Using Battery Energy Storage Systems with Renewable Energy to Strengthen the Texas Power Grid

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Isabella Moreno Environmental Sciences Garrison Kelly Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 10, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

HYDROGEOCHEMICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE SPATIOTEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF GROUNDWATER IN TEXAS AQUIFERS (1985-2014)

Type: Graduate
Author(s): ELVIS OWUSU Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): OMAR HARVEY Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 12, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Due to the increasing industrial activities, domestic and agricultural demands in Texas render groundwater resources under severe pressure. Texas growing population of 29.5 million in 2021 is projected to reach 51 million by 2070 placing increasing pressure on groundwater, a vital resource for agriculture, industry and municipal use.
This study assesses the hydrogeochemical evolution of Texas nine (9) major aquifers over three decades (1985-2014) and leveraged data from the Texas Water Development Board, Satellite (Landsat 8) dataset from Center for hydrometeorology and Remote sensing, Land use and land cover (Landsat 8/9) dataset from Multi Resolution Land Characteristics were analyzed.
Results indicate a transition in groundwater types across aquifers such as Ogallala, Seymour, Pecos Valley, Edwards Trinity and Edwards Balcones, but Hueco Mesilla Bolson, Carrizo Wilcox and Gulf Coast remain chemically stable with the Trinity aquifer showing a slight variation in its ionic composition. Rock-water interaction and evaporation are the primary mechanism that controls groundwater chemistry and its influence by the weathering of silicate minerals, carbonate dissolution and evaporite dissolution.
Precipitation rates and Land cover changes also play a significant role in the hydro geochemistry of groundwater. Precipitation acts a climate driver for groundwater chemistry, Low precipitation enhances rock-water interaction while high precipitation dilutes solutes and refreshes the aquifer. An increase in developed areas increases abstraction of groundwater which lowers the groundwater level and increases mineral dissolution. This study highlights how hydrogeochemical assessment and remote sensing together offer vital insights into groundwater evolution, supporting adaptive and sustainable water management in Texas.

Geochemistry of Ediacaran-Ordovician diabase, lamprophyre and phonolite dikes in southern Colorado, possibly related to rifting in the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Caleb Perkey Geological Sciences Richard Hanson Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Richard Hanson Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 6, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

The Southern Oklahoma aulacogen is a northwest-trending structure containing abundant igneous rocks representing the remains of a major Cambrian rift zone. Previous geologists have mapped numerous igneous intrusions in Colorado that follow the same trend, ranging from Ediacaran to Ordovician in age, and have speculated that these intrusions may be a part of the same rift. These intrusions include abundant igneous dikes of various compositions that originated from deeper magmatic bodies, filling fracture systems in older igneous rocks and Precambrian gneisses. This study involves the geochemical analysis of samples we collected from different dike types, including diabase, lamprophyre, phonolite, and nepheline syenite. The dikes include a prominent diabase dike swarm in the Gunnison area as well as abundant dikes of several types in the Wet Mountains and Front Range farther east. On the discrimination and REE diagrams, fifteen representative dike samples from both sample regions plot tightly together, indicating the clustered dikes share a petrogenetic history of E-MORB-type magma that interacted with intercontinental lithosphere.
We have not yet found diabase dikes in the Wet Mountains suitable for geochemical studies. However, five samples from NW- to NNW-trending diabase dikes in the Front Range, ~80 km north of the Wet Mountains, are among the fifteen diabase samples that cluster together on the geochemical diagrams. This raises the intriguing possibility that dikes related to Ediacaran-Ordovician intraplate magmatism in Colorado may be more extensive than previously thought.
Samples of four lamprophyre dikes in the Wet Mountains exhibit uniform patterns in REE diagrams and plot within the same field on the Winchester and Floyd (1977) classification diagram. Three dikes classified as trachytes by other workers cluster plot in the phonolite field on this diagram, suggesting some of these dikes were previously misclassified. These three dikes also show similar REE patterns with prominent negative anomalies, implying prolonged fractional crystallization.

