NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES Vol. 7 Issue 1

NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES

FALL 2014

GEOSCIENCES COMMUNITY 2014

igneous petrologist, mineralogist, and Western Michigan University economic geologist. Research interests distinguished world renowned, for Joyashish include, but are not limited researchers to enhance the education to, origin and distribution of metallic and research missions of the University. sulfide mineral deposits in the Upper Geosciences were quick to respond. We Peninsula, the Penokean orogeny (1.8 were the first unit in the University to Ga), magmatic events associated with take advantage of this wonderful the formation of the Mid-continent Rift opportunity and our efforts culminated system (1.1 Ga), and the applications of with the hire of Dr. Essam Heggy stable isotope geochemistry in high effective fall of 2015. Essam is a temperature geological processes. planetary geophysicist on the Radar Science Group in the Jet Propulsion Dr. Mohamed Sultan Joyashish delivered on his promises. He Laboratory, a Visiting Associate in the initiated an aggressive research project California Institute of Technology, and Dear Friends and Alumni, in the Upper Peninsula and all his an Associate Professor of Geophysics in students, six of them, are currently the Institut de Physique du Globe de This has been a good year for engaged in research projects in the UP. Paris, France. His main science interests Geosciences and we have a lot to He teamed up with Dr. Alan Kehew and in space and planetary geophysics celebrate. Over the past two years, we together they secured federal funding to covers Earth arid regions, Mars, the worried about replacing our pursue their research in SW Michigan Moon, icy satellites and Near Earth distinguished faculty members who (Alan) and in the Upper Peninsula Objects. His research efforts involve the retired (Dr. Ron Chase) and others who (Joyashish). Joyashish is getting the characterization of ice and water left us for other positions on campus (Dr. attention of the mining industry as well. dynamic on Mars, the Moon, Jovian Icy Carla Koretsky: Dean Lee Honors Aquila Resources Inc. is providing satellites as well as Earth hyper-arid College) or off campus (Dr. Mike Joyashish with additional funds to regions. He addresses this objective Grammer: Oklahoma State University). pursue his research activities in the UP, through comparative studies of the Dr. Joyashish Thakurta was hired to geochemical data, and field support as evolution of hydrogeological systems on replace Dr. Ron Chase and to spearhead well. Thanks to Dr. Thakurta we now Earth Hyper-arid regions and on Mars the Michigan Geological Survey research have a sulfur isotope lab in Haenicke and other planetary bodies. and mapping programs in the Upper Hall. Peninsula. We were fortunate to hire Dr. Joyashish, a distinguished scientist, an A few months ago, President Dunn active researcher, and an experienced announced an initiative to attract to NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 2

sensors on planetary missions. Western is close to several large-scale dunes that are optimal sites for testing his low frequency sounding radar systems and is close to the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Radiation Lab, where collaborations on building some of the experiment subsystems are possible. We have an ongoing search for a tenure track position in sedimentary petrology. The search is going well and we expect All of these ongoing activities and many to invite the short listed applicants on others that I am not listing here are campus in the next few weeks. We are bringing more and more talented excited about this particular hire. The oil students our way. Our research revenues and gas industry is currently over the past five years averaged over a experiencing severe shortages of million dollars per year. Considering that professionals - particularly in we are a small department, a geosciences. Over the years, department of 12 faculty members, we Geosciences provided the training that generate one of the highest, if not the New faculty member Dr. Essam Heggy enabled many of our graduates to highest, research dollars/faculty in the pursue successful careers in this College of Arts and Sciences. Our gifts At JPL, Dr. Heggy used radar imaging, industry. The new hire will add to the and endowments over the past five sounding techniques, and existing strong research team headed by years were the second highest measurements of electromagnetic Drs. Barnes, Harrison, and Gillespie and ($750,000) in the College of Arts and properties of rocks in radar frequencies will enable us to continue providing the Sciences despite the fact we are one of to investigate structural, hydrological adequate education and training in this the smallest departments. Our graduate and volcanic elements in terrestrial and vital and growing field. student population is 65 students this planetary environments. Essam has his year compared to 53 last year and twice We are committed to improve the work hands full. He is a member of the science what it was five years ago. We launched space environment for our students. team of the MARSIS instrument aboard our Integrated Science program two Rood is one of the oldest buildings on the Mars Express orbiter (2003-present), weeks before the beginning of the fall campus. With no exceptions, all our labs the Mini-SAR experiment aboard semester of 2014 and to our surprise five are outdated, do not serve our students Chandrayaan-1, the Mini- RF experiment students enrolled. on board the Lunar Reconnaissance well, and need a face lift. Every year we Orbiter (2008-present) and the pool our resources to renovate one of I want to take this opportunity to thank CONSERT radar experiment on board our six labs. The computer lab, the one all of the personnel who generated this the Rosetta mission (2004-present). used the most by our students, was the success story. I mean our faculty, our Essam is the Principal Investigator of the first to be renovated. This year we staff, our students, and loyal Advisory NASA Earth Venture Mission Concept completed the renovation of the Council members. They all worked hard OASIS (167 M$) that will, if funded, map paleontology lab, and the mineralogy under difficult conditions to make this for the first time the spatial distribution lab is scheduled for renovation in 2015. department the flagship of the College of shallow aquifers in the arid desert Geosciences led the efforts of four of Arts and Sciences. Last but not least regions on Earth. departments (Geosciences, physics, we will have our 50th year anniversary statistics, and mathematics) to establish on homecoming next fall. Please mark Essam says Geosciences and Western is a rock garden south of Rood. Our your calendars and COME. We want to where he wants to be. He wants to team students now have a close by location celebrate your achievements up with our research group (Earth where they can enjoy the outdoors. throughout the years, and we want to Science Remote Sensing group working Moreover, the garden can potentially connect with all of you. We want to in arid areas world-wide) to enhance his serve are a recruitment tool as it has show you what we did with your chances to respond to several NASA been recently listed as one of the stops department, how it evolved through calls that are oriented toward exploring in summer orientation campus tours. time, and discuss with you our plans for hyper-arid environments as is the case the upcoming years. We want your input for the next Earth Venture Mission call and insights. It is an opportunity for you planned for late 2015. Western’s strong to meet your colleagues, instructors, and aviation school will help him test and staff. We want you to tell our students calibrate airborne geophysical the challenges you faced, the obstacles instruments prior to sending these NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 3

you conquered, and more importantly topics, but here I am, proving that a grandkids. And several students spent time share with them your success stories. solid, basic background in fundamental with me working on their research projects, Nothing will please us more than seeing geology really is important. including an undergraduate. you here with us during homecoming Teaching assignments have been Here are updates on students working with 2015. me. Hussain Alfaifi and I installed wells in my shifting as we adjust to faculty back yard for slug testing. We tested them retirements, while still trying to offer a further this year, and Hussain presented the well-rounded slate of geo-courses. results at national GSA in Denver. We wrote GEOS 1500 “Natural Disasters and an article, which we are revising for Hazards” has been shifted to the spring submission to Groundwater Monitoring and semester, and I’ve handed off teaching Remediation. I talked with Jim Butler (the GEOS 2500 “Planetary Geology” to world expert on slug testing) recently, who Johnson Haas. This has given me more has a different slant on the effects of slug time to continue developing the GEOS size on slug testing results. Hussain and I did testing to look at a hypothesis that Jim and I 1000 “Dynamic Earth” course and to discussed. Rachel Salim is writing her thesis concentrate on GEOS 3220 “Ocean based on many long lab tests she did on Systems.” I taught during the Summer II capillary rise of water and kerosene in silts semester for the first time. Although I and fine sands. One of the current tests was was presenting my old standby “Ocean started over a year ago. Courtney Wright Systems” it was my first time to do so helped Rachel with her lab work. Seth Kuiper on-line. Who says you can’t teach old is writing his thesis on interactions of professors new tricks? groundwater and a creek downstream of a dam. Zack Spotts is writing his thesis on the This past summer was the seventh time background concentrations of 25 metals in for me to co-teach the GEOS 4380/90 Michigan soils. Chris Roth is simulating CO2 field course. Dr. Chase came back from sequestration in the Putty Gut gas field using a multiphase flow simulator. All five of these his official retirement one last time to grad students expect to finish this year. Dr. David Barnes teach. It was bitter-sweet to be in the Chanse Ford just started on groundwater- field with Dr. Chase knowing it would be surface water interactions. Greetings from Kalamazoo the last time. I can honestly say that I always learned something new every- I hope that all is well with the friends and time I was in the field with him. It was alumni of WMU Geosciences. I am always a great experience, but now it’s Dr. Alan Kehew pleased to report that I am on sabbatical at an end. Well done, but bitter-sweet this year working on some excellent none the less…………….yeah. Hi Folks, For the past year I have continued student papers and I can’t wait to see with the geologic mapping of Calhoun you all at the alumni boondoggle fall of County through the USGS STATEMAP and 2015. Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition. We Dr. Duane Hampton completed a composite map of Barry County and have two more years left to finish Calhoun, depending on the funding level. I Hello. I hope your life is going well. Last year also had two grad students finish during the Dr. Robb Gillespie I was busy. I was the seminar coordinator, year, Derrick Lingle and Ivan Guzman. and taught for the first time the seminar Greetings to all friends and alumni, class on making public scientific presentations. I taught GEOS 1000 in two This year I find myself with all my “old” revised formats, (a) emphasizing the 9 big Dr. Michelle Kominz graduate students graduated, and a ideas of the earth sciences, and (b) a hybrid whole new group of fresh students to online format that met in Battle Creek for help mentor. Andrew Sasso is busy labs. I also taught surface water hydrology In the fall, spring and summer 1 I taught of mapping and trying to explain and groundwater modeling. I served on Ocean Systems. In the Fall I tried several Precambrian (Archean) peridotites in the arguably too many university committees teaching-and-learning ideas suggested by (General Education revision; common read; Marquette area, Nick Panyard is the Education gurus. By the Spring I had curriculum committee; Asylum Lake added some “reading homework” on studying the Devonian Antrim Shale, management board; WMU climate working eLearning. Finally, in summer 1 I was the and Sarah VanderMeer is mapping group; new secondary integrated earth instructor of record for the on-line version of Quaternary tunnel valleys and moraine sciences teaching major). I start learning the the class, which I modified substantially. systems in the Pictured Rocks area of ropes as the AAUP point person on health Finally during Summer 2 I was able to put Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I never care issues. We had a family reunion in significant time into work on analysis of the thought I’d be on graduate committees Kalamazoo with all four of our children and IODP Expedition 313 New Jersey Sea Level covering such a broad range of geo- their spouses, and our nine (soon to be 11) results. I updated my results and manuscript. NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 4

