Welcome to the Earth Sciences blogspace.
Congrats to all of the Graduates for 2019.
Elenor Chisholm
Juan Chavez
Makani Joinville
Michelle Echeverri
???
Tanner Milne
Lauren Morris
These are the photos I have, thanks to Grant Wach. This is not all of our graduates. I will add more photos as I receive them.
Graduation Luncheon
March 18 was Science Preview Day, in which high school students from across the province, and around the world got to visit Dal and learn about our Science Programs. Of course, no visit would be complete without a trip to Vulcan’s forge, and making magma. Graduate students Bryan Maciag and Richard Chow took the lead on this one, and first gave the students an overview of igneous rocks, and experimental high P-T equipment.
Then Richard had a peak into the forge, and pulled out the magma, pouring it carefully to create some amazing glass structures. The students were or course suitably impressed.
Thanks also to Anne-Marie Ryan for participating the experential learning panel discussion, and for Lexie Arnott for having lunch with the students.
Graduate students rule! AGAIN!!!
Left to Right: Harold Kuehn, Jonathon Thibodeau, Brian Maciag (with broom) ,Emilia Benedetto, Vittorio Maselli, Laura Broom (without Broom), Ana Corbalan Castejon, James Brenan (couldn’t stand after curling), Winson Li, Lexie Arnott, Lexie’s much better half; Craig Gilmore, Masoud Aali, Richard Chow.
Despite the heroic efforts of a somewhat outnumbered group of Earth Science faculty and staff, the graduate students were able to pull off a victory at the annual Earth Sciences curling classic. I am not sure of the exact score, but Bryan tells me it was slightly lopsided.
Thanks to Bryan M for organizing, and to everyone who attended.
And for those graduate students who might be developing a false sense of security………..we will be back.
Congratulations to Harold Kuehn for the successful defense of his PhD thesis entitled “Along-trench segmentation and downdip limit of the seismogenic zone at the eastern Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone“. His examining committee were all uniformly impressed by the quality of his work! Congrats also to his supervisor Mladen Nedimovic.
Thanks to everyone who turned out for the Department Holiday Potluck held on Tues, Dec 4. The graduate students did a great job (especial thanks to Bryan and Lobke) at getting us all to contribute a favourite dish. As you can see, it looks like everyone is enjoying the outstanding food!
M.Sc. THESIS DEFENCE
by
DEPARTMENT OF EARTH SCIENCES
DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY
“SEISMIC STRATIGRAPHY AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE JURASSIC ABENAKI MARGIN,
AT COHASSET-MIGRANT, AND POTENTIAL FOR DISTAL ORGANIC-RICH FACIES”
PLACE: The Milligan Room, 8th Floor Biology Wing, LSC, Dalhousie University
DATE: Friday, April 20, 2018
TIME: 10:00 a.m.
EXAMINING COMMITTEE:
Dr. Laurence Davis Husky Energy, Atlantic Region External Examiner
Dr. Mladen Nedimovic Dalhousie University Reader
Mr. David Brown Canada-N.S. Offshore Petroleum Board Reader
Dr. Grant Wach Dalhousie University Supervisor
Dr. John Gosse Dalhousie University Chair
PLEASE NOTE: A copy of the thesis is available in the main Earth Sciences Office
ABSTRACT
This study uses well data, extensive 3D seismic data and geologic analogs to test and extend stratigraphic concepts and models in a mixed clastic-carbonate depositional setting: the Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of the Sable Sub-basin, offshore Nova Scotia. The study focuses on basinward mapping of third-order depositional sequences identified in the Abenaki carbonate bank at Deep Panuke Field and addresses: source rock potential in coeval basinal calcareous mudstones; changes in bank margin morphology related to underlying basement; the transition from a dominantly carbonate system at the shelf margin to a fluvio-deltaic system, the Sable Delta, that extends to the Late Cretaceous; the presence of thick fluvio-deltaic sediments adjacent to basinal mudstones outboard of the carbonate bank.
These depositional systems are uniquely imaged by 3D seismic data in the area around the Cohasset L-97 and Migrant N-20 well penetrations. Core studies of wells which penetrated the Abenaki carbonate bank and field studies in the Lusitanian Basin, onshore Portugal, provide calibration and analogs to shallow water carbonates in the Cohasset area. Further ancient and modern analogs are discussed in Morocco and at the termination of the Great Barrier Reef in the Gulf of Papua.
Geological, petrophysical and geophysical interpretation methods are used to interpret the depositional cycles and stratigraphic framework of limestones and calcareous shales that were deposited in increasingly deeper water outboard of the Abenaki margin. This framework formed the basis for a 3D geocellular model that was populated with lithologies from well data via a seismic inversion. This model was interpreted in terms of environments of deposition and source rock potential.
The third-order sequence stratigraphic framework was modified from a framework established at Deep Panuke gas field where commercial production began in August 2013. This third-order chrono-stratigraphic framework (“Abenaki 1-7 surfaces”) incorporates multiple litho-stratigraphically defined formations: the Mohican, Mohawk, Mic Mac, Abenaki, Missisauga and Verrill Canyon formations. Thick fluvio-deltaic successions adjacent to basinal mudstones in the Migrant N-20 well are interpreted to be structurally controlled, deposited in local depocentres, that formed in response to sediment loading, listric faulting and mobile salt substrate.
Results from the study show that condensed sections of the distal carbonate depositional system in Abenaki 1-4 sequences have potential to host organic-rich material. The basinal shales of these sequences are estimated to have been deposited in up to approximately 200 m water depths and have type 2 source rock potential. A change in seismic signatures and facies occurs between Abenaki sequences 1-4 and Abenaki sequences 5-7 reflecting encroachment of the Sable Delta, and it is interpreted that the Abenaki 5-7 sequences have predominantly type 3 source potential, with some potential for a type 2 source in intervening calcareous mudstones.
In honour of Dalhousie Emeritus Professor of Economic Geology, Marcos was a member of the Department of Earth Sciences (Geology) fron 1973-2005. A pioneer in apatite fission-track geochemistry and beloved mentor, he shaped the lives and careers of many Dalhousie geologists.
This award recognizes Marcos’ legacy by providing support to attract and retain graduate students of the highest calibre to conduct their studies in the Department of Earth Sciences.
PDF (13 Mb)
The Dept held a joint alumni reception with the Faculty of Engineering on Tuesday night in the Nova Scotia Room at the Royal York Hotel. Our special guest was Emeritus Professor Marcos Zentilli. It was a great night of making new acquaintances and renewing old ones. Here’s a photo of the whole group with the interesting backdrop of what appears to be Champlain having a feast in the new world.
Congratulations to Erin Keltie for winning the 1st place masters student poster at PDAC 2018!
If you are interested in her research, ere is a PDF of her poster.
Dalhouise University was selected as one of the 10 finalists from around the world
Team Members: Graham Kerford, Sam Balcom, Jennifer Lee, Massoud Alli, Colton Bentley
Advisor: Grant Wach
To participate in the European Association of Geologists and Engineers (EAGE) Petroleum Geoscience competition.
The finalists will meet in Copenhagen in June for final competition where the students will present in front of a panel of industry experts. They will present their analysis of an oil and has field looking at all the data and history of field production.
Congratulations!
