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Geology student research 2008-2013

Geology majors are required to complete a senior research project under the direction of one of the faculty members, completing GEOL4501 (Introduction to Research) and GEOL451 (Senior Research). Completion of GEOL451 requires a written senior thesis and public presentation of results, typically at a Geological Society of America professional meeting. Student research projects vary with interest and funding.

Elizabeth Fisher

Elizabeth Fisher, 2013
Character Analysis of Theropoda: A Brief Study Confined to Braincase Characters And Focusing on Basal Taxa

randy lightfoot

Randy Lightfoot, 2013
Analyzing the Structural Properties, Geologic Conditions, and Friability of Garnet Sands From Four Mine Sources Around the World: Implications for the Dry-Air Abrasive Sand Blast-Cleaning Industry

Vernon Meidlinger-Chin

Vernon Meidlinger-Chin, 2013
Braincase and Endocranial Anatomy of Cryolophosaurus Ellioti (Dinosauria: Theropoda) From the Early Jurassic of Antarctica

Matt Osman

Matt Osman, 2014
δ18O and δD Fractionation Trends in Surface Snow Across The Matthes-Llewellyn Divide, Juneau Icefield, Alaska And British Columbia

Carl Peters

Carl Peters, 2013
Geochemical Analysis of Heavy Metals in Sediments Surrounding the Bautsch-Gray Mine Superfund Site, Jo Daviess County, Illinois 

Nate White

Nate White, 2013
Significance of Late Triassic Charcoal, and Late Triassic and Late Jurassic Wood Petrification Processes and Mineralogy, South-Central Utah

Lindsey Yeider

Lindsey Yeider, 2013
A New Method of Age Determination of Mammuthus Columbi

Jake Crandall

Jake Crandall, 2012
Vertebral Anatomy of Cryolophosaurus Ellioti, a Theropod Dinosaur From the Early Jurassic of Antarctica

Marge Cook 

Marge Cook, 2012
Investigation of Crustal Contamination in the Palisades Intrusive Sheet, Fort Lee, New Jersey

Austin Emmer

Austin Emmer, 2012
Quality and Chemistry of Surface Water in the Illinois Quad Cities

Spencer Hellert

Spencer Hellert, 2012
A New Basal Sauropodomorph From the Early Jurassic Hanson Formation of Antarctica

Maren Mathisen

Maren Mathisen, 2012
Calcite Twinning Strain Analysis of the Allochthonous Jurassic Sundance, South Fork Detachment, Northwest Wyoming 

John Oostenryk

John Oostenryk, 2012 
Mapping and Description of the Moline Chert, Rock Island Co., Illinois

Denny Wind

Denny Wind, 2012
Slope Stability of Peoria Loess on the Moline Uplands, Quad Cities

Beth Asbury

Beth Asbury, 2011
Paleoecology of the Upper Hell Creek Formation Ascertained From Flora Associated With a Triceratops Site Near Marmarth, North Dakota

Sam Blazey

Sam Blazey, 2011
Paleoflow Velocites of Catastrophic Flooding On the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River, Northwestern Wyoming

Lara Cacciatore

Lara Cacciatore, 2011
Willemite Nucleation and Growth in Crystalline Glazes

Jake Gottlieb

Jake Gottlieb, 2011
Pneumatic Fossae of Apatosaurus From the Morrison Formation

Patrick Hoefle

Patrick Hoefle, 2011
Chemistry of Drinking Water of Northern Thailand

Jeremy Hoffman

Jeremy Hoffman, 2011
Identifying Laurentide Ice Sheet Freshwater Discharge in the Western Labrador Sea During the 8.2 Ka Cold Event

 Amanda Lindoo

Amanda Lindoo, 2011
High Pressure Crystal Chemistry of Norbergite

Katie Pauls

Katie Pauls, 2011
An Analysis Of Two Late Paleozoic Sandstones of the Paraná Basin In Southern Brazil

Alec Rizzo

Alec Rizzo, 2011
Experimental Formation of Igneous Orbicular Textures

Adam Slaker

Adam Slaker, 2011
Micro-Structural Research for Heart Mountain Movement in the Madison, Dinwoody, and Chugwater Formations, Northwestern Wyoming

Brandon Melton's senior research

Brandon Melton, 2010
Depositional Timing and Paleoclimatic Implications of Sand Dunes in the Meredosia Bottoms, Northwestern Illinois

Henry Stauffenberg's senior research

Henry Stauffenberg IV, 2010
Another Step Toward Answering the Dolomite Question

Kelsey Thornton's senior research

Kelsey Thornton, 2010
Magnetic Susceptibility and Fabric Analysis for Glacial Till Deformation in the Coal Creek Section, Coal Valley, IL

Katie Pauls National Science Foundation research

Kathryn Pauls, 2011
A Grain-Count Analysis of the Late Paleozoic Glacial Deposits of the Paraná Basin in Southern Brazil

Stephanie Jiles

Stephanie Jiles, 2009
Visualizing the Relationship between the Bedrock and Surface Topography of the Rock River Valley near the Quad Cities, IL with ArcGIS

Andrew Olivi

Andrew Olivi, 2009
Lithologic Composition of Three Study Sites in the Upper Mississippi River Valley: Sediment Provenance, Characteristics and Correlation

Toph Orton

Kristopher Orton, 2009
Petrology and Geochemistry of Montana Guaza; Assimilation and Fractional Crystallization of the Magma Chamber, Tenerife (Canary Islands)

Annette Zapolis

Annette Zapolis, 2009
Geochemistry and Petrology of Scoria Cones Montana Amarilla and Montana del Malpasito, Bandas del Sur Formation, Tenerife (Canary Islands)


Allison Bormet

Allison Bormet, 2008
Mineralogy and Sedimentology of the Nebraskan Brule Formation and Implications Regarding Biostratigraphy

Dan Hadley

Dan Hadley, 2008
Silicic Volcanism at Reykjarfjordur, Northwestern Iceland

Katie Giambleuca

Katie Giambeluca, 2008
Assessment of Heavy Metal Concentration in Surface Water from a Possible Landfill Containment Source at Giant Goose Conservation Education Workshop, Atkinson, Illinois

Kristi Lyles

Kristi Lyles, 2008
Sediment Analysis of Bedload Grain Lithologies of the Wisconsin River, Baraboo, Wisconsin to the Mississippi River

Lindsey Koper

Lindsey Koper, 2008
Taphonomy of the White River Badlands near Shalimar Ranch, Nebraska

Elizabeth Ford

Elizabeth Ford, 2008
Mapping Bedrock and Landslide Susceptibility along Duck Creek in Bettendorf, Iowa

Nicolo Casarta

Nicolo Casarta, 2008
Geochemical Analysis of Crude Oils in Cook Inlet Basin, Alaska

Rebecca Saunders

Rebecca Saunders, 2008
Granites of Damariscove Island, Maine: A Microscale Characterization

Holden Village students posing for a photo before heading to the village.

Five years of Augustana’s January Term

Augustana College students take a break from their 15-week semester schedule to engage in a month-long period of intensive learning during January Term, or J-term. This three-and-a-half week course was added as part of the college’s transition to semesters in 2019-2020.

Makayla Thumb

Unearthing students' love for geology

Four Augustana students have hit the ground running with their summer geology internships. Projects include studying the formation and evolution of ancient mountain belts, paleontology research, studying geological maps in zinc mines and installing seismometers for earthquake detection.

Hannah Johnson

Johnson ’23 creates first model of prehistoric creature

When Hannah Johnson ‘23 learned of an opportunity to create the first model of a recently discovered prehistoric creature, she put her art and geology majors to work.