaker that produced the burrows was likely a fossorial mammal that used them as a shelter when not foraging above ground. These burrows are assigned to domichnia and represent a new ichnospecies, Daemonelix martini. Morphotype 2 burrows are networks of interconnected shafts and tunnels at angles of 0–89º. Segments of the network, shafts and tunnels, are straight, curved, or helical. The mean length of a section is 30.7 cm. The tracemaker that produced the burrows was likely a social fossorial mammal that used them for a variety of purposes and is categorized as polychresichnia. The burrows represent a new ichnogenus and ichnospecies, Fractussemita henrii. Both morphotypes have ridges and knobs preserved on the burrow walls. Some surficial morphology is interpreted as scratch marks from the claws and/or teeth of the tracemakers. Primitive mammals are the most likely tracemakers for both morphotypes based on comparison to the architectural and surficial morphologies of fossil and extant vertebrate burrows. The burrows reveal the actions of small vertebrates not recorded by body fossils showing potential partitioning of the environment and availability of resources for small vertebrates. The burrows in the Salt Wash Member reflect the depth of vadose zone at the time of excavation. Their preservation shows the way minerals were moved through the soil.
2019-05-18T18:16:37Z
2019-05-18T18:16:37Z
2018-08-31
2018
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16111
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/27955
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/97822020-07-14T12:44:34Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Sequence-Stratigraphic Analysis of the Rollins and the Cozzette Sandstone Members, the Upper Cretaceous Mount Garfield Formation of the Piceance Basin, Colorado.
Ouaichouche, Fatma Zahra
Kamola, Diane L.
Walton, Anthony W.
Macpherson, Gwendolyn L.
Geology
Mt. Garfield formation
Piceance basin
Sequence stratigraphy
Rollins sandstone member
Cozzette sandstone member
Well-logs
Cursory outcrops
Sequence-stratigraphic study of the Cozzette and the Rollins Sandstone members, of the Mt. Garfield Formation of the Mesaverde Group, in the southern part of the Piceance basin (western Colorado), utilizes mainly well-log data along with limited outcrop data. Outcrop description of the Rollins Sandstone Member indicates a depositional succession that changes from complex marginal marine deposits at the base to marine wave-dominated shoreface successions at the top. The lower marginal-marine deposits are interpreted to occur within multiple incised-valley fills that nest and form a main stratigraphic element landward, particularly within the uppermost part of the Cozzette Sandstone Member. Incised-valley fills thin basinward. Sequence-stratigraphic interpretation of the subsurface data provides a stratigraphic history similar to that interpreted from the outcrop exposures across a regional realm. The subsurface analysis of the study interval distinguishes 5 depositional sequences that change in thickness throughout the study area and are listed as follows: CZ1, CZ2, CZ3, R1 and R2. The depositional sequence R2 is the youngest incomplete sequence within the study interval. Each depositional sequence is composed of incised-valley fills at the base and highstand deposits with marine shoreface at the top. The incomplete depositional sequence R2 is represented by incised-valley fills alone. The vertical chronostratigraphic architecture of the sequence set (CZ1, CZ2, CZ3, R1) show a regional change in stacking pattern from retrogradational (CZ1, CZ2, and CZ3) to progradational (R1). The turnaround from retrogradational to progradational stacking is probably the stratigraphic limit between the Cozzette and the Rollins Sandstone members; its stratigraphic expression is probably gradational and complex in a landward direction. Incised valleys are superimposed landward, probably along axes between raised mires, and exhibit highly variable log patterns that reflect complex marginal-marine deposits.
2012-06-03T15:28:26Z
2012-06-03T15:28:26Z
2011-08-31
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11570
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/9782
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/259872018-04-16T19:14:49Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
HYDRODYNAMICS OF FLUVIAL STRATA WITHIN THE WILLIAMS FORK FORMATION
Campanaro, Benjamin P.
Kamola, Diane L
Blum, Michael
Möller, Andreas
Geology
Sedimentary geology
amalgamated
detrital zircon
Fluvial
hydrodynamics
planform
Williams Fork Formation
Fluvial sandstones within the middle part of the Late Cretaceous Williams Fork Formation were interpreted to gain insights to hydrodynamics of the ancient fluvial system. Emphasis is placed on a thick (~75 m), laterally extensive (up to 10 km) amalgamated fluvial sandstone. An empirical approach is used to allow comparison of interpreted data with data from modern systems collected from the literature. Hydrodynamic data is then applied to interpretations of the Williams Fork Formation fluvial systems to determine planform morphologies (e.g. braided vs. meandering), morphological styles (e.g. contributive vs. distributive), size (flow depth and drainage area) and characteristics (slope). Individual channel-belts within an amalgamated sandstone are interpreted to represent a ~7 m bankfull flow depth, low gradient (~10-4) and low sinuosity fluvial system with an average grain size of medium lower sand. By comparison to modern fluvial systems within a compiled database (n430), planform morphology is interpreted as either irregularly sinuous, irregularly sinuous with meandering floodplain topography or split with bars. These findings challenge previous interpretations of fluvial planform morphology in the Williams Fork Formation. Interpretations from this study based on a paleo-hydrodynamic approach favor deposition from fluvial systems in a low gradient coastal plain that had more meandering-like qualities than braided. Fluvial scaling relationships of modern systems assist in development of improved analogs for the stratigraphic record. Features such as channel depth are used to propose slope, and in turn, interpretations of fluvial planform morphology. Based on the analysis of the compiled modern fluvial database, planform morphologies of rivers are characterized by certain values and ranges of bankfull flow depth, slope and average bed sediment grain size. Detrital zircon U-Pb dating of the Williams Fork Formation provides maximum depositional ages for the top and bottom of the formation, 70.1 ± 1.8 Ma and 74.09 ± 0.48 Ma, respectively.
2018-02-18T19:59:50Z
2018-02-18T19:59:50Z
2017-08-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15533
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25987
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/218892021-10-28T19:32:51Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
STREAM CO2 DEGASSING: REVIEW OF METHODS AND LABORATORY EVALUATION OF FLOATING CHAMBERS
Rawitch, Michael Jess
Macpherson, Gwendolyn L
Brookfield, Andrea
Marshall, Craig
Geochemistry
Hydrologic sciences
Geology
Floating Chamber
Measuring the amount of CO2 exiting headwater streams through degassing could play an important role in environmental chemistry. The objective of this project was to develop a method to measure CO2 flux from headwater streams such as those at the Konza Prairie Long-Term Ecological Research Site and Biological Station (Konza), and to determine the effects of stream morphology and turbulence that can affect CO2 degassing. The project comprised an in-depth critical review of literature on the topic of measuring degassing in small streams, as well as a series of experiments that developed and tested methods of quantifying the flux of CO2 from a simulated stream. The experiments evaluated the effectiveness of multiple floating chamber designs to measure CO2 degassing in flowing water at a range of water velocities and dissolved CO2 concentrations. Both the literature review and experiments suggested that the floating chamber is viable method for use in headwater streams.
2016-11-10T23:15:10Z
2016-11-10T23:15:10Z
2016-05-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14443
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/21889
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/123062020-10-07T14:30:44Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Paleobiogeography of the North American Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway: the impact of abiotic vs. biotic factors on macroevolutionary patterns of marine vertebrates and invertebrates
Myers, Corinne Emanuelle
Lieberman, Bruce S.
González, Luis A.
Selden, Paul A.
Wiley, Edward O.
Li, Xingong
Paleontology
Paleoecology
Geology
Competition
Cretaceous
Macroevolution
Paleobiogeography
Range size
Western interior seaway
My research investigates the relationship between ecology, evolution, and the environment in the fossil record. I hypothesize that abiotic environmental factors (e.g., climate, sea-level, ocean chemistry, and paleogeography) play a greater role in speciation, extinction, and distribution patterns than biotic factors (e.g., competition, mutualism). The effects of these factors can be observed in the fossil record as changes in species distributions, range sizes, and niche dimensions through time. Using GIS, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, and ecological niche modeling (ENM), I quantitatively investigated hypotheses of the relative influence of abiotic vs. biotic factors on macroevolution in three main studies of marine taxa from the Late Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway (WIS) of North America. The Late Cretaceous was a period of prolonged extreme and equable warmth; thus, this research has potential implications for species biology and biogeography in a projected future warmer world. The first study examined the influence of biotic interactions on patterns of extinction by competitive exclusion in marine vertebrates. Results indicated that competitive replacement was not a mechanism mediating extinctions. Instead other factors, such as environmental changes, likely controlled extinction patterns. The second study investigated the effect of large range size on survivorship and invasion potential in marine mollusks. No relationship between large range size and extinction resistance was recovered, however, endemic species with small range sizes were more likely to become invasive. These results suggest that some biogeographic "rules" (e.g., large range size confers extinction resistance and increased invasion potential) may not prevail under conditions of prolonged and equable global warmth. The last part of my research focused on improving methods for the application of ENM in the fossil record (paleo-ENM). In order to use ENM in the fossil record, detailed environmental layers must be reconstructed from sedimentological and geochemical proxies. Additionally, paleo-ENM requires high-resolution stratigraphic correlations of fossil-bearing formations and collection of large species' occurrence datasets that represent the full temporal and spatial extent of the species modeled. In order to produce high fidelity models, a standardized framework for paleoenvironmental reconstruction is required. Best practices are outlined for paleoenvironmental reconstruction, in addition to the contextual framework and important considerations necessary to appropriately apply paleo-ENM.
2013-09-30T19:09:18Z
2013-09-30T19:09:18Z
2013-05-31
2013
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12737
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/12306
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/241842018-01-31T20:07:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Conodont (U-Th)/He thermochronology of the Mormon Mountains, Tule Spring Hills, and Beaver Dam Mountains, southeastern Nevada and southwestern Utah
Tyrrell, James P.
Bidgoli, Tandis S
Walker, J Douglas
Möller, Andreas
Geology
Geochemistry
Beaver Dam Mountains
Conodont
Mormon Mountains
thermochronology
Tule Spring Hills
(U-Th)/He
ABSTRACT Although (U-Th)/He thermochronology is a well-established dating technique used to understand the temperature-time histories of rocks, the method is restricted to rocks that contain specific accessory minerals such as apatite or zircon. Marine carbonates and shales typically lack these accessory phases, and thus present a challenge for application of the method. Here, we explore the utility of biogenic apatite from conodonts as a (U-Th)/He thermochronometer at a well- studied calibration site located in eastern Nevada and southwestern Utah. We perform (U-Th)/He thermochronometry, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, X-ray micro-computed tomography, and scanning electron microscopy on specimens with conodont color alteration indices (CAI) of 1.5 – 3 extracted from carbonate rocks in the footwalls of low-angle normal faults in the Mormon Mountains, Tule Spring Hills, and Beaver Dam Mountains. (U-Th)/He (CHe) dates have high scatter; dates are commonly reproducible to 20% of sample means, but can deviate up to 150%. All CAI 1.5 – 2.5 conodonts produce CHe dates younger than 193 Ma, consistent with thermal resetting of samples; however, most CAI 3 conodonts give ages 2 – 3x older than Mississippian and Permian deposition. Average U, Th, and rare earth element (REE) concentrations depend on porosity and permeability differences between albid and hyaline conodont tissue and range from <10 to 100s of ppm in concentration. Parent isotope concentrations are especially low in CAI 3 conodonts, commonly <1 ppm, and there is an inverse relationship between these concentrations and CHe dates. The majority of parent U, Th, and Sm, and REEs are concentrated within the outer 5 μm of the conodont elements and consistently show 5 – 10x enrichment relative to cores. Margin enrichment is also depressed with increasing CAI. SEM imaging shows a shift in the orientation of apatite microcrystallites from perpendicular to parallel to the major axis of the conodont elements at CAI 3, and corrosion and recrystallization features on the surfaces of some CAI 2.5 and 3 conodonts. We propose these microstructural changes associated with increasing CAI influence CHe dates. Parent isotope loss occurs during the post-cooling stage, either in the outcrop or in the laboratory. Our hypothesis is that the double-buffered formic acid procedure for dissolving dolomitized carbonates may accelerate this loss in higher CAI conodonts.
2017-05-15T03:26:31Z
2017-05-15T03:26:31Z
2016-12-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15015
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/24184
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/123222020-10-05T14:24:30Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Evolutionary Patterns of Trilobites Across the End Ordovician Mass Extinction
Congreve, Curtis Raymond
Lieberman, Bruce S.
Selden, Paul A.
Fowle, David A.
Wiley, Edward O.
Li, Xingong
Paleontology
Evolution & development
Geology
Evolution
Mass extinctions
Ordovician period
Trilobites
The end Ordovician mass extinction is the second largest extinction event in the history or life and it is classically interpreted as being caused by a sudden and unstable icehouse during otherwise greenhouse conditions. The extinction occurred in two pulses, with a brief rise of a recovery fauna (Hirnantia fauna) between pulses. The extinction patterns of trilobites are studied in this thesis in order to better understand selectivity of the extinction event, as well to understand the effect of the extinction of the evolution of various trilobite groups. To study these patterns two phylogenetic analyses of sphaerexochines and ceraurids were generated and the overall data was combined with two older analyses of homalonotids and deiphonines from my Masters Thesis. Speciation and extinction rates were estimated in the deiphonines and sphaerexochines (two closely related cheirurid clades) to understand the different patterns of extinction and survivorship in greater detail. Then, utilizing the phylogenetic analyses, the end Ordovician is reinterpreted as a large scale analog of Vrba's Relay Model, referred to herein as the Cladal Turnover Model.
2013-09-30T19:57:59Z
2013-09-30T19:57:59Z
2013-05-31
2012
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12715
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/12322
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/145192018-12-11T19:35:13Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Selectivity in the evolution of Palaeozoic arthropod groups, with focus on mass extinctions and radiations: a phylogenetic approach
Lamsdell, James C.
Selden, Paul A
Lieberman, Bruce S
Roberts, Jennifer A
Engel, Michael S
Smith, Deborah R
Paleontology
Evolution & development
Arthropoda
Eurypterida
Macroevolution
Mass extinctions
Phylogenetics
Trilobita
Mass extinctions are known to be extraordinary events during which the normal rules of natural selection do not apply. Evidence points to the operation of a different selective regime, one where clade-level properties are selected upon; however, it is still unclear whether survivorship rules apply across different extinction events, the consequences of differential responses in diversity and disparity during extinction events, and the factors governing subsequent recoveries. This dissertation explores these issues by studying three clades of arthropods that experience multiple extinction events, allowing for the effect of different mass extinctions on the same group to be compared utilizing phylogenetic methodology. Three phylogenies where generated, one each for Stylonurina, Eurypterina, and Aulacopleuroidea. Variations in diversity, disparity, and volatility, are compared across these clades for two extinction events: the end-Ordovician (443 Ma) and the late Devonian (385- 359 Ma). Consistent differences in how morphospace occupation changes across the end- Ordovician and late Devonian mass extinction events reveal that the underlying driving factors of individual extinction events can result in very different selective pressures, suggesting that it may not be possible to identify general survivorship rules for all mass extinctions. Ecology is revealed to be a major factor behind the responses of individual species to the late Devonian biodiversity crisis. The somewhat contradictory selective signal exhibited by the studied clades reveals how different aspects of ecology can influence diversity, disparity and volatility in different ways, each influencing aspects of clade survival and recovery in different ways. The results also demonstrate the bearing of the evolutionary history of a clade on such studies. Contingency is an important factor in determining the response of clades to mass extinctions, and only through having a firm understanding of the history of a group can such factors be appropriately accounted for.
