The Bluefield Formation (Chesterian, Upper Mississippian) of the Appalachian Basin is a lithologically variable unit, composed of mudstones lithofacies with subordinate amounts of sandstone and limestone. By analyzing sedimentology and the prominence of ostracodes, an ostracode biofacies model was generated that provides a large-scale paleoenvironmental framework for the Bluefield Formation. Three ostracode assemblages were defined in an effort to identify environmental conditions during deposition of the Bluefield: Assemblage I - Polytylites Assemblage; Assemblage II - Sansabella Assemblage; and Assemblage III - Whipplella Assemblage. The assemblage distributions indicate that nearshore transitional marine environments were common and normal open marine conditions were very rare. The variable units and upward-shallowing sequences in the Bluefield reflect changes in the influx of freshwater that caused salinity fluctuations. Within the depositional environments of the Bluefield Formation, salinity was the most important controlling factor in the ostracode distribution.

The Upper Mississippian (Chesterian) Bluefield Formation of southeastern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia is the basal unit of the Mauch Chunk Group, a succession of predominantly siliciclastic strata sourced from actively rising tectonic highlands east of the Appalachian Basin. The Bluefield Formation conformably overlies shallow-marine carbonate units of the Greenbrier Group, and is unconformably overlain by incised fluvio-estuarine facies of the Stony Gap sandstone member (Hinton Formation). Outcrops along the Allegheny Front were investigated sedimentologically and structurally, and subjected to gamma ray analysis. Composite outcrop sections from deformed rocks of the Allegheny Front were correlated with the relatively undeformed rocks in the subsurface of the Appalachian Basin to the west using over 100 commercial oil and gas test wells. Regional subsurface cross-sections and isopachs define a depocenter in the southeastern part of the study area. Measured outcrop sections reveal that the stratigraphic record in the depocenter consists predominantly of meter-scale, upward-shallowing parasequences, each capped by a flooding surface. These parasequences are stacked into four regionally correlatable depositional sequences. On the basin margin to the southwest and northwest, incised valleys, and fewer meter-scale parasequences characterize depositional sequences. Stacking of parasequences into sequences reflects a hierarchy of greenhouse-type 5th order, and icehouse-type 4th order eustatic changes superimposed on differential subsidence. Due to early Alleghenian thrust loading, the depocenter experienced greater total accommodation, which prevented incision during lowstands. Instead, in the depocenter, lowstands are typified by preservation of 5th order coal-bearing parasequences. Basin-margin areas experienced less total accommodation resulting in development of 4th order lowstand incised valleys and erosive removal of parasequences. This study demonstrates that both tectonic and eustatic forcing mechanisms controlled stratigraphic evolution of the Bluefield Formation. / Master of Science

M.S.

Previous research has shown that female students participate less often than male students in the interactions of the college classroom. Research findings also have suggested that women students interact less because some teachers differentially treat men and women students. Particular findings have indicated that women college students initiate fewer interactions only in classes taught by men, whereas, other findings have shown lessened interaction only in classes taught by women. Still other results have revealed essentially no difference between men and women students in the numbers and types of interactions in which they engage. This qualitative study examined (a) differential treatment by teachers based on gender, (b) differential behavior by students based on gender, and (c) differential teaching methods. On-site observations analyzing student-teacher interaction for 16 classes during two summer school sessions and six classes during the fall semester at a small, private, liberal arts college showed no differences, overall, in male and female student behavior. No evidence was noted of general differential treatment of male and female students by male and female teachers. Additionally, female teachers were not observed to be more likely than male teachers to create a participatory climate for all students. / Master of Arts

The United States has had an interesting and full history of debate over the place of religion in the public schools and each state has had its own unique history on the same subject. Religion/Bible saturated the typical public school in western Virginia before 1863. After West Virginia became a state, the saturation of religion/Bible gradually lessened, producing concern among some citizens. In 1917, the State adopted a direct plan for outside Bible study to incorporate elective Bible study class. Since 1935, however, there is no record of any statewide promotion of religion/Bible in the schools. In 1939 Bluefield, Mercer County, West Virginia, submitted a request to and received approval from the State Board of Education to offer Bible classes in its schools. Adjustments have been made to the program due to judicial or committee decisions. Some of these adjustments have been prompted by national and local controversy over religion/Bible in the public schools. Nevertheless, the existing Bible program has been sustained as a result of its location, community support, and dynamic leaders. The purpose of this study is two-fold: 1) to identify and describe the impact various influences such as the co-founders, the community, and the first teachers, had on the Bluefield Bible Program which contributed to its continued existence to this day; and 2) to create an accurate record of the history and proceedings of the Bluefield Bible Program. / Ed. D.

Multiple sections at 13 localities in West Virginia and Virginia, that expose the Early Carboniferous (Late Mississippian) Bluefield, Hinton, and Bluestone Formations, were measured. Geological structures and paleontological occurrences were recorded. In situ rooted plants were compared with transported plant and animal assemblages from fluvially dominated terrestrial beds and interdistributary channel-dominated, bay-fill, marine beds in order to interpret the paleoecology of this subtropical Early Carboniferous coastal landscape. Interdistributary wetlands of the Bluefield, Hinton and Bluestone Formations resemble earlier swamps more than those of the younger Pennsylvanian. In both Hampshire (Late Devonian, Famennian) and Price Formation (Early Carboniferous, Toumaisian) coal swamps, diversity is so low that only one taxon of plant is present: Rhacophyton ceratangium in the Late Devonian and Lepidodendropsis vandergrachtii in the Early Mississippian. The presence of Lepidodendron veltheimii as the apparent sole occupant of these younger Early Carboniferous plant communities makes them most similar to the arborescent lycopod-dominated Price Formation swamps. Although many Pennsylvanian (Late Carboniferous) swamps were also dominated by tree lycopods, including species of Lepidodendron sensu lato, other plants were present as well. Thus, these Late Mississippian communities incorporate some features of both younger and older swamps and can be considered ecologically transitional between them. Swamps have been stressful environments for plant growth for as long as they have existed. This is manifested by their low diversity since the Paleozoic and continues to be true today. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Div.)--Emmanuel School of Religion, Johnson City, Tennessee, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 80-84).