Suburbanization-induced Elemental and Molecular Alterations in Soil Organic Matter

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Tabby Pyle Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 7, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

This study aims to use chemodynamics to engage the interplay between societal actions and environmental response. The project will build upon data from thermogravimetric and isotopic analysis capturing macroscopic soil chemodynamics in response to suburbanization in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex (DFW). The DFW is one of the fastest growing metro areas in the US. Our early data suggests that a minimum of 30-yrs is the required period of lawn care before key chemodynamic indicators of soil health/resilience, such as R50 and isotope 13C (quantity and quality, is needed for lawns to return to their pre-suburbanization environmental status.

The objective is to examine implications at the microphysical and molecular-level via: Assessing how differences in the molecular composition of soil organic matter from a suburban lawn changes over time.

SRS Project

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Audrey Sinnett Environmental Sciences West Tyndal Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: FirstFloor, Table 2, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

We propose a GIS project analyzing waste disposal accessibility by comparing recycling quality between low-income and high-income neighborhoods. Using spatial analysis and field data, we will compare the amount of waste generated to the income of Los Angeles counties, and document any trends. The findings will provide insights into potential disparities in waste management services and inform policy recommendations for improving recycling programs in underserved communities.

Tree Health: Integrating change detection and spatial analysis tools to assess tree damage in response to California wildfires

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Elise Skiles Environmental Sciences Christopher Zamora Chemistry & Biochemistry
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: SecondFloor, Table 5, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

The purpose of this project is to determine if California's raging wildfires are having a detrimental effect on the state’s tree populations/health. Two main components of this project would be, a model of California's tree density/canopy cover in 1990, and a model of California’s tree density/canopy cover in 2020. The goal of this project is to determine if an increase in wildfires is a key factor in the decrease of California tree density, and if so, make recommendations for further research on how to protect trees from this natural disaster.

A Study of Fossilized Root Colonies as Indicators of Past Water Table Levels in the Coll De Montllobar

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Daphne Varmah Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): John Holbrook Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 2, Position 1, 1:45-3:45

The Coll de Montllobar cliffs in the Pyrenees Mountains contain plant fossils known as root models, which show signs of oxidation and reduction along a depositional dip, indicating varying environmental conditions Since plant roots do not grow below standing water levels, these fossilized roots and their distribution can serve as markers for past water table positions. This study examines whether root density decreases toward the bottom of the channels, indicating that roots stopped growing once they reached below the water table. If the roots disappear at a certain depth, it suggests that the bar was saturated at that level, stopping root growth. By analyzing the presence and absence of these roots, we aim to determine if they mark a clear boundary indicating historical water table levels. Our findings contribute to understanding past depositional environments and hydrological conditions in this region

AI and Machine Learning in the Identification of Geochemical Variability and Geogenic Carbon: A Case Study of the Barnett Shale Formation

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Amanda Whitley Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 8, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

The Barnett Shale formation in the Fort Worth Basin has been a substantial producer of oil and gas energy resources. The Barnett Shale serves as an ideal testing ground for innovative approaches to subsurface analysis, offering both abundant production history and a wealth of existing data. This study integrates innovative thermal analysis techniques with AI-driven workflows to rapidly process and interpret large volumes of geochemical data. We aim to identify and evaluate geochemical variability and the distribution, content, and quality of geogenic carbon with depth across key stratigraphic intervals. Expanding subsurface applications of AI and machine learning enhances the scalability of resource assessments and underscores the broader potential of these emerging analytical tools in energy exploration.

Predicting Pesticide Degradation: A Molecular Scaffolding Approach to Environmental Hazards

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Christopher Zamora Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 5, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

Pesticide degradation in the environment is an important element when it comes to understanding long-term soil and water contamination. There are many key molecular factors like molecular weight and octanol-water partitioning (logP) that influence how pesticide degradation works. By taking a computational approach, we derived daughter molecules of ferulic acid, 1,2,4-Trihydroxybenzene, and vanillic acid which share similarities with pesticide byproducts. We specifically computed molecular weight and logP for each derivative to assess their potential to contaminate the environment. By comparing these values to oxidative pesticide breakdown products from glyphosate (Roundup), atrazine, and chlorpyrifos, we identified solubility trends that may influence the transport of these molecules into soils and water systems. These findings provide insight into the environmental risks associated with pesticide use and degradation, potentially aiding in the design of more sustainable agricultural chemicals.