2014-07-05T16:05:17Z
2014-07-05T16:05:17Z
2014-05-31
2014
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13415
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/14519
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/259902018-04-16T19:31:48Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Analyzing the Cenozoic Depositional History of Western Kansas: A New Approach Using Paleosol Zircon Geochronology
Sitek, Brian Christopher
Moller, Andreas
Ludvigson, Greg
McLean, Noah
Kamola, Diane
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Geochronology
Geology
LA-ICP-MS
Ogallala
Paleosol
Correlation of terrestrial strata is challenging due to the lack of continuous outcrops, limited biostratigraphy, and poor preservation of useful marker beds such as tephra layers. This improved understanding of its internal architecture could lead to more effective management of groundwater, which is presently declining at an unsustainable rate. Chronostratigraphic correlation of paleosols in these formations is a promising new technique for continental deposits. Paleosols are time-rich sections in the terrestrial realm, and this study tests the hypothesis that they concentrate volcanogenic zircons from eruptions coincident with pedogenic processes. A section of stacked paleosols in the Ogallala Fm. from the Lake Scott area in Scott County, KS was sampled for zircon U-Pb by LA-ICP-MS. Paleosols yielded grains whose ages are consistent with local biostratigraphic data, and are stacked in normal superposed order, ranging from ca. 10.6 – 6.3 Ma. These dates are also consistent with ages from previously dated ashes from the Ogallala Fm. and allow detailed correlation among measured sections. Results from a sediment core from Harvey County, KS did not yield ages consistent with biostratigraphic suites, but the organization of the youngest zircon populations suggest that these units were deposited through unroofing of sediments in the source region. This study reveals the utility of paleosols as chronostratigraphic marker beds, units that can determine the depositional age of sediments, and as units that can provide information about the depositional nature of continental basins.
2018-02-18T20:05:24Z
2018-02-18T20:05:24Z
2017-08-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15524
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25990
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/39612018-01-31T20:08:15Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Investigation of active faulting at the Emigrant Peak fault in Nevada using shallow seismic reflection and ground penetrating radar
Christie, Michael Wayne
Tsoflias, George
Black, Ross
Stockli, Daniel F.
Geophysics
The objective of this study was to assess fault displacement, off-fault deformation, and alluvial fan stratigraphy at the Emigrant Peak fault zone (EPFZ) in Fish Lake Valley, Nevada utilizing shallow seismic reflection (SSR) and ground penetrating radar (GPR) geophysical imaging methods. A three-dimensional higher frequency GPR survey provided high resolution imaging of the top 25 meters. Two-dimensional SSR and lower frequency GPR profiles imaged the subsurface at depths ranging from 20-225 m and 4-40 m respectively. Both the SSR and GPR data revealed structural geometries dominated by NW-dipping normal faulting and corresponding antithetic faults with identifiable offsets. Near the main fault strand, alluvial fan strata dip consistently to the NW while the stratigraphic architecture becomes more complex in the down-dip direction, including colluvial wedges and small graben structures. Diffuse faulting was identified tens to hundreds of meters away from the main fault, both in the footwall and hanging wall blocks.
2008-07-16T23:58:07Z
2008-07-16T23:58:07Z
2007-12-18
2007
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:2285
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/3961
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/296502019-10-29T08:01:13Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
A Data-driven Approach for Mapping Grasslands at a Regional Scale
Peterson, Dana
Remote sensing
Geographic information science
Ph.D.University of Kansas, Geology 2019
The goal of this research was to use a data-driven approach to develop a regional scale grassland mapping protocol with the following objectives. First, identify and characterize the spatial distribution of grassland types and land use across Kansas as well as the static or dynamic nature of grasslands over time using multi-year U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) 578 data. Second, evaluate the spectral separability of four hierarchies of grassland types and land use using FSA 578 data, multi-seasonal Landsat 8 spectral bands, Landsat 8 Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data, and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) NDVI time series. Third, determine the optimal data combination, and the appropriate thematic resolution, for mapping grassland type by evaluating the modeling performance of the Random Forest (RF) classifier. A county-level analysis of the multi-year FSA 578 data found that the data were not all-inclusive of total grasslands across Kansas, but were sufficient to illustrate regional trends in grassland type, land use, and field size. Eastern Kansas was found to be more diverse in grassland type, more variable in land use, and contained a high number of smaller fields. Conversely, western Kansas consisted of larger fields that were primarily grazed native grasslands and land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). These results indicate a more complex grassland landscape to map in eastern Kansas, while also providing guidance for training sample distributions for image classification. Jeffries-Matusita (JM) distance statistics were calculated for three-date multispectral Landsat 8, three-date Landsat 8 NDVI, and 23-period, 16-day composite Terra MODIS NDVI time series. The results indicate that combining the three datasets maximized the spectral separability of grassland types across all four grassland-type hierarchies. A comparison of the three datasets showed that multispectral Landsat 8 data had the highest JM distance statistics (which indicates the most separability). JM distance statistics calculated by-band and by-period consistently showed that information from spring and fall was more important than summer for separating grassland types. The results showed lower separability for land-use classes within a grassland type versus between grassland types. The spectral separability of pairwise comparisons incorporating land use between grassland types varied, indicating that land use does affect spectral separability in some instances. On the other hand, JM distance statistics did not substantially drop when more refined grassland types were aggregated to coarser grassland type classes (e.g. Level-1: cool- and warm-season), indicating that land use does not negatively affect the spectral separability of functional grassland types. The results indicate low spectral separability between brome and fescue but moderate to high separability between native and CRP, suggesting the use of a Level-1 or Level-2 thematic classification scheme for the study area. Finally, random forest models were constructed and evaluated using 2015 FSA 578 data and four datasets of remotely sensed data in two adjacent Landsat scenes (path/rows). Models were created for each of the four grassland hierarchies. The results showed that out-of-bag (OOB) error increased with grassland hierarchy complexity (the number of thematic classes) and OOB error was lowest for the combined remotely sensed dataset. Mapping CRP as a separate grassland type resulted in low producer’s accuracy levels, with CRP largely mapped as warm-season grasslands, suggesting the Level-1 classification scheme was appropriate for regional mapping of grassland types. Path/rows 27/33 and 28/33 had OOB overall accuracy levels of 87% and 92%, respectively. User’s and producer’s accuracy levels indicate that cool-season grasslands were mapped more accurately in path/row 27/33 where that class is more dominant than in 28/33. Using test data (withheld verification data) unexpectedly increased overall accuracy levels by 4% and 6% over OOB accuracies, which may have resulted from varying data proportions between OOB and test data, suggesting the need for further evaluation.
2019-10-28T22:37:08Z
2019-10-28T22:37:08Z
2019-05-31
Dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29650
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/45452018-01-31T20:07:56Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Ultra-Shallow Imaging Using 2D & 3D Seismic Reflection Methods
Sloan, Steven D.
Steeples, Don W.
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
McElwee, Carl
Roberts, Jennifer A.
Parsons, Robert
Geophysics
3d
Environmental
Near surface
Processing
Seismic
The research presented in this dissertation focuses on the survey design, acquisition, processing, and interpretation of ultra-shallow seismic reflection (USR) data in two and three dimensions. The application of 3D USR methods to image multiple reflectors less than 20 m deep, including the top of the saturated zone (TSZ), a paleo-channel, and bedrock, are presented using conventional acquisition methods and a new automated method of acquiring 3D data using hydraulically planted geophones. Processing techniques that focus on near-surface problems, such as intersecting reflection hyperbolae caused by large vertical velocity changes and processing pitfalls, are also discussed. The application of AVO analysis of 2D USR data collected during a pumping test yielded amplitude variations related to the thickness of the partially saturated zone that correlated spatially and with changes in pumping. USR methods were also used to image the TSZ less than one meter deep, the shallowest TSZ reflection to date.
2009-05-08T22:42:34Z
2009-05-08T22:42:34Z
2008-01-01
2008
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:10056
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/4545
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/239592018-01-31T20:07:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Carbon Storage in the Arbuckle Aquifer, Wellington Kansas: An experimental Investigation of the Geochemical and Microbiological Effects of Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> Exposure and Implications for Seal Integrity, Reservoir Storage Capacity, and Injectivity
Jackson, Christa Marie
Roberts, Jennifer A
Fowle, David A
Watney, W. Lynn
Geology
Geochemistry
Geobiology
Arbuckle Group
Carbon capture storage
Cowley Facies
Reservoir injectivity
Seal integrity
Subsurface microbes
Captured CO2 emissions can be injected and stored in geologic formations as a way to mitigate the effects of rising atmospheric CO2 levels on global climate. Mineral weathering reactions in the presence of CO2 can affect reservoir injectivity, seal (caprock) integrity, and ultimately, the fate of CO2 sequestration over time. The effects of supercritical CO2 exposure on the deep saline Arbuckle Group reservoir and “Cowley Facies” seal of South-central Kansas were investigated through a series of 13 controlled batch experiments under injection conditions (50 °C and 172 bar). Powdered rock and synthetic brine were reacted with CO2 and peptidoglycan, a microbial biomass proxy, for 32 to 76 days. Control experiments, pressurized with N2, were conducted in parallel to the CO2 experiments. Exposure to supercritical CO2 (CO2(SC)) caused a decrease in brine pH and an increase in alkalinity, Ca2+, and Mg2+ concentrations in Arbuckle and “Cowley Facies” experiments. “Cowley Facies” experiment brine also had higher SO42- concentrations after exposure to CO2(SC). Arbuckle and “Cowley Facies” rock are rich in carbonate minerals, which are sensitive to changes in solution pH. The decrease in solution pH during CO2(SC) exposure promoted dissolution of dolomite and ankerite, which contributed to the rise in Ca2+, Mg2+, and HCO3- concentrations and mineral surfaces exhibited dissolution features (i.e. pitting, rounding, and etching). Dissolution of ankerite in “Cowley Facies” experiments mobilized Fe2+, which was oxidized subsequently and precipitated in the presence of minor O2, a common impurity associated with captured CO2 gas. Nano-scale iron oxide crystals were observed on mineral surfaces in CO2(SC)-reacted “Cowley Facies” experiments. Increased SO42- concentrations after exposure to CO2(SC) in “Cowley Facies” experiments is likely a result of anhydrite dissolution and/or oxidative dissolution of pyrite in the presence of minor O2. The added peptidoglycan suppressed dissolution of carbonates in Arbuckle and “Cowley Facies” CO2(SC)-reacted experiments, but enhanced carbonate dissolution in N2 controls. Peptidoglycan enhanced release of Fe2+ in both experiments and controls. Peptidoglycan suppressed the release of SiO2(aq) in CO2(SC)-reacted “Cowley Facies” experiments, but had no effect on silica release in N2 controls. Exposure to CO2(SC) caused a 6-12% decrease in rock mass, which translates to a 6-11% increase in porosity. Areas of high subsurface biomass concentration could see inhibition of carbonate and phyllosilicate mineral dissolution rates, and enhanced Fe release rates, which may impact total rock mass lost. Porosity enhancement near the injection well may ease CO2 injectivity, while an increase in porosity may be detrimental to caprock sealing efficiency. Minor precipitation of iron oxides in the caprock may be sufficient enough to affect pore connectivity by clogging pore throats. A reduction in pore connectivity (permeability) would reinforce seal integrity, effectively trapping CO2 for decades or longer. As pCO2 decreases in areas of the reservoir over time through injection cessation and plume migration, precipitation of carbonate minerals will occur, trapping some of the CO2 in mineral form indefinitely.
2017-05-07T20:33:44Z
2017-05-07T20:33:44Z
2015-08-31
2015
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14252
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/23959
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/116902020-09-30T14:30:15Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Paleotopography and Sea-level Controls on Facies Distribution and Stratal Architecture in the Westerville Limestone Member (Upper Pennsylvanian) NE Kansas and NW Missouri
Fairchild, Justin M.
Franseen, Evan K.
Goldstein, Robert H.
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Build-and-fill
Carbonate
Cyclothem
Grainstone
Ooid
Oolitic grainstone facies form important reservoirs in the subsurface around the world. The Westerville Limestone Member (Pennsylvanian) is an oolitic grainstone-rich reservoir analog deposited during high-amplitude glacioeustatic fluctuations and exposed in a 510 km2 area near Kansas City in Kansas and Missouri. The Westerville Limestone Member consists of eight lithofacies: bioclastic packstone; bioclastic grainstone; oolitic grainstone; oncolitic packstone; fossiliferous siliciclastic-mudstone; peloidal packstone; microbial boundstone; and coarse-grained packstone. Interpreted deposition of the Westerville Limestone Member (2-6 m thick) is divided into three intervals, W1, W2, and W3, each separated by a marine or subaerial truncation surface. Interval W1 is composed mostly of bioclastic packstone of relatively uniform thickness (~1 m) throughout the field area. Deposition occurred in normal marine water during a relative rise in sea level and did not fill accommodation. A marine truncation surface altered local paleotopography and created subtle (dm-scale) relief during a relative fall in sea level and prior to deposition of Interval W2. Interval W2 is composed of grainstones (oolitic and bioclastic) that were deposited during a relative fall in sea level. The oolitic grainstone facies are preserved within paleotopographic low areas. A subaerial exposure surface truncates the unit, and the tracing of this surface and interpretation of depositional depths for facies are used to calculate a relative fall in sea level of at least 15.5 meters. After exposure, a relative rise of at least 11.5 meters is interpreted before Interval W3. Initial W3 deposits are composed of oolitic grainstone facies that locally build constructional relief on the flank of a regional paleotopographic high and represent deposition during highstand at an intermediate ramp position. During a relative fall in sea level of at least 8.2 meters, accommodation became limited, oolitic grainstone is deposited on the flanks of local paleohighs, a thin layer of microbial boundstone drapes paleotopography, and oncolitic packstone and fossiliferous siliciclastic-mudstone onlap paleotopography and fill local paleolows. Deposition of stratigraphically higher supratidal peloidal packstone fills accommodation, and unit thickness requires a relative rise in sea level of at least 3 meters. Exposure features are present along the uppermost surface of the Westerville Limestone Member and indicate a period of subaerial exposure after a relative fall in sea level of at least 2.3 meters. Results of this study indicate that fluctuations in relative sea level interacting with subtle paleotopography can result in significant facies heterogeneity. Oolitic grainstones are typically thought to form constructional relief on high areas in shallow water. This study indicates, however, that oolitic grainstone deposits may accumulate in paleotopographic lows, especially during falling stages of sea level. The interpreted depositional history of the Westerville Limestone Member and associated units demonstrates that smaller scale variations in the rate and direction of fluctuations in sea level can have a significant effect on sequence heterogeneity during a large scale fall in sea level.
