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At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
USGS1978

Range charts and no-space graphs

No-space graphs present one solution to the familiar problem: given data on the occurrence of fossil taxa in separate, well-sampled sections, determine a range chart; that is, a reasonable working hypothesis of the total range in the area in question of each taxon studied. The solution presented here treats only the relative sequence of biostratigraphic events (first and last occurrences of taxa) and does not attempt to determine an amount of spacing between events. Relative to a hypothesized sequence, observed events in any section may be in-place or out-of-place. Out-of-place events may indicate (1) the event in question reflects a taxon that did not fill its entire range (unfilled-range event), or (2) the event in question indicates a need for the revision of the hypothesized sequence. A graph of relative position only (no-space graph) can be used to facilitate the recognition of in-place and out-of-place events by presenting a visual comparison of the observations from each section with the hypothesized sequence. The geometry of the graph as constructed here is such that in-place events will lie along a line series and out-of-place events will lie above or below it. First-occurrence events below the line series and last-occurrence events above the line series indicate unfilled ranges. First-occurrence events above the line series and last-occurrence events below the line series indicate a need for the revision of the hypothesis. Knowing this, the stratigrapher considers alternative positionings of the line series as alternative range hypotheses and seeks the line series that best fits his geologic and paleontologic judgment. No-space graphs are used to revise an initial hypothesis until a final hypothesis is reached. In this final hypothesis every event is found in-place in at least one section, and all events in all sections may be interpreted to represent in-place events or unfilled-range events. No event may indicate a need for further range revision. The application of the no-space graph method requires the assumption of lack of reworking and the assumption that taxa that are present in a single horizon indicate taxa whose ranges overlap. When applied to hypothetical and actual data, the no-space graph technique produces geologically reasonable range charts that compare favorably with results produced by other methods.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1978

Orthogonal mapping: A computer program for quantifying shape differences

Quantitative differences in the shape of two or more objects can be obtained by Orthogonal Mapping provided coincidental or analogous points can be identified on each object. The least-squares difference between each set of analogous points is determined by use of a projective transformation of a set of measured points which involves the rotation, translocation, and scaling of these points relative to a set of fixed points. ?? 1978.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1979

An algol program for dissimilarity analysis: a divisive-omnithetic clustering technique

Clustering techniques are used properly to generate hypotheses about patterns in data. Of the hierarchical techniques, those which are divisive and omnithetic possess many theoretically optimal properties. One such method, dissimilarity analysis, is implemented here in ALