Bucknell Geology - Student Research

Eric Lynch ('10) conducted field work in Montana this summer, and is spending this fall in the lab using scanning electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy and imaging MALDI-mass spectrometry to image and analyze soft-tissue structures isolated from Upper Cretaceous dinosaur fossils.

In the photo to the left, Eric is measuring a stratigraphic section and collecting sedimentary data at the Thescelosaurus site, above and below the bone layer to put the dinosaur into a paleoenvironmental context.

Eric's advisors are Drs. Jeff Trop and Chris Daniel. Eric received competitive grants from the Evolving Earth Foundation and the Geological Society of America.

Molly Pritz ('10) is interested in understanding the potential environmental hazards resulting from the mixing of oil field brines and "Frac Water"  when drilling companies hydraulically fracture and extract natural gas from in the Marcellus Shale.

Molly sampled and analyzed the end-stage drilling fluid from several wells and is performing geochemical modeling to understand the reactivity and the treatment needs of the oil field brines and the frac water. In addition, this study  can help provide insight to potential stream degradation and aquifer contamination which may ensue from hydraulic fracturing and natural gas extraction techniques.

In the photo above, Molly is sampling the Frac Water product from one of her study sites.

Molly's advisor is Dr. Carl Kirby. She received funding through the McKenna Summer Environmental Internship Program at Bucknell.

Bucknell is fortunate to have a large alluvial aquifer and wetland system available for study directly across the Susquehanna River, and Anne Strader ('10) is working with her advisor, Dr. Rob Jacob to analyze the water table location in the Montandon gravel ridge.

Anne is using seismic, DC resistivity and ground-penetrating radar in order to determine the water table location and analyze the moisture gradient in the unsaturated zone. She is hoping for some changes in the local weather so she can look for fluctuations due to seasonal variation and individual rainstorm events.

In the photo to the right, Anne is working her way through the corn while conducting a ground-penetrating radar survey on the gravel ridge.

For 10 weeks in the mid-late summer, Anne participated in the 2009 IRIS Undergraduate Internship Program, contributing research to the PLUME (Plume-Lithosphere-Undersea-Melt-Experiment) project at Scripps Institute of Oceanography. She analyzed earthquake data from both land and ocean bottom seismometers to perform "a tomographic inversion of the Hawaiian Island Chain subsurface", lending support to the interpretation that magma plumes may have caused the volcanism that formed the Hawaiian Island chain. Anne will present her findings at the 2009 American Geophysical Union fall meeting. You can read more about Anne's research at her IRIS Intern blog.

Bucknell Geology Independent Student Research Projects, 2009-2010

Cullen Kortyna ('11) spent his second consecutive summer conducting sedimentological field work in the Talkeetna Mountains, in southern Alaska.  This summer's field work was aimed towards a integrated sedimentologic and geochronologic analysis of the Arkose Ridge Formation.

Cullen received a competitive grant from the Geological Society of America, and also received support from the Bucknell Program for Undergraduate Research and the National Science Foundation. Cullen recently presented some results of his work from the past two summers at the GSA National Meeting in Portland, Oregon.

The photo above shows Cullen (right) in the Talkeetna Mountains, along with Christine Kassab ('09 - and currently a graduate student at Purdue University) and Dr. Jeff Trop, his advisor. Their mapping and measured stratigraphic sections provide improved reconstruction of Paleogene paleoenvironments and constraints on the displacement history of the Castle Mountain fault.

Cullen also spent part of his summer at field camp.

Amy Jewett ('11) worked with Dr. Ellen Herman much of the summer to understand the impacts of storms and sediments on the development of karst (cave) environments.

 They chose a a system of two karst sinks near Smullton, PA and monitored temperature, pressure, turbidity, pH, conductivity, and took both suspended and bedload sediment samples during storm events to study the impact of sediments and abrasion on the development of a conduit (co-authored presentation at the National GSA meeting).

Amy was funded by the McKenna Summer Environmental Internship Program and is currently spending a year in Germany as part of the Bucknell Study Abroad Program.

Luke Swensen ('11) is also interested in the potential environmental effects resulting from the natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale, and is working with Dr. Carl Kirby to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of using conductivity meters as an economical way to detect the runoff of "frac water" used in the horizontall drilling method.