2013-08-24T20:42:41Z
2013-08-24T20:42:41Z
2012-05-31
2013
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12570
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/11690
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/78272020-08-12T13:48:34Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Characterization of a Dipole Flow System Using Point Velocity Probes
Bowen, Ian Reed
Devlin, John F.
Roberts, Jennifer A.
Steeples, Don
Geology
Environmental geology
Environmental sciences
Dipole
Dipole flow and reactive tracer test
Groundwater modeling
Groundwater velocity
Point velocity probe
Pvp
A direct groundwater velocity measurement tool, the Point Velocity Probe, was developed to measure velocities in the vertical and horizontal directions. The tool was designed and tested in a low-cost laboratory flow-through tank. Following testing, the tool was deployed in the field surrounding a dipole well used to conduct an aquifer tracer test. The velocity data showed some deviations from modeled behavior and was used to characterize the heterogeneity of the aquifer. The results from the flow and transport modeling suggest that the area very close to the well was extremely important to the behavior of tracers in the dipole flow system. Finally, a simple model was developed to optimize hydraulic conductivity using the velocity data with good results.
2011-08-02T01:58:09Z
2011-08-02T01:58:09Z
2010-11-23
2010
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11194
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/7827
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/279202019-08-27T18:10:28Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Ichnotaxonomy of the Eocene Green River Formation, Soldier Summit and Spanish Fork Canyon, Uinta Basin, Utah: Interpreting behaviors, lifestyles, and erecting the Cochlichnus Ichnofacies
Hogue, Joshua
Hasiotis, Stephen T
Selden, Paul
Tsoflias, Georgios
Paleontology
Aulichnites
Glaroseidosichnus
ichnofossil
Midorikawapeda
Presbyorniformipes
Tsalavoutichnus
The Eocene Green River Formation in the Uinta Basin, Utah, has a diverse ichnofauna. Nineteen ichnogenera and 26 ichnospecies were identified: Acanthichnus cursorius, Alaripeda lofgreni, c.f. Aquatilavipes isp., Aulichnites (A. parkerensis and A. tsouloufeidos isp. nov.), Aviadactyla (c.f. Av. isp. and Av. vialovi), Avipeda phoenix, Cochlichnus (C. anguineus and C. plegmaeidos isp. nov.), Conichnus conichnus, Fuscinapeda texana, Glaciichnium liebegastensis, Glaroseidosichnus ign. nov. gierlowskii isp. nov., Gruipeda (G. fuenzalidae and G. gryponyx), Midorikawapeda ign. nov. semipalmatus isp. nov., Planolites montanus, Presbyorniformipes feduccii, Protovirgularia dichotoma, Sagittichnus linki, Treptichnus (T. bifurcus, T. pedum, and T. vagans), and Tsalavoutichnus ign. nov. (Ts. ericksonii isp. nov. and Ts. leptomonopati isp. nov.). Four ichnocoenoses are represented by the ichnofossils—Cochlichnus, Conichnus, Presbyorniformipes, and Treptichnus—representing dwelling, feeding, grazing, locomotion, predation, pupation, and resting behaviors of organisms in environments at and around the sediment-water-air interface. A new Cochlichnus Ichnofacies is established to represent continental assemblages of traces produced in environmental conditions at and around the sediment-water-air interface. The Cochlichnus Ichnofacies can be identified in deposits from as old as the Carboniferous. The Cochlichnus Ichnofacies replaces the Shorebird Ichnofacies and usage of the Mermia Ichnofacies for ephemeral water bodies, and restricts the Mermia Ichnofacies to traces in deeper, perennial water bodies. A new ichnospecies of Aulichnites is proposed, A. tsouloufeidos. Three new ichnogenera with four ichnospecies are established: Glaroseidosichnus gierlowskii, Midorikawapeda semipalmatus, and Tsalavoutichnus (Ts. ericksonii, Ts. leptomonopati). This is the first detailed ichnotaxonomic study of the Soldier Summit and Spanish Fork Canyon localities of the Eocene Green River Formation.
2019-05-12T19:10:51Z
2019-05-12T19:10:51Z
2018-05-31
2018
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15856
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/27920
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/269982020-10-12T14:21:06Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Tectonic Evolution of the Izmir-Ankara Suture Zone in Northwest Turkey using Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Zircon Lu-Hf Isotopic Tracers
Campbell, Clay Franklin
Taylor, Michael H
Moeller, Andreas
McLean, Noah
Blum, Michael D
Geology
Tectonics
Turkey
Zircon Lu-Hf
Zircon U-Pb
Detrital zircons from the Late Cretaceous Murdunu-Göynük forearc basin and the Paleogene Saricakaya foreland basin; part of the greater Central Sakarya Basin located along the Sakarya Zone of the Western Pontides were analyzed to better understand the closure history of the Tethyan oceans. In northwest Turkey, the Variscan Orogeny is characterized by abundant 350-300 Ma zircon U-Pb ages and εHf values that plot within the minimally to highly evolved domains. In εHf vs. age space no distinct trends are apparent, consistent with a north dipping subduction zone that emplaced plutons into a southward growing, heterogeneous accretionary margin. From 300-250 Ma εHf values trend from highly to minimally evolved, interpreted as crust thinning, a result of slab roll-back and rifting of the Intra-Pontide Ocean. The Cimmerian Orogeny is characterized by a decrease in magmatism from 250-230 Ma associated with minimally to moderately evolved εHf evolution, followed by a 230-200 Ma magmatic gap consistent with crustal thickening followed by flat-slab underthrusting of the Karakaya Complex. Zircons with 200-115 Ma U-Pb ages are all but absent, interpreted as a magmatic lull. The Alpine Orogeny in northwest Turkey is characterized by an increase in magmatism from 115-85 Ma, associated with minimally intermediate to moderately evolved εHf evolution of Late Cretaceous Murdunu-Göynük forearc zircons. At 100 Ma, Late Cretaceous zircons only found within Paleogene Saricakaya foreland basin sediments deviate from similar aged εHf evolution in forearc basin sediments and plot in both the juvenile and intermediate domains. Minor zircon U-Pb age peaks and contrasting inter-basinal εHf evolution are interpreted to represent onset of Andean-style subduction along the southern margin of the Sakarya Zone at ~115 Ma followed by 100 Ma initiation of intra-oceanic subduction within the İzmir-Ankara Ocean. Epsilon Hf values from zircons with 85-75 Ma U-Pb ages sampled from forearc basin sediments trend from moderately evolved to moderately intermediate, interpreted as crustal thinning, a result of slab roll-back along the southern margin of the Sakarya Zone, responsible for final rifting of the Western Black Sea. Foreland basin zircon with U-Pb ages of 85-80 Ma deviate towards highly evolved εHf values. These highly evolved and deviant εHf values are interpreted to represent synchronous melting of the Tavşanli Zone and intra-oceanic slab break-off. A single concordant ~66 Ma pre-collisional zircon grain collected from Late Cretaceous forearc basin flysch located directly beneath a regional unconformity is defined by a moderately evolved εHf value prior to complete absence of young detrital grains and is interpreted to represent incipient collision between the Sakarya and Tavşanli zones followed by total arc shut-off. Syn-collisional tuffs yield minimally evolved εHf values that trend toward minimally intermediate εHf values from 55-50 Ma and from minimally intermediate to highly intermediate from 50-46 Ma, interpreted to represent a second episode of slab break-off followed by crustal thickening, a result of renewed syn-collisional underthrusting.
2018-10-24T21:58:16Z
2018-10-24T21:58:16Z
2017-12-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15464
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26998
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4127-2996
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/83732020-08-25T14:13:19Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Probing a Paleoclimate Model-Data Misfit in Arctic Alaska from the Cretaceous Greenhouse World
Lollar, Joseph Chad
Ludvigson, Greg A.
González, Luis A
Fowle, David A.
Geology
Geochemistry
Alaska
Climate models
Cretaceous
Paleoclimate
Siderite
Abstract Joseph Chad Lollar, M.S. Department of Geology, June 2011 University of Kansas There has been a recent emphasis in climate change research on developing computer models that can simulate past and future climatic settings. These models have never been able to accurately recreate many known details of the Earth System. In particular, the late 20th-century Arctic warming and the even more pronounced polar warming during past greenhouse periods in Earth History, such as the Cretaceous, are major climate model-data misfits. The difficulty in simulating the polar warmth phenomenon might be partly attributable to uncertainties concerning the role of the hydrologic cycle in the global climate system. This failing is also exacerbated by a dearth of empirical paleoclimatic data from the Polar Regions that would better constrain our understanding of the hydrologic cycle during these time periods. To address this problem and to better constrain the boundary conditions for climate models, this study focused on broadening the distribution of empirical oxygen isotopic data from high latitude locations of the mid-Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) greenhouse world by measuring the carbon-oxygen isotopic compositions of seven pedogenic siderite paleosol horizons from the Nanushuk Formation in North Slope Alaska. Pedogenic siderite is used because it is common in the geologic record, and is widely used as a proxy for paleoprecipitation. Sedimentologic logging and petrographic analysis of samples from the Tunalik #1 (Haywood, 1983) and Wainwright #1 cores (Lepain and Decker, in press) suggests that these siderites developed in poorly drained, reducing soils that formed in coal-bearing delta plain facies. The isotopic data from horizons sampled display slightly varying ä18O values with more highly variable ä13C values, with a positive covariance. This positive covariance probably results from mixing between modified marine and meteoric pore fluids during the precipitation of the siderite. The ä18O values range from -9.57 / to -13.58 / VPDB, while the ä13C values range from +1.32 / to +14.34 / VPDB. The siderites are elementally impure, having varying substitutions of Ca, Mg, Mn, and Sr for Fe, thus further suggesting the influence of modified marine fluids upon siderite precipitation. In order to deconvolve the fluid mixing processes and better estimate the end-member freshwater ä18O compositions, fluid mixing modeling was carried out. Fluid-mixing modeling indicates fresh-water ä18O ranges between -21.00 to -15.35 / VSMOW; with an average of -18.91 / VSMOW. Moreover, the corresponding siderite fresh-water end-member MSL ä18O values are between -16.22 to -10.54 / VPDB; with an average of -14.12 / VPDB. This proxy record of paleoprecipitation supports earlier published results that proposed an amplified hydrologic cycle that transported more latent heat from the equator to the poles than in the present climate system. In addition to expanding the distribution of zonal empirical data from the Cretaceous Arctic, this study shows that the range of ä18O values for Cretaceous siderite-bearing soil horizons of the North Slope, Alaska, from the Tunalik #1 and Wainwright #1 drillcores do display some overlap with the earlier published results of Ufnar et al. (2004b), but do not match those predicted by the Earth System modeling of Poulsen et al. (2007). These new data clearly emphasize the need for much more additional sampling in order to adequately characterize the hydrologic cycle of the Cretaceous Arctic, and thus better constrain Earth System Models of Cretaceous climate.
2011-11-13T01:08:22Z
2011-11-13T01:08:22Z
2011-08-31
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11606
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8373
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/54282020-07-24T14:36:13Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Stratigraphy and Reservoir-analog Modeling of Upper Miocene Shallow-water and Deep-water Carbonate Deposits: Agua Amarga Basin, Southeast Spain
Dvoretsky, Rachel Ana
Goldstein, Robert H.
Franseen, Evan K.
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Geology
Carbonate
Gravity-flows
Miocene
Model
Reservoir-analog
This study documents the basin-wide stratigraphic characterization and 3-D reservoir-analog modeling of upper Miocene carbonate deposits in the Agua Amarga basin, southeast Spain. Paleotopography and relative fluctuations in sea level were primary controls on the deposition of shallow-water heterozoan and subsequent deep-water photozoan-dominated, coarse- and fine-grained gravity flow deposits and interstratified hemipelagic-pelagic sediments. Gently sloping basin paleotopography in conjunction with two successive periods of shallow marine inundation promoted in situ deposition of shallow-water volcaniclastic skeletal packstone-grainstones and skeletal grainstones. Distribution of these deposits was important in modifying paleotopography prior to deposition of deep-water strata. Deep-water deposits following basin inundation consisted of interstratified sediment gravity flows and hemipelagic-pelagic sediments. Focused-flow and dispersed-flow deposits documented in this study challenge traditional paradigms. The major control on the development of these systems was the presence or absence of a paleotopographic feature that focused debris shed from the linear platform margin into the basin. Resulting facies distributions, depositional geometries, and ratios of coarse- to fine-grained sediment within the focused-flow system suggest that similar deposits in the subsurface would make prolific hydrocarbon reservoirs.
2009-08-28T04:01:23Z
2009-08-28T04:01:23Z
2009-03-10
2009
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:10210
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/5428
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/253542018-01-31T20:07:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Development and Testing of an In-well Point Velocity Probe for Preliminary Site Characterization
Osorno, Trevor
Devlin, John F
Liu, Gaisheng
Stearns, Leigh A
Geology
Hydrologic sciences
Aquifer characterization
Groundwater
Groundwater velocity measurement
Heterogeneity
Monitoring well
Point velocity probe
The in-well point velocity probe (IWPVP) is a novel device for the centimeter-scale measurement of groundwater velocity within the screened interval of a monitoring well. IWPVP measurements are based on the detection of a tracer pulse that is injected into a central mixing chamber and carried over a detector as groundwater passes through the well and the probe. The viability of the IWPVP design was confirmed by numerical modeling followed by a series of laboratory tank experiments. Initial laboratory tank tests showed the IWPVP design to be viable, measuring groundwater velocity within ± 6%, on average, regardless of the orientation of the probe within the well screen, when velocities in the tank ranged between 48 cm/day and 400 cm/day. Following the initial laboratory tank experiments, a new IWPVP was designed with a packing system that permitted easy deployment in the field. Through a second round of laboratory testing, the new IWPVP design was shown to perform nearly identical to the original IWPVP design. Initial field testing of the IWPVP was carried out in an alluvial sand and gravel aquifer at the O’Rourke Bridge Site in Pawnee County, Kansas. Field results showed the IWPVP was able to estimate the flow direction correctly, within the limits of the device, and the groundwater velocity within a factor of three compared to a site-averaged Darcy estimate of groundwater velocity. The latter comparison was hampered by the condition of the well in which the tests were performed. Overall, the IWPVP shows promise as a cost-effective technology for the measurement of groundwater velocity within the screened interval of groundwater monitoring wells.