Using GIS to Determine Emergency Department and Treatment Center Proximity to Opioid Hot Spots in Tarrant County

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Naomi Alanis Interdisciplinary
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 1, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

As opioid overdose deaths in the United States (US) continue to increase, there is an emergent need to treat those with opioid use disorder (OUD). Understanding geographic variations and their impact on different population groups in the US is now more essential than ever. Significant surges in the usage and misuse of street drugs such as heroin and fentanyl, followed by a corresponding increase in opioid-related deaths, have heightened the urgency for this understanding.

Although characteristics of US counties with persistently high rates of opioid overdose mortality and low capacity to deliver OUD medications has been identified, the counties were aggregated into regions within the US and no one specific county has been targeted. Having comprehensive data on OUD prevalence rates across Tarrant County and/or Texas would be beneficial. Current research regarding spatial associations between place features, neighborhood-level social determinants of health measures, and drug overdose deaths is limited in the realm of drug use and opioid overdose fatalities. Recognizing high-risk areas and features (hot spots) could potentially enhance the quality of the emergency department response, harm reduction services, and the precision of treatment and prevention strategies.

Identifying hot spots of opioid-related emergency needs within Tarrant County may help [re]distribute existing resources efficiently, empower community and Emergency Department (ED) based physicians to advocate for their patients, and serve as a catalyst for partnerships between John Peter Smith Hospital System (JPS) and local community groups. More broadly, this analysis may demonstrate that EDs can use geospatial analysis to address the emergency and longer-term health needs of the communities they are designed to serve.

The goal of this project is to 1) identify spatial associations between place features, neighborhood-level social determinants of health measures, and opioid drug overdose deaths (i.e., high-risk/hot spot areas) and 2) compare them to access to treatment providers (i.e., emergency departments, emergency services, and harm reduction services) to identify geographic areas where the two are not well matched.

Assessing Urban Heat Island Intensity Using Landsat Data

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Daniel Ayejoto Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Gebremichael Esayas Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 6, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

The escalating impacts of urbanization on local climate patterns, particularly the phenomenon of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs), necessitate effective monitoring and assessment strategies. This project endeavors to evaluate the Urban Heat Island intensity in Houston, Texas, employing Landsat satellite data and Geographic Information System (GIS) tools within the ArcGIS Pro platform. The study integrates multi-temporal Landsat imagery to derive land surface temperature patterns, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of UHI dynamics over time. Spatial analytics and geospatial techniques are employed to assess the correlation between land use/land cover changes and UHI intensity, offering insights into the factors influencing urban heat dynamics. The results are expected to contribute valuable insights for urban planners and policymakers, aiding in the development of strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of UHI and enhance overall urban sustainability. Additionally, the methodology established in this project can serve as a template for assessing UHI in other urban areas, fostering a broader understanding of the urban climate dynamics.

Sedimentation & Subsurface Characterization of the Lower Cretaceous Muddy Sandstone & Upper Cretaceous Mowry Shale, Powder River Basin, Wyoming

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Chase Chavez Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Xiangyang Xie Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 12, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Foreland basins comprise some of the most prolific hydrocarbon producing reservoirs and source rocks in the North American Rocky Mountain region. One of these major producing basins is the Powder River Basin (PRB). Located in northeastern Wyoming and extending into southeastern Montana, the PRB is one of Wyoming’s largest and most active hydrocarbon producing basins. The basin comprises various Mesozoic and Paleozoic strata with productive conventional and unconventional plays. Various studies have been done on both Mesozoic and Paleozoic stratigraphy within the basin. Historically, Cretaceous stratigraphy has been well studied and documented within the basin. However, continual industry innovations in the collection, development, and processing of subsurface geological data are making possible more refined understanding of Cretaceous stratigraphy in the basin.

This study focuses on the upper Lower Cretaceous Muddy Sandstone Formation and lower Upper Cretaceous Mowry Shale intervals at basin scale, and the implications for tectonic and eustatic evolution prior to the development of the PRB. Which controlled sedimentation, infilling, and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) weight percentage distributions of the two formations. There is a general agreement that the Mowry can be divided into upper, middle, and lower sections. The middle section has been found to contain the highest TOC percentages based on prior work done with geochemical analysis. This study will update these findings with newly collected digital well data and produce higher-density regional basin coverage with type wells, while also utilizing petrophysical calculation methods to determine TOC percentages to compare with current geochemical analysis.