He is accomplishing this by analyzing discharge and specific conductance from presumably uncontaminated streams, and comparing it to data collected on a stream which is more likely to be affected by drilling.

Luke was funded by the Bucknell University Environmental Center.

Jeremy Byler ('12) is a Geology/Civil Engineering double-major at Bucknell, and spent a majority of the summer working at the Montandon Long-Term Hydrologic Research site with Dr. Rob Jacob.

The depth to bedrock in this area has been studied previously, but Jeremy is revisiting the site using seismic and DC resistivity to provide a better understanding of the depth to bedrock between the Montandon Marsh and the Susquehanna River, and to map the interface between western boundary of the wetland and adjacent gravel ridge.

Jeremy was funded by Bucknell Program for Undergraduate Research.

Sherry Finkel ('10) and her advisor Dr. Carl Kirby are analyzing the geochemical properties of headwater streams to understand if they have been  impaired  by acid deposition.

 Sherry is focusing her work on streams emanating from the Allegheny and Pottsville geologic formations, and is using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and geochemical analysis to help solve the problem. The PA Department of Environmental Protection has designated many of these streams as either "attaining" or unimpaired, while Dr. Kirby and others have suggested that they are actually impaired by acid deposition. Sherry is using alkalinity, pH, and metal composition measurements at several sites across central and western Pennsylvania to gain a better understanding of the geologic and anthropogenic influences on these streams.

Sherry was funded by the McKenna Environmental Internship Program for her research over the summer.

2009-2010 (in progress)

• Lynch, Eric, Comparative scanning electron microscopy and mass spectrometry of modern bacterial biofilm and soft-tissue vessel structures isolated from Upper Cretaceous dinosaur fossils.
• Strader, Anne, Geophysical analysis of seasonal Montandon gravel ridge water table fluctuations and analysis of the moisture gradient through water table variation due to storm events.
• Pritz, Molly, Geochemical modeling of oil-field brines and a geochemical analysis of "Frac Water" used in the horizontal hydraulic fracturing of the Marcellus Shale.

2008-2009:

• Daniel Hubacz, Catastrophic Paleofloods on the Lower Susquehanna: An analysis of slackwater deposits in Holtwood Gorge. PA.

2007-2008

• Hess, Anya, Sedimentological and geochemical analysis of the Keyser and Old Port Formations, central Pennsylvania:  improved constraints on late Silurian-early Devonian paleoenvironmental conditions.
• Kassab, Christine, Sedimentological analysis of overwash fan deposits on Hattaras Island, Cape Hattaras National Seashore, North Carolina:   A long-term sedimentary record of extratropical storms along the Atlantic Coast.
• Mellott, Dallas, Sedimentary record of Cenozoic tectonics and basin development in southwestern Arizona:  Geochronologic and petrologic data from the northern Mohawk Mountains.
• Smith, Stephen, A sedimentary record of overwash fans with respect to tropical storms and an east-west trending shoreline, Okracoke and Hattaras Islands, North Carolina.

2006-2007 

• Forsburg, Amanda, Stream Channel Morphology and Adjustments to Changes in Land Use in Buffalo Creek Tributaries.
• Heuer,  Dan, Evidence of Four Generations of Monazite Growth in Proterozoic Migmatites of the Santa-Fe Range, North-Central New Mexico.
• Jenson, Aubri, Evidence of Radiation Damage in Microlite from the Harding Pegmatite, Taos County, New Mexico:  An Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy and Electron Back-Scatter Diffraction Study.
• Witmer, John, Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Upper Triassic - Lower Jurassic McCarthy Formation, Wrangell Mountains, South Central New Mexico.

2005-2006

• Delaney, Ryan M. , Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Frederika Formation, Wrangell – St. Elias Mountains, south central Alaska.
• Dennis, Adam , Assessing Aeration Treatment Effectiveness for Mine Drainage at Scarlift Site 21, Ranshaw Pennsylvania and Packer 5 Discharge, Girardville, Pennsylvania.
• McInerney, Brian, The Effects of Acid Deposition on the Chemistry and Brook Trout Populations in the Headwater Streams Originating in the Tuscarora Formation, Valley and Ridge Province, Pennsylvania.
• Short, Emily, Evidence for the 1.4 Ga Regional Metamorphism and Deformation in the Thompson Peak area, New Mexico:  An Application of Monazite Thermochronometry.
• Tully, Craig, Impact of Historical Deforestation and Reforestation on Stream Channels:  A Reconnaissance Investigation of Regional Adjustment to Changes in Sediment Load in Watersheds in the Susquehanna and Connecticut River Basins.