2017-11-16T02:43:31Z
2017-11-16T02:43:31Z
2016-12-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14952
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25354
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/264842018-09-20T19:40:24Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Detrital Zircon U-Pb Geochronology and Paleodrainage Reconstruction of the Blackhawk-Castlegate Succession, Wasatch Plateau and Book Cliffs, Utah
Pettit, Bridget Solana
Blum, Michael D
Möller, Andreas
Ludvigson, Greg A
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Blackhawk
Book Cliffs
Castlegate
Geochronology
Paleodrainage
Provenance
The Blackhawk Formation and Castlegate Sandstone are Campanian fluvial-deltaic and shoreline deposits within the Sevier foreland-basin fill along the Wasatch Plateau and Book Cliffs in Utah. Long-standing age constraints on the Blackhawk and Castlegate are based on correlation to ammonite zones in downdip mudstones, which are themselves constrained by radiometric dating of volcanic ash beds, and are therefore dependent on correlation methods and models. This study examines the Blackhawk-Castlegate succession with the following objectives: (i) test a hypothesis that very fine sands and coarse silts yield a more robust population of maximum depositional ages (MDAs) from volcanogenic detrital zircons (DZs) that approximate true depositional age than medium to fine sands; (ii) develop an independent geochronological framework of MDAs through U-Pb dating of volcanogenic DZs; and (iii) propose a paleodrainage reconstruction for the Blackhawk-Castlegate succession in light of new data. MDAs calculated throughout the succession approximate the time of deposition for the upper Blackhawk (77.7 ± 1.7 Ma in Horse Canyon and 79.6 ± 1.7 Ma in Tusher Canyon), Lower Castlegate (75.8 ± 1.8 Ma in Horse Canyon), and potentially the Bluecastle Tongue (75.9 ± 1.9 Ma in Price Canyon). In the case of the upper Blackhawk and Lower Castlegate, the MDAs are both up to 2 Myrs younger than the age constraints determined by ammonite zone correlations, and raise questions concerning the temporal significance of the classic Castlegate Sequence Boundary and relationships with basin-evolution models. Previous studies indicate that Santonian drainages were dominated by an axial fluvial system with headwaters in the Mogollon Highlands, with lesser contributions from the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt and the various Cordilleran magmatic sources. The DZ U-Pb age data in this study is analyzed using multidimensional scaling, spatial relationships between clusters, and examination of specific peaks in age distributions. Regional sediment routing patterns appear to be quite similar during the Campanian deposition of the Blackhawk-Castlegate succession: there is evidence for an axial drainage flowing north from the Mogollon Highlands that passed by an area that is now Straight Canyon, intersected by transverse fluvial systems in the area that is now Price Canyon that drain the largely recycled strata exposed in the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt. The DZ U-Pb age data collected and used for this thesis are uploaded as three supplementary Excel files: KBH Data, BC Data Unbiased, and BC Data Biased. The first two files have the data used for multidimensional scaling and peak analysis of kernel density estimates, but lack some grains used for MDA calculations. The targeted population of n=50 grains for MDAs is included in the BC Data Biased file.
2018-06-07T21:26:51Z
2018-06-07T21:26:51Z
2017-08-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15509
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26484
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/77232020-08-07T13:39:41Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Controls on reservoir character in carbonate-chert strata, Mississippian (Osagean-Meramecian), southeast Kansas
Young, Erin Megan
Goldstein, Robert H.
Franseen, Evan K.
Taylor, Michael H.
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Petroleum geology
Chert
Diagenesis
Fluid inclusions
Mississippian
Porosity
Reservoir
Osagean-Meramecian strata in southeast Kansas were investigated to determine structural, relative sea level, diagenetic, and depositional controls on stratigraphy, lithofacies distribution, and reservoir character. Lithofacies include echinoderm-rich bioclastic wacke-packstone, sponge-spicule-rich packstone, dolomitic bioclastic wackestone, argillaceous dolomite, tripolitic chert, and chert breccia. Four cores are used to construct a ten-mile long southwest-northeast cross section, which assists in interpretation of three genetic units. Paragenesis reveals that early and late dissolution enhance porosity in chert. Fluid inclusion microthermometry from megaquartz and baroque dolomite reveals variable but increasing homogenization temperatures (70˚C-160˚C) that increase in salinity through time. Data indicate that reservoir character is an interplay of depositional through late diagenetic events. The best reservoirs may be controlled by depositional setting that led to large amounts of chert and carbonate grains in grain support, alteration associated with subaerial exposure, and a hydrologic and structural setting that led to enhanced hydrothermal fluid flow for later dissolution.
2011-07-04T17:42:03Z
2011-07-04T17:42:03Z
2010-11-19
2010
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11191
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/7723
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/81932020-08-17T13:39:24Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Stratigraphic Heterogeneity of a Holocene Ooid Tidal Sand Shoal: Lily Bank, Bahamas
Sparks, Andrew
Rankey, Eugene C.
Srinivasan, Krishnan
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Petroleum geology
Bahamas
Holocene
Ooid
Ooid shoal
A central challenge in sedimentary geology is understanding three-dimensional architectural variability, and how it might be predicted. Ooid sand shoals, present in the stratigraphic record from Archean to recent, represent an economically important, but heterogeneous type of carbonate deposit. Whereas the processes influencing the deposition of ooid shoals are well examined and understood, the means by which distinct processes are recorded in the rock record are less constrained. The purpose of this thesis is to understand the relationship among processes, plan-view morphology and stratigraphic variability by examining Lily Bank, a modern tidally dominated Bahamian ooid shoal. Research focuses on two bar form end-members of Lily Bank: transverse shoulder bars oriented normal to flow and flood- and ebb-tide oriented parabolic bars. Results from integrating remote sensing imagery, high frequency seismic (Chirp) data and core characterization (sedimentary structures and granulometric analyses) reveal the stratigraphic record of geomorphic change. An irregular, but gently dipping surface acts as the base of the Holocene sequence. This lowest horizon (Z) is interpreted as the Top Pleistocene and shallows onto the platform. A lower unit (Unit A), up to 6 m thick, overlies this basal surface and is characterized as a poorly sorted gravelly muddy sand with abundant Halimeda, and almost no ooids. Unit A is capped by a transitional unit (Unit B) which shows an increase in ooids, better sorting, and larger grain sizes upwards. The uppermost unit (Unit B'), present only under the present-day bar forms, is a well-sorted ooid sand. Quantitative analysis reveals quantitative relations among units, geomorphic position, and granulometry. Sediments of Unit A are finer and less well sorted than those from Unit B. Likewise, the fraction of grains larger than 500 µm and sorting of sediments from crests of bar forms are clearly differentiated from those on the bar flanks. Collectively, these results provide more robust three-dimensional conceptual models of heterogeneity in ooid shoals.
2011-10-09T14:50:08Z
2011-10-09T14:50:08Z
2011-08-31
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11702
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8193
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/259852018-04-16T19:10:41Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Joint Analysis of Refractions and Reflections (JARR) Method for Quantitatively Deriving Velocity Models
Feigenbaum, Daniel Zane
Miller, Richard D.
Tsoflias, George
Walker, J. Douglas
Geophysics
Geology
Joint Analysis of Refractions and Reflections
Near Surface
Reflection
Seismic
Joint analysis of refractions and reflections (JARR) is introduced and is developed as a quantitative method for improving the accuracy of near-surface velocity model functions. These accurate near-surface velocity functions are essential in various reflection processing flows. With reflection processing, accuracy is vital to produce accurate subsurface stacked sections. To demonstrate the method, it was evaluated by calculating long-wavelength statics and post-stack depth migration on high resolution data. Seismic data were statically corrected and a migration was applied using velocities derived from the JARR method facilitated by First Arrival Tomography (FAT). One sample dataset is from the Wellington petroleum field, Wellington, Kansas and was intended to image to the basement structure (1500m). A second dataset was acquired along Highway 61, Inman, Kansas and intended to image solution features in the near-surface (upper 500m). The JARR method utilizes a specialized processing flow designed to produce more accurate near-surface velocity functions than traditional velocity analysis methods. The method starts from raw interval normal move-out (INMO) velocity functions determined from reflections utilizing standard velocity estimation techniques (velocity panels, semblance). After a traditionally defined velocity function is selected, first arrivals are picked and saved. First arrival tomography is performed using the a-priori damped reference INMO velocity function. Synthetic first arrival rays are passed through the reference model. Time differences from calculated and observed first arrival rays are then inverted to produce a new velocity function. The process is repeated iteratively. The aforementioned method has many potential applications; however, it has the greatest impact in determining long-wavelength static corrections and high-resolution migration velocities. Results, in challenging areas, show the JARR method to be a unique and novel way for calculating accurate near-surface velocity models when other approaches have shown marginal effectiveness. Results also support the utility of the JARR method for calculating velocities used to determine long-wavelength statics and migration of data with complex near-surface lithology and structures. These achievements were due to the JARR methods capability of producing velocity models with increased spatial and temporal accuracy.
2018-02-18T19:56:33Z
2018-02-18T19:56:33Z
2017-08-31
2017
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15507
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25985
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/180802018-01-31T20:07:54Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Ground-penetrating radar imaging of fluid flow through a discrete fracture
Baker, Matthew Peter
Tsoflias, George P
Black, Ross
Stearns, Leigh A
Geophysics
fracture
GPR
hydraulic gradient
multicomponent
polarization
tracer tests
Predicting groundwater flow and transport of contaminants in fractured rock is challenging due to the heterogeneity of hydraulic properties that are difficult to characterize using conventional hydraulic testing methods. Heterogeneity is often introduced by fracture aperture variability that creates preferential flow pathways also referred to as flow channeling. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been used successfully for imaging fractures. This study investigates the polarization properties and capabilities of GPR signals, both amplitude and phase, for 3-D imaging of flow channeling in a discrete, subhorizontal fracture. Two separate field studies were conducted at the Altona Flat Rock test site in New York State. The first, conducted in 2010, used surface-based multi-polarization 3-D GPR to examine the effects of radar signal polarization for imaging a fresh-water saturated, millimeter scale subhorizontal fracture. Imaging of a horizontal reflection plane should be independent of radar signal polarization. However, amplitude variations as a function of wavefield orientation were observed along the subhorizontal fracture plane indicating that polarization effects are significant. Furthermore, it was shown that summation of two orthogonal parallel-polarized signals compensates adequately for the polarization effects and results in a more accurate image of the fracture. Therefore, for imaging of flow through a discrete fracture, multi-polarization GPR acquisition is necessary. The second investigation, conducted in 2011, utilized a multi-component, surface based GPR to monitor saline tracer flow through the same water-saturated fracture. The multi-component system allowed for simultaneous acquisition of orthogonal polarizations. The presence of saline tracer in the fracture resulted in an amplitude increase and phase decrease of the reflected GPR signal. Hydraulic dipole-flow tracer tests were used to generate flow between boreholes within the fracture of interest. A five-spot well configuration allowed control over the hydraulic gradient orientation. Various concentrations of saline tracer were utilized with hydraulic gradients oriented E-W and N-S, as well as along the natural gradient. GPR imaging of saline tracer results revealed a direct and narrow channelized flow path along the E-W orientation based on both amplitude and phase changes suggesting good well connectivity. The N-S dipole tests revealed greater tracer dispersion over a larger area suggesting poorer well connectivity. These results are supported by hydraulic tests conducted at the site. This work supports imaging tracer flow using GPR signal amplitude and presents, for the first time, imaging changes in flow channeling based on hydraulic gradient orientation and the use of GPR phase for imaging saline tracer distribution.
2015-06-17T02:52:41Z
2015-06-17T02:52:41Z
2014-12-31
2014
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13658
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/18080
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/241752018-12-14T16:57:54Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Assessment of Aquifer Mixing and Salinity Intrusion in the North-Western Sahara Aquifer System: A Hydrogeochemical Analysis- Algeria, Tunisia
Meyer, David F.
Stotler, Randy
Macpherson, Gwendolyn L.
Devlin, John F.
Johnson, William C.
Geology
Contour Maps
Hydrogeology
Isotopes
PHREEQC
Salinity Intrusion
The North-Western Sahara Aquifer System is a complex multilayer leaky aquifer system providing water to Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. Changing the hydrologic equilibrium through pumping can cause previously isolated saline water to mix with the fresh water in the pumped aquifers, resulting in increased salinity over time and, creating the potential for water-related conflict. The objective of this study is to identify areas where salinity intrusion is occurring now and could worsen in the future. To accomplish this, fourteen existing datasets were analyzed, yielding new insights into regional and local occurrences of salinity intrusion. Major ion chemistry and ratios of Br/Cl indicate that the source of salinity in the saline aquifers of the system, which intrude into the freshwater, is the dissolution of evaporates in the aquifer matrix. A complex geochemical system where due to the common ion effect gypsum dissolution sustains calcite saturation producing a water rich in Ca and SO4. Stable isotopes of oxygen and total dissolved solids were the best geochemical indicators of areas of salinity intrusion. Contour mapping of the Total Dissolved Solids and δ18O has shown that considerable aquifer mixing and salinity intrusion affect the aquifer system. At this time, five areas in the North-Western Sahara Aquifer system are subject to salinity intrusion.
2017-05-15T03:09:39Z
2017-05-15T03:09:39Z
2016-12-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15016
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/24175
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/248302018-01-31T20:07:51Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Exploring the Relationship between Paleobiogeography, Deep-Diving Behavior, and Size Variation of the Parietal Eye in Mosasaurs
Connolly, Andrew
Hasiotis, Stephen
Roberts, Jennifer
Brown, Rafe
Paleontology
Biographies
mosasaur
parietal eye
parietal foramen
Platecarpus
Plioplatecarpus
The parietal eye (PE) in modern squamates (Reptilia) plays a major role in regulating body temperature, maintaining circadian rhythms, and orientation via the solar axis. This study is the first to determine the role, if any, of the PE in an extinct group of lizards. We analyzed variation in relative size of the parietal foramen (PF) of five mosasaur genera to explore the relationship between PF size and paleolatitudinal distribution. We also surveyed the same specimens for the presence of avascular necrosis—a result of deep- diving behavior—in the vertebrae. Plioplatecarpus had the largest PF followed by Platecarpus, Tylosaurus, Mosasaurus, and Clidastes. A weak relationship exists between paleolatitudinal distribution and PF size among genera, as Plioplatecarpus had the highest paleolatitudinal distribution (~78°N) and the largest PF among genera. Clidastes, Mosasaurus, Platecarpus, and Tylosaurus, however, shared a similar northern paleolatitude (~55°N) extent despite Platecarpus having a statistically larger PF than the other three genera (p<0.001 in Fisher’s LSD test). Mosasaurus, Plioplatecarpus, and Tylosaurus also shared a similar southern paleolatitude (~64°S) despite Plioplatecarpus having a larger PF. There is no correlation between PF size and paleolatitudinal distribution for specimens within genera. We found no relationship between PF size and presence of avascular necrosis. Tylosaurus and Mosasaurus, which exhibited avascular necrosis, had a similar PF size to Clidastes, which did not avascular necrosis. The PE of mosasaurs may have functioned primarily for navigation and orientation related to migration; however, this possibility requires further study of modern PE-bearing organisms and its function.
