Kasserena Cvikel, “An Ultimate Guide to Sedimentary Structures: A Comprehensive Catalog”
Mentor: John Isbell, Geosciences
Poster #41

Existing geological atlases skillfully illustrate general sedimentary structures; however, they lack glaciogenic examples and descriptions. The purpose of my research is to catalog sedimentary structures left behind by various geological depositional environments while emphasizing glacial structures. Such structures are critical in interpreting the way glaciers behave through time and space. In simplest terms, sedimentary structures are the features found in sedimentary rocks that formed at the time of deposition by the influence of energy, or lack thereof, within an environment. To conduct my research, I am utilizing various laboratory materials and advanced technology to best depict such structures. Under the mentorship of Dr. John Isbell, I am advised on helpful outcrops and drilled cores to catalog, as well as the Department of Geoscience’s library of hand samples and thin sections. The structures are then photographed and cataloged with an original written description for each. While the data is collected, they are simultaneously uploaded to a website that I created to keep organized and up to date. This research is still in progress, but the objective is to have as complete of a collection as possible by the end of the semester. If the project succeeds, Dr. Isbell and I intend to put together a published atlas with all the data collected. The physical copy of my research would serve as an exceptionally functional tool for geologists in the field and in laboratory for better understanding glaciation on Earth and on Mars.