2004-2005

• Bunting, Philip, Emplacement Processes of Quaternary Blockfields in Central Pennsylvania.
• Winer, Emily, A Ground Stability Risk Assessment of the #4 Gold Mining Shaft of the Driefontein Division of Gold Fields, Ltd., Carletonville, South Africa.

2003-2004

• Forsburg, Amanda ('07),  An Assessment of Hydrology and Water Quality in the Buffalo Creek Watershed, Union County, Pennsylvania.  McKenna Summer Research Project.
• Tidmore, Robert S. , Sedimentologic and Petrologic Investigation of the Miocene Frederika Formation:  A Record of the Initial Construction of the Wrangell Volcanic Field, Alaska.  Senior Thesis.

2002-2003 

• Garfield, Robert , Placing Fractured-Rock Site Characterization Within a Regional Geologic Context:
  Results from the Bucknell University Hydro-Geophysical Research Site.  Senior Thesis.
• Guiliano, Lindsay , Analysis of Deformation Bands in Oligocene and Early Miocene Deposits
  of the Funeral Mountains, South-Central Nevada.  Senior Thesis.
• Light, K. Byron , Tracking Barrier Island Evolution: The Applicability of cm-scale GPS and GIS.  Senior Thesis.
• Nottis, Gary , The Development of Equations and Procedures for the Estimation of
  Shear Wave Velocities in Soils, Columbia and Dutchess Counties, New York. Senior Thesis with Honors.
• Turner, Melissa, D. , The influence of Bedrock Geology on the Ability of
  Pennsylvania Headwater Streams to Ameliorate Acid Rain.  Senior Thesis

2001-2002

• Hallett, Benjamin W. , Relative and Absolute Timing of Partial Melting and Regional Deformation in Proterozoic Migmatites of the Rincon Range, North-Central New Mexico, Senior Thesis.
• Hallett, Benjamin W. , 1400 MA Partial Melting and Regional Deformation in Proterozoic Migmatites of the Rincon Range, North-Central New Mexico: Application of Monazite U-Th-Pb Chemical Dating, Senior Thesis with Honors.
• Iorio, John P. , Holocene Climate of the Mesotropics and Comparison of Paleodata Climate Reconstruction with PMIP Simulations of Climate at 6000 14C Years Ago, Senior Thesis.
• Iorio, John P. , Holocene Climate of the Mesotropics and Comparison of Geologic Climate Reconstruction with PMIP Simulations of Climate at 6000 14C Years Ago, Honors Thesis.
• Szuch, Darren A. , Synorogenic Sedimentation Along the Arcward Margin of a Mesozoic Forearc Basin, Naknek Formation, Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska, Senior Thesis.
• Szuch, Darren A. , Synorogenic Sedimentation Along the Arcward Margin of a Mesozoic Forearc Basin, Naknek Formation, Talkeetna Mountains, Alaska, Honors Thesis.

2000-2001

• Casaleggio, Stephen E. , Geochemical and Biological Study of the First Passive Mine Drainage Treatment System in the Shamokin Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania.
• Kostak, Paul G. Jr. , Comparison of Laboratory Iron-Oxidation Rate Laws to Field-Measured Rates in Mine Drainage.
• Mallonee, Jonathan D. , Pleistocene paleochannel abandonment of Penns Creek in Union County, Pennsylvania.
• Scheidt, Matthew D. , Geochemical Weathering Characteristics and Soil Chronosequence Development on Blue Ridge Debris Fans in Madison County, Virginia.
• Twele, Casey C. , An Examination of Iron Photoreduction in Coal Mine Drainage.