2017-08-13T22:22:26Z
2017-08-13T22:22:26Z
2016-05-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14715
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/24830
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/55442020-07-24T15:56:13Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Influence of Mississippian Karst Topography on Deposition of the Cherokee Group: Ness County, Kansas
Ramaker, Benjamin J.
Carr, Timothy R
Walton, Anthony W.
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Geology
Cherokee
Cherokee group
Karst
Mississippian
Ness
Sandstone
The Cherokee Group (Desmoinesian, Middle Pennsylvanian) of Ness County, Kansas was deposited on the western flank of the Central Kansas uplift. Eleven lithofacies were defined in the Cherokee Group to better understand the stratigraphy and depositional processes. Sandstone facies represent the primary oil-bearing reservoirs in the Cherokee Group. An extensive network of groundwater-sapped paleovalleys is present on the Mississippian karst surface and two primary drainage patterns were identified. Groundwater-sapped valleys and dolines exhibit a strong structural control and develop along gravity and magnetic lineaments. Three sequences were identified and mapped, two complete and one incomplete sequence. Potential reservoir sandstone bodies are confined to lowstand and transgressive systems tracts. Sand development is strongly influenced by Mississippian paleotopography. Thick sandstone successions were deposited in groundwater-sapped Mississippian valleys and along the paleoshoreline. Two depositional models were created to explain the lateral and vertical distribution of facies in the Cherokee Group.
2009-10-19T16:53:32Z
2009-10-19T16:53:32Z
2009-06-12
2009
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:10417
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/5544
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/239442018-01-31T20:07:47Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
QUANTIFYING THE ROLES OF CHEMICAL AND MICROBIAL WEATHERING IN ACID-SULFATE HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
Lander, Charity M. Phillips
Roberts, Jennifer A
Fowle, David A
Moeller, Andreas
Brookfield, Andrea
Hefty, P. Scott
Geology
Geobiology
Geochemistry
acid-sulfate
clay authigenesis
fluoride
hydrothermal
microbial weathering
trace metals
Although the roles of microbial and chemical processes are relatively well-studied in neutral-chloride hydrothermal systems, very few studies have addressed these processes in acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems. This study aims to survey the roles of chemical and microbial weathering in acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems in order to provide greater understanding of the geochemical processes operating in low pH (2-4) and relatively high temperature (43-90oC) enviroments. These data provide insight into both modern and ancient life in extreme environments, as well as which processes are abiotically controlled. Field microcosm experiments indicate initial dissolution in Las Pailas hydrothermal system, located on the southwest flank of Rincón de la Vieja, Costa Rica, is likely driven by microorganisms. These microorganisms increase the short-term volumetric weathering rate of anorthoclase containing Fe-oxide and apatite mineral inclusions by an order of magnitude relative to abiotic controls. However, weathering of other silicates by microorganisms appeared to be relatively similar to abiotic controls. These results indicate that microbially induced silicate dissolution facilitates phosphate solubulization in acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems. These results are similar to previous research conducted in low temperature (T), circum-neutral pH systems, despite the higher reaction rates due to increased T and acid attack in this extreme environment. The net result of increased weathering is the mobilization of trace metals into solution. Hydrothermal fluid fluxes contain abundant trace metals, however, these metals preferentially partition into the sediments at Las Pailas. In other hydrothermal systems and acid mine drainage environments, trace metals preferentially bind to iron oxides. Microorganisms in these systems typically facilitate the formation of Fe-oxides to which trace metals bind. In circum-neutral hydrothermal systems, associated with low-sulfidation epithermal ore deposits, microorganisms form shallow epithermal ore deposits. Sequential extraction of Las Pailas sediments indicates microorganisms also concentrated trace metals, particularly copper, gold and silver in the Las Pailas sediments, despite the acidic pH. However, microorganisms in this acid-sulfate system appear to sequester trace metals by binding them to microbial cell surfaces, exopolymeric substances, and iron oxides produced and entrained within biofilm. These data suggest microorganisms may create shallow/surficial indicators of epithermal Au-Ag ore formation at depth. Moreover, the association of microbial biomarkers and influences on the isotopic record suggest microorganisms may play a role in ore formation that occurs below the limit for life (~121oC) and that microorganisms may have been involved in ore formation throughout geologic time. Not all processes in acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems, however, are microbially controlled. Weathering not only concerns itself with the dissolution of primary mineral phases, but also the formation of secondary mineral phases, particularly nontronite and kaolinite formation. Pailas de Agua I, one of the hot springs in the Las Pailas hydrothermal field, contains abundant clay minerals. To assess the influence of microorganisms on secondary mineral formation in Las Pailas, a model hydrothermal solution, based on the solution geochemisty of Pailas de Agua I, was created. Experiments using this solution were performed at high (80oC) and low (25oC) temperatures, with and without the addition of fluoride and microbial surrogates to determine the influence of temperature, Al-complexation by fluoride and microbial processes on clay formation. Results indicate that high temperature experiments form nontronite and kaolinite regardless of experimental conditions. However, in low temperature solutions, fluoride plays a key role in Al-complexation and aids in authigenic nontronite precipitation. Microbial surrogates play little role in clay formation in acidic pH systems, in contrast to, clay mineral formation in many circum-neutral pH systems, which is microbially influenced. Acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems have been proposed as an analog for Mars because of mineralogical similarities between the two systems. These data indicate that while clay minerals on Mars may be good indicators of water in Mars' history, they do not specifically indicate an environment of formation, nor should they be used as an indicator of past life on Mars. Moreover, these data suggest that the kickstarting of the "clay mineral factory" on early Earth may not be the result of microbial processes. These results indicate that many microbial processes, including microbially induced mineral dissolution and trace metal immobilization, may be ubiquitous in nature regardless of whether exceptional preservation of microbial structures occurs. However, the mechanisms that underpin these processes may differ between environments. Most importantly, despite the common association between microorganisms and clay minerals in modern environments, authigenic clay formation may occur in the absence of microbial surrogates, if/when Al-complexing ligands are present in solution. Both abiotic and biological processes influence weathering in acid-sulfate hydrothermal systems and these processes may likely be differentiable in the rock record through examination of associations between biomarker associations with sediments, even in the absence of exceptional preservation.
2017-05-07T20:05:32Z
2017-05-07T20:05:32Z
2014-12-31
2014
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13661
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/23944
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/40612020-07-15T15:43:14Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
ICHNOFOSSILS OF THE PALEOGENE WILLWOOD FORMATION AND THE PALEOCENE-EOCENE THERMAL MAXIMUM (PETM): RESPONSE OF AN ANCIENT SOIL ECOSYSTEM TO TRANSIENT GLOBAL WARMING
Smith, Jon Jay
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Goldstein, Robert H.
Lieberman, Bruce S.
Roberts, Jennifer A.
Johnson, William C.
Paleontology
Geology
Trace fossils
Paleosols
Paleoclimatology
Global warming
Ichnology
This research combines paleopedological, paleontological, neoichnological, and ichnological methods to understand better the paleoenvironmental, paleoecological, and paleoclimatic significance of the trace fossils of soil-dwelling organisms preserved in paleosols. Such ichnofossils are well-preserved and abundant in the continental deposits and are important in situ indicators of paleohydrologic regime, degree of pedogenesis, paleoecology, and paleoclimatic setting during the time of their formation. Naktodemasis bowni, a new ichnogenus and ichnospecies erected for adhesive meniscate burrows common in paleosols, were likely produced by burrowing insects based on their morphology and ichnopedologic associations. These burrows do not represent subaqueous, sediment-ingesting organisms as has been previously suggested. Neoichnologic experiments examining the traces and burrowing behaviors of cicada nymphs (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) demonstrate that some burrowing hemipterans produce distinct backfilled burrows in modern soils identical to N. bowni. Such backfilled burrows indicate periods of subaerial exposure associated with pedogenic modification and can be used to differentiate alluvial paleoenvironments from marine and lacustrine paleoenvironments. Freshwater crayfish burrows in paleosols of the Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming, illustrate the important role that burrowing organisms played in initiating and promoting pedogenic development. Crayfish burrows and other ichnofossils in the Willwood Formation show changes in their distribution, increased abundance and diversity, and reduced size through a transient period of global warming known as the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Significant changes in the distribution and abundance likely indicate that soil biotic communities responded to improvements in drainage conditions coincident with the global warming. Burrow diameters of the most abundant ichnofossils are 30-46% smaller within the PETM interval, suggesting that the tracemakers were smaller bodied. Smaller tracemaker body sizes may have been an adaptive response to higher temperatures, lower soil moisture, or reduced nutritional values in high CO2 vegetation. Similar body size changes in extant insect populations may be used as a new biomonitoring tool to gauge the impact of modern anthropogenic-increases in greenhouse gases and surface temperatures. This research demonstrates for the first time that ancient burrowing organisms in the continental realm were not buffered by soil environments and responded to climate perturbations in ways that are detectable in their ichnofossil record.
2008-08-05T12:36:35Z
2008-08-05T12:36:35Z
2007-12-17
2007
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:2328
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/4061
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3906-7726
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/81532020-08-17T14:35:00Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Tomographic Characterization of Aquifer Heterogeneity
Lyle, Shane
McElwee, Carl
Fowle, David A.
Devlin, John F.
Hydrologic sciences
Geology
Environmental geology
Aquifer characterization
Hydraulic conductivity
Hydraulic tomography
Hydrology
The Darcy's Law proportionality constant, hydraulic conductivity, describes the relative ease or rate at which water can move through a permeable medium and its fine-scale heterogeneity determines preferential flow rates and pathways. Traditional aquifer tests, such as slug and pumping tests, predict hydraulic conductivity values without detailed information about aquifer heterogeneity. The multiple source and receiver signals of a hydraulic tomography aquifer test can estimate interwell heterogeneity, but it requires extensive time to collect and then invert large amounts of tomographic data. An innovative adaptation of an oscillatory pressure signal was used to reduce the data collection and processing time associated with a tomography test. The phase shift of the sinusoidal pressure signal is related to the hydraulic conductivity. Multiple offset gathers (MOG) ray paths were estimated with a spatially weighted straight ray approximation method and analyzed with data processing programs that extend the 3D homogenous spherical radial equation to the heterogeneous case. A numerical model was used to check the heterogeneous extension for accuracy. High quality zero-offset profile ray paths (ZOP) were used to determine hydraulic conductivity, K, at a relatively fine scale and interpreted into representative aquifer models between different tomographic well pairs. The aquifer models were used with MOG data to evaluate the anisotropy ratio and lateral heterogeneity of the aquifer. Two different oscillatory periods, 3 and 30-sec, were evaluated and compared to previous work at the site. Analysis indicates that the 3-sec period data were more sensitive to different anisotropy ratios and both periods are capable of resolving K zones of about one meter.
2011-10-09T03:45:16Z
2011-10-09T03:45:16Z
2011-05-31
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11351
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8153
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/257752019-01-17T17:37:32Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Stratigraphic Changes in Ichnopedofacies of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation, Northeast Chinle Basin, Southeastern Utah: Implications for Depositional Controls and Paleoclimate
Fischer, Sean
Hasiotis, Stephen
Selden, Paul
Franseen, Evan
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Chinle
Continental
Ichnofossil
Paleoclimate
Paleosol
Triassic
The Upper Triassic Chinle Formation in the Stevens Canyon area, southeastern Utah, represents fluvial, palustrine, and lacustrine strata deposited in a continental back-arc basin on the western edge of Pangea. Previous investigations interpreted a megamonsoonal climate with increasing aridity for the Colorado Plateau towards the end of the Late Triassic. In this study, we systematically integrate ichnologic and pedologic features of the Chinle Formation into ichnopedofacies to interpret paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic variations in the northeastern part of the Chinle Basin. Seventeen ichnofossil morphotypes and six paleosol orders were combined to form 12 ichnopedofacies. Ichnopedofacies development was controlled by autocyclic and allocyclic processes, and hydrology. In the northeast Chinle Basin, annual precipitation was ~1100–1300 mm in the Petrified Forest Member. Precipitation levels were 1300 mm/yr at the base of the lower Owl Rock Member, decreased to ~700–1100 mm/yr, and then to ~400–700 mm/yr. Two drying upward cycles from ~1100 mm/yr to ~700 mm/yr are observed in the middle and upper Owl Rock members. In the Church Rock Member, precipitation decreased from ~400 mm/yr at the base of the unit to ~25–325 mm/yr at the end of Chinle Formation deposition. Ichnopedofacies indicate monsoonal conditions persisted until the end of the Triassic Period with decreasing precipitation the result of the northward migration of Pangea. Ichnopedofacies in the northeast Chinle Basin indicate both long-term drying of climate and short-term, wet-dry fluctuations. Wet-dry cycles occur at other locations in the Chinle Basin, but variation exists in interpreted precipitation levels across the Chinle Basin due to the use of different climate indices. Overall trends of decreasing paleoprecipitation between the northeast and southeast Chinle Basin during Petrified Forest Member deposition, and between the northeast and central part of the Chinle Basin basin during Owl Rock Member deposition are recognized. Climate was not consistent across the Chinle Basin during the Late Triassic; there were complex variations in precipitation.
2018-01-29T17:55:29Z
2018-01-29T17:55:29Z
2016-12-31
2016
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14965
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25775
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/185582017-12-08T21:31:50Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_7158
The oolites of Kansas City and their fauna
Culbertson, Alexander Edward
Thesis (M.S.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1915. ; Includes bibliographical references.
2015-10-06T17:57:58Z
2015-10-06T17:57:58Z
1915
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/18558
openAccess
This work is in the public domain according to U.S. copyright law and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/314972021-03-05T16:54:48Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Characterizing Petrophysical Properties of Carbonate Rocks Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Complex Conductivity
Zhang, Fan
Zhang, Chi
Rankey, Eugene C
Tsoflias, Georgios
Geophysics
Carbonate
NMR
Petrophysics
Pore Attributes
SIP
Carbonate rocks are well known for their highly complex petrophysical behaviors due to their intrinsically heterogeneous pore geometry and wide range of pore sizes. As a result, both effective characterization of carbonate pore systems and the prediction of fluid transport in carbonate reservoirs, remains challenging. This thesis focuses on using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and complex conductivity to quantify carbonate pore structure and gain insights into fluid flow and lithology of carbonate reservoir rocks at the core and log scales. In the laboratory study, integrated NMR and complex conductivity data are used to characterize porosity, pore size distribution, and surface area-to-pore volume ratio, in grainstones, packstones, and mudstones from carbonate reservoirs in Kansas. Carbonate samples with varying pore types and depositional texture are characterized according to NMR porosity, log-mean of transverse relaxation time (T2) value T2ML, real conductivity σ', and imaginary conductivity σ". Widely used petrophysical relationships derived from NMR and complex conductivity data also are assessed, and alternative relationships appropriate for carbonate samples at laboratory scale are proposed. Furthermore, to test the proposed petrophysical relationships at a larger spatial scale, and to exploit the potential of borehole NMR data, this study analyzes NMR well log data from Wellington, KS. This study focus on the uses of NMR longitudinal and transverse relaxation time ratio (T1/T2) in electrofacies characterization. Through multivariate analysis of a suite of logs (e.g., sonic slowness, photoelectric factor, etc.), the results show that T1/T2 ratio is uncorrelated with other logs which makes it a potentially independent indicator for rock typing. The data bear on the accuracy of predicted electrofacies using T1/T2 ratio, and how factors such as lithology and fluid could impact the T1/T2 ratio. Extending beyond experimental observations, this work assesses and proposes new electrical and NMR petrophysical models, analyzes the factors controlling the variation within NMR logging data, and harnesses the complete NMR logging information to improve carbonate reservoir characterization. This work demonstrates the potential of combining NMR and electrical methods to advance understandings of fluid distribution and fluid flow in complex carbonate reservoirs.
