Hey Everybody,
Here's an update on my research into the mysteries of the pyrite framboid.
As of last week the pyrite dust (framboids) has been successfully extracted from the shale dust with the LST heavy liquid so genously given by Paul. That same week the SEM at SUNY Oswego was installed, and I was given a quick rundown by the lab tech. Luckily, it being a JEOL and I having used a JEOL at SUNY ESF, has given me a head start with the understanding of this new SEM.
As of now some of the SEM's instruments are still be installed. Meaning that I'm just biding my time until the SEM is ready for me to use it. Then I will finally be able to see if this method yields fruitful results.
Till next time, CJ
Friday, October 21, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Geo Field trip fall 2011
Hey guys,
Just got back from the joint GEO 330/310 field trip (which was great) and want to share some people pics (not rock pics) that I took however there are only a couple...
-CJ
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Pyrite Framboids-Fall Semester
Hello again,
It's been a busy semester so far and I apologize for the delay in posts, but I'm here now to make up for it now.
Well the poster symposium on Sept. 9th in Sheldon hall went well and many curious enthusiastic spectators read and asked a variety of intuitive questions.
As for my Devonian extinction research (framboids) we are currently waiting for the new on-campus SEM to be installed, it arrives tomorrow! In the meanwhile I'll be exploring a new framboid collection methodology, which will hopefully make collection times substantially quicker for this methodology. However, there are many things yet be learned, so cross fingers.
Once the SEM is installed this new method will be tested. If it is unfruitful we will still pursue more research in the Devonian shales, possibly with a microstratigraphic study.
Wish me luck!
More updates to come -CJ
It's been a busy semester so far and I apologize for the delay in posts, but I'm here now to make up for it now.
Well the poster symposium on Sept. 9th in Sheldon hall went well and many curious enthusiastic spectators read and asked a variety of intuitive questions.
As for my Devonian extinction research (framboids) we are currently waiting for the new on-campus SEM to be installed, it arrives tomorrow! In the meanwhile I'll be exploring a new framboid collection methodology, which will hopefully make collection times substantially quicker for this methodology. However, there are many things yet be learned, so cross fingers.
Once the SEM is installed this new method will be tested. If it is unfruitful we will still pursue more research in the Devonian shales, possibly with a microstratigraphic study.
Wish me luck!
More updates to come -CJ
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Week Five
Hello loyal followers....
So this week (five) I have been compiling my pyrite framboid diameter data after measuring them with the "imagej" program. The samples I did take BSE images of, totaling seven, were put into histograms with % of frequency on the y axis and framboid diameter in the x. I also made box and whisker plots for the same samples to compare the two graphs and see which one I happen to like better, histogram wins--at least with me (ahem...Diana). Ill post an example(s) histogram on the blog.
After I make the graphs I had to make some observations. So what I first did is I used the excel program to find max framboid diameter, mean diameter, and standard dev. I also had to find the inchofabric indexes of some of the samples that had none. So now that I had that info and the histograms I found that with increasing inchofabric index(ii) (i.e. increased bioturbation) that framboid size indeed does increase, just as many of the paper I've read predict. I was also evident that with increasing ii the distribution of the framboid size does increase, you can see this on the histograms I put up below.
The next step of this data analysis was to plot the mean framboid dia. vs. the ii, to see if there is any relationship--look below to see for yourself!
The rest of the week consisted of me preparing some more samples to go down the SEM with. I'll be looking at ten samples next week...hopefully the instrument will be nice this time.
So this week (five) I have been compiling my pyrite framboid diameter data after measuring them with the "imagej" program. The samples I did take BSE images of, totaling seven, were put into histograms with % of frequency on the y axis and framboid diameter in the x. I also made box and whisker plots for the same samples to compare the two graphs and see which one I happen to like better, histogram wins--at least with me (ahem...Diana). Ill post an example(s) histogram on the blog.
After I make the graphs I had to make some observations. So what I first did is I used the excel program to find max framboid diameter, mean diameter, and standard dev. I also had to find the inchofabric indexes of some of the samples that had none. So now that I had that info and the histograms I found that with increasing inchofabric index(ii) (i.e. increased bioturbation) that framboid size indeed does increase, just as many of the paper I've read predict. I was also evident that with increasing ii the distribution of the framboid size does increase, you can see this on the histograms I put up below.
The next step of this data analysis was to plot the mean framboid dia. vs. the ii, to see if there is any relationship--look below to see for yourself!
The rest of the week consisted of me preparing some more samples to go down the SEM with. I'll be looking at ten samples next week...hopefully the instrument will be nice this time.
Next week also being the last week of summer I'll be preparing the poster for the summer scholars poster symposium the first week of classes, so stop by! And also I'll being looking at my images for the last samples and will take notes of type-2 framboids (not type-1 like before) and the populations of pyrite xls compared to framboids, to see if there is any interesting relationships.