The Muddy being an older conventional reservoir and the Mowry a more recent unconventional play, the collection and utilization of digitized well log data from Enverus Prism with Petrel Software, in conjunction with analysis of in-house core, provides an effective approach for producing refined structure, isochore, net sand, and TOC maps for the basin. This information can then be used in generating interpretations of sedimentation history, basin infilling, and TOC distribution. In addition, published type wells with correlated Paleozoic stratigraphy from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) are being used to generate PRB subsidence curves for multiple well locations throughout the basin to compare with maps and figures produced in Petrel. To further enhance sedimentation interpretations, U-Pb detrital zircon analysis is being conducted on the Muddy Formation sandstones collected from core. This data will be compared with published detrital zircon and subsidence work done in the western neighboring Big Horn Basin and its equivalent Muddy Formation interval.

Tracking Soil Organic Carbon in an Urban Farm Near the Trinity River

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Julie Crenwelge Geological Sciences Christelle Fayad Interdisciplinary
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 5, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

Carbon is the elemental foundation for all living things on Earth. Soil carbon sequestration is a process in which carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and stored in the soil. We want to examine the soil quality and the stability of carbon in an urban farm in North Texas by comparing measurements collected in October 2022 against measurements observed and collected in October 2023. Our research question is, “What is the effect of composting on the carbon quality and quantity at the farm?” The experimental points were chosen for comparison from a previous evaluation of a 1/3-acre section of a local urban farm next to the Trinity River in Fort Worth, Texas. We collected bulk soil samples at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths from ten field points previously tested with an additional 3 new control points. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) will be used to determine carbon quality by analyzing derivative weights change plots. The data collected suggests that within a year the experimental farm site has maintained a good quality of soil with minor acidification and compaction, as well as an increase in level and quality of carbon. The observed farm remains an appropriate site for providing food security, eliminating food waste while simultaneously sequestering carbon.

Using Spatial Analysis to Identify Patterns in Reptilian Dermal Ornamentation

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Sarah Foxx Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences Arthur Busbey Geological Sciences
Location: First Floor, Table 5, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

The dermal ornamentation of reptiles and lower vertebrates is a largely untouched field of research, and thus common patterns or a specific purpose for the ornamentation has yet to be identified and/or agreed upon by paleontologists. This study strives to use various spatial and image analysis techniques to identify any patterns in the ornamentation on the skulls of both ‘lower’ vertebrate captorhinids and modern crocodilians to better understand the purpose of such ornamentation and why it has persisted from lower vertebrates to modern-day reptiles. Any information that can be derived from the research may aid modern understanding of the evolution from lower vertebrates to modern reptiles.

GIS in Precision Agriculture

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Will Hayes Geological Sciences James Hufham Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences Jason Faubion Ranch Management
Location: Second Floor, Table 4, Position 3, 1:45-3:45

Today’s farmers must grasp a wide range of topics beyond just planting, including soil composition, weed management, nutrient requirements, weather patterns, pest control, disease prevention, equipment use, and climate considerations. Precision agriculture, a tool that allows for the visualization of data in an agricultural view to help ranchers better understand their land and how to best supply resources to their land, can be a tool to increase efficiency and production to the agricultural industry as a whole. Precision agriculture can help farmers “more precisely determine what inputs to put exactly where and with what quantities.”(GIS lounge para. 3). In this proposal we plan to demonstrate how precision agriculture with the use of Landsat satellites analyzes the greenness of vegetation using indices like the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Using these tools we can use drones to collect plant height and plant count, biomass estimates, the presence of diseases and weeds, plant health and field nutrients, as well as 3D elevation and volumetric data.

