Recent Submissions

  • ORIGINS OF CHERT: LAKE MAGADI BASIN, KENYA

    Leet, Kennie (2022-05-16)
    Petrographic, XRD, EDS, SEM and SIMS microanalysis demonstrate that Pleistocene Magadi cherts formed primarily from the precipitation of an amorphous siliceous gel and occasionally from hydrous sodium silicates, such as magadiite or kenyaite. Brine simulations and oxygen isotope analysis support the formation of these cherts from highly evaporated brines at modern lake temperatures near surface. Fossils within chert, including, microorganisms, diatoms, gastropods, ostracods, and plant and insect fragments provide valuable paleoenvironmental information, including the presence of alkaliphilic fungal communities found in chert. Identifiable crystal habits in evaporite pseudomorphs of trona and gaylussite suggest saline conditions were present throughout much of the basin history. Labyrinth patterns discovered in Magadi cherts indicate the precipitation of silica gels in the saline-alkaline Lake Magadi system near the surface in conjunction with chert formation. Hele-Shaw cell experiments conducted to replicate Magadi labyrinth patterns, however some of these patterns in nature occurred along non-horizontal planes. The orientations of the Magadi patterns imply invasion of air from above if confined to open cracks or infiltration from all sides if the gels dried and cracked in the vadose zone. Cherts developed from siliceous gel precursors have elevated d18O values, from +41‰ to +47‰ indicating the formation in the presence of brines. Such brines, with total dissolved solids of ~ 220,000 to 300,000 mg/L, exist in the modern Magadi basin during dry periods. Cherts with magadiite and other hydrous sodium silicates precursors form brines with lower salinities than cherts formed from gels. Cementing chalcedony and megaquartz crystals in chert have lower d18O values that require formation from waters at elevated temperatures, which suggests a hydrothermal origin. Finally, siliceous mudstone cherts show relatively wide ranges of d18O, from +37‰ to +46‰, which suggests formation from subsurface brines. Based on this new information, we have further classified the origins of chert in Lake Magadi, Kenya and extended the presence of a high salinity paleoenvironment to ~500 ka before present.
  • Passive transtibial prosthetic design for amputee soccer players

    Lofthouse, Robert; Eames, Meghan; Stephenson, Enoch; Carden, Melissa (2023)
  • Wolfe Park: How the Fluctuation in Stage Level of Dorman Creek Affects Electrical Conductivity

    Albin, Jenna; VanZandt, Kollin (2023)
    Students from SUNY Broome have started a field geoscience research project that involves mapping, measuring the water quality, and sampling the water in a tiny, undeveloped watershed. GPS was used for mapping in Google Earth. Temperature, conductivity, and pH are all used to measure the quality of water. The objectives of the project are to test the difference between electrical conductivity and the stage level of the stream.
  • Post-Hurricane Ian Peat Exposure North Inlet, South Carolina: Determining Holocene Barrier Beach Migration

    Burns, Levi; Nickerson, Joshua; Leet, Kennie; Smith, Jason (2023)
    The East Coast of the United States is known for its extensive connection of barrier islands. These barrier islands are rapidly migrating landward due to sea level rise, increased storm activity and relatively low availability of sediment. The back barrier marshes are ideal environments for the production of peat, a carbon rich deposit formed as plant matter decays in anoxic water. As sea level rises, these barrier systems migrate, rst peat is buried and then later exposed on the shoreface following storm activity. Hurricane Ian made landfall on September 30, 2022 near Georgetown, South Carolina. Storm overwash exposed peat on the shoreface south of Debordieu, South Carolina near the Baruch Institute for Marine and Coastal Sciences and North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Two layers of peat were sampled for radiocarbon dating as well as an intact deer skeleton perfectly preserved within the peat layer. Radiocarbon dates show transgression of the barrier system which can be compared to similar studies in other locations along the East Coast of the United States. Recent study along the Virginia coast found an average rate of retreat of 4.35 m yr-1. Preliminary calculations using historical maps and GIS data suggests North Inlet may be experiencing a faster rate of retreat.
  • Information Literacy and Open Education: Parallel Tracks Toward a Common Destination

    Bond, Paul (ACRL, 2022)
    Both open education and information literacy have existed as education reform movements for nearly fifty years. The definitions of each have developed over time as the understandings of the concepts have grown and changed. While they have evolved separately, there has also been overlap and connections between the two. This article examines the evolution and connections by analyzing the content of the literature on open education and information literacy. There are lessons to be learned from parallels found in the literature. There are opportunities to be found going forward as well, in the synergy between the movements.