Geosciences Theses and Dissertations (UMKC)
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The items in this collection are the theses and dissertations written by students of the Department of Geosciences. Some items may be viewed only by members of the University of Missouri System and/or University of Missouri-Kansas City. Click on one of the browse buttons above for a complete listing of the works.
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Item Small-volume monogenetic igneous landforms and edifices statistics (SMILES) of Earth and Mars: one morphometric framework to classify them all(2025) Nolan, Joseph Ashton; Graettinger, Alison H.Small-volume (<1 km3) monogenetic volcanoes are the most abundant volcanic landforms on Earth and Mars. The remote classification of these volcanoes remained limited in scope and number due to methodological limitations. This dissertation develops, validates, and applies a dimensionless morphometric framework, known as SMILES (Small-volume Monogenetic Igneous Landform and Edifice Statistics), to improve the classification of these landforms on Earth and to evaluate the transferability of the SMILES method from terrestrial targets to planetary contexts, specifically Mars. By emphasizing dimensionless parameters, the database provides a standardized method to distinguish scoria cones, spatter landforms, and related landforms. SMILES improves the classification of volcanic landforms by distinguishing them from morphologically similar features of non-volcanic origin, such as mud volcanoes.The reliability of terrestrial Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) derived from uncrewed aerial system (UAS) photogrammetry was evaluated by an iterative approach and by comparing these DEM to LiDAR datasets. UAS DEMs are reasonably accurate and reproducible for morphometric analysis. These results reinforce the usage of terrestrial DEMs and further validate the SMILES methodology, while also identifying the limitations of photogrammetry when working with small landforms. The validated SMILES framework was applied to Martian volcanic landforms using Digital Terrian Models created from the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment and Context Camera imagery. The SMILES framework successfully classifies Martian scoria cones and spatter landforms from each other and non-volcanic features. The results demonstrate the utility of the SMILES framework for planetary classification. Additionally, the results infer that eruptive style is the primary control on morphology, while gravity and atmosphere function as secondary modifiers. Future studies can adapt this method and apply it to additional targets.Item Electrical resistivity tomography imaging of the Motagua Fault in Guatemala(2025) Dollens, Aleigha Kayan; Niemi, Tina M.The Motagua fault is a sinistral, strike-slip fault that forms part of the North American- Caribbean plate boundary. A 230-km-long segment of the Motagua fault ruptured in the 1976 M7.5 Guatemala earthquake. We collected Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) data using the Wenner array method at two locations (Gualán and Estanzuela) where the 1976 ground rupture was exactly located using historical photographs and an offset concrete irrigation canal. The data were processed using RES2DINV software to develop an inverse model with topographic corrections. At Gualán, the Motagua fault is defined by a 7-m-wide low-resistivity zone. At Estanzuela, a low resistivity zone represents the northern faultcontrolled margin of the sag depression. While the historical photographs of the 1976 fault rupture define a single, narrow rupture mole track, ERT data indicate parallel fault strands and distributed shear in the subsurface. Aseismic slip (creep) along multiple fractures may also play a role in producing the low resistivity zones along the Motagua fault. The ERT data in this study indicate the presence of inactive borderline structures and distributed shear near the fault zone, extending beyond the main active fault strand.Item Timely and uniform application of curing compound on concrete pavement(2025) Nkongolo, Etienne Beya; Kevern, John T.Concrete curing is a critical stage during construction for volume stability, long-term strength development, and ultimate durability. Poor curing can lead to shrinkage, scaling, and other durability issues. Proper concrete curing maintains sufficient moisture in the concrete and allows continuous hydration. The high surface are-to-volume ratio of concrete pavement is making it difficult to maintain a uniform moisture content throughout the pavement, therefore curing concrete will provide a better environment for concrete to develop uniform and equal hardened properties. While a variety of curing techniques can be used, including wet curing, internal curing, and forced chemical curing, membrane-forming curing compounds (MFCCs) are often the easiest and most cost-effective technique to minimize evaporation for pavements and slabs placed on grade. The application of MFCC has been adopted by States Department of Transportation (DOT). However, achieving a quality curing has been challenging because of the limitations of techniques that can be implemented on field to evaluate the effectiveness of curing compound application on concrete pavement in real time. Some states DOTs rely on the use of the calibrated white paper sheet examination or the experience of the engineer for evaluation of the curing compound application effectiveness. Additionally, most of the evaluation tests are performed on hardened concrete and not applicable or difficult to assess for fresh concrete in the field. This study has developed a test method embedded resistance that can measure curing effectiveness in real-time during the early age of concrete. The embedded resistance as a measure to assess drying behavior of fresh concrete to quantify the effectiveness of curing Embedded resistance is a technique that uses concrete moisture content to assess the effectiveness of curing compound effectiveness on concrete. Concrete goes through phase change from plastic phase to solid during the early age. This transition is mainly caused by the hydration reaction. During the early age of concrete cement reacts with water to produce hydration reaction products and the excess water evaporate due to drying, leading