Geology Student Research

UTC Geology Majors have several opportunities available to conduct research during their 4 years in the program. Students also have the opportunity to present their work as poster or oral presentations at UTC Research Dialogs (an on-campus research showcase) and regional professional meetings such as the Southeastern Section of the Geological Society of America. Our students have also had the opportunity to present research at international meetings of GSA various cities across north America and have participated in and co-authored peer-reviewed scientific papers. Examples of those projects and presentations are listed below.
Journal Publications with Student Co-Authors (student names bolded)
Brock-Hon, A.L., and Morganthaler, S., 2019. Investigation of limestone and dolomite clast alteration in petrocalcic horizons, southern Nevada, USA: Geoderma, v. 342, p. 42-54.
Brock-Hon, A.L., Johnston, S.E., 2014. Separation and characterization of pedogenic barite crystals from petrocalcic horizon materials for future isotopic and geochronological applications: Geoderma v. 217-218, 129-134.
Honors Thesis
Hayley Beitel: Spatial GIS Analysis of Barrovian Index Minerals and Textures in the Metamorphic Zones of the Tennessee Blue Ridge
Presentations at regional and national meetings (past 5 years)
Mathias, C.A., Spivey, K., Collyer, N., Brock-Hon, A.L., McCarragher, S., 2019. Geology of Chattanooga: Engaging the Community with its Foundation: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs v. 51, n. 3.
Dudley, D., Brock-Hon, A.L., 2016. Mineralogical study at Mormon Mesa, Nevada: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 48, n. 3.
Hossain, A., Blanton, R., and Mathias, C., 2019, Quantitative Remote Sensing of Surface Water Quality in Southeast Tennessee. AGU Fall Meeting, 9-13 December 2019, San Francisco, CA.
Hossain, A., and Mathias, C., 2021, Remote Sensing of Water Quality in the Tennessee River Using Sentinel-2 Imagery, GSA Southeastern Section - 70th Annual Meeting – 2021, April 1-2, 2021, Online Meeting. GSA Abstract #362338 (Abstract Submitted).
Hossain, A., Blanton, R., and Mathias, C., 2020, Quantitative Remote Sensing of Surface Water Quality in Southeast Tennessee Utilizing Planet Dove Imagery, GSA 69th Annual Southeastern / 55th Annual Northeastern Section Meeting – 2020, 20-22 March 2020, Reston, Virginia (Abstract accepted). Conference cancelled due to COVID-19.
Bonnette, K. Firat, C., and Hossain, A., 2019, Application of Remote Sensing Technology to Study Coal Ash Spill in River Water, 2019 annual meeting of GSA Southeastern Section. 28–29 March, Charleston, South Carolina.
Burleson, J., York, A., Mathias, C., and Hossain, A., 2019, Exploring the Potential of GIS and Remote Sensing Techniques to Study the Impacts of Drought on Plant-Moisture Content in Hamilton County, Tennessee, 2019 annual meeting of GSA Southeastern Section. 28–29 March, Charleston, South Carolina.
Adair, W.A., Beitel, H.R., Hamid, Z. A., Hossain, A., and Mies, J.W., 2018, Exploring the potential of remote sensing and GIS for geological mapping of Woodall Shoals, GA-SC, 2018 annual meeting of GSA Southeastern Section. 12–13 April, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Springer, H. H., and Hossain, A., 2018, Developing a model to map the potential areas for landslide hazards in Hamilton County, TN using GIS and remote sensing, 2018 annual meeting of GSA Southeastern Section. 12–13 April, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Beitel, H.R., Churnet, H.G., Hossain, A., and Mies, J.W., 2018, Characterization of metamorphic zones in the Tennessee Blue Ridge using GIS and digital image processing, 2018 annual meeting of GSA Southeastern Section. 12–13 April, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Titles of Select Senior Research Projects (GEOL 4900)
- Impact of Jefferson County Landfill on Local Watershed
- Dimensional preferred orientation of quartz grains within Hesse Sandstone
- Trends in the conodonts of the Craters Limestone
- Glacial ablation analysis with respect to anthropogenic sources
- Coastal flood zone construction in three counties along the North Carolina coast
- Exploring Landslide Susceptibility in Hamilton County, Tennessee using GIS
- Evidence for Lichen-Induced Substrate Biodegradation of the Monteagle Limestone at Little Cedar Mountain, TN: Mechanisms and Products at the Lichen-Rock Interface
- Monitoring of Glacial Recession in Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska Using Remote Sensing
- Geological Mapping of Woodall Shoals, Ga-Sc Using Remote Sensing and Digital Image Processing techniques
- Studying the Effects of Urbanization on Water Quality of the South Chickamauga Creek using GIS and Remote Sensing