New U-Pb zircon ages from plutons in the Charlotte belt of the southern Appalachians have provided evidence of Cambro-Ordovician and Siluro-Devonian magmatic activity. Several U-Pb zircon ages of Cambro-Ordovician plutons predate their Rb-Sr whole rock ages by as much as 60 m.y., suggesting a post emplacement disturbance of the Rb-Sr isotopic systems. Comparison of geologic setting, chemistry, and temporal and spatial distribution of Charlotte belt Siluro-Devonian plutons with those of other tectonic environments, specifically plutons from tensional environments, suggests a model for strike-slip accretion. / Master of Science

The geology of Frederick County, Virginia is known mostly from surface mapping. Based on this work are interpretations of the subsurface geology including cross sections which have been constrained by the surface geology and by the method of area balancing based upon palinspastic reconstruction. With the intent to further constrain these cross sections. gravity measurements were made at 422 sites in Frederick County. Then, gravity anomalies were compared with theoretical gravity profiles calculated from two dimensional models of density distribution based upon the cross sections. Using the cross section geometry and densities published for the known and inferred rock units, the theoretical gravity profiles did not compare favorably with corresponding Bouguer gravity profiles. However, by modifying the geometry of the model units and adjusting the model unit densities, a reasonable fit between theoretical and Bouguer gravity profiles was obtained. Although the geometrical modifications adhered to the structural style, no attempt was made to area balance these modifications within the model. / Master of Science

High-elevation spruce-fir forests in the southern Appalachians may potentially be in a state of decline as a result of either natural or anthropogenic causes. Soils were investigated in areas representative of 117 permanent intensive field plots established to evaluate changes in forest composition that may be influenced by the deposition of atmospheric pollutants. A total of 35 pedons were described, sampled, and characterized. Over 75% of the soils studied were classified in the field as either Typic or Pachic Haplumbrepts, but weakly developed spodic horizons were identified in 13 of the soils by chemical determinations in the laboratory. A high degree of morphological similarity exists between soils in these areas despite widespread differences in parent material and local geology. This similarity is the result of physical mixing of these soils by climatically-driven slope processes. A considerable amount of chemical variability exists in these soils which is not expressed in morphological characteristics. Multiple discriminant analysis established that physical and morphological properties used to separate and classify these soils in the field were not significantly different between study areas. Parent material differences, however, expressed in both soil chemical and mineralogical properties, were sufficiently different between study areas to result in the clear separation of soils into distinct groups. The importance of nutrient cycling in these spruce-fir forests is underscored by high levels of exchangeable bases in surface horizons relative to lower in the profile. This suggests that disturbances to the forest floor resulting from fire, overgrazing, logging, or erosion could have a major impact on ecosystem resilience during stress. / Master of Science

Temperate and boreal fungal floras indicate that species of the Russulaceae (the genera <i>Russula</i> and<i>Lactarius</i>) are among the dominant ectomycorrhizal fungi in forest communities. The contribution of the Russulaceae to the communities of ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycetes fruiting in red spruce and adjacent northern hardwood forests in West Virginia was evaluated and compared with other ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycetes occupying the same habitats. The Russulaceae exhibited the greatest species diversity of any family of ectomycorrhizal fungi fruiting in the stands studied (44% of the species in spruce, 39% of the species in hardwoods). Species of <i>Lactarius</i> and <i>Russula</i> were among the most productive in both forests. Species diversity, productivity, and fruiting phenology of all ectomycorrhizal Basidiomycetes were compared between red spruce and northern hardwood stands for a 3-year period. Sporocarp numbers and sporocarp frequency in 384 four m² quadrats in each forest type was used to estimate productivity. Species richness was greater in hardwoods (36 species) than in spruce (27 species). Nine species were common to both forests. Most productivity was concentrated in a few species, while most species were rare. Species-area curves were constructed for both forests. Fungal species and tree species composition in both forests were compared by principal component analysis. Fungi in spruce forests were more productive than in hardwood forests. Productivity was highly variable among the three seasons studied because of climatic variability. Sporocarp abundance and frequency were positively correlated with basal area and density of mycorrhizal trees and were negatively correlated with fern cover in hardwood forests. Fruiting seasons extended from early July to late September or early October. Numbers of species fruiting from the same four m² quadrats ranged from 0 to 7 in spruce forests and 0 to 5 in hardwood forests. Spatial patterns of sporocarps of major species were characterized by the variance-to-mean ratio, mean crowding, patchiness, and spatial autocorrelation and were found to exhibit highly aggregated, contagious patterns. Interspecific associations between pairs of major species were measured by 2 x 2 contingency tables and Cole's index of association. A taxonomie and geographic survey of <i>Russula</i> and <i>Lactarius</i> in both the quantitative study areas and in similar habitats in the Southern Appalachians was presented. / Ph. D.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 279-294). Also available via the Internet.