to concrete microstructure development. However, at early age the presence of moisture in concrete makes concrete less resistant to current flow, as the electrical current in concrete moves through the pore spaces. With time more pores spaces in concrete are filled up with hydration reaction products, subsequently concrete becomes more resistant to the current flow, as electrical conductivity ability of concrete depends on the conductivity of the fluids inside the interconnection of pores system, the degree of saturation of the concrete, and the permeability. Therefore, using the resistance technique to trace moisture content in concrete can be an important tool to assess curing compound application effectiveness on fresh concrete. The study evaluated the effect of curing compound applications rates and application time using the embedded resistance technique. Furthermore, this study investigated the effects of curing compound application time on freshly placed concrete, the effect of curing conditions as well on the performance of concrete cured before and after the initial setting time, and lastly the effect of curing compound application rates and uniformity during the application. Tests were indexed against the standard moisture loss testing in addition to a newly developed real-time assessment of moisture loss and curing by embedded resistance. Ultimately with the goal of providing a correlated measure of moisture loss from field measurements. Lastly, surface profile degree of hydration and the maturity curve were performed in this study to under the effect of curing compound application rates on degree of hydration and strength gain. The findings from this study demonstrated that resistance is able to distinguish between samples with and without curing compound and significant differences in drying observed between the surface and relatively shallow depths. Additionally, the testing techniques were able to differentiate between the quality and rate of curing compound application and evaluate performance across a variety of environmental conditions. These findings indicate that a resistance-based approach could be a low-cost and non-destructive technique to evaluate the effectiveness of curing compound applications in real-time. Additionally, the study showed that a correlation can be found between moisture retention test, degree of hydration and the embedded resistance test. Based on the findings the embedded resistance test could be a suitable replacement for moisture loss test the test is much simpler and quicker test to be performed both in the lab and in the field.Item The role of gypsum in Cu-Co ore genesis within the Upper Miocene Boleo deposit of the Santa Rosalía Basin, Baja California Sur, México(2025) Salgado Munoz, Valente O.; Niemi, Tina M.; Chen, ZhiQiangThis dissertation presents research on the geology, mineralization, and fluid evolution of the Boleo deposit in the Santa Rosalía basin, focusing on the role of evaporite bodies and fault networks in cobalt mineralization. The lithofacies description and sedimentological analysis of Boleo gypsum in Arroyo Boleo reveal a meromictic continental basin environment with cyclic deepening and shallowing trends driven by tectonic subsidence and marine incursions. Mineralization at the top of clastic sediments and the base of gypsum cycles indicates coeval deposition of evaporites and ores. The study identifies segmented normal fault arrays as feeder zones for metal-enriched hydrothermal fluids, with subsurface gypsum bodies acting as halogen suppliers. These feeders exhibit distinct metal tonnages and ratios, indicating proximity to the source. The dissertation also examines the physicochemical characteristics of fluids in the Boleo deposit, proposing a brine pool model with a magmatic fluid source for metals. The intricate zoning of metals indicates variations in major and trace metal composition within ore bed sediments, influenced by brine fluids and hydrothermal fluids. The research points out the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and continued research efforts to improve our understanding of gypsum deposits for industrial use and to optimize their benefits.Item Investigating changes of summer urban heat island in Kansas City from 2000 to 2023 with remote sensing(2024) Barnes, William David; Sun, FengpengRising average temperatures are having multiple effects on humans both financially and in healthcare. These temperatures are exacerbated within urban areas where the materials comprising the urban landscape absorb more solar radiation and re-emit more longwave radiation, or heat. This excess temperature is visible in thermal imagery that is collected by satellites such as the MODIS and Landsat platforms. These satellites were not always available, and the datasets obtained from them only go back around 30-40 years and reliable thermal imagery has only been available for the last 30 years. From this issue of satellite data availability, there have not been many analyses of cities with urban heat island stress. This investigation into urban heat island covers the Kansas City Metro area and searches for any changes that are evident from 2000 through 2023. The results of this investigation show that between both methods for calculating urban heat island that are utilized in this investigation, the intensity of urban heat island is growing within areas that are already heavily urban landscaped. Even without average temperatures showing much growth and still utilizing many of the same urban materials for the Kansas City urban landscape, urban heat island values are showing rising values. However, current systems for calculating urban heat island may have issues when it comes to heatwave activity. Where heatwaves are showing higher urban values for temperatures, the rural surroundings are also showing temperatures high enough to bring down the value of urban heat island in both methods used to calculate urban heat island for this investigation. This phenomenon gives the impression that urban heat island is weaker during heatwave events even with higher urban temperatures. Even without the added strength of heatwave months factored into the urban heat island calculations, the data analysis shows that the urban heat island values are rising in well-established urbanized areas and look to continue to rise in the future.