Now I just need to respond to my co-authors and hydrogen isotope analysis of of 24, up from 20 the previous year. This and get it submitted. Science is a process. water samples. meant opening another Lab section and Kirk Wagenvelt is working on his MS Richard Dudek, working with me, more work for our very capable TA, studying Michigan Basin hydrocarbon received a Graduate College Research Hachemi Bouali. I also taught a small maturation and implications for geodynamic Grant and also the Geological Society of class in Electrical Methods. During models of basin formation. His work is going great. America On to The Future (OTF) spring term I was kept busy with the scholarship. This scholarship will fully Graduate Advisor duties, as well as an cover his attendance at the annual advanced class in Ground Penetrating meeting in Vancouver where he is Radar. Dr. Carla Koretsky presenting a paper, the first one from Kelly and I spent time at our Brazil house the new laboratory. in Dec and again in April. As I have gone Hello, friends and alumni! As most of to half-time status as of Sept., 2014, we you know, I am currently the Dean of the Dr. Heather Petcovic will be able to spend more of the MI winter season in the warmth of the S Lee Honors College. I do still have several wonderful Geosciences students Atlantic shoreline. My half-time status working on research projects with me. I am excited to take the place of Bill will consist of full-time during the Fall Allie Wyman graduated with her MS Sauck as the department's Graduate term and zero-time during the winter Geosciences this past summer, having Advisor, and thank Bill (and Carla before term! completed an excellent study of the him) for all of their work in making In late June, 2014, Kelly and I took a van impact of road salt on the geochemistry Geosciences such a strong and vibrant of geophysical gear to the UP and spent of Asylum Lake. She is now working as program. I look forward to working with a few days helping Sarah VanderMeer in an environmental consultant. Denisha our current and incoming graduate her dissertation area, the Picture Rocks Griffey is continuing to pursue students. I also recently transitioned to National Lakeshore. We found the GPR dissertation research focused on the the Editor for Curriculum & Instruction most useful, with excellent penetration, influence of road salts on trace metal of the Journal of Geoscience Eduation, and towed the 100 MHz antenna along speciation in shallow, organic-rich and was elected President of the more than 20 km of dirt road transects. sediments. Krishna Stephen is working Teacher Education Division (TED) of the Now she has an enormous data set to on a study of metal adsorption on nano- National Association of Geoscience process. maghemite, a collaborative project with Teachers (NAGT). Both of these roles are important in building the geoscience Our later summer travel was a large oval Dr. Michael Komarek, a faculty member starting and ending at Las Vegas, and at the Czech University of Life Sciences education research and practice communities to which I belong. I am covering most of the Parks and in Prague and Dr. Daniel Alessi, a faculty Monuments of the West, as far N as member at the University Alberta. Three wrapping up a research study on field- based education with our recently Glacier Park, NW to the Olympic excellent undergraduate students, peninsula and down the Pacific coast. A Shelby Hurst, Jake Tholen and Danielle published article in GSA Today plus several other papers currently in review, great 3-week tour, 4600 miles on the Dupuis are also working with Krishna odometer, and we saw where some of and Denisha. I was humbled and and have two new projects starting up in January. One focuses on development of the photos in geology textbooks were touched to receive the Geochemical taken. Society's Distinguished Service Award a middle school integrated science this year, which was presented at the curriculum, and the other on identifying A summary publication came Goldschmidt Conference in San Diego. barriers and opportunities for teaching out on results from 4 field seasons of Take care and please feel free to drop geosciences in currently underserved work in the SW Sinai: me a line to tell me what you've been up institutions. Two of my students Ahmed, Mohamed., William Sauck, to! graduated last year: Dr. Caitlin Callahan Mohamed Sultan, Eugene Yan, Farouk is now a post-doc in Julie Libarkin's Soliman, Mohamed Rashed, 2013, Dr. R.V. Krishnamurthy geocognition research laboratory at Geophysical Constrains on the Michigan State, and Steve Barone is Hydrogeologic and Structural Settings teaching middle school science in the of the Gulf of Suez Rift-Related Basins: Last year I have been able to set up the Detroit area. Case Study from the El Qaa Plain, Triple Isotope Liquid Water Sinai, Egypt. Surveys in Geophysics, Analyzer, the only one of its kind in 1-16. Dr. William Sauck Michigan. Several students have This primarily gravity study revealed the taken advantage of this instrument and size of an enormous aquifer contained in are conducting research in Dear Friends and Alums. The past a rift basin parallel to the E coast of the isotope hydrology. The lab is also set up academic year was eventful, as they Gulf of Suez. to provide service to external always seem to be. Fall semester of agencies who may want rapid oxygen Another publication of some older work 2013 provided an Intro Geophysics class (2006) with my archaeologist colleague NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 5

from Texas A&M was finally published Amongst other thesis committees I am Graduate College, called the Graduate late in the summer of 2014: still currently sitting on, Jess Szkody is College Doctoral Scholar Associateship. currently working on a thesis studying Pearl, F. B., and W. A. Sauck, 2014, The new Isotope ratio mass-spectrometer Geophysical and Geoarchaeological earthquake mechanisms in SW Montana got installed at the new stable isotope Investigations at Aganoa Beach, trying to locate them on known faults geochemistry lab at Haenicke 3415. The new American Samoa: an Early and seeing how the T (tension) axes economic geology lab is now operational at Archaeological Site in Western change northward of Yellowstone. Haenicke 3421. Polynesia. Geoarchaeology; doi I have announced my retirement 10.1002/gea.21491. effective Spring 2015. I will be retiring in Using GPR, I was able to locate a house April after 36 years here (and 43 total years of Dr. Peter Voice floor beneath nearly 2 meters of sand, teaching), so, with this short note I’ll just say ADIOS. The best to all of you. which provided datable artifacts I have continued to run the CoreKids showing that this occupation was nearly Chris program through the Survey. This past year, a millennium earlier (570 B.C.) than we ran 60 events with schools and our allied conventional wisdom had indicated for partners, accounting for 16,000 contacts. We this island. received a funding boost in the early Fall through the generous financial support of a grant from the Michigan section of the American Petroleum Institute.