Facies Characterization of the De Grey River's Delta Plain

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Henry Henk Geological Sciences Jacinto Garza Geological Sciences Matt Kelly Geological Sciences Mackenzie Moorhead Geological Sciences Tripp Smith Geological Sciences Andrew Winch Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): John Holbrook Geological Sciences Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences Simon Lang Geological Sciences Victorien Paumard Geological Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 6, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Fluvial Architecture and Longitudinal Variance within the Castlegate Sandstone, Book Cliffs, UT

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Brayton Keith Geological Sciences John Holbrook Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): John Holbrook Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 11, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

The upper Campanian Castlegate Sandstone in the Book Cliffs of Utah is a highly amalgamated fluvial sandstone well known as a reservoir analog for oil and gas. It comprises the lower Castlegate, the formation capping Bluecastle Tongue, and the floodplain-rich middle Castlegate deposits. The Castlegate is among the most studied fluvial deposits in the world. Despite this, there has yet to be a fluvial architecture analysis completed for these deposits which consider the longitudinal variance within the Castlegate fluvial system. This project assesses the average channel depth and discharge for the lower Castlegate, allowing analysis of the relationship between channel depth and discharge and their effect on facies distribution, depositional style and fluvial architecture in the outcrops. The lower Castlegate Sandstone is a tributary fluvial system with paleocurrents oriented primarily W-NW to E-SE comprised of stacked braided fluvial sands updip, and large, higher flow straight-meandering trunk channels downdip. Distal outcrops show three distinct depositional styles with the first representing a period of highstand during which carbonaceous floodplain and small channels of 0.5-1 m in depth and maximum 4 m in width were deposited; the second represents a localized tectonic uplift with large channels of ~15 m in width and depth and lateral accretion sets scaled accordingly, and finally the capping units of small amalgamated sands composed of classic braided style channels which represent a period of lowstand.

Insights into Sediment Transport in the DeGrey River Delta: Cyclonic Influences and Bedform Persistence

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Matthew Kelly Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences John Holbrook Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 15, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

This study characterizes the sediment transport dynamics of the fluvial portion of the DeGrey River delta, a dryland tide/wave-dominated delta along the Pilbara coast of northwestern Australia. The primary focus lies in the discernment of discrete deposits resulting from annual flood events in this ephemeral river, primarily driven by cyclones and tropical depressions during the austral summer.

Methodology combines water discharge data, digital elevation models (DEM), and Sentinel-2 change detection to model flow depth and flooding extent during storm events, linking it to riverbed shear stress and the formation of discrete flood deposits. A time series of DEM datasets, consisting of a 1-m aerial survey (2021) and drone photogrammetry surveys (2022 and 2023) were used to generate differential DEMs to accurately detect yearly morphological changes within the river channel. Field surveys of selected sites indicating presence of flood deposits enabled characterization of grain size, water flow, and structural elements.

Cyclone floods in the region cause propagation of preexisting dunes, unit bars, and compound bars. These events predominantly shape lower-flow-regime structures within medium-grained sand. Unit bars exhibit down-climbing cross-stratified sets, with variations in thickness contingent on their location within the channel ranging from 0.4-1.6 meters. Lower-flow-regime bar and bedform morphology persists and propagates between flows, despite the occurrence of intense flash floods, often generating discharges in excess of 100,000 ML/day. This challenges conventional expectations of channel excavation and the preservation of upper-flow-regime bedforms in the wake of such extreme events.

Proximity to Major Water Sources and its Effect on Population Density in Texas

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Wilson Kelsey Environmental Sciences Nicole Kiczek Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: First Floor, Table 6, Position 1, 11:30-1:30

Surface water plays a critical role in meeting Texas’s water demands, particularly for municipal use. In the State of Texas, there are 188 major water reservoirs, 15 major river basins, and 8 coastal basins. These water sources serve as the lifeline of Texas’ urban and agricultural populations. In our study, we will be examining how proximity to these sources affects development, particularly focusing on population density to determine the type of population (urban or agricultural). Our findings have the potential to provide insights that can inform city water departments near major water resources with high population density and aid with water demand and scarcity management.