2021-02-27T20:54:05Z
2021-02-27T20:54:05Z
2019-12-31
2019
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:16782
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/31497
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/81472020-08-18T14:07:48Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Ground-penetrating radar imaging of depositional and diagenetic features in an Upper Miocene carbonate reservoir analog, SE Spain
Knoph, Katharine Marie
Tsoflias, George
Franseen, Evan K.
Goldstein, Robert H.
Geology
Geophysics
Diagenesis
Fracture characterization
Fractures
Ground-penetrating radar
Porosity
Thrombolite
Optimal hydrocarbon recovery from microbialite-oolite reservoirs can be limited by complex facies geometries and porosity distribution. This study integrates ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and detailed outcrop data for 3D mapping of porosity distribution and stratigraphic architecture within Upper Miocene microbialite-oolite sequences (Terminal Carbonate Complex) of southeastern Spain. Twenty kilometers of 2D and 3D GPR data of differing frequencies (25, 50, and 100 MHz) were acquired throughout the survey site, an area approximately 400 m x 300 m. Two-dimensional GPR profiles were collected along a grid covering the entire survey area, allowing imaging of depositional and diagenetic variability over a broad area. Two densely spaced 3D grids allow further detailed characterization and comparison of paleotopographic high and low areas. Results of this study illustrate that GPR can image stratigraphic features such as sequence boundaries and tight thrombolite bodies. Reflections are primarily influenced by porosity variations within the strata. Three of the GPR facies, recognized on the basis of reflection signatures (strong, weak, or no internal reflections), are linked predominantly to porosity variations in facies. Each GPR facies has been identified and delineated in each frequency data set. GPR facies distribution illustrates a large-scale trend of lower porosity in the updip portion of the survey area. GPR successfully imaged some depositional features (i.e., sequence boundaries and some thrombolites), however, in many instances, reflections correlate to variations in porosity that vary laterally and vertically on a several-meter scale in 3D and commonly cut across sequence boundaries. The abrupt lateral changes in GPR character are inconsistent with their being controlled by depositional processes; instead diagenesis and potentially fractures appear to strongly influence GPR signal. These observations indicate that porosity characteristics in the study area are associated with both depositional and diagenetic processes. Although GPR has traditionally been used to image stratigraphic features, these results indicate GPR can be important for imaging diagenetic features as well. As such, GPR can be a valuable tool for imaging porosity heterogeneity and developing conceptual models that portray 3D variations in both stratigraphy and porosity. Resultant insights may be important for comprehensive understanding of porosity development and distribution in this system and subsurface carbonate reservoir analogs.
2011-10-09T01:39:45Z
2011-10-09T01:39:45Z
2011-08-31
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11729
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8147
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/123082020-06-25T15:03:57Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
3-D Seismic Methods for Shallow Imaging Beneath Pavement
Miller, Brian
Tsoflias, George
Steeples, Don
Taylor, Michael H.
Devlin, John F.
Parsons, Robert
Geophysics
The research presented in this dissertation focuses on survey design and acquisition of near-surface 3D seismic reflection and surface wave data on pavement. Increased efficiency for mapping simple subsurface interfaces through a combined use of modified land survey designs and a hydraulically driven acquisition device are demonstrated. Using these techniques subsurface reflectors can be quickly and efficiently imaged in the course of an afternoon. The use of surface waves to analyze the upper several tens of meters of the subsurface has become an important technique for near-surface investigations. A new method for acquiring and visualizing surface wave information in three-dimensions is demonstrated. As will be shown, a volume of shear wave velocities can be created by acquiring surface waves along multiple, coincident lines. Using a series of computer algorithms the data can then be graphed in 2D or 3D space providing a method of visualization not previously available.
2013-09-30T19:24:10Z
2013-09-30T19:24:10Z
2013-05-31
2013
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12773
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/12308
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/275302018-12-19T20:18:37Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Implications for large-scale sea level change in the Turonian Western Interior Seaway: Evidence from the Codell Sandstone, Colorado
Myers, Matthew Michael
Kamola, Diane L
Ludvigson, Greg A
Walker, J. Douglas
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Geochemistry
Codell Sandstone
Estuarine Facies
Incised Valley
Sea Level
Strandline Migration
Western Interior Seaway
Middle to Upper Turonian strata of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway record evidence of a large-scale sea level change. The Codell Sandstone Member of the Carlile Shale, exposed in the Pueblo, Colorado area, consists of two distinct facies that are interpreted to record this sea level change: an upward-coarsening unit interpreted as distal lower shoreface overlain by a heterolithic unit interpreted as estuarine. 87 Sr/86Sr ratio analyses show an isotopic excursion within the estuarine facies, which is attributed to freshwater input. The surface separating the two facies is interpreted as a sequence boundary and the base of a 10 meter thick incised valley fill. The time equivalent shoreline (highstand) for the lower shoreface strata of the Codell Sandstone Member is placed between central Kansas and central Missouri, 700 to 1100 km east of the study area. Brackish-water strata of the incised valley fill would require a minimum of 700 km lateral translation of the eastern margin of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway during deposition of the Codell Sandstone Member. This westward shift in the eastern shoreline resulted from a sea level fall that could have been as little as 30-60 meters.
2018-12-18T17:59:17Z
2018-12-18T17:59:17Z
2014-08-31
2014
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13630
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/27530
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/78242020-06-30T00:35:37Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
A Statistical Examination of the Change in Body Size of Mammalian Communities Across the Eocene-Oligocene Boundary
Schmerge, Joshua David
Martin, Larry D.
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Goldstein, Robert H.
Paleontology
Paleoecology
Geology
Climate change
Insectivores
Island effect
Rodents
Titanotheres
White river group
The body mass change of mammals across the Eocene-Oligocene Boundary (EOB) and the potential relationship with global climate change was studied. Global climate went through a period of dramatic cooling and drying during the Eocene-Oligocene Transition. The effects on the environments of North America were dramatic, causing a shift from abundant, dense rainforest canopy in the Eocene to open savannah environment in the Oligocene. Mammal faunas from the White River Group of the continental interior of North America were investigated. Statistical surveys of large mammal faunas (> 1 kg) from the Douglas, Wyoming, and surrounding area and small mammal fauna ( 1 kg) from the Douglas, Wyoming, and surrounding area and small mammal fauna (Oligoryctes up to titanotheres massing 1,589 kg. Large mammals were found to decrease in body mass across the EOB, whereas body mass of small mammals increased. This phenomenon of extreme body masses approaching the middle of the range of body masses is likened to the Island Effect, where large mammals decrease in body size and small mammals increase in body size to accommodate a decrease in available habitat and resources. The change in body mass was attributed to environmental degradation brought on by climate change. Lower body mass evolved in large, herbivorous mammals as they adapted to diminished food resources. Small mammals likewise responded to climate change by adapting to the prevalence of open environments, and granivorous diets evolved as tropical vegetation waned.
2011-08-02T00:48:34Z
2011-08-02T00:48:34Z
2011-04-19
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11548
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/7824
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/108542020-09-23T14:01:36Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
STRATIGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF PEDOGENIC FEATURES AND TRACE FOSSILS FROM THE LOWER PERMIAN OF KANSAS
Counts, John W.
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Watney, Lynn
Goldstein, Robert H.
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Paleoecology
Beetle
Ichnology
Kansas
Paleosols
Permian
Soil
ABSTRACT Paleosols in the Lower Permian (Asselian-Sakmarian) Council Grove Group from western Kansas, USA, contain numerous pedogenic features, including carbonate nodules (caliche), redoximorphic coloration, rhizoliths, and trace fossils, which can be used to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic conditions during the interval of soil formation. Due to the paleogeographic setting of the Hugoton Basin, 5th-order cycles recorded in distant Council Grove Group outcrops are condensed in the study area into cumulic paleosols that contain pedogenic features signifying both wet and dry climates. Wet/dry cycles are interpreted to be the product of eustatically driven climate change, as well as seasonal changes related to monsoonal weather variability. Statistical analyses of the distribution of pedogenic features indicate a change from drier to wetter conditions over the upper Council Grove Group interval. Detailed study of trace fossils revealed unique morphologies that warrant the erection of a new ichnospecies, proposed here as Naktodemasis krausi. These assemblages are the oldest known occurrence of the genus Naktodemasis. Trace fossils were interpreted as the burrows of soil dwelling insects or insect larvae that colonized semiarid coastal plain environments during periods of subaerial exposure, creating topography and reducing accommodation, thereby preventing the formation of discrete 5th-order lithologic cycles. In order to provide further evidence for the origin of trace fossils, neoichnological experiments were conducted to compare ancient burrows to those of modern fossorial insects. Experimental results showed that the burrows of modern coleopterans belonging to the masked chafer beetles (Cyclocephala sp.) are convincing analogs for Permian trace fossils, and provide some general constraints on moisture tolerances for potential Permian tracemakers. The presence of these traces in Permian sediments, therefore, indicate that soil moisture levels during sea-level lowstands were high enough to support sustained populations of similar organisms. This study also conclusively demonstrates that burrows of this type could be constructed in subaerial settings, and documents the unique burrowing mechanism of the masked chafer beetle.
2013-02-17T19:47:43Z
2013-02-17T19:47:43Z
2012-12-31
2012
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12488
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/10854
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/294492019-08-24T08:00:38Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
The stratigraphy of the Quaternary alluvium in the Great Bend Prairie, Kansas
Rosner, Malia LaNita
x, 183 leaves : illustrations, maps ; 29 cm. Bibliography: leaves 80-83.
The Quaternary alluvial aquifer beneath the Great Bend Prairie in south-central Kansas serves as a major source of water for irrigation and domestic use. Low quality saline water, however, intrudes locally from Permian and possibly Cretaceous bedrock and mixes with the less dense freshwater in the aquifer.
Grain-size analysis of samples from three wells of a natural recharge study was correlated to the respective gamma logs. The correlation was then applied to the gamma logs from an observation well network, established by the Kansas Geological Survey and Groundwater Management District No. 5, to improve the stratigraphic interpretation. The stratigraphy of the area is defined from the surface down as (1) dune sands, (2) near surface silt-clay, (3) a section of variable lithology, (4) basal sand, and (5) bedrock.
The alluvium was mainly deposited by the Arkansas River as it aggraded its channel and moved northward laterally by avulsion to its present position. The gamma logs and grain-size analysis show fining upward sequences in the sediments.
The near surface silt-clay and basal sand are the only two lithologies that are continuous and could be mapped across the study area. The near surface silt-clay can influence aquifer recharge. If saline water and then freshwater is allowed to come in contact with the silt-clay, then the permeability of the silt-clay will be significantly reduced. This will decrease recharge to the aquifer. The basal sand tends to be thicker in the paleovalleys and thinner over the paleoridges. This sand serves as an aquifer in the area. The variable lithology section is the result of lateral shifting of the streams in the study area.
2019-08-23T22:20:20Z
2019-08-23T22:20:20Z
1988-05-31
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/29449
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/258392018-01-31T09:02:19Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Stratigraphy of the cotton valley beds of the northern gulf coastal plain
Swain, Frederick Morrill
Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1943.
2018-01-30T15:53:05Z
2018-01-30T15:53:05Z
1943
Dissertation
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/25839
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/145252018-01-31T20:08:06Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Reservoir Character of the Avalon Shale (Bone Spring Formation) of the Delaware Basin, West Texas and Southeast New Mexico: Effect of Carbonate-rich Sediment Gravity Flows
Stolz, Dustin
Goldstein, Robert H
Franseen, Evan K
Doveton, John
Geology
Petroleum geology
Avalon shale
Bone spring
Carbonates
Deep-water
Sediment gravity flow
Submarine fans
Sediment gravity flows (SGFs) can distribute large quantities of shelfal or slope carbonates into deeper basinal settings, forming complex heterogeneous deposits. Such deposits may have a negative or positive impact on hydrocarbon reservoir properties. In the Delaware Basin the upper Leonardian (Lower Permian) strata of the Avalon shale play (first Bone Spring carbonate) consist of hundreds of meters of dark, organic-rich siliciclastic mudstones interbedded with carbonate-rich SGF deposits. This project investigates carbonate-rich SGFs in the Avalon shale, integrating core and well log data, to determine the local-to-regional depositional controls on deep-water carbonates, as well as to understand the depositional architecture of the Avalon shale and how carbonate influx affected its reservoir potential. Over 500 well logs along with two cores were utilized for this study. The carbonates are interpreted to have been deposited by carbonate-rich SGFs with the mudstones primarily deposited in the distal, waning portions of the SGFs. These deposits stack to form thick SGF packages. Correlation of these packages shows that SGF source areas were located in all cardinal directions around the basin. The amount and timing of sediment input from the source areas varied throughout Avalon deposition, which resulted in a complex stratigraphic architecture. Two phases of carbonate fan development occurred and are separated by a phase of apron development. Backstepping geometries within the apron deposits suggest deposition during transgression and highstand. Fans were deposited in absence of major apron deposits and are distributed farther into the basin relative to the apron deposits, which suggests deposition during regressions and lowstands. Core petrophysics show the carbonate facies generally have lower porosity, permeability, and TOC than the mudstones. Thus, the carbonate facies typically produce poor-quality reservoir and mudstones produce high-quality reservoir. The thickest mudstones, forming the best-quality reservoir, were deposited during transgression and highstand in areas of reduced carbonate SGF influx and along the margins of older fan lobes. Understanding the distribution of carbonate SGFs throughout the Avalon shale will improve exploitation of this resource and enhance understanding of the controlling factors on the deposition of deep-water carbonates and shales.
2014-07-05T16:12:45Z
2014-07-05T16:12:45Z
2014-05-31
2014
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13262
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/14525
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/195902018-01-31T20:07:48Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Low-temperature thermochronometric constraints on Cenozoic intraplate deformation in the central Basin and Range
Bidgoli, Tandis S.
Walker, J. Douglas
Stockli, Daniel F.
Taylor, Michael H.