As part of the classroom activities, I assigned cores from the Devonian units of the Michigan Basin to my graduate students in the Carbonate and Evaporite Depositional Systems class. The students worked in small groups to develop core profiles and GPR transect (12.5 m long) with 500 MHz antennae showing crushed and compacted basalt/coral house summaries of facies and depositional floor, surrounded by carbonate sand, Aganoa Beach, environments for each of the Devonian American Samoa. carbonate units. This work was presented as a Core Workshop at the March, 2014 Michigan Petroleum Technology Institute Meeting in Mt. Pleasant. Seven students presented six posters with cores at the meeting. We received many positive comments about our students at the meeting. Dr. Joyashish Thakurta I am keeping busy with teaching classes as Holding a piece of the Chelyabinsk meteorite which well – I will add two new classes to my list of impacted the Earth on February 15th, 2013 in courses taught this academic year – Chelyabinsk, Russia Sedimentation and Stratigraphy and Physical Geology. Dr. Chris Schmidt I have conducted new field trips in western Over the summer, I prepared a guidebook UP with my three graduate students during and field trip for the Michigan Basin May and June, 2014. My graduate student Geological Society. The trip went through Well there are a few notable things to Jonathan Haynes received a student research with only minor hitches (including some report that I can share. Professionally, award of $2650 from the Society of weather-related reshuffling of stops) to the Chris Whisner , Jen Whisner (class of 1994. Economic Geologists, and $1000 from the central portion of the Upper Peninsula. I was 98) and I published 2 papers, out this fall, in Graduate College at WMU. In August 2014, I quite proud of the guidebook that Bill the Journal of Structural Geology. Our photo visited Yekaterinburg, Russia as an invited Harrison and I put together as represents the (from Montana) is also “picture of the speaker for the International Platinum most recent compilation of data for the month” in the issue. I’m currently working Symposium. Paleozoic section of the Upper Peninsula (a with several colleagues at the Montana topic that has seen little light over the past 30 Bureau of Mines and Geology to publish In September 2014, two MS students: years!). The guidebook will be available for geological quadrangle maps that I have Nicholas Panyard and Benjamin Hinks and sale through both the Michigan Basin worked on for many summers. Son Gene one PhD student: Katherine Dvorak joined Geological Society and the Michigan (class of 2011) is finishing an MS degree at my research group. Katherine is interested to Geological Survey. Brock University in Ontario with thesis on a work on magmatic activity in subduction feature of the Martian surface zone environments and the origin of associated mineral deposits. Her work is supported by a special program from the NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 6

All these meetings and presentations over partner Core Energy, LLC. This technical the last year were to confirm and specify the review and field validation progressed geological issues currently facing the State of significantly in developing Enhanced Oil Michigan in all aspects of agriculture, Recovery (EOR) with the capture and industry and rural growth, which includes injection of CO2. The EOR program is one of water, resource development and data the economic benefits of carbon capture and management and the need for funding for injection and this has resulted in the the Survey. This outreach has included secondary recovery of more than seven (7) formal presentations and formal and million barrels of entrained oil, providing informal meetings, discussions and millions of dollars in additional revenue for workshops. For example, MGS initiated a the Michigan economy over the last seven series of research workshops with well years. To entice additional industry drillers to standardize and elevate the quality initiatives in this CO2 capture and injection, MICHIGAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: of sample descriptions of glacial material Michigan modified and reduced the oil input to the well drilling records of the State severance tax to stimulate support for Greetings Alumni and friends from the to enhance the quality of data for water expending the additional costs for this type Director of the Michigan Geological Survey, assessments. This has included validation of of EOR program. That legislation was signed John A. Yellich ([email protected] ): standardizing glacial lithology with the at MGRRE, by Lieutenant Governor Brian geologists from the Department of Calley on April 1, 2014, in recognition of the The Michigan Geological Survey (MGS) has Environmental Quality. This sample MGRRE data and technical support. been functioning in its new structure at description program is supported by the MGRRE continues to receive funding for this Western Michigan University, Geosciences Michigan Groundwater Association. MGS is Department for just over three years. The also advocating a standardized geologic data core and data storage facility from industry donations and greatly appreciates this functions of the Survey include investigation base for existing data held in various of the geological resources of the state and department data files throughout the State. support. Dr. David Barnes also received a four (4) year extension in DOE grant funds to collection and archival of samples, cores, cuttings, and records of geological MGS has met with numerous stakeholders in continue the MGRRE and other research a number of geographic areas to develop a support for staff and students to the MRCSP investigations in the state. The MGS plan to maximize the “Re-invented” MGS’s sequestration studies being done in Michigan function is to serve the people of the State ability to support the State as the “go to” for by the partnership. and the governmental entities, the Client. geological science information going forward

in the changing economy. As a result of Dave Barnes, Bill Harrison, Matt Rine The MGS is continuing to operate primarily these meetings and discussions, the attended an annual meeting of the MRCSP on university soft money, utilizing the partnership in Columbus, Ohio in November. expertise of the faculty members within the Directors of the Michigan Departments of: Environmental Quality (MDEQ), Natural That meeting had all the technical members, Geosciences Department until formalized plus a local industry partner, Core Energy and funding can be provided. I have focused on Resources (MDNR), Office of Great Lakes (MOGL) and Agriculture and Rural State regulatory members from Michigan, presenting the Survey as the “Go To” plus the other partnership states in resource for geologic information in the Development (MDARD), Governor’s Quality of life Council, established a funding attendance. Matt Rine presented his current State. To meet this requirement, the Survey partnership with MGS to support the USGS graduate studies on the Niagaran reefs and established a more formalized structure of Federal mapping program and this their importance to the EOR and CO2 nine Resource Centers, MGRRE- Sample and partnership is the first State funding for studies. Data Repository, Surface Mapping, Hydrogeology/Environmental, Energy, mapping in over 30 years, which will support the USGS matching funds programs. MGRRE received a grant from the National Economic Minerals, Geologic Hazards, Geological and Geophysical Data GIS/Data Management, Outreach and Michigan Geological Repository for Preservation Program (NGGDPP). This year Remote Sensing to provide the scientific Research and Education: The Michigan the project archived 234 oil and gas wells information to the public and the state Geological Repository for Research and from 5000 core boxes representing 15,000 legislative body, and their respective recent Education (MGRRE), which has functioned feet of core and shallow bedrock data accomplishments are summarized below. for over 30 years under the direction of Dr. storage from 125 shallow bedrock wells and Recent announcements were made in William Harrison III boreholes from about 770 core boxes Michigan on the significance of maintaining ([email protected]) and Linda representing 2,310 feet of core. Also core and data in a recoverable condition at Harrison ([email protected]), included in the data preservation is the MGRRE facility. continues to be the strength of the MGS. approximately 7,300 oil well scout tickets

Many requests for data review have occurred that were handwritten and they were I have had over 90 occasions during the past over the last 30 years at MGRRE. scanned and digitized. year to continue the MGS road show to Specifically, requests for review of geologic introduce the “Re-invented” survey to the core and data were incorporated into a The US House of Representatives held client, and to meet the critical stakeholders collaborative carbon sequestration program, hearings on September 17, 2014 on bill H.R. in the State. This includes meetings with the the Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration 5066 and representatives of the Association Directors in the Governor’s office and with Partnership (MRCSP) with Battelle National of American State Geologists (AASG) and local and regional economic development Labs, the Department of Energy (DOE), industry made presentations in support of managers, business associations and a MGRRE with Dr. David Barnes that legislation for continued funding of presentation to a State Senate committee. ([email protected]) and our industry NGGDPP, the data and sample preservation NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 7

act. MGS submitted formal written proposed to the State in sensitive high water teachers are now turning to the educational testimony on that date in support of H.R. use areas. resource at the MGS- MGRRE facility. The 5066 to continue funding for NGGDPP. The number of contacts being made with MGS testimony documented hundreds of Groundwater Resources & Environmental students or general public at presentations or millions of dollars in associated oil, gas and Quality and Energy: The MGS has been sessions has increased in the last year. The mineral revenues and associated taxes to asked to sit on the Governors’ select water coordinator and staff have made over 16,000 Michigan, as a result of the MGRRE facility, advisory group, Water Use Advisory Council, contacts within this budget year and current also documenting the successful student which is supporting the adoption of the Great expectations are that we will exceed last theses and industry research studies and Lakes compact requiring permitting of large year’s contact numbers in the next year. programs over the last 30 years. capacity water withdrawal wells and to Teachers are seeing the benefits of this quantifying their impact on stream flows. program and the MGS hopes to incorporate MGRRE is also supporting the State Local requests are being made to MGS for this into the State K-12 program going Geothermal Data project, organized by the information on the quality of the forward. AASG with funding from the Department of groundwater in certain areas of the State, Energy, which brings data from all 50 States but many of the requests do not have Dr. Peter Voice and Dr. William Harrison led a into the National Geothermal Data System funding associated with any proposed study Michigan Basin Geological Society (MBGS) (NGDS). MGS digitized at-risk, legacy at this time. field trip on August 22-24 of this year to the geothermal-relevant data and submitted lower Paleozoic outcrops in the eastern same to the U.S. Geosciences Information Economic Minerals: The Western Michigan Upper Peninsula. The trip was fully Network (USGIN) data base. University (WMU) hard rock economic subscribed and an excellent field guidebook mineral geologist/petrologist, Dr. Joyashish for this trip is available on either the MGS or Oil and Gas: The MGS through the Resource Thakurta ([email protected]), MBGS web sites. Center at MGRRE continues to be associated has focused on the rock suites of the Upper with the Petroleum Technology Transfer Peninsula of Michigan. His efforts will be Remote Sensing: MGS and the Remote Council (PTTC) which conducts day and multi integrated into the MGS’s role as a mapping Sensing laboratory under the direction of Dr. day workshops on oil and gas production and sample collector and analyzer of specific Mohamed Sultan technologies in Michigan. The Conferences geologic data in little known exploration ([email protected]) is preparing in 2014 had over 200 attendees at multi areas. He has written proposals to conduct proposals to support satellite imaging and session lecture conferences and technical studies with mining companies which will airborne geophysical surveys for mapping sessions held in the State. These workshops utilize students to sample and analyze the water resources and geologic structures. focus on relevant topics in the petroleum data for their respective thesis, the industry. educational component of the I look forward to the coming year and invite MGS/University synergy. His contacts have any of my old and new friends and associates Geologic Mapping: MGS participates in also stimulated the potential for conducting to come and visit the Campus and the Survey both the USGS STATEMAP and Great Lakes an aerial geophysical survey of the Upper to say hello. I look forward to meeting with Geologic Mapping Coalition projects are Peninsula to benefit the assessment of you and presenting additional successes of under the direction of Dr. Alan Kehew hidden mineral targets in the hardrock the Survey. ([email protected]). MGS did terrain which would enhance the State and participate in presentations in February to all Private leasing potential for any buried the Michigan delegates in Washington D.C. mineralization targets. requesting their continued support for funding the Great Lakes Geologic Mapping GIS Data Management and MGS Store: Coalition, which was successful. Emphasis in Sita Karki ([email protected]) has been the two USGS mapping programs is now preparing and inputting many new and concentrated in areas of mineral resources in historic maps and documents that meet Arc- the Upper Peninsula and water resources and GIS standards to the MGS data management the need for accurate geologic data and systems. The new functioning role of the aquifer characteristics in the Lower Peninsula MGS has been initiated and it includes (LP). The LP studies are being done with a preparing documents and maps for