Trends in Energy Consumption and Production by Source with Population Growth

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Kenna Mollendor Environmental Sciences
Advisor(s): Esayas Gebremichael Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 2, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

This study investigates the intricate relationship between population growth and energy demand, aiming to identify trends and patterns that inform future energy planning. Through comprehensive analysis, utilizing data spanning geographical regions of the US and the period 2000-2021, the study assesses the impact of population growth on energy consumption. Data from the US Energy Information Administration will be utilized for electricity and energy data, while data from the US Census will be used for population data. The analysis will focus on examining how population changes affect energy demand, and conversely, how changes in energy demand influence the sources from which energy is produced. This analysis aims to provide insights into predicting future energy usage, production sources, and demand patterns as the population continues to grow. The findings underscore the pressing need for sustainable energy solutions as the population continues to increase, providing valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders to navigate the complexities of energy planning and management.

How molecules in soil composition can determine climate resilience

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Isabella Moreno Environmental Sciences Tabby Pyle Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 7, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

Global climate change, due to increases in greenhouse gas emissions, is a prevailing issue that is projected to continue with heightened impacts on extreme weather events, desertification, and human health. Our project draws connections between resilience to climate change and the molecular composition of organic molecules found in soil.

Through assessments of the carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) content and composition of organic molecules in soils can be determined. Specifically, through assessments of C-number (Cn), H/C and O/C ratios of organic molecules, we can determine how well different soils and soil types can sequester carbon and ultimately support climate resiliency. Higher Cn in organic molecules indicate more carbon storage capacity while lower O/C and H/C ratios in organic molecules indicate more stable carbon that is resistant to release as CO2 to the atmosphere. Our research will compare Cn, O/C and H/C data of organic molecules in soils from across the United States to identify possible trends in carbon sequestration potential across regions of the conterminous US.

The data to be used is raw Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) data from the “One thousand soils for molecular understanding of belowground carbon cycling” project (Bowman et al.). We first plotted the soil samples on Van Krevelen diagrams, which visualize each molecule as a point with O.C and H.C ratios, and we made frequency distributions to understand the largest organic molecular formula for each sample. We then plotted the maximum organic formula from each soil onto a new Van Krevelen diagram, where we compared the different samples to see which ones had higher overall carbon content. We hope to find a connection between soil composition and U.S. regions from which we will then make predictions on potential for carbon sequestration and, ultimately, the ability of these regions to remain resilient and sequester carbon during climate change.

Microscopic Studies of Ancient, Potentially Rift-Related Plutonic Igneous Rocks in Colorado

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Isabella Nino Geological Sciences Richard Hanson Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Richard Hanson Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 2, Position 3, 11:30-1:30

The regional geological framework of the area I am studying involves a possible major northwest-trending Cambrian to Ordovician rift zone with abundant igneous rocks in parts of Colorado. These igneous rocks may be related to large volumes of Cambrian igneous rocks located along the same trend in southern Oklahoma. My project focuses on plutonic igneous intrusions located in the Wet Mountains in the southern part of the Front Range and in the Powderhorn District farther west. The goal of this project is to discover whether the rocks in Colorado formed during the same major magmatic event as those in Oklahoma. I will be studying thin sections of rock samples from Colorado utilizing a petrographic microscope. I will describe and identify the main igneous minerals from the samples, some of which are rare. I will also study the igneous textures and alteration products in the samples. Geochemical studies in progress will build on these results and will allow detailed comparison with the southern Oklahoma igneous rocks.

GEOCHEMICAL COMPARISON OF CENOMANIAN POST- BUDA MUDROCKS IN SOUTH TEXAS AND BIG BEND RANCH STATE PARK

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Payton OBrian Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Richard Denne Geological Sciences
Location: Basement, Table 12, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

The Eagle Ford Shale (EFS) is an unconventional Cretaceous play producing crude oil and gas extending from northeast Leon County to the Mexico-American border in Southwest Texas. This Cenomanian -Turonian formation records the drowning of the Texas carbonate shelf and transgression of the Western Interior Seaway (WIS) into North America. Regional depositional patterns were affected by a series of changes in tectonic activity and eustatic sea level. The formation recorded a distinct change in oceanography during the Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 (OAE2) between the lower and upper EFS sections. The Boquillas Formation, age equivalent to the EFS, is found west of the producing region in Big Bend State and National Park. Outcrops of the EFS can be found along the Ouachita orogen and in the Big Bend region due to tilting during the Laramide orogeny and intrusive igneous activity. The largest known EFS equivalent outcrops have been found within the state park, however, no data had been collected in these locations. Evaluation of the geochemical properties and redox indicators of the depositional environment is essential to understanding the potential for hydrocarbons. The main method to acquire this data has been through the X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF). For this study I have utilized two handheld analyzers, the XRF along with the Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS) for outcrop and core samples. Using both methods produces a more complete element suite including light elements not offered by XRF alone. Additionally, comparing LIBS data to the widely used XRF analyzer allows me to determine the practical usage of LIBS in petroleum geology.

