Physical and Chemical Controls on Suffosion Development in Gypsic Soil, Culberson County, Texas

<p>In the Gypsum Plain, suffosion processes have encouraged road failure through dissolution and transport of gypsic soils; however, no prior research has been conducted within the Delaware Basin in regard to these processes. These phenomena were evaluated in both field and laboratory settings in order to assess the parameters of suffosion development associated with Ranch to Market (RM) 652 in Culberson County, Texas, where infrastructure extends across Castile and Rustler strata. Field studies simulated surficial ponding in various gypsic soils and correlated suffosion potential with soil composition and thickness. Soluble fractions of gypsic soils were delineated through geochemical analyses, further expanding upon the soil descriptions published in the Culberson County Soil Survey (USDA, 2013). Suffosion modeling replicated processes observed in the field through repeated infiltration of Dellahunt and Elcor soils—soil piping and subsidence were induced within suffosion models. Lineaments inferred as solutional fractures were delineated using color infrared (CIR) images to determine regional suffosion potential.</p> <p>Results obtained from this research were used to form a conceptual model of suffosion development in order to better mitigate damage imposed on infrastructure in evaporite karst terrains. Regions with thick, heterogeneous soils of low to moderate gypsum content (10-70%) and moderate fracture densities (100-800 m/km²) are optimal for suffosion development. This model should be considered for future projects in not only the Gypsum Plain, but for other arid environments with significant evaporite karst and gypsic soils as well.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science - Geology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geology

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Morris, Jonah

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Kevin Stafford
• Dr. Melinda Faulkner
• Dr. Wesley Brown

• suffosion
• gypsic soil
• gypsum
• evaporite
• karst
• Delaware Basin
• Gypsum Plain
• Geology
• Soil Science

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/etds/220

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.sfasu.edu:etds-1235