Here are the histograms: sample BM-68 has a mean fram. dia. of 5.45 microns and an ii of 5, sample BM-59 has a mean fram. dia. of 4.29 and an ii 1, also note how the distribution changes. The other graph is rough I admit but it get the point across, there is definitely a relationship (linear?) to mean fram. dia. and ii. Alright till next week! -CJ
Here are the histograms: sample BM-68 has a mean fram. dia. of 5.45 microns and an ii of 5, sample BM-59 has a mean fram. dia. of 4.29 and an ii 1, also note how the distribution changes. The other graph is rough I admit but it get the point across, there is definitely a relationship (linear?) to mean fram. dia. and ii. Alright till next week! -CJ
Friday, August 19, 2011
Rare find at Roaring Brook
Hello again All,
Last Friday Diana and I went out to look at several localities that CJ and I had previously visited. At our first stop, a section of the Roaring Brook river about a half mile downstream from Whittaker Falls, while looking at one of the rock shelves I noticed an exceptionally long piece of Crinoid stem. Now Crinoid stems are usually no more then a few segment pieces long because of how fragile they are, so I decided to take a closer look. As I moved in closer I realized that at one end of this six inch long section of Crinoid stem was in fact its actual head. I was ecstatic, and after calling over Diana to show her we quickly worked it free from the shelf and stored it safely in the trunk of Diana's car.
For those who don't know the Crinoid is a member of the Echinodermata phylum, the same phylum as starfish and sea urchins, and look a lot more like flowering plants then an animal. Crinoids are still alive today and date back all the way to the Ordovician, making them a living fossil along side Coelacanths and several varieties of sharks, among others. To find a Crinoid this well articulated is rare because, as I said before, they are very fragile creatures, modern Crinoids have been known to complete break apart within 24 hours of dying, so in my opinion this poor fellow was most likely rapidly buried in some kind of storm event that, luckily for us, allowed it to be so beautifully well preserved.
Below are two photos the lovely Crinoid, the first has a penny for scale and shows the entire length of the fossil from head to the end of the stalk. The second gives an overhead view of the fossil. You may note that the section with the Crinoid has a slightly green tint to it, that is from some biological material that I have yet to remove for fear of damaging the specimen.
For more information on Crinoids the page on the Kansas Geological Survey web site @ http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/fossils/crinoid.html
Last Friday Diana and I went out to look at several localities that CJ and I had previously visited. At our first stop, a section of the Roaring Brook river about a half mile downstream from Whittaker Falls, while looking at one of the rock shelves I noticed an exceptionally long piece of Crinoid stem. Now Crinoid stems are usually no more then a few segment pieces long because of how fragile they are, so I decided to take a closer look. As I moved in closer I realized that at one end of this six inch long section of Crinoid stem was in fact its actual head. I was ecstatic, and after calling over Diana to show her we quickly worked it free from the shelf and stored it safely in the trunk of Diana's car.
For those who don't know the Crinoid is a member of the Echinodermata phylum, the same phylum as starfish and sea urchins, and look a lot more like flowering plants then an animal. Crinoids are still alive today and date back all the way to the Ordovician, making them a living fossil along side Coelacanths and several varieties of sharks, among others. To find a Crinoid this well articulated is rare because, as I said before, they are very fragile creatures, modern Crinoids have been known to complete break apart within 24 hours of dying, so in my opinion this poor fellow was most likely rapidly buried in some kind of storm event that, luckily for us, allowed it to be so beautifully well preserved.
Below are two photos the lovely Crinoid, the first has a penny for scale and shows the entire length of the fossil from head to the end of the stalk. The second gives an overhead view of the fossil. You may note that the section with the Crinoid has a slightly green tint to it, that is from some biological material that I have yet to remove for fear of damaging the specimen.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
More Photos
Walnut Creek
Silver Creek, NY
SWEET PYRITE VEINS
Walnut Creek
Silver Creek, NY
Wall before removal
Walnut Creek
Silver Creek, NY
Sweet Brachiopods
Beaver Meadow Creek
Java Village, NY
photos from localities
Diana's finger with lingulid
Awesome Burrows!!!
Beaver Meadow Creek
Java Village, NY
Fallen Tree by our work area
Beaver Meadow Creek
Java Village, NY
Pipe Creek in West Falls, NY
Diana Boyer for scale
Beaver Meadow Creek
Java Village, NY
Pipe Creek
West Falls, NY
Pipe Creek Formation at Irish Gulf Creek
Boston, NY
Emily Wooton with her Bestie, the frog
Walnut Creek
Silver Creek, NY
Irish Gulf Creek
Boston, NY
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)