refined 3-D approach which includes a distribution and sale through the MGS combination of surface geologic mapping, a website. The MGS believes that there are NOTE: Pictures of drillers core/sample limited rotosonic and geoprobe drilling many other older Michigan publications and description workshops in June at MGRRE and program, down hole geophysical logs, with paper resources that can be input to the in Alpena in September with over 50 support from Dr. William Sauck, and document archives and made available to the attendees. incorporating the validated geologic logs scientific community and general public. from water well drillers. All these components result in a more accurate Outreach and K-12 program: The K-12 geologic depiction of the stratigraphic program at MGS-MGRRE has had increasing section and increase the quality of the data interest by the Michigan education set in assessing the water bearing strata and community under the direction of and resource availability for high production coordination by Dr. Peter Voice users, primarily the agricultural community. ([email protected]). This emphasis is An expanded mapping program is being the importance of earth science education of our middle and high school students. Many NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 8

workshop in February for Battelle research staff and Core Energy geologists. Cores from several northern Niagaran reef trend wells were examined because they might serve as models for the project currently underway in Otsego County.

Potash continues to fascinate Bill and he gave a paper about this Michigan resource in September at the Eastern Section AAPG in London, Ontario. He and Dave co-authored a News from MGRRE - paper about CO2EOR that Bill delivered at We hope you have had a rewarding year the same meeting. Bill co-authored two since you last heard from us. At MGRRE we other papers at that meeting, so his presence Bill finished his assessment of Michigan’s didn’t go unnoticed. continue to work with members of industry subsurface rocks’ capacity for geothermal to help them explore for oil, gas, mineral and energy. This was part of the AASG State Jenny Trout continued to help visiting water resources. We enjoyed seeing 200 Geothermal Energy project to collect industry members who came to examine people at the spring PTTC workshop where temperature data from subsurface sources. core and asked us to cut samples for their we had several speakers from industry and You can find Bill’s data on line at analyses. We had a particularly large request our graduate students presented poster http://repository.stategeothermaldata.org/re that temporarily put our trim saw out of papers, accompanied by a truckload of core. pository/collection/fd62bbde5b68ce93e4ba3 commission. But Jenny rallied, fixed the saw, 48bc7046611. MGRRE welcomed Lt. Gov. Brian Calley on and shipped the samples in short order. April 1st to sign a new law offering incentives We continue to rescue data, archive it here at We are grateful for industry donations of for enhanced oil recovery by CO injection. 2 MGRRE, and convert paper to digital data as maps, gravity measurement surveys, dip Calley commented, “The process is more part of our on-going work with the National meter logs and data, well and prospect files, expensive than traditional methods, but is Geological and Geophysical Data and core thin section slides. Jenny, Lolita considered the most cost-efficient method of Preservation Program (NGGDPP), funded by Krievs, and the students have been working carbon capture and sequestration.” At the the USGS. This past year we scanned and on inventorying all these. meeting, WMU President Dunn called inventoried 7,300 unique historic scout MGRRE “an amazing resource for Michigan’s tickets. Our new work-study students are citizens” and said that MGRRE had “played a enthusiastic and learning quickly. In addition critical role in the legislation being signed to inventorying donated materials, they have today.” been scanning well logs and gas chromatographic analyses.

Jenny and the students started a new project recently. They are rebooking some very thin core slabs. As donated to us, they were in 3’ long boxes with 5 to 7 internal layers of very thin core slabs with only cardboard strips separating the layers. As you can imagine, those thin pieces of core tended to get out of We also determined for the first time what order by sliding around in the box. And it was the accurate core footages are for samples next to impossible to lay them out for from 234 wells that had been donated to examination. The role MGRRE plays in this work is the on- MGRRE by industry. Only the well name and going research conducted by Dave Barnes, the core and box numbers were shown on We designed some thin cardboard trays and Bill Harrison, our students, and our industry the boxes. By examining each core and had them manufactured locally. Now we are partner, Core Energy, LLC. We are all comparing it to public well records and in- placing all the slab pieces in these trays members of the Midwest Region Carbon house core analyses, we were able to where they stay in order. We can put 18 to 20 Sequestration Partnership (MRCSP) funded ascertain exact footages for these cores, feet of core in one core box by stacking 2 to 3 by the DOE and directed by Battelle making them usable now for industry work layers of trays. The samples are now easily Memorial Institute. Funding will continue for and research. Lolita Krievs massaged all this displayed for examination, and we actually three more years for Phase III, designed to data and uploaded it to the National Catalog save pallet space. inject and monitor at least one million metric at http://ndc.sciencebase.gov. tons of CO2 into a series of oil fields that are in different stages of their production life cycles. MGRRE hosted a three-day core NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 9

assistance to the Department with its continuing initiatives and endowments. Information on the department’s endowments can be found on the Geosciences Web site:

http://www.geology.wmich.edu/how- to-donate.html (see “Giving”).

The Council continues to be available to provide guidance to both undergraduate and graduate students through informal meetings and other events. It has Original multi- Thin slabs from one provided support for the continuation of layered boxes box Jeff Halleck the geosciences field programs, and has assisted the department in securing funds for both on-going and future projects and endowments.

The Council encourages you to come to WMU during Homecoming or at any other time in order to visit the department, to re-ignite old friendships, and to re- establish contact with the faculty and the university. Hope to see you all at the

Alumni Boondoggle Fall 2015! Slabs marked in new Result: Cores in trays new boxes Jenny is also working to Council members photograph cores as we lay them out. And Ray Enbody she has been making Petra maps of oil and The council includes the chair, vice chair, gas fields by formation names so we can active members, honorary members and enter all the data in an atlas. The resulting emeritus members. maps will help to show the fields and WMU Geosciences formations for which we have cores. This is a  Jeff Hawkins, Chair major project that will not soon be finished, Phone: (269) 342-1100 but it’s certainly worth doing. Advisory Council Email: [email protected]

We are honored that several Greetings to alumni, friends, faculty, students have worked here at MGRRE and students: through all their undergraduate years. Two of those students recently graduated and are Members of the Geosciences Advisory now starting their professional careers. Jeff Council met at the WMU Michigan Halleck and Ray Enbody made lasting contributions to our IT infrastructure and Geological Repository for Research and mudlog database and we feel very fortunate Education (MGRRE) center in April 2014, to have known and worked with them. We and again in October 2014. The Advisory miss them already and wish them well. Council calls upon all alumni and friends who have prospered from their relationship with the Geosciences Department to return in part the benefits they have received. Some examples are by offering support as a  Richard Laton, Ph.D., Vice Chair volunteer at local or out of town Phone: (657) 278-7514 University functions, as an “Ambassador Email: [email protected] of Geosciences” at professional meetings where students and faculty are Jerry Aiken Phone: 520-297-9832 presenting papers, as an unofficial Email: [email protected] recruiter for the WMU Geosciences Department, or by offering financial NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 10

Christopher Amore Phone: (586) 218-4331 Meet our Students Email: [email protected] Emeritus members Paul Daniels Phone: (269) 343-1181  Lloyd Schmaltz, Ph.D Email: [email protected] Phone: (269) 375-2346

