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Sedimentary dikes at the Pipe Creek Junior Quarry were found to fill fractures formed by compaction and rotation of the reef flank beds and by regional stresses of less certain origin. A sequence of fracturing events has been established as well as a sequence for the emplacement of dike materials. Most of the carbonate dikes are found to be of Cayugan (Silurian) age, although some of the las carbonates are shown to be of Devonian age due to the presence of rounded detrital quartz grains within them. All of the quartz arenite dikes are found to be of Devonian age and are divided into two major groups: older white arenites and younger brown arenites. The two types of arenties have different characteristics and were deposited under different conditions.The arenites of Pipe Creek Junior Quarry were found to be similar to the arenites of the Bluffton Quarry which are also fracture fillings in Silurian reef rock. Other Devonian sand bodies are compared to the fracture filling and, although they are not identical, they show a similarity in materials and a pattern of environment and deposition that point to a northwestern source for all of the rounded quartz studied in this work. Environmental analysis of the quartz grains indicates a litoral mode of transport and sorting for most of the samples with an ecolian mode present in the sands outside the reef area and as a minor component for some of the younger sands within the reef area.A map of the glaciated quarry surface has been prepared for the purposes of this work and to preserve relationships that are constantly being removed by quarrying of the reef flank beds.

Regional fracture patterns were determined from 2,419 fracture measurements collected from 11 quarries in a portion of East-Central Indiana. When the entire study area was considered, three orthogonal fracture systems were evident. The master system appeared at every station andhad fracture sets striking from N17W to N6W and N85E to N68E. The secondary systems were more inconsistent in respect to their appearance from quarry to quarry and had fracture sets striking approximately N45W and N48E, and N75W and N20E, respectively. The fractures were vertical or nearly so and were interpreted as being extensional in nature.The regional fracture patterns became apparent after data from several quarry walls, including fractures of varying persistence and intensity, were considered in combined plots for each data collection site.Suggested major mechanisms of fracturing include: 1) warping of the Cincinnati Arch, 2) the propagation of pre-existing joints in the basement rock upward into younger material, 3) the release of older residual stresses by the production of positive structural relief with associated erosional unloading, and 4) recent compressive stresses caused by the same mechanism that drives sea-floor spreading.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 47306

The Muncie esker, a glaciofluvial ridged system, consists of three sharp-crested esker segments in the proximal and central sections, and a broad=crested, fan shaped distal segment. Grain size ranged from clay to boulders, although a larger presence of coarser material with high standard deviation values occurs in the proximal and central segments, while higher concentrations of finer sediment, primarily sand, exists in the distal segment. Field mapping and description included its geomorphic expression, stratigraphic relationships that consisted of facies identification, sedimentary structure , and paleocurrent direction. Sedimentological parameters, including downesker trends in grain size, sorting, a fractal analysis of grain size persistence, and clast roundness, was also investigated.The interpretation of the results provided us with detailed information allowing us to formulate a specific model of esker genesis. The depositional model consists primarily of nearly continuous, contemporaneous subglacial deposition that reulted in the formation of the proximal and central esker segments, and time-transgressive sedimentation, containing interlayered and randomly distributed ice rafted debris, in the form of a subaqueous delta that prograded beyond the ice-margin, forming the distal esker segment. Early stage deposition consisted of bed load transport from moderate flow velocities within a preglacial bedrock valley that served as an R-channel for preliminary subglacial meltwater drainage. Intermediate stage formation consisted of subglacial sedimentation from a hyperconcentrated deforming bed, induced by an outburst flood, and distal deltaic sedimentation as the subglacial flood discharged beyond the ice margin into an ice-marginal lake. Late stage deposition arises from bed load sedimentation of moderate fluvial activity reworking the upper portions of the hyperconcentrated flow deposits and upper deltaic facies. The finality of esker formation concluded with the ablation of the subglacial tunnel roof, sending a supraglacial debris flow that conformably covers the proximal and central esker segments in the form of a diamicton drape. / Department of Geology

The Wheatonvilie Consolidated Oil Field lies in Onion and Barton Townships of Gibson County, Indiana. Oil is produced from a sandstone reservoir commonly referred to the "Jackson Sand". The Jackson Sandstone is here informally adopted as member rank of Big Clifty Formation. The Stephen sport Group includes the Big Clifty and is Late Mississippian (Chesterian) in age.Within the area of the field, the Big Clifty Formation has been mapped between the underlying Beech Creek Limestone and the overlying Harvey Limestone. The lower contact of the Big Clifty appears to be sharp. The upper contact of the Big Clifty intergrades with at least one thin limestone tongue of Haney which pinches out laterally into the uppermost shales of the Big Clifty.The Big Clifty Formation includes sandstone, siltstone, shale, and mudstone with minor amounts of sandy limestone. A typical sequence from top to bottom includes:dark gray shale; thin red mudstone; gray shale; limey siltstone; very fine-grained white sandstone interbedded with gray shale; well sorted, fine-grained, white sandstone; and thin black shale. The percentage of sandstone within the Big Clifty Formation varies laterally significantly.The thickness of the Big Clifty Formation ranges from 64 feet to 97 feet. The formation dips to the southwest at a rate of approximately 29 feet per mile and lies 940 feet below the surface within the northeast portion of the study area.The areas containing high concentrations of sandstone form two elongated trends. The sandstone trends strike N35°E. The axes of the trends lie approximately 1 mile apart. The sandstone bodies are approximately 3/4 of a mile across and 5 miles long. These sand bodies range in thickness from 20 feet to 64 feet.The sandstone bodies may represent tidally influenced shallow marine offshore bars. Cross laminations and very fine grained clastics indicate a low velocity aqueous environment. The elongate shape of the sands indicate bar deposits and the sandy limestones indicate a marine environment.