Moeller, Andreas
Stearns, Leigh
Egbert, Stephen
Geology
apatite
extension
thermochronology
transtension
(U-Th)/He
zircon
The current form of the Pacific-North American plate boundary is the result of a complex evolution from a subduction zone to a transform boundary. Changes in the kinematics and dynamics of the plate boundary have predictable consequences for deformation within the central Basin and Range (CBR). However, uncertainties in the timing, magnitude, and spatial distribution of extension and later transtension have made reconstructions of Cenozoic intraplate deformation difficult. This study investigates the Cenozoic history of the CBR through a province-wide (U-Th)/He thermochronologic study of 16 fault-bounded ranges. Thermochronologic data are integrated with published geologic and structural data in order to determine a detailed history of extensional deformation in the region, and the timing and spatial progression of the transition to transtensional deformation. These data are used to address two main questions. (1) How closely in time do the structural style and fault kinematics of intraplate deformation match changes in plate motion? (2) If the timing is very different, either locally or regionally, are there other dynamic processes that must be considered during the Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the western U.S.? These questions are addressed in this dissertation by results presented in 5 chapters. Chapter 1 provides an introduction and the plate tectonic setting. Chapter 2 focuses on the timing of onset, magnitude of exhumation, and spatial distribution of strain associated with the Castle Cliffs, Tule Springs, and Mormon Peak detachments, three significant low-angle normal faults in the eastern part of the CBR. Chapter 3 evaluates the middle Miocene to recent exhumation history of the Slate Range, located in the southwestern part of the CBR. Chapter 4 uses low- to moderate-temperature thermochronology data to evaluate space-time patterns of Miocene to Pliocene strain within the Death Valley area and the geodynamic drivers of that deformation. Chapter 5 focuses on evidence and possible mechanisms for Late Cretaceous to early Cenozoic cooling over a large portion of the western CBR. Zircon and apatite (U-Th)/He cooling ages from this study suggest that Basin and Range extension initiated at the eastern edge of the CBR at ~18 Ma and migrated westward with time. Extension in the western part of the CBR is overprinted by distinctly younger episodes of cooling that signal the onset of transtension associated with the development of the eastern California shear zone. For areas west of Death Valley, the initiation of dextral transtension occurs simultaneously at 3-4 Ma, matching the inferred timing of lithospheric delamination in the central and southern Sierras. The results suggest that the Cenozoic pattern of strain reflects a progression from plate boundary kinematics to intraplate drivers like lithospheric delamination. This study also sheds light on the development of the Nevadaplano, a broad plateau in the hinterland of the Late Cretaceous to early Cenozoic Sevier retroarc fold-thrust belt. The new (U-Th)/He ages, combined with published thermochronology data, show that there are two distinct periods of pre-Miocene cooling that affect the western CBR and Mojave Desert. The first is a Late Cretaceous cooling event that may be related to widespread extension, crustal refrigeration, and/or erosion associated with Laramide flat-slab subduction. The second event corresponds to a pulse of exhumation during the Eocene that may be related to rapid erosion following major shifts in global climate. Collectively, the data suggest the rapid tectonic exhumation of the Nevadaplano occurred in the latest Cretaceous, whereas erosional beveling and stabilization of the plateau was dominantly an early to middle Eocene phenomenon related to a changing climate
2016-01-04T02:16:55Z
2016-01-04T02:16:55Z
2014-08-31
2014
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13589
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19590
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/195392018-01-31T20:07:54Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Organic Porosity Distribution: A Function of Aromaticity in Organic-Rich Mudrocks
Keel, Michael Brenden
Olcott Marshall, Alison
Marhsall, Craig P
Rankey, Eugene C
Geology
FIB-SEM
Geochemistry
Mudrocks
Organic Geochemistry
Organic Porosity
Shale
Organic-rich mudrocks can have heterogeneous pore networks that affect hydrocarbon saturation and fluid flow. Organic porosity, a term used to describe pores within organic matter, contributes to a substantial proportion of the total porosity in some mudrock reservoirs. However, predicting organic pore distribution remains enigmatic. This thesis explores possible geochemical controls on organic porosity distribution and abundance with regard to organic matter type and thermal maturity using RockEval, Raman spectroscopy, focused ion beam – scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM), and Helium pycnometry. Comparison of RockEval and porosity data from three mudrock reservoirs were analyzed: the Ordovician Viola Group, the Cretaceous Niobrara Formation, and the Silurian “hot shale” indicates that organic porosity increases with increasing thermal maturity and decreasing hydrogen index (HI) values. Increases in both measured porosity and observed porosity (from FIB-SEM and Helium pycnometry data) with decreasing HI values (from Rock Eval data) are interpreted to result from differences in the molecular structure of Type III organic matter versus Type II organic matter. Higher organic porosity in Type III organic matter samples with low HI values is the result of increasing aromaticity, which is interpreted from RockEval and Raman spectroscopic data. Several different organic matter morphologies (lamellar and isolated macerals) coexist in certain samples, organic porosity is only located within isolated organic macerals. Based on Raman spectroscopic data, the interpreted mechanism for which increasing aromaticity develops organic pore space is the restructuring of organic macromolecules which results in the formation of aromatic islands surrounded by void space (created by the release of volatiles). With this conceptual model, reservoirs with more Type III organic matter should have a greater proportion of organic porosity, and potentially higher total porosity, than those with Type II organic matter. These results impact organic porosity prediction and interpretation of total porosity measurements by showing that both the intrinsic cellular structure of the organic matter in a rock and thermal maturity influence the nature, amount, and distribution of organic porosity.
2016-01-03T03:22:31Z
2016-01-03T03:22:31Z
2015-08-31
2015
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:14207
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19539
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/196022018-01-31T20:07:51Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
FOOT AND HINDLIMB MORPHOLOGY, SOFT TISSUES, AND TRACEMAKING BEHAVIORS OF EARLY CRETACEOUS BIRDS FROM CHINA AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA WITH A COMPARISON TO MODERN AVIAN MORPHOLOGY AND BEHAVIOR
Falk, Amanda Renee
Hasiotis, Stephen T
Burnham, David A
Devlin, J F
Selden, Paul A
Alexander, David E
Paleontology
Avian behavior
Avian evolution
Avian ichnology
Evolutionary biology
Ornithology
Vertebrate paleontology
The avifauna of the Early Cretaceous is composed of a unique combination of primitive and derived forms. Primitive birds with long tails are found preserved in the same strata as modern-type ornithurine birds, the primitive, beaked confuciusornithids, a unique side branch of Aves, and the diverse but extinct enantiornithines. There have been few studies on the trace fossils they produce, detailed reconstruction of soft tissues, or the morphology of their feet and hindlimbs. Furthermore, there are few studies of modern bird feet and hindlimbs for comparison. This dissertation examines bird tracks from the Lower Cretaceous Haman Formation of the Republic of Korea, avian body fossils from the Lower Cretaceous Jehol Group in northeastern China, and the feet and hindlimbs of modern birds for comparison with Early Cretaceous avian fossils. Also studied are the effects of sediment grain size and media water content on the production of traces (i.e., track morphology and bird behavior) by the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus) and Mourning Doves (Zenaida macrocura). Early Cretaceous ornithurine avian behavior was already strikingly advanced and included multiple types of feeding behaviors identical to those performed by modern birds. The ichnodiversity of ornithurines was much higher than the body fossil record suggests. Retrodicting what types of tracks certain types of fossil birds would have produced is possible due to a nonsignificant difference (p-value > 0.05) between the soft-tissue toe length and the osteological toe length in birds. Toe width is significantly different, however, neoichnological experiments show that toe width is strongly influenced by media consistency and, therefore, is not a reliable measurement in avian ichnology. The hindlimb of birds has clearly shifted through time with function, as the femur contributed less to hindlimb motion. Under laser fluorescence, 0.05) between the soft-tissue toe length and the osteological toe length in birds. Toe width is significantly different, however, neoichnological experiments show that toe width is strongly influenced by media consistency and, therefore, is not a reliable measurement in avian ichnology. The hindlimb of birds has clearly shifted through time with function, as the femur contributed less to hindlimb motion. Under laser fluorescence, Confuciusornis is shown to have possessed soft tissues identical to modern birds, and the primary and secondary feather morphology is much rounder than previously interpreted. Neoichnological studies further support the early evolution of modern avian behavior and erect quantification criteria for modern and ancient bird behaviors. This dissertation represents important progress in our understanding of how avian foot morphology and behavior has evolved through time.
2016-01-04T02:44:35Z
2016-01-04T02:44:35Z
2014-05-31
2014
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13368
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19602
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/81262020-08-19T14:13:58Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Forebulge influence on deposition of the Cretaceous Castlegate Sandstone, Book Cliffs, Utah, U.S.A.
Hoffmeister, Kathryn E.
Kamola, Diane L.
Walton, Anthony W.
Walker, J. Douglas
Geology
Castlegate
Forebulge
Foreland basin
Analysis of facies changes and paleocurrent directions of the incised valley fill of the Late Cretaceous Castlegate Sandstone supports a reinterpretation of the axis of the well-studied Castlegate Sandstone incised valley axis from an east-west trend to a north-south trend. Strata in the easternmost extent of the incised valley fill are reinterpreted to represent fill along the edges of the valley, rather than loss of fluvial energy at drainage terminations as previously interpreted. Drainage systems of the Castlegate Sandstone illustrate the influence of topography of the Sevier foreland basin on depositional patterns of the western extent of the Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway (KWIS) during lowstand events. The Castlegate Sandstone was mapped from Tuscher Canyon, Green River, Utah to its easternmost expression to gather paleocurrent data and investigate morphologic changes within the incised valley fill. Early-stage valley fill, consisting of braided-stream facies, is concentrated in the western portion of the study area and paleocurrents in these deposits record flow to the south. Late-stage valley fill consists of meandering-stream deposits. The eastern portion of the incised valley fill is dominated by late-stage deposits with paleoflow to the west. Detailed correlation of Castlegate Sandstone lowstand strata indicates forebulge exposure. Forebulge exposure decoupled the Sevier foredeep from the KWIS, allowing foreland basin topography to become the major influence on drainage systems during lowstand events. The north-south orientation of the axis of the Castlegate Sandstone incised valley reflects axial drainage of the foreland basin. Reexamining lowstands of the Castlegate Sandstone, emphasizing facies reconstruction and paleoflow directions, illustrates the effect of the basin topography on the drainage patterns of the KWIS. Recognizing that the incised valley expressed axial flow may lead to new interpretations about the stratal evolution of the foreland basin.
2011-10-09T01:02:41Z
2011-10-09T01:02:41Z
2011-08-31
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11684
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8126
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/260242018-04-19T17:59:52Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
GPR Imaging of Prehistoric Animal Bone-beds
Schneider, Blair Benson
Mandel, Rolfe D
Steeples, Don W
Tsoflias, Georgios P
Stearns, Leigh A
Hofman, Jack L
Geophysics
Bone-beds
Ground-penetrating Radar
Prehistoric Archaeology
This research investigates the detection capabilities of Ground-penetrating radar for imaging prehistoric animal bone-beds. The first step of this investigation was to determine the dielectric properties of modern animal bone as a proxy for applying non-invasive ground-penetrating radar (GPR) for detecting prehistoric animal remains. Over 90 thin section samples were cut from four different modern faunal skeleton remains: bison, cow, deer, and elk. One sample of prehistoric mammoth core was also analyzed. Sample dielectric properties (relative permittivity, loss factor, and loss-tangent values) were measured with an impedance analyzer over frequencies ranging from 10 MHz to 1 GHz. The results reveal statistically significant dielectric-property differences among different animal fauna, as well as variation as a function of frequency. The measured sample permittivity values were then compared to modeled sample permittivity values using common dielectric-mixing models. The dielectric mixing models were used to report out new reported values of dry bone mineral of 3-5 in the frequency range of 10 MHz to 1 GHz. The second half of this research collected controlled GPR experiments over a sandbox containing buried bison bone elements to evaluate GPR detection capabilities of buried animal bone. The results of the controlled GPR sandbox tests were then compared to numerical models in order to predict the ability of GPR to detect buried animal bone given a variety of different depositional factors, the size and orientation of the bone target and the degree of bone weathering. The radar profiles show that GPR is an effective method for imaging the horizontal and vertical extent of buried animal bone. However, increased bone weathering and increased bone dip were both found to affect GPR reflection signal strength. Finally, the controlled sandbox experiments were also utilized to investigate the impact of survey design for imaging buried animal bone. In particular, the effects of GPR antenna orientation relative to the survey line (broad-side mode versus end-fire mode) and polarization effects of the buried bone targets were investigated. The results reveal that animal bone does exhibit polarization effects. However, the polarization results are greatly affected by the irregular shape and size of the bone, which ultimately limits the potential usefulness of trying to utilize polarization data to determine the orientation of buried bone targets. In regard to antenna orientation, end-fire mode was found to have little difference in amplitude response as compared to the more commonly used broad-side mode and in fact sometimes outperformed the broad-side mode. Future GPR investigations should consider utilizing multiple antenna orientations during data collection.
2018-02-19T03:40:56Z
2018-02-19T03:40:56Z
2017-08-31
2017
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:15510
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/26024
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/108362020-09-24T13:58:47Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Depositional Environment, Reservoir Properties, and EOR Potential of an Incised-valley-fill Sandstone, Pleasant Prairie Oilfield, Haskell County, Kansas
Senior, Peter J.
Walton, Anthony W.
Rankey, Eugene C.
Hasiotis, Stephen T.
Geology
Petroleum geology
Sedimentary geology
Enhanced oil recovery
Eor
Incised valley
Sandstone
Incised-valley-fill deposits form important hydrocarbon reservoirs and can have internal heterogeneities that affect recovery of hydrocarbon resources. Better understanding of the internal heterogeneity of incised-valley-fill reservoirs will help in more accurate reservoir modeling and more efficient recovery of hydrocarbon resources. Pleasant Prairie oilfield in Haskell County, Kansas, produces oil from an incised-valley-fill reservoir in the Chesterian (Upper Mississippian) Shore Airport Formation. The reservoir is part of a larger paleovalley trend interpreted as a tide-dominated, estuarine depositional system; depositional environments within such systems vary spatially as a result of interactions of tidal and fluvial processes. Core analysis suggests that the reservoir at Pleasant Prairie oilfield is a stacked series of conglomerate-based, fining-upward siliciclastic successions deposited in the river-dominated part of a tide-influenced estuarine system. Core petrophysical data and well-log correlations suggest that reservoir heterogeneity occurs in the form of vertical and lateral compartmentalization. Reservoir modeling indicates a current field-wide recovery factor of 0.30&ndash-&ndash 0.36 of original oil in place. Comparison of modeled original oil in place to production data suggests inaccuracy of reservoir models at the scale of individual well drainage areas. Waterflooding of the reservoir has proven successful for >10 years, and remaining oil in place ranges from 7.8&ndash-&ndash 10.1 mmbo according to Petrel10 years, and remaining oil in place ranges from 7.8&ndash-&ndash 10.1 mmbo according to PetrelTM models, indicating potential for future enhanced oil recovery operations such as CO2 or chemical flooding. Other incised-valley-fill reservoirs, such as Morrowan (Lower Pennsylvanian) oilfields in Colorado and Kansas, originated in similar depositional settings and display similar reservoir properties; such reservoirs may also have potential for future enhanced oil recovery operations.