 Thomas Straw, Ph.D James J. Ferritto Email: [email protected] Phone: (231) 775-2884 Email: [email protected]  John A. Yellich  Phone: 303-901-2886  Email: [email protected] Harold R. Fitch  Phone: (517) 284-6823 Kirk Wagenvelt – MS candidate (under Email: [email protected] advisor Michelle Kominz)  Honorary members Over the summer months of 2014 I John Fowler  Ibrahim A. Al-Jallah Phone: (517) 787-5533 worked for one of the largest energy Email: [email protected]  Ahmed Murad, Ph.D companies in the world, ExxonMobil. During my time there I was challenged to demonstrate my capacity to work as a Thomas C. Kamin Provisional members Phone: (972) 874-5050 team member in the Production Email: [email protected]  Jim Farnsworth Company. My role within the team of geoscientist and production engineers Michael S. Kovacich  Mike Wireman Phone: (734) 213-5024 was to utilize Petrel Exploration and Email: [email protected] Production Software to better

understand the subsurface geology in

Diana Morton-Thomson Equatorial Guinea and Chad. I presented Phone: (269) 343-1181 the benefits of my work to company managers, high ranking supervisors, and Howard Nevins Phone: (812) 858-3146 other company branches. It was a great Email: [email protected] way for me to see what it is like to work for a large corporation. I have accepted an offer with ExxonMobil and plan to Sara Pearson Email: [email protected] start in the summer of 2015. A hearty congratulation to vice-chair W. Chris Roth Phone: (727) 741-1794 Richard Laton, Ph.D., has received two Email: [email protected] major 2014 awards from the National

Ground Water Association. Rich received

Bill Steinmann the Ross L. Oliver Award for outstanding Phone: (269) 806-4046 contributions to the groundwater Email: [email protected] industry and the Keith E. Anderson Award for outstanding contributions to Kim Steinmann NGWA. At WMU, Laton is actively Email: [email protected] involved with training of future hydrogeologists, through years of Kevin Wilson, Ph.D. Phone: (218) 728-8386 dedication to teaching and championing Email: [email protected] our hydrogeology field course.

Congratulations to Krishna Stephen – PhD candidate (under advisor Carla Koretsky) on winning the women’s NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 11

doubles event at the West Hills Fall Congratulations to our students who Classic tennis tournament this October! earned Graduate Research Awards:

Congratulations to Geosciences Abdel Mohamed receiving the precious Farouk El-Baz international award at GSA graduate students Frank Sattler and in Vancouver, Canada Jose Soares on taking home the

hardware in the 1st annual departmental More Student Awards ping pong tournament at the campus rec center this fall! Richard Dudek – stable isotopes (Rich also received the GSA on to the future Department of Geosciences (OTF) scholarship). Presidential Scholar Raneem Binismail

The Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowship Racha El Kadiri

The Graduate College’s Graduate Student Research and Travel Award (fall

Jonathan Haynes – economic geology 2013) Abotalib Farag (Research Grant) Racha El Kadiri (Research Grant)

The Graduate College’s Graduate Student Research and Travel Award (spring 2014)

Denisha Griffey - geochemistry

Erica Bays – (MS candidate) spent her summer in and around Fort Collins, Lamees Mohamed (Research Grant) Colorado with an internship at the NAGT-USGS Cooperative Summer Field Training Program. Erica worked with Michigan Basin Geological Society mentor David Walters collecting data for Scholarship his research on nutrient retention and Kyle Cox productivity in Rocky Mountain streams Matt Rine under alternative stable states. She says it was one of the best experiences of her Frank Sattler life! Kirk Wagenvelt

Jessica Szkody - tectonics NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 12

AAPG Grants-in-aid AWARD Advisory Council Kyle Cox Field Camp Scholarship GEOLOGY CLUB: Kirk Wagenvelt We are all Western Michigan University students, interested in learning more and

sharing our knowledge of Geology with each (IMAGIN) JIM LIVING SCHOLARSHIP other and our community. We use our AWARD AGU (Travel Award) background not only from the classroom, but Racha El Kadiri from the field and from our many field trips across the country and around the world.

Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral Society Scholarship Arkansas/Oklahoma Lamees Mohamed During spring break 2014, members of the Neal Turluck geology club under the supervision of Dr.

Lloyd and Marilyn Schmaltz Peter Voice explored the geology of Undergraduate Scholarship in Geology Kathryn Hillenbrand Arkansas and Oklahoma. Places the club visited included Onondaga State Park in or Earth Science Awards Missouri, where the club spent time hiking on Danielle Dupuis Mohamed I. Sultan Endowment Award Whitaker Point Trail. The club went canoeing Callie Mahan Racha El Kadiri on the Buffalo River (geo-float) at Buffalo National River in Arkansas and made their Abotalib Farag Jake Tholen way to Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas where they investigated the Magnet Cove John and Kelly Grace Endowment Distinguished Student Service Award Intrusive complex. Scholarship Denisha Griffey The group then ventured into the Ouachita Keith Sulen Jessica Szkody Mountains, Lake Ouachita and the Arbuckle Mountains. They camped at Turner Falls

Zachary Waber State Park and eventually made it to the Sam Lloyd and Marilyn Schmaltz MGRRE Sara Wild Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History Scholarship (Univ. of Oklahoma). Other subsequent Frank Sattler stops included the Alabaster Caverns State Senior Honor Awards: Park, Black Mesa State Park, the Wichita Mountains and the Great Salt Plains, OK. The group finished up their adventure with a William and Linda Harrison Graduate Geology Scholarship visit to the Oklahoma Geological Raneem Binismail Observatory and spending time exploring the Matt Rine Nicholas Moleski Ozark Mountains before they finally returned home to Kalamazoo.

Envirologic Technologies Scholarship Hydrogeology Tales from the Journey - Neal Turluck Awards Kathryn Hillenbrand Dawn Caldwell “Jason and I needed firewood and we went

Denisha Griffey to a few gas stations in search of a bundle or Geophysics two but couldn't find any. Out of nowhere a Krishna Stephen Derek Patterson pick up pulled up with a truck bed brimming with cut and aged firewood followed closely

Douglas Daniels Endowed Scholarship behind by a small dump truck full of cut and and Award Earth Science aged firewood, they wouldn't sell us a single Sarah VanderMeer Sara Wild piece, saying that they had already sold what they were delivering but knew someone who

could hook us up. They told us to go to a gas Randall Kerhin Graduate Scholarship Earth Science Education station down the road and ask about a guy Abdel Mawgoud Mohammed Shannan Wilson named "Whitey" who would be able to sell us Jessica Szkody some wood so we took up and beat on down the trail to get to the gas station as it was

getting late and we were in rural Oklahoma with no other possible leads (there are very few large trees in Oklahoma). When we get to the gas station we ask the attendant NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 13

about Whitey and his firewood for sale, it twice about driving down back alleys in small turns out he contracts through the gas towns trying to purchase reasonably priced IN REMEMBERANCE station to sell his firewood there but they firewood, it may just end up to be a bad Dr. J. Philip McLaren were out. A gentleman sitting at a table deal. And for us that bad deal left us all nearby enjoying a delicious burrito from the cold.”

taqueria in the gas station, that is commonplace in most gas stations down IMAGES FROM THE VOYAGE south, spoke up and said he knew Whitey and that he would call him for us. He got him on the phone and in some very rapidly spoken, and somewhat angry, Spanish, they came to terms and the burrito eating gentlemen hung up the phone to give us the good news. He told us Whitey would be more than glad to sell us as much firewood Dr. J. Philip McLaren, "Doc", age 72, as we needed and to go directly to his passed away in Hawaii Wednesday, Feb. house. After getting directions to an alley on 12, 2014 after a brief illness. Originally an unlit street behind a garage and a burned from Los Angeles, Phil was the son of a down house, we got on our way. When we science educator who instilled in him a pulled up to Whitey's house it wasn't more curiosity for the natural world. In 1964, than a tin shack with lean to and a yard full of Ozark Mountains Phil graduated from Bethel College in chickens with stacks of firewood up and Members of the Geology Club at WMU enjoyed a Indiana and went on to receive his PhD beautiful afternoon looking at sandstone down his property line. Just as we were from Western Michigan University in formations including arches during the trip. about to turn off the car and step out to 1968 during which time he and wife approach the side door, someone knocked Lynne started a family. Doc moved to on the window and as Jason rolled it down Quincy with his family in 1976 to they told us to follow them. They walked to become a Professor of Biology at the end of the drive and at the corner of the Eastern Nazarene College. property next to one of the piles of neatly Over the course of 35 years at the stacked cut to length and split firewood they College, he inspired curiosity and shared stopped, it was a woman and she introduced his passion for teaching and science with herself as Yolanda. She said we could have students, colleagues and family alike. as much as we wanted from that pile and it Doc is most remembered as an would cost $0.35 a log and we were to keep educational adventurer and world track of what we took and were to pay her traveler always with a ready story or a accordingly. We got twenty pieces, enough lesson to share. Docs favorite travel for a nice roaring campfire that evening to Buffalo River advice to his students was to "sleep enjoy under the clear Oklahoma sky and to Geology Club members (canoed down the Buffalo when you can, eat what's in front of you, cook our delicious dinner with. There was a River with a few of the canoes tipping over and if you like it, buy it, as you may pleasant visitor who came brushing across including Dr. Peter Voice and Sara Wild, Neal never see it again". Docs interests our legs and as I was about leap out of my Turluck and Jose Soares. included becoming a private pilot, scuba skin I realized it was Whitey's and Yolanda's Want to get in touch with the Geology Club at diving, sailing, celebrating his Scottish cat that had come to say "Hi." After petting WMU ? Email: [email protected] heritage as a member of the Royal what was a very dirty, yet pleasant cat, we Scottish Dance Society and his long time paid Yolanda and went on our way. We Officers for the Geology Club membership in the Scots' Charitable never got to meet the ambiguous and Society, He always took an active role in mysterious Whitey, the supposed firewood 2014-15 are as follows : his church. Bethel College honored Phil kingpin of central Oklahoma, but Yolanda as Alumnus of the Year in 1999 and he was very nice. When we got back to the PRESIDENT – Jake Tholen served as President of Massachusetts campsite several of us unloaded the car of VICE PRESIDENT – Sara Wild Marine Educators, (MME) from 1985- firewood, split some wood into tinder and 1987. started up the fire. It turns out the firewood SECRETARY – Jason Bell they had sold us was unseasoned meaning it was very wet and did not burn well, hence TREASURER – David Gold the cheap price. A lesson learned is that it just goes to show who you can and cannot ______trust in this world, maybe we should all think NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 14