1999-2000 

• Johnson, Adrienne C. , A Structural Study of the Silurian-Devonian Carbonates in the National Limestone Quarry in Middleburg, Pennsylvania.
• Szuch, Darren A., A Spatial Characterization of Hydrogeochemistry within the Montandon Marsh, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (Independent Study).
• Triolo, Jason S. , Use of Stable Oxygen Isotopes in a Alpine Forest Region to Delineate the Hydrologic Factors that Govern an Alpine Ecotone.
• Cerrone, Michael , Alkalinity and Acidity in Mine Drainage: Definitions and Methods; and participant in the Bucknell University/USGS assessment of the Shamokin Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania (summer, 1999 research projects).
• Golumbfskie, Jason (Drexel University co-op student), participant in the Bucknell University/USGS assessment of the Shamokin Creek Watershed, Pennsylvania (summer, 1999 research project).

1998-1999 

• Bradfield, William B. , Temperatures of Alleghanian Deformation in the Silurian Bloomsburg Formation, Lehigh Gap, Pennsylvania.
• Sherbondy, Micheal , Late Pleistocene Climate Record from the North Lake Embayment of Quaternary Lake Terreton, Idaho.
• Thomas, Heather M. , The Hydrostratigraphy of the Quaternary Valley Fill Deposits Along the West Branch Susquehanna River Between Lock Haven and Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania

1997-1998 

• Bailey, Nicole , Modeling of Barrier Island Landform and Vegetation Response to Coastal Process Variables on the Virginia Coast Reserve.
• Daniels, Noah , Role of Debris Flows in Landscape Evolution, Blue Ridge, Virginia.
• Davatzes, Nick , Strain Partitioning and Factorization in the Silurian Keefer Sandstone, Central Pennsylvania.
• Helms, Don , The Use of Field-Measured Fe2+ Oxidation Rates to Predict Treatment Pond Volumes in Acid Mine Drainage.
• Jurgens, Diane , An Investigation of the Controls on Slope Stability in the 1995 Debris Flows of Madison County, Virginia.
• Kirick, Christine , Use of Macroinvertebrates as Indicies of Ground Water Quality.
• Ressler, Ted , Examination of Groundwater Flow at Montandon Marsh, Central Pennsylvania.
• Thomas, Heather M. , Modeling of Fe2+ Oxidation as a Design Tool for Wetlands Constructed for Acid Mine Drainage Treatment.

1996-1997

• Decker, Scott , Acid Mine Drainage Sediment Composition and its Relation to Color.
• Jacob, Rob , Environmental Geophysical Study of the Chillisquaque Creek Floodplain in Central Pennsylvania.
• Macander, Natalia , Chemical and Physical Characterization of Actively and Passively Treated Acid Mine Drainage Sludge.
• Mitchell, Susan , Debris Flow Activity and Hazards in the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, Appalachian Plateau.
• Richter, Tracy , Aluminum Precipitation Rates Using a Field-Mixed Flow Reactor: Application to Acid Mine Drainage.
• Roggio, Miika , Deep Geologic Cross-Section: Lewisburg to Montoursville, Pennsylvania.
• Spiker, Elizabeth , A Study of Progressive Deformation at the Allegheny Front, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania.

1995-1996

• Daniels, Noah , A Survey of Mass Wasting Features in the Lycoming Creek Watershed, North-Central Pennsylvania.
• Elder, Jennifer A., , Development of a Field Mixed Flow Reactor for Determination of Aqueous Reaction Rates: Applications to Acid Mine Drainage.
• Farleigh, Karen , The Influence of Overwash Events on the Hydrology and Vegetation of a Pimple on Parramore Island, Virginia Coast Reserve.
• Gordon, Sara , Stable Isotope Compositions of Paleosol Carbonate in the Sherman Creek Member of the Devonian Catskill Formation, Central Pennsylvania.
• Hagan, Laura , Nucleation and Evolution of Coastal Dunes on a Low-Profile Barrier, Southern Parramore Island, Virginia.
• Leier, Andrew , Incised Valley Fills in the Sherman Creek Member of the Catskill Formation (Upper Devonian), Susquehanna Valley, Pennsylvania.
• Loges, Ed , Groundwater Flow Paths in the Nippenose Valley Karst System, North-Central Pennsylvania.
• Walsh, Jeff , Salts Evaporated from Municipal Solid Waste Ash Leachate.
• Wright, Adam , The Relation Between Paleomagnetism and Folding in the Appalachian Valley and Ridge Province: The Middle Devonian Mahantango Formation in central Pennsylvania.

