Geosciences Written Pieces
As a constantly, and sometimes infuriatingly, curious child, I would walk down our stone driveway picking up any and all stones which called to me. The sharp, the weathered and rounded, the rough and the ridiculously dust covered, they would all go into my pocket to be later strewn throughout our house and stuck in the drum of the washing machine. I loved the differences seen in all of them, and I constantly wondered how they came to be resting everywhere, from such a mundane place as our quarter mile long driveway to gorgeous cuts of agate in gift shops and flea markets seemingly everywhere. It was here, in the dust rising from our stone drive, that my love of, and interest in, geology and the geosciences was born and flourished. It is as a fruit of these interests that the writings down below were created, and which represent the work which I have completed towards my Geosciences degree thus far.
Osmium Isotope Analysis Procedure: Fragments of the PastThis research paper was completed for my master's level geoscience course which I am currently taking named Stable Isotope Geochemistry. For the project, we were to choose an isotope system and research the sampling methods utilized in that line of work, then compile the procedures and give a presentation to the class. The project then culminated in a short paper detailing the procedure which we researched. I chose to complete my project on Osmium Isotope analysis, which is a relatively young method utilized most commonly within the archaeological sciences in order to determine provenance of iron ores from which the artifacts and materials were created. I hope to continue to learn more about this method in the future and apply it to my own work on archaeological excavations in order to track trade routes and better understand social, economical, and material balances throughout the ancient world.
Comprehensive Spring Creek Laboratory ReportThis laboratory report worked to analyze and determine the effects of the lithology and designated land use of the Spring Creek Watershed upon the chemical makeups of the creek itself. Steps were taken to determine the pH, conductivity, temperature, nitrate and sulfate concentrations, and alkalinity measurements of the creek at eight different points along the creek's path and amongst a variety of immediate environments. It was able to be determined that there is no single source of pollution which affects the waters of Spring Creek and its watershed, rather, there are many different sources of pollution throughout the watershed which affects the waters of the creek, many of which are highly influenced by the lithology and land use of the area.
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Applying Numerical Models to Solve Geochemical ProblemsThis is a laboratory report created for my undergraduate Geochemistry course in which we applied numerical models in order to solve geochemical problems. In this experiment, we created and utilized a STELLA model which was used to better understand the detection of Radon 222 within one's environment, and identify the different parameters necessary in order to receive the most accurate and successful detection technique. The lab experiment duly showed the power of computer modeling, and the various different applications for which they are able to be utilized in order to better understand the environment in which we live, and how interactions and effects within the environment can subsequently affect us.
Modeling Early Diagenesis: Sulfate ReductionThe numerical modeling system STELLA was once again utilized in this laboratory report in order to interpret geochemical data and analyze field observations, regarding the behavior of systems which are dominated by diffusion and reaction. This modeling software enables scientists to better understand potential reactions of a particular system based upon things within their surrounding environments which have affects upon the system. This is useful in that it enables the scientists to better determine what mitigation and reduction techniques need to be employed in order to prevent large scale destruction to environments and ecosystems.
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