Stephen Layne Armstrong passion. The next 28 years were spent HYDROGEOLOGY FIELD CAMP 2014 teaching middle school science and This summer marked the 26th physical education at Lakewood Public anniversary of the Hydrogeology Field Schools, Lake Odessa. He continued on Course (HFC) at WMU and my third as at Lakewood as a para professional for director of the program. Enrollment was 14 years after retiring from full-time once again exceeding capacity and teaching. During his entire career he also nearly 2/3 of the 30+ participants came taught many after school enrichment from other universities from around the classes, particularly chess, which was nation and the world. One student came another passion. John had many from as far as Japan to participate in our interests and hobbies, including water course. skiing, in which he excelled, bicycling, body building, canoeing, camping, cross We had a great group of students, Stephen Armstrong, 64, of Flint country skiing, and hikingHis other faculty and teacher’s assistants here and Township, passed away Monday, hobbies included astronomy, birding, a great time was had by all (so they December 2, 2013 from pancreatic photography, and celestial navigation. say!). Of course, not everything went as cancer. He was born in Victoria, Texas on planned, but we expected that! Running September 19, 1949 and was raised in the HFC has been a very rewarding Maria Ann Cervantes Roth East Grand Rapids, MI. Steve graduated experience for me. We would not be from Western Michigan University able do it without the support of our Geosciences in 1972 where he was a friends and alumni, who truly make this proud member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. field course what it is today – a top- Steve later created his own business, rated program nationally. AMS Direct, which he operated independently for 33 years. Our students get the skills they need to carry on with high- level research aspirations into graduate school, or Throughout his life, Steve enjoyed simply to hit the job market as qualified softball, golf, and camping, coaching, and well-rounded geologists. I am dog training and was heavily involved in already receiving inquiries about next various wildlife philanthropies. Steve year’s course, which is sure to be as was extremely passionate about fly much fun as this year’s was. fishing, fly tying, waterfowl hunting,

decoy making, upland bird and wild Are you an alumni of the WMU HFC? turkey hunting. He pursued these Maria Cervantes Roth, age 46, passed We would love to hear from you! You passions every year throughout the U.S. away on Nov. 17, 2013 after a battle with can reach me by and Canada with close friends and cancer. Maria is the wife of alumni and email:[email protected] or by family. Geosciences advisory council member phone 269-387-5492 or follow us on FB Chris Roth (BS 1994). “WMU Hydrogeology Field Camp”

Marie worked as a fitness coordinator John Hudson Crane, Jr. and trainer at the YMCA for many years. Among many tasks, she coached volleyball and volunteered at Relay For Life. Through her work in fitness, personal training, and coaching volleyball, her caring personality and selflessness has touched many people. In lieu of flower or mass Marie's last

wishes were to have an Educational Trust Fund set up on behalf of her daughter, Gabrielle and her son, Cody. Enrollment for 2015 begins February 1st John Hudson Crane, Jr., age 67, passed Educational Trust Fund, Gabrielle Roth away gracefully at his home on January and Cody Cervantes. 4, 2012. He attended Western Michigan University, earning a Bachelor of Science You may send your donation to: degree in earth science and psychology Beverly & Julio Cervantes and a master’s degree in earth 2276 Brookhaven science. Teaching was his avocation and Canton, MI 48188 NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 15

Graduate Student enrollment is near an all-time high in the Geosciences. MEET OUR The students here are very dedicated to NEW their research and teaching activities. The department has always maintained GRADUATE a high-level of research standards for our students and an emphasis on applied STUDENTS science broadly in energy and the environment.

Geosciences offers programs intended as professional degrees for students continuing in a geosciences career: NATHAN ERBER

Doctor of Philosophy in Geosciences

Master of Science in Geosciences

For students who plan careers outside the geosciences, but whose work or specialty would benefit from an in-depth education in the geologic sciences: DAWN CALDWELL Master of Arts in Earth Sciences

There are currently 65 graduate students at the department studying and SCOTT FELDPAUSCH conducting research in a broad range of interdisciplinary topics including:

 Carbon sequestration  Carbonate systems  Earth science education  Environmental geology  Geochronology  Geomorphology  Hydrogeology TOM BRUBAKER  Isotope geochemistry  Petroleum geology  Remote sensing CHANSE FORD  Sedimentology  Structural geology  Basin analysis  Biogeochemisty  Economic geology  Engineering geology  Geochemistry  Geophysics  Geothermal energy  Ground water modeling KATIE DVORAK  Limnology

JON GARRETT

NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 16

ESYAS GEBREMICHAEL ROZKAR ISMAIL HANNAH PANKRATZ

DAVID GOLD EVAN JENSEN AHMAD TAYEB

KEITH LANG – NOT PICTURED

KIM BROSNAN – NOT PICTURED

CHASE SCHEPKE – NOT PICTURED

BEN HINKS JAY KIM

JEFF HUDSON NAOMA LEONARD

NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 17

resources in the context of Michigan CoreKids: our K-12 stratigraphy. Concepts covered include Outreach Program basic relative dating, uniformitarianism, sedimentary depositional environments, and porosity and permeability.

With Sita Karki’s assistance, we revamped the CoreKids website. We

also sent CoreKids program Peter Voice continues to direct announcements and advertisements to CoreKids, our K-12 outreach program. the MESTA newsletter, the Michigan The Program conducts visits to Science Teachers Association classrooms in a large area including newsletter, and the Michigan Alliance of Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Environmental and Outdoor Educators Detroit metro areas. Peter carries out newsletter. This new ad campaign Both modules incorporate a really neat this work with help from many student sparked some interest, as we are getting hands-on activity, where the children colleagues. Together they present contacts now from schools where we can actually see which rocks are the interactive classroom modules have never previously visited. Through most porous and permeable. We explaining aspects of Michigan’s our new emphasis on building imbedded air valves into cores from geologic history, water and other relationships, we hope to increase the different rock types and attached them resources. number of on-site tours and classroom to bicycle tire pumps. The children then visits to bring our message to a much try to pump air through these rocks that larger audience of students, teachers, are submerged in water in large clear and parents. beakers. If the rocks are porous and permeable, bubbles stream out of the core—it’s pretty exciting to see.In addition, we have developed modules on Natural Hazards (Volcanoes, Earth Quakes and Impact Craters), Michigan Fossils, the Climate and the Environment. Several of these modules were tailored to larger events such as During the 2013-2014 school year, the spring Environment Week at the CoreKids interacted with 16,100 children Cranbrook Institute. at their schools and at events sponsored Ann Gilchrist helped us develop an by the Cranbrook Institute and the We present several classroom modules amazing hydraulic fracturing model that Kalamazoo Geological and Mineral including one on Michigan’s actually simulates the process of Society. We had 60 events with schools hydrogeology and another on hydraulic fracturing by injecting sand and our allied partners. We are Michigan’s geologic history. The and glycerin into a gelatin called agar. expanding our network of contacts and hydrogeology module discusses the We are starting to test the model in the recently added the Michigan hydrologic cycle, water storage in classroom and with professional Department of Environmental Quality. aquifers, and environmental issues. The geologic history module includes a geologists. discussion of Michigan’s natural NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 18

Heather Petcovic and Peter conducted three teachers’ workshops with the Multidisciplinary Research Award that we received in August, 2013. These workshops provided us with valuable feedback on what earth science content that teachers were looking for in a digital format. We used the feedback to strengthen a proposal that was resubmitted to the National Science Foundation in October of 2014. Peter also became involved with a group of outreach specialists working for major museums, parks and geological surveys in the Midwest. The group was started by Dr. Lisa Anderson (a WMU Alumnus!), who organized a slate of talks focused on outreach at the 2014 North-Central Geological Society of America Meeting. Peter presented a talk at the session on the CoreKids program. The group agreed to continue to work together and will have a session at the upcoming 2015 North-Central GSA meeting (which Peter agreed to co-chair).