Binding Dynamics of Mono- and Di-carboxylates in a Boehmite-Bayerite Series: A Flow-Adsorption Microcalorimetry Study

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Caitlin Payblas Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Omar Harvey Geological Sciences
Location: Third Floor, Table 6, Position 2, 1:45-3:45

It is well documented that the major sorbents in soils are organic matter, silicate clays, and metal-oxyhydroxides. In particular, interactions between organic matter and fine-grained minerals, such as aluminum oxides, have been cited as important stabilizers of the humic matter in soils, which has large implications for the storage of anthropogenic carbon and pollutants (i.e., hydrophobic organic acids) in the environment (Keil and Mayer 2014). Utilizing simple organic acids containing functional groups present in humic compounds enhances understanding of metal-hydroxide and organic acid interactions at the mineral-water interface. The energetics of these interactions largely depend on the sorbate, the physico-chemical characteristics of the sorbent, and solution conditions (e.g. pH).
Ongoing work in our lab, using flow-adsorption microcalorimetry (FAMC) to directly and systematically measure energy dynamics of sorption at the oxide-water interface indicated that structural water in the lattices of boehmite and boehmite-bayerite mixed-phased samples increased binding energetics of acetate, propionate and butyrate at pH 5. The presentation will cover energy dynamics data collected for these mono-carboxylates and their respective di-carboxylate counterparts (oxalate, malonate, and succinate) binding onto a series of synthesized boehmites and bayerites. Focus will be placed on resolving effects of carboxylate carbon chain length, the number and acidity of carboxylates, and aluminum oxide surface properties on binding dynamics.

Microscopic Studies of Ancient Igneous Dikes in the Front Range of Colorado

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Caleb Perkey Geological Sciences Richard Hanson Geological Sciences
Advisor(s): Richard Hanson Geological Sciences
Location: Second Floor, Table 9, Position 2, 11:30-1:30

A major Cambrian rift zone containing abundant igneous rocks is present in southern Oklahoma and trends northwest from the ancient continental margin. Previous geologists have mapped numerous igneous intrusions in Colorado that follow the same trend, ranging from Cambrian to Ordovician in age, and have speculated that these intrusions may be a part of the same rift. These intrusions include abundant igneous dikes of various compositions that originated from deeper magmatic bodies, filling fracture systems in older igneous rocks and Precambrian gneisses. This study involves the microscopic analysis of samples we collected from different dike types, including diabase, trachyte, and lamprophyre. Diabase is a common intrusive basaltic rock that develops coarser grains due to slower cooling and represents partial melt from the mantle that fills fractures in the upper crust. For our samples, trachyte refers to igneous dikes containing large crystals of K-feldspar within a distinctive red-colored, fine-grained matrix. Magmas of this composition are typically associated with intraplate rift zones. Lamprophyre is a rare intrusive igneous rock that has large crystals of biotite and amphibole in a finer matrix of feldspar and mafic minerals. While rare, this rock is also associated with intraplate rift zones. We also sampled one significantly younger basalt dike that intrudes Cenozoic volcanic rock to compare with the much older diabase dike samples.
Nine of our samples come from the Wet Mountains in the southern part of the Front Range in Colorado, and we also have an additional five samples of diabase dikes along the Front Range ~100 km to the north. Analysis of thin sections of these samples under the petrographic microscope will provide insight into their exact mineralogical compositions as well as their igneous textures. This work will provide a framework for geochemical analyses of the dikes, which is currently underway. The results will help determine whether the Colorado intrusions are directly related to the southern Oklahoma rift.