Roof and rib failures in underground coal mines are one of the major problems facing the industry today. In addition to safety considerations, the resulting economic impact of such failures is staggering. Uncovering and replacing buried and damaged equipment and clearing entries can account for a large expenditure in lost man-hours and machinery. Yet, because of the complex nature of their formation, geological variability, and structural characteristics, coal mine roof strata are one of the least controllable of all mine design parameters. This is especially true along the leading (southeastern) edge of the Appalachian coalfields where considerable faulting and movement have contributed to hazardous coal mining roof conditions. For this research, a detailed study of several mines, in the southern Appalachian coalfields, was undertaken to determine the most prominent geomechanical factors affecting roof stability and to evaluate their influence in promoting unstable ground conditions. In order to accomplish this task, the major geological and geomechanical features found to be detrimental to the coal mine roof within the Appalachian basin were identified and mapped in four Virginia mines. Statistical processing by chi-square and linear regression analysis as well as analytical analysis by the finite element method were used to determine the influence of geology, mine-layout, and support methods on roof stability. It was found that some easily determined parameters can be successfully used to predict potentially unstable areas. A simplified roof classification system was developed based on the geomechanical parameters, which can be used to assess the stability of a particular roof type. A Roof Rating Index was also devised capable of expressing the probability of failure under a given set of geomechanical conditions. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2009. / Title from title page screen (viewed on Oct. 22, 2009). Thesis advisor: Sherry Cable. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Theories of deliberative democracy, which emphasize open-mindedness and cooperative dialogue, confront serious challenges in deeply divided political populations constituted by polarized citizens unwilling to work together on issues they collectively face. The case of mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia makes this clear. In my thesis, I argue that such empirical challenges are serious, yet do not compromise the normative desirability of deliberative democracy because communicative mechanisms can help transform adversarial perspectives into workable, deliberative ones. To realize this potential in divided societies, mechanisms must focus on healing and reconciliation, a point under-theorized by deliberativists who do not take seriously enough the feminist critique of public-private dualisms that illuminates political dimensions of such embodied processes. Ultimately, only a distinctly two-stage process of public deliberation in divided populations, beginning with mechanisms for healing and trust building, will give rise to the self-transformation necessary for second-stage deliberation aimed at collectively binding decisions.

The regional landscape of Appalachian was a testing ground for a method to define cultural landscape. Landscape Architects and land planners can learn from the existing landscape about the aesthetics and environmental constraints of an area to design and plan in such a way as to complement and strengthen regional character. This document describes in seven chapters the study undertaken to identify patterns in the cultural landscape along the New River. Chapter one introduces the study. Chapter Two explains the physical setting of the four physiographic provinces through which the New River flows. Chapter Three briefly gives an overview of the historical social context of the New River Corridor. Chapter Four describes the eleven sites surveyed as part of this research. The methods of the study are described in Chapter Five. The results of the research survey and statistical analysis are reported in Chapter Six. Lastly, Chapter Seven describes the current land uses within the four provinces, identifies the similarities between the landscape of the Blue Ridge and Great Valley Provinces and the dissimilarity of the Ridge and Valley and Allegheny Plateau Provinces. This chapter discusses how land planning profession could work to strengthen the Appalachian region along the New River and other regions with a unique cultural landscape. / Master of Landscape Architecture