We are all grateful to the DTE Foundation for its generous past support for CoreKids.

We also are grateful to the Michigan Section of the America Petroleum Institute which provides us funding to support the Hydraulic Fracturing Module and Michigan Geologic Resources Module.

NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 19

Geosciences Publications Depletion from Space: Case Studies from the Elkadiri, R., Sultan, M., Youssef, A., Saharan and Arabian Aquifers, in Rodell, M., 2013-14 Elbayoumi, T., Chase, R., Bujlkhi, and A., (Ed.), Chapman Remote Sensing AGU Bujlkhi, M.M., 2014, A Remote-Sensing- monograph number 206, (in press). Abouelmagd, A., Sultan, M., Sturchio, N., Based Approach for Debris-Flow Soliman, F., Rashed, M., Ahmed, M., Kehew, Susceptibility Assessment Using Artificial Sultan, M., Sefry, S., AbuAbdallah, 2014, A., Milewski, A., Chouinard, K., 2013. Neural Networks and Logistic Regression Impacts of Climate Change on the Red Sea Paleoclimate record in the Nubian Sandstone Modeling, IEEE JSTARS, DOI: Region and its Watersheds, Saudi Arabia, Aquifer, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Quaternary 10.1109/JSTARS.2014.2337273. Red Sea Book Series, Elsevier Inc., Academic Research, v. 81, p. 158-167. Press (in press). Harrison, William B. III, (2014) Occurrence of Ahmed, M., Sultan, M., Wahr, J., Yan, E., Potash-bearing strata (Sylvinite) in the Saline Sultan, M., K. Chouinard, M. Ahmed, N. Chouinard, K., 2014, The use of GRACE data A-1 Evaporite in the Central Michigan Basin. Sturchio, E. Yan, A. Milewski, R. Becker, D. to monitor natural and anthropogenic Eastern Section AM ASSOC PETR GEOL Becker, and J. Wahr, 2013: Assessment of the induced variations in water availability across meeting abstracts, p. 36. Vulnerabilities of the Nubian Sandstone Africa, Earth Science Reviews, v. 136, p. 289- Fossil Aquifer, North Africa. Climate 300. Kehew, A. E., Esch, J. M., and Linker, J. S. Vulnerability: Understanding and Addressing 2013. Landforms and Stratigraphic Threats to Essential Resources. Elsevier Inc., Ahmed, M., Sauck, W., Sultan, M., Yan, E., Architecture of the Saginaw Lobe Terrain, Academic Press, 311–333 pp. Soliman, F., Rashed, M., 2013, Geophysical Southern Calhoun County, Michigan (abs.) Constraints on the Hydrogeologic and Geological Society of America, paper 39-18, Szkody, J., Stickney, M.C., and Schmidt, C.J., Structural Settings of the Gulf of Suez Rift– Annual Meeting. 2014, Extension directions in southwestern Related Basins: Case Study from the El Qaa Montana inferred from fault plane solutions, Plain, Sinai, Egypt: Surveys in Geophysics, v. Milewski, A., Sultan, M., Al-Dousari, A., Yan, GSA Abstracts with Programs, Rocky Mtn. 35, p. 415–430. E., 2013, Geologic and hydrologic settings for Section GSA, v. 46, No. 5, p. 9. development of freshwater lenses in arid Alharbi, T., Sultan, M., Sefry, S., El Kadiri, R., lands, Hydrologic Processes, doi: Voice, Peter; Harrison, III, William B.; and Ahmed, M., Chase, R., Milewski, A., 10.1002/hyp.9823. Thakurta, Joyashish; (2014) Revising the AbuAbdallah, M., Emil, M., Chounaird, 2013, Basement Map of the Lower Peninsula; New An assessment of landslide distribution in the Pearl, F. B., and W. A. Sauck, 2014, Constraints from Core and Cuttings. Eastern Fifa area, Saudi Arabia, using remote sensing Geophysical and Geoarchaeological Section AM ASSOC PETR GEOL meeting and GIS techniques: Natural Hazards and Investigations at Aganoa Beach, American abstracts, p. 48. Earth System Sciences Discussion, v.1, p. Samoa: an Early Archaeological Site in 6685-6717. Western Polynesia. Geoarchaeology; doi Voice, P. J. and Harrison, W. B. III (eds.) 2014. 10.1002/gea.21491 Michigan Basin Field Experience and Barnes, Dave; Harrison, III, William B.; (2014) Devonian Carbonate Reservoir Core Kelley, Steven; and Rock, Farsheed (2014) Petcovic, H.; Voice, P.; Horvitz, B.; and Workshop. Michigan Petroleum Technology MICHARB: A Geological Carbon Bentley, A. 2014. The MGRRE Education Transfer Institute Satellite Workshop Volume Sequestration Research Center for Michigan: Portal: Investigating Rocks and Fossils Under prepared for the March 2014 MI PTTC Saline Reservoir, GCS Storage Resource Michigan. Michigan Earth Science Teachers Meeting, Mt. Pleasant, MI. Estimates for the Michigan Basin. Eastern Association Meeting 2014 Field Conference, Section AM ASSOC PETR GEOL meeting Alpena, MI. Voice, P. J. and Harrison, W. B. III 2014. abstracts, p. 29. Paleozoic Geology of the Central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Michigan Basin Cox, K. J.; Emil, M. K.; Sattler, F. R.; Suhaimi, Rine, Matthew; Barnes, Dave; Harrison, III, Geological Society Summer Excursion Guide A.; Voice, P. J.; and Harrison, W. B. 2014 William B.; and Sullivan, Charlotte; (2014) book. Co-published by the Michigan Basin Investigation of the Contact between the Evaluating the Silurian (Niagaran) Reefs in Geological Society and the Michigan Traverse Group and the Squaw Bay the Michigan Basin for carbon sequestration. Geological Survey, 111 pp. Limestone in the Subsurface of the Michigan Eastern Section AM ASSOC PETR GEOL Abstracts: Basin. Geological Society of America North- meeting abstracts, p. 44. Central Meeting, Lincoln, NE. In GSA Voice, P. J.; Harrison, W. B.; and Thakurta, Abstracts with Programs, 46(4):55. Su, B.X., Qin, K.Z., Zhou, M.F, Sakyi, P.A., J.2013, A preliminary survey of the Geology Thakurta, J., Tang, D.M., Liu, P.P., Xiao, Q.H of the Pre-Michigan Basin rocks of the C.J. Schmidt, S.C. Whisner, and J.B. and Sun, H. (2014), Petrological, Southern Peninsula. Institute on Lake Whisner, 2014, Folding of a detachment and geochemical and geochronological Superior Geology Proceedings, 59th Annual fault-modified detachment folding along a constraints on the origin of the Xiadong Ural- Meeting, Houghton, Mi, v. 59, part 1, p. 80- lateral ramp, southwestern Montana, USA: Alaskan type complex in NW China and 81. Journal of Structural Geology, in press. tectonic implication for the evolution of southern Central Asian Orogenic Belt, Voice, P. J.; Harrison, W. B.; and Thakurta, J. C.J. Schmidt, Whisner, S.C., and Whisner, Lithos, vol. 200-201, 226-240, doi: 2014. Revising the Basement Map of the J.B., 2014, The Jefferson Canyon and Cave 10.1016/j.lithos.2014.05.005 Lower Peninsula; New constraints from faults revisited, GSA Abstracts with Cores and Cuttings. Eastern Section, programs, Rocky Mtn. Section GSA, v. 46, Sultan, M., Ahmed, M., Wahr, J., Yan, E., Association of American Petroleum No. 5, p. 95. Emil, M.K., 2014, Monitoring Aquifer Geologists, London, Ont. NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 20