1994-1995

• Berntsen, Jon P ., Hydrogeomorphic and Vegetative Relationships on Low Profile Barrier Islands, Virginia Coast Reserve.
• Carlson, Bradley B ., Kinematic History of a Mesoscopic fault-propagation fold, Meckley's Quarry, Mandata, PA.
• Hildebrand, Douglas C ., Relationship of Calcium Carbonate Nodules and Paleosol Features to Paleoclimatic Conditions: Upper Mississippian Mauch Chunk Formation, Central PA.
• Jerz, Jeanette K ., The Changes in Water Chemistry Along Rauchtown/Antes Creek in Central Pennsylvania.
• Klawon, Jeanne E ., Analysis of the Light Street Fault in Relation to the Berwick Anticlinorium.
• Miller, James N ., Structural Controls on Karstification in the Nippenose Valley, Pennsylvania.
• Myer, Eric M ., Karst Hydrogeomorphology of Nippenose Valley, North-Central Pennsylvania.

1993-1994

• Berntsen, Jon P ., The Morphology and Sedimentology of Alluvial Fans and Debris Flow Fans in the Ridge and Valley Province, Central Pennsylvania.
• Gerrits, Michele , Physical Effects on Middle Creek due to Decommission of Musser Dam.
• Jerz, Jeanette K ., Genesis and Diagenesis of Oolitic Ironstones in the Mahantango Formation (Middle Devonian) of the Susquehanna Valley Region in Pennsylvania.
• Wilt, Denise E ., Relation of Fossil Assemblages and Communities to Paleoenvironmental Conditions: Middle Devonian Mahantango Formation, South Central Pennssylvania.
• Woytowich, Kathleen A ., A Baseline Study (from May 1993 to May 1994) of the Chemical Composition of the Montandon Wetlands Alluvial Aquifer.

1992-1993

• Cohn, Matthew , The Relative Role of Geomorphic Processes in the Storm Recovery of Washover Sites on the Virginia Barrier Islands.
• Hoover, Andrew R ., Noncontemporaneity of Changes of Relative Depth in Trenton Group Carbonates of Central Pennsylvania.
• Kowalski, Katherine A ., Influence of Stratigraphy and Bathymetry on Erosion Rates, Virginia Barrier Islands.
• Terry, Jonathan M ., Cyclicity in the Irish Valley Member of the Catskill Formation, Central Pennsylvania.
• Valigorsky, Lara , Hydrogeologic Investigation of an Alluvial Aquifer System Located on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

1991-1992

• Anderson, Pamela J ., Hydrogeologic Analysis of an Alluvial Aquifer System Located on an Eastern Floodplain of the Susquehanna River.
• Bock, James E ., Geophysical Investigations in the Montandon Alluvial Aquifer.
• Clark, Christopher J ., Comparison of Storm Characteristics and their Relation to Barrier Island Overwash, Eastern Shore of Virginia.
• Larsen, Andrea , Examining the Groundwater System of the Montandon Marsh during the April 1993 Floods of the Susquehanna River and Surrounding Region.
• Owens, Robert , Influences of Structural and Stratigraphic Geology on Construction of Rts. 11 & 15 North of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
• Rockwell, Curtis , A Geomorphic Study of the Mitchell Tract and Lower Aughwick Creek River Valley near Mt. Union, Pennsylvania.

1990-1991

• Berelson, Wendy L ., A Study of the Physical and Chemical Characteristics of the Meckley's Quarry Limestone Which Make it Effective for Sulfur Capture in Circulating Fluidized Bed Combustion.
• Malin, Matthias , The Geologic Explanation of Little Mountain, North of Hartleton, Union County, Pennsylvania.
• Perry, Elisabeth D ., Remagnetization of the Clinton Ironstone (Silurian) in Central Pennsylvania: Alleghanian (Permian) Age Iron Mineralization.
• Smith, Kristine and Kormeier, Elizabeth , Hydrogeology Research Project, Montandon Marsh, Central Pennsylvania.