Influences of Modern Pedogenesis on Paleoclimate Estimates from Pennsylvanian And
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Influences of Modern Pedogenesis on Paleoclimate Estimates from Pennsylvanian and Permian Paleosols, Southeast Ohio A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science Sarah J. Kogler May 2018 © 2018 Sarah J. Kogler. All Rights Reserved. 2 This thesis titled Influences of Modern Pedogenesis on Paleoclimate Estimates from Pennsylvanian and Permian Paleosols, Southeast Ohio by SARAH J. KOGLER has been approved for the Department of Geological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences by Daniel I. Hembree Associate Professor of Geological Sciences Robert Frank Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 3 ABSTRACT KOGLER, SARAH J., M.S., May 2018, Geological Sciences Influences of Modern Pedogenesis on Paleoclimate Estimates from Pennsylvanian and Permian Paleosols, Southeast Ohio Director of Thesis: Daniel I. Hembree Exposed paleosols are subject to modern pedogenic processes which, over time, are expected to alter paleosol chemistry and subsequent paleoclimate estimates to better reflect the environment at the time of exposure rather than the time of formation. Although paleosols are widely used in paleoclimatic reconstruction, current research typically does not address the degree of influence that modern weathering has on the bulk geochemistry of paleosols. Previously described Pennsylvanian and Permian paleoVertisols and paleoInceptisols with known durations of exposure were described and sampled from five roadcuts in southeastern, Ohio. Samples were collected at depths of 0, 25, 50, 100, and 150 cm from the outcrop surface, and then analyzed via XRF for major oxides (Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Al, Si, Mn, P, and Ti). These data were used in molecular weathering ratios to characterize paleosol properties and calculate MAP and MAT. Results indicate that although oxide geochemistry often differs between sampling depths, the differences do not occur in a pattern that supports that recent pedogenesis is a driving factor. Rather, this study may be capturing naturally occurring geochemical variations that are the result of small-scale differences in formational environment. Additionally, decade- level exposure time along these roadcuts may limit the extent of pedogenesis. Ultimately, for geochemical studies on paleosols in outcrops located on young roadcuts in 4 temperate climates, current sampling techniques seem to be sufficient in mitigating the effects modern weathering. Recommendations from this study include sampling from 25- 50cm beyond paleosol surface and taking multiple samples across an outcrop to account for lateral variation. 5 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, I need to thank my adviser, Daniel Hembree, for forcing me to consistently meet his expectations and live up to my potential through a combination of encouragement, patience, and pressure. I would like to thank my committee members, Gregory Springer, Alycia Stigall, and Craig Grimes, for providing a secondary source of guidance and expertise. Many thanks to my field assistants, Alexander Hartman and Kelsey McGuire, who were willing to dig holes for money, and Emma Swaninger, who was willing to dig holes for free. Without you I would probably still be on a roadcut. I would like to thank Rob Michitsch at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, if we never met, this thesis would probably have been about deer. Finally, I would like to thank my friends and family for their unwavering support, particularly my fiancé, Bradley Kuehn, who sacrificed both his career and his computer to further my education. I would also like to thank the following funding sources that made this project possible: the Geological Society of America, student research grant, the Society of Sedimentary Geology, Foundation Grant, the Ohio University Geological Sciences Alumni Graduate Research Grant, and the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund (grant 52708-UR8). 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 3 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................... 5 List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... 6 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................... 9 Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 2: Paleosols and Paleoclimate ............................................................................. 12 Impacts of Climate on Pedogenesis ............................................................................ 12 Use of Climofunctions in Interpreting Soil Properties ............................................... 14 Types of Evaluated Paleosols ..................................................................................... 19 paleoVertisols ....................................................................................................... 19 paleoInceptisols..................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 3: Geologic Setting .............................................................................................. 22 Pennsylvanian ............................................................................................................. 22 Conemaugh Group ................................................................................................ 22 Monongahela Group ............................................................................................. 28 Permian ....................................................................................................................... 29 Dunkard Group ..................................................................................................... 30 Modern Soil-Forming Conditions ............................................................................... 32 Chapter 4: Methods ........................................................................................................... 36 Field Methods ............................................................................................................. 36 Laboratory Methods .................................................................................................... 39 Analyses and Comparisons ......................................................................................... 40 Chapter 5: Results ............................................................................................................. 42 Physical Properties by Site.......................................................................................... 42 Site 1 ..................................................................................................................... 42 Site 2 ..................................................................................................................... 47 Site 3 ..................................................................................................................... 50 Site 4 ..................................................................................................................... 55 Site 5 ..................................................................................................................... 61 Geochemical Properties by Site ............................................................................ 66 7 Site 1 ..................................................................................................................... 66 Site 2 ..................................................................................................................... 68 Site 3 ..................................................................................................................... 70 Site 4 ..................................................................................................................... 72 Site 5 ..................................................................................................................... 75 Comparisons ............................................................................................................... 78 Overall................................................................................................................... 78 Upper v. Lower ..................................................................................................... 78 Lithified v. Unconsolidated .................................................................................. 79 PaleoVertisols v. PaleoInceptisols ........................................................................ 79 Chapter 6: Discussion ....................................................................................................... 88 Sampling Depth and Bulk Geochemistry ................................................................... 88 Causes of Observed Geochemical Variation .............................................................. 89 Local Variation in Soil Properties......................................................................... 89 Deep Weathering Profile....................................................................................... 93 Outcrop Age .........................................................................................................