William B. Harrison, III - “Preserving and William and Linda Harrison Scholarship Voice, P. J.; Gilchrist, A.; Barone, S.; Digitizing Paper Well Records of Petroleum $21,889.68 Petcovic, H.; and Harrison, W.B. 2014, Hydrocarbon Chromatographic Analyses of Expanding the Impact of the Michigan Drill Cuttings and Core Chips” Funded by the Barry and Beth McBride Endowment for Geological Survey’s CoreKids Program: National Geological and Geophysical Data Geosciences $13,893.81 Productive Partnerships with Non-profits and Preservation Program (NDDGPP) through Regional Amateur Geology Groups. the United States Geological Survey W. Richard Laton Field Camp Scholarship Geological Society of America North-Central (USGS).Project Start Date: 09/01/2014. Endowment $39,166.27 Meeting, Lincoln, NE. In GSA Abstracts with ($29,141) Programs, 46(4):50. Sultan, M., A remote sensing – based early Randall Kerhin Graduate Scholarship in Vuke, S.M., Lonn, J.D., Berg, R.B., and warning system for algal blooms in Kuwait Geosciences $12,437.59 Schmidt, C.J., 2014, Geologic Map of the Bay and coastal waters (Kuwait Institute for Bozeman 30’ X 60’ Quadrangle, Scientific Research)(2012-2014; US$ 155,000) John and Kelly Grace Endowment of Southwestern Montana, GSA Abstracts with Geosciences $11,561.52 programs, Rocky Mtn. Section GSA, v. 46, Sultan, M., Use of Grace, remote Sensing, No. 5, p. 93. and traditional data sets for modeling time- Mohamed I. Sultan Endowment for dependent water partitioning on continental Geosciences $11,200.34 Vuke, S.M., Lonn, J.D., Berg, R.B., and scales: A case study from Africa, (NASA- GRACE) (2011-2015; $457,000) Schmidt, C.J., 2014, Geologic Map of the Total $281,799.57 Bozeman 30’ X 60’ Quadrangle, Sultan, M., Evaluating subsidence in the Nile Southwestern Montana: Montana Bureau of Delta using radar interferometry, PENDING Mines and Geology Open File Report. (NSF)(2011-2014; $298,000)

Geosciences Study Abroad Endowment Whisner, S.C., Schmidt, C.J., and Whisner Sultan, M., Detailed Studies of Landslides in $1,100.00 J.B., 2014, Structural analysis of the Lombard Jazan Area, Saudi Arabia (Saudi Geological thrust sheet and adjacent areas in the Helena Survey)(2010-2014; $300,000) salient southwest Montana, USA: Journal of Peter J. Kaczor Geology Scholarship Structural Geology, in press. Sultan, M., Use of GRACE data to estimate $4,175.00 temporal changes in terrestrial water storage (TWS) across the Empty Quarter and Ronald Chase Endowment $2,547.00 Zaki, A., Sultan, M., and Elkadiri, R., 2014, surroundings (Saudi Geological Survey)(2013; Comment on: Polygonal faults in chalk: $60,000) Alan E. Kehew Endowment $10,200.00 Insights from extensive exposures of the Khoman Formation, Western Desert, Egypt, Sultan, M., Towards a better understanding Chris Schmidt Endowment $1,250.00 Geology, July 2014, v.42, p. 342. of the paleo-hydrologic setting of the Empty Quarter (Saudi Geological Survey)(2014; The Core of Four Endowment for Grants $90,000) Geosciences $2,500.00 Endowments Peter Voice - American Petroleum Institute – Shirley J. Aiken Geosciences Scholarship Michigan Section Grant for the CoreKids $2,200.00 Program - $18,000 Department of Geosciences Endowment $15,979.25 Joyashish Thakurta - Surficial Geological Empowering Geosciences $2,105.00 Mapping: Vulcan 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, Douglas Daniels Endowed Geosciences Dickinson County, Michigan – STATEMAP Tom Straw Endowment $100.00 Scholarship and Award $13,496.59 program, United States Geological Survey ($31,661) Nicholas Bull Endowment $492.00 Envirologic Technologies Endowed Alan Kehew - Surficial Geological Mapping: Scholarship $22,221.53 Total $26,669.00 Albion SW and Albion SE 7.5 Minute Quadrangle, Calhoun County, Michigan – Geosciences Advisory Council Quasi- STATEMAP program, United States Endowment $12,317.00 Geological Survey ($41,845) MGRRE Lloyd Schmaltz Quasi-Endowment William B. Harrison, III - “Michigan $13,257.40 Michigan Geological Repository for Geological Samples and Data Preservation Research and Education $651,857.62 Project 2013” Funded by the National Geosciences Operating Quasi-Endowment Geological and Geophysical Data $25,938.78 MGRRE Operations $529,766.07 Preservation Program (NDDGPP) through the United States Geological Survey W. David Kuenzi Memorial Quasi- Total $1,181,623.69 (USGS).Project End Date: 08/31/2014. ($32,549) Endowment $68,439.81 NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES Vol. 7 Issue 1

2014 Geosciences Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient: Mike Wireman

The Department of Geosciences at WMU is extremely pleased to reconnect with and offer the distinguished alumni award for 2014 to Mr. Mike Wireman. Michael Wireman was a hydrogeologist employed by the U.S. EPA in Denver, hydrology/geochemistry, groundwater management; has extensive experience Colorado, until summer 2014, sensitivity/vulnerability assessment, in groundwater-related work in the where he served as a national isotope hydrology, groundwater/surface Baltic countries, Ukraine, Romania, and water interaction, and aquifer groundwater expert. Georgia; and has served as an adjunct characterization. Wireman has a master's degree in professor at Metropolitan State hydrogeology from Western Michigan College in Denver where he taught a University and he has done post- class on contaminants. master's work at the Colorado School of Mines. He has more than 30 years of Wireman is a member of the Colorado experience in groundwater Ground Water Association, NGWA, investigations in the western Rocky and Geological Society of America, Mountains. and he is the current chair of the International Association of In his most recent position, he provided Hydrogeologists United States National technical and scientific support to Chapter. several EPA programs, other federal agencies, international programs, and state groundwater In addition, he has significant experience protection/management in the legal, scientific, and programmatic programs. Wireman managed research aspects of groundwater resource projects related to mine-site

NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 22

Gifts to Tom Jordan Corporate donors: Thomas Kamin Geosciences Alan Kehew Apache Foundation Joshua Kirschner Barratt Consulting, LLC Donations for 2012-2013 Jeffrey Klan Chevron USA, Inc. Teresa Klan Devon Energy Corporation (From 11/1/14 - date of issue) Michelle Kominz Devon Energy Tower Individual donors: Phillip Koro Double Eagle Enterprises, Inc. Michael Kovacich Exxon Mobil Foundation Angela Adams R.V Krishnamurthy Innova Exploration Alan Adams Janet Lambright Interpex Limited Jerry Aiken William Lambright Michigan Basin Geological Society Christina Alexander Douglas Lockwood Michigan Geology & Gemcraft Society Dane Alexander Karen Lockwood Michigan Wireline Services, Inc. Larry Austin Karen Lowder Miller Energy, Inc. Ann Marie Baker Peter Marsala Pale Morning Dove, LLC Timothy Baker Karen Mater Phillips Environmental Consulting Services Warren Baumann Wayne Mater Scot Energy Doris Becker Charles McDonald Stock Drilling Co. Richard Becker Jennifer Medema The Haggard Foundation Regina Bolin Douglas Medema Trendwell Energy Corporation Ronald Chase Ray Merrill W.B. Osborn Oil & Gas Operations, LTD Stacy Clark Suzanne Merrill West Bay Exploration Paul Daniels, Jr. Mary Moore Whiting Oil & Gas Corp.

Kristine Daniels Diana Morton-Thompson Leroy DeNooyer Heather Petcovic Thomas Drean Michael Phillips James Duncan, Sr. Lisa Phillips James Ferritto William Sauck Dennis Gaulden Lloyd Schmaltz Would you like your name to be added Judy Gaulden Christopher Schmidt to the list? Did we inadvertently leave Constance Gawne William Schorger you off the list? Please contact us if our Robb Gillespie Judy Shatter records are incorrect or if you would like Wayne Goodman Rick Shatter to make a donation. We would love to Marty Goodman Mohamed Sultan hear from you! You can please update using the form on page 23------> August Grebinski Alix Thompson Duane Hampton Douglas Thompson Cathy Hampton Brian Valle Linda Harrison Peter Voice William Harrison Kathryn Wright Alexander Hill Jiang Wu James Horacek John Yellich James Jessmore Patricia Johnston

NEWSLETTER WMU GEOSCIENCES | Issue 1 23

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS… IN 2015 THE DEPARTMENT OF GEOSCIENCES WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY! PLANS ARE IN THE MIX TO HAVE A MAJOR REUNION EVENT WITH ALL OUR FRIENDS AND ALUMNI HERE IN KALAMAZOO. WE HOPE YOU CAN MAKE IT HERE TO REUNITE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AND TO HELP US CELEBRATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND HONOR ALL THE WONDERFUL FOLKS WHO HAVE HELPED TO MAKE THIS DEPARTMENT GREAT.

MORE DETAILS TO FOLLOW IN THE coming months – SAVE THE DATE TO BE IN KALAMAZOO Fall 2015!!!