Journal of Undergraduate Research

Erin T. Duerichen and Dr. Jeffrey D. Keith, Geology In the Uinta Mountains, south of the South Flank Fault Zone, a thick sequence of Mississippian limestone is exposed. In the Blind Stream area, this limestone is transected by a series of north-south trending faults and fractures, with associated karsting (ie: large, collapsed cavities resulting from […]

Julia Kahmann and Dr. Scott Ritter, Geology Carbonate rocks, when sampled and analyzed for their carbon isotopes, carry an isotopic signature that may be used as a correlation tool. When other tools do not suffice, or the present correlation needs to be enhanced, isotope analysis is an appropriate alternative. Arrow Canyon Nevada has extensive, continuous, […]

Laura Cardon and Dr. Barry R. Bickmore, Geology Clay minerals comprise a large portion of the abundant sediment that covers the earth’s surface. As such, they have a significant impact on society in regard to land development and also water and mineral resources. The purpose of this study was to help unravel the mysteries of […]

T.J. Campbell and Dr. Barry Bickmore, Geology The struggle to find and maintain sources of clean water faces billions of people throughout the world. Increases in groundwater contamination have made this problem even more severe. It is therefore of great importance to understand how contaminants travel and interact in the subsurface. Chemical reactions with the […]

Samuel Sorber Abstract Measurement of fracture sets and small-scale folds along the backlimb of the Miners Mountain uplift in the northern portion of Capitol Reef National Park reveal a paleostress direction of approximately 20° azimuth, nearly 45° counterclockwise from the principle stress observed by Bump and Davis (2003). Slickenlines along the plane of a major […]

Elizabeth Adele Outdoor Hunter and Dr. Allan R Mayo, Geology Aquifers in Utah provide water to over 84% of our population. The aquifer system beneath Utah Valley is the main provider for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and domestic use. A better understanding of the flow paths and recharge rates of this aquifer system is needed. A […]

Brent Greenhalgh and Dr. Brooks Britt, Geology The Cedar Mountain Formation (CMF) contains an abundance of Early Cretaceous dinosaur bone accumulations unrivaled in North America. The CMF also records the propagation of mountain building into western Utah tied to the Sevier fold and thrust belt. The fluvial nature of the CMF and its similarities to […]

Anne Dangerfield and Dr. Brooks Britt, Geology My original project focused on the comparison of postcranial bones of two species of Allosaurus with the goal of differentiating the species based on limb robustness. A detailed study of 78 bones showed that there were at least 13 individuals of Allosaurus in the Dry Mesa quarry that […]

Forest J. Gahn and Dr. Scott Ritter, Geology Purpose and Structure: The purpose of this paper is to document a newly discovered assemblage of Early Mississippian (Kinderhookian) fossil crinoids from southeast Iowa. I will provide an introduction and background of the project, followed by the results of the research. Cited references are included at the […]

Robert Weight and Dr. John McBride, Geology Department Background A major archeological excavation is ongoing for a Roman site near Mt. Vesuvius in the modern town of Pollena Trocchia, Italy. The excavation is being pursued as collaboration between BYU and the University of Naples. The excavation is being done in a present day urban setting […]