This is an analysis of fractures occurring within the Paloezoic sedimentary rocks in a portion of southeastern Indiana. Fifteen hundred seventy-two fractures were used in analysis of distribution, orientation, pervasiveness, persistence, and intensity. The data collected is representative of eight counties and seventeen different collection sites.All fracture data were given an associated numerical value identifying each variable used for analysis and recorded into computer data files. A computer program was used for statistical analysis and construction of equal area nets which graphically displayed the distribution of variables. The compilation of the fracture data allowed for close interpretative analyses of variables and correlation of the orientation and distribution of the fractures within the study area.This study revealed that two orthogonal fracture systems exist in southeastern Indiana. The fracture set containing the largest percentage of those measured is oriented N11W with its compliment oriented N73W. The orientation of the second largest fracture set is N8E with its compliment oriented N82°W.The effects of the tectonic history as well as contemporary stress on the area are discussed relative to their effects on the overall distribution of fracture sets.Evidence is presented to substantiate a reactivation of the Cincinnati Arch as indicated in the Devonian-Mississippian lithologic units from data collected in the southeastern portion of the study area. Fracture data correlating to these units displays a rotation of the major fracture set maxima 90w. This data is supported by radiometric dates from the Belfast member of the Brassfield Limestone in which Laskouski, et.al., correlated a reactivation of the arch.Also within this study are lithologic descriptions of all the Paleozoic formations used for data collection. These descriptions were developed over a three year period from extensive field observation.A map of the study area is presented displaying the distribution and orientation of the fractures recorded at each data collection site. / Department of Geology

Delaware County, Indiana, is characterized by its glacial sediments and topography. With increasing development, the need for reliable, cost-effective subsurface surveying methods becomes more important. This thesis explores the possibilities of electrical resistivity methodology. Fifty survey sites were established on a one-mile grid over twenty square miles west of Muncie, Indiana. Three electrode arrays were tested, Wenner, Lee Partitioning, and Schlumberger, and the data interpreted by three methods, logarithmic curve matching, Moore's cumulative method, and Barnes' layer method.No one method proved to be completely accurate and reliable. Used in conjunction, however, data from the three are consistent and the techniques are viable measures for the analysis of heterogeneous glacial sediments. Additionally, apparent resistivity values which characterize the particular sediments in the study area were established and several pervasive stratigraphic units were defined.Ball State UniversityMuncie, IN 57406

This project uses a Geographic Information System (GIS) as a tool for estimating soil erosion on a watershed scale. A new and key tool for managing ecosystems in North America are resource management plans based on watershed areas. Watershed management plans are a response to widespread concern about the cumulative effects of nonpoint source pollution (such as agriculture pollution) on water resource quality.The primary objective of this project was to develop a method using GIS to estimate the annual gross erosion for each of the watersheds. Sediment delivery was calculated within each of the subwatersheds of Bear Creek, and the amount of sediment that potentially could be trapped by vegetative filter strips in each watershed was determined. The area that was used for the study site is the Upper Bear Creek watershed. The Bear Creek watershed is a subwatershed of the Loblolly watershed in Jay County, Indiana.The analysis determined that 99% of sediment was contributed from cropland. When vegetative filter strips were modeled, the sediment delivered to a load cell was substantially reduced. Cropland area required for vegetative filter strips would be 2.3% for the whole watershed. / Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management

Phase II archaeological testing of the Wesley Chapel Gulf area was conducted in June and July 2004 by six Ball State Anthropology students, including the author, for the Hoosier National Forest. This fieldwork was aimed at assessing the significance of two sites, 120r382 and 120r384, located by the previous surveys. These two sites were considered potentially eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places because of the data they may provide.The purpose of the research is to determine how this unique natural feature was utilized by prehistoric cultures and to assess its role within the regional archaeological context. The research builds upon data recovered during the previous archaeological surveys of the land immediately surrounding the gulf and tests the conclusions of those investigations with recent data from two archaeological sites, 120r382 and 12Or384. Analysis of the cultural material recovered during the 2004 fieldwork illuminates the prehistory of the Wesley Chapel Gulf area and enhances the interpretation of its role in prehistoric settlement patterns within the Hoosier National Forest region. / Department of Anthropology