2013-02-17T18:05:18Z
2013-02-17T18:05:18Z
2012-12-31
2012
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:12458
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/10836
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/145152018-01-31T20:07:56Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
Phylogenetic analyses of trilobites from the Cambrian and Ordovician radiations
Gapp, Ian Wesley
Lieberman, Bruce S
Olcott Marshall, Alison
Roberts, Jennifer A
Selden, Paul A
Wiley, Edward O
Paleontology
Cambrian
Eccoptochilinae
Olenelloidea
Ordovician
Phylogenetics
Trilobita
Trilobites are an ideal group used for phylogenetic studies due to their complex morphology and abundance in the Paleozoic fossil record. Because of this, trilobite phylogenetics has become an important component of understanding macroevolutionary patterns during key evolutionary radiations. Two radiations that this dissertation investigates are the Cambrian and Ordovician radiations. While both occur during the early Paleozoic, they present very different patterns. The Cambrian radiation was the sudden appearance of all major metazoan phyla, whereas in the Ordovician, those new beauplans were already in place and there was instead a great increase in diversity among those groups. Presented here are phylogenetic analyses of trilobites from those radiations to further our understanding of the evolutionary patterns occurring at those times.
2014-07-05T16:01:02Z
2014-07-05T16:01:02Z
2014-05-31
2014
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13223
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/14515
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/213742017-12-08T21:38:01Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Fusulinellas from the stonefort limestone member of the tradewater formation, Harrisburg quadrangle, Illinois
Henbest, Lloyd George
Thesis (M.A.)--University of Kansas, Geology, 1927.
2016-08-23T17:10:55Z
2016-08-23T17:10:55Z
1927
Thesis
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/21374
openAccess
This work is in the public domain and is available for users to copy, use, and redistribute in part or in whole. No known restrictions apply to the work.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/98102020-07-13T16:07:25Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Heterozoan carbonate lithofacies and sequence stratigraphy: a study of Pliocene strata of the Agua Amarga basin, southeastern Spain
Hess, Anya Victoria
Goldstein, Robert H.
Franseen, Evan K.
Olcott Marshall, Alison
Geology
Sedimentary geology
Marine geology
Carbonate
Cool-water
Facies
Heterozoan
Pliocene
Stratigraphy
This study of Pliocene heterozoan carbonates in the Agua Amarga basin southeastern Spain seeks to increase understanding of factors controlling facies distribution and sequence stratigraphic stacking in heterozoan carbonates. Geologic mapping and stratigraphic sections reveal a dominantly 0.6º to 4.0º basinward-dipping substrate at high elevation, which is terraced (marine erosion) and incised (subaerial erosion). In heterozoan deposits, paleotopography influenced lithofacies distribution. Focusing of offshore-derived currents favored formation of in situ rhodolith banks near and between slope breaks in general and bryozoan packstones to grainstones specifically near concave slope breaks. Shallowly sloping substrate at high elevation resulted in deposition mainly during relative sea-level rise. In the Carboneras basin, steeply sloping substrate at high elevation and accommodation at low elevation resulted in deposition mainly during relative sea-level fall and lowstand. Data combined from the Agua Amarga and Carboneras basins show seven high-amplitude, high-frequency relative sea-level cycles interpreted as glacioeustatic cycles. Offset of this study's curve from the global glacioeustatic curve indicates the study area underwent subsidence then uplift of 62 to 153 m during or since Pliocene deposition. In the Agua Amarga basin, there are two sequences of heterozoan deposits (rhodalgal and molechfor lithofacies; c.f. Carannante et al., 1988) and two sequences of mixed heterozoan-siliciclastic deposits. For heterozoan Sequence 1, water-depth-sensitive facies formed retrogradational stacking patterns, and occurred late during relative sea-level rise near the highstand turnaround. In contrast, traditional photozoan carbonate models predict aggradation or progradation near highstand. This disparity can be explained by commonly low sediment-accumulation rates for heterozoan carbonates. For heterozoan Sequence 2, water-depth-sensitive facies (e.g. in situ oyster banks) formed retrogradational stacking patterns as sea level rose. Time equivalent deposition was precluded at these elevations in the Carboneras basin by steeply sloping substrate. The two mixed heterozoan-siliciclastic sequences are composed of metamorphic clast conglomerates and sandstones marking the beginning of input of metamorphic rock fragments into the study area, likely resulting from filling of the adjacent Nijar basin. The distribution of lithofacies, which fine downdip, is dictated by water depth relative to tidal range and wave base. Transgressive beach gravels of Sequence 3 are retrogradationally stacked.
2012-06-03T16:21:20Z
2012-06-03T16:21:20Z
2011-12-31
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11802
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/9810
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9272-2534
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/183892018-01-31T20:07:49Zcom_1808_1260com_1808_87col_1808_1952col_1808_14131
DEPOSITIONAL AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS OF CRETACEOUS LIMESTONES IN THE GREATER ANTILLES
Bonilla-Rodríguez, Alvin J.
González, Luis A
Goldstein, Robert H
Walker, Douglas
Lieberman, Bruce S
Taylor, Edith L
Geology
Geochemistry
Carbonates
Cretaceous
Greater Antilles
Rudists
The first part of this research examines uncertainties surrounding the middle Cretaceous Antillean rudist biostratigraphy from fossiliferous limestones in the Greater Antilles and adds chemostratigraphic controls to constrain their stratigraphic ranges. In particular, this study shows the practical uses of strontium isotope stratigraphy in tectonically complex areas that lack good biostratigraphic controls. Our results show similar strontium isotope (87Sr/86Sr) derived ages from the middle Cretaceous rudist specimens collected in Puerto Rico (112.43Ma), the Dominican Republic (112.62 Ma) and Jamaica (112.68 Ma). Moreover, these derived ages agree with the presumed depositional age of related rudist taxa from the Gulf of Mexico (114.03-111.55 Ma). Strontium isotope stratigraphy is also used to constrain the depositional age of the Late Cretaceous rudist assemblage from southwestern Puerto Rico. The 87Sr/86Sr derived numerical ages (84.45Ma) from these rudist specimens are consistent with the inferred stratigraphic range of related rudist taxa from Jamaica. In this study we present the first Aptian/Albian Antillean carbon isotope (d13C) chemostratigraphy from the Hatillo Limestone in the Dominican Republic with age control provided by 87Sr/86Sr derived ages, published ammonite, rudist, and foraminiferal biostratigraphy, and U/Pb zircon dates. The Antillean d13C profiles provide insights into middle Cretaceous ocean circulation within the Caribbean and Circum-Caribbean regions. The second part of this research examines the uncertainties surrounding the response of tropical oceans to Cretaceous greenhouse conditions and the effects of enhanced evaporation to calcite d18O signatures. For this study, the analyzed material consisted of Late Cretaceous rudist specimens collected in southwestern Puerto Rico. Fluid inclusions from marine cements precipitated within the inner cavities of rudists were used to derive paleosalinities (35.3 to 41.2 ppt). The effect of these salinities on the calcite d18O values was evaluated using temperature and salinity reconstructions based on the Railsback et al. (1989) model. The scenarios used to calculate sea surface temperatures resulted in paleotemperatures of up to 6°C higher than present day conditions. These results suggest that enhanced evaporative conditions dominated the paleotropics, and agree with global circulation and mass balance models, which predict warmer and saline conditions for tropical and sub-tropical regions during the Cretaceous. The final chapter of this dissertation explores the socioeconomic effect of present and future Caribbean reef degradation and utilizes the knowledge gained in this and other studies to suggest approaches for mitigation. During the Cretaceous, reef ecosystems experienced a major ecological shift that included domination by rudist bivalves and scleractinian corals during the Early Cretaceous and by rudist bivalves during the middle to Late Cretaceous. The Cretaceous ecological shift, however, took approximately 30 Ma to happen, while the current warming rates for tropical oceans suggest that the temperature tolerance of corals will be exceeded within a few decades. Because the timing for genetic adaptation is longer than the rate of climate change and global warming, the genetic mapping of corals and bivalve should be a priority in order to create heat resistant coral stocks.
2015-09-07T21:11:27Z
2015-09-07T21:11:27Z
2014-12-31
2014
Dissertation
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13692
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/18389
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/80722020-08-19T13:20:00Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Thermochronometric constraints on the thermal anatomy and evolution of an extensional accommodation zone and implications on exploration for extensional-type geothermal systems
Gorynski, Kyle
Stockli, Daniel F
Walker, J. Douglas
Walton, Anthony W.
Geology
Basin and range
Geothermal exploration
Mina deflection
Thermochronology
Walker lane belt
Wassuk range
The northern Basin and Range province is characterized by a significantly elevated heat flow and geothermal gradient as a result of shallow volcanism and lithospheric stretching and thinning occurring in tandem throughout the Cenozoic. Along the western margin of the northern Basin and Range, in west-central Nevada, early to middle Miocene volcanism immediately preceded large-magnitude extension, which is accommodated by high degrees of footwall rotation in normal faults. The Wassuk Range (WR) footwall is one such example, where Miocene and younger extension was preceded by the extrusion of the ~15 Ma Lincoln Flat andesite, and subsequent extension resulting in footwall rotation (≥ 60°), as recognized in 40Ar/39Ar dated, pre- and syn-extensional Neogene volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The structural architecture of the southern WR is that of a terminating extensional fault system in that the degree of tilting and extension decreases southward into a series of right-lateral faults of the Mina Deflection (MD) accommodation zone. Apatite (AHe) and zircon (ZHe) thermochronologic data from ~9 ¨C 4 km exhumed and exposed upper-crustal sections in the central and southern WR footwall preserve the thermal and tectonic evolution of the southern WR and MD accommodation zone. The entire WR and MD region underwent slow cooling (< 2 – 2.5° C/Ma) during the earliest Cenozoic related to the slow denudation of Mesozoic basement rocks. Middle Miocene heating overprinted much of the Paleogene cooling history towards the southernmost WR which was anomalously hot (≥ 65 ± 20 °C/km),, and was the result of magmatic advection focused along the MD. The onset of rapid footwall exhumation in the Wassuk Range began at ~15 Ma, due to Basin and Range extension and again at ~3 ¨C 4 Ma related to Walker Lane transtensional faulting. Pliocene to recent Walker Lane transtensional structures are associated with a number of extensional-type geothermal systems. AHe ages along the modern WR range front and from a ~1.4 km deep borehole in the hanging-wall basin show evidence of young (< 3 Ma) hydrothermal reheating (85° - 135° C) and correlate with the location of a known geothermal anomaly. Thermal modeling of hydrothermally reset AHe ages from the modern range front suggests that the geothermal likely has been active for ~0.1 ¨C 1 Ma, while borehole AHe ages in the hanging-wall basin suggests that its current plumbing system and manifestation as a geothermal anomaly is likely very young and that the borehole is not in conductive thermal equilibrium. This study demonstrates that thermochronometry can be an effective geothermal exploration tool to detect young and blind geothermal resources.
2011-09-22T03:50:57Z
2011-09-22T03:50:57Z
2011-05-12
2011
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:11572
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/8072
en
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/42272020-07-21T15:46:52Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Coupling: Impact and Implications for High-Resolution Time-Lapse Seismic Surveying
Walters, Shelby Lynn
Miller, Richard D.
Tsoflias, Georgios P.
Roberts, Jennifer A.
Geophysics
Time lapse
High resolution
Seismic
Reflection
Attention to specific parameters can minimize inconsistency in source and receiver coupling thereby minimizing changes in spectral characteristics of time-lapse seismic data related to the near surface. This study concludes that the most repeatable Vibroseis source station terrains are firm, unconsolidated sediments that result in 80% shot-to-shot similarity. The least repeatable Vibroseis source station terrains are compacted sediments, resulting in 36% shot-to-shot similarity. Changes in energy containment, transmission, and spectral characteristics of recorded wavefield components occur with repeat shots from downhole projectile sources and appear to be associated with plastic deformation of hole wall sediment. Changes in hole wall sediment conditions with repeat shots has a different effect on surface waves and compressional waves. This observation has potential application to wavefield separation. Acquisition approaches typically used to optimize 2D or 3D high-resolution seismic surveys may reduce repeatability of high-resolution time-lapse data.
2008-09-29T04:43:24Z
2008-09-29T04:43:24Z
2008-07-28
2008
Thesis
http://dissertations2.umi.com/ku:2603
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/4227
EN
openAccess
This item is protected by copyright and unless otherwise specified the copyright of this thesis/dissertation is held by the author.
University of Kansas
oai:kuscholarworks.ku.edu:1808/190752018-01-31T20:07:54Zcom_1808_87com_1808_1260col_1808_14131col_1808_1951
Seismic attribute analysis of the Upper Morrow Sandstone and the Arbuckle Group from 3D-3C seismic data at Cutter Field, southwest Kansas
Redger, Clyde Austin
Tsoflias, George
Steeples, Don
Watney, W Lynn
Rankey, Gene
Geophysics
3D-3C
Arbuckle Group
Multicomponent
Upper Morrow Sandstone
Arbuckle Group and Upper Morrow Sandstone reservoirs have pronounced economic and environmental importance to the state of Kansas because of their history of oil production and potential for CO2 storage. Characterizing and delineating these reservoirs with seismic methods is challenging for a number of geophysical reasons. This study investigates the accuracy with which analysis of post-stack 3D-3C seismic data can delineate Upper Morrow Sandstone reservoirs and predict Arbuckle Group rock properties at Cutter Field in southwest Kansas. P-P and P-SV seismic responses of the Upper Morrow Sandstone and Arbuckle Group are modeled using Zoeppritz’ equations and P-impedance inversion is performed. Seismic attributes are extracted at well locations and compared to models. The Upper Morrow Sandstone is below resolution of both the P-P and P-SV data. No significant correlation is evident between amplitudes or inverted P-impedance and Upper Morrow Sandstone thickness. Instantaneous frequency values of 43 ± 2 Hz are observed at well locations where Upper Morrow Sandstone thickness is greater than 5 m whereas values of 45 ± 6 Hz are observed at well locations where thickness is less than 5 m. The difference in the rms instantaneous frequency values is statistically significant at the 90% confidence interval. Well log data from the Arbuckle Group shows an approximate neutron porosity range of 3-13% and an inverse correlation between neutron porosity and P-impedance, significant at the 99.9% confidence interval with a standard error of regression of 2% porosity. Model-based P-impedance inversion and results and flow unit interpretation from well log data suggest that porosity and flow units within the Arbuckle Group can be approximated by a three-layer model. Investigators can draw upon the results of this study to guide seismic acquisition and interpretation practices in geologic settings analogous to Cutter Field.
2015-12-03T04:45:28Z
2015-12-03T04:45:28Z
2015-05-31
2015
Thesis
http://dissertations.umi.com/ku:13993
http://hdl.handle.net/1808/19075
en
openAccess
Copyright held by the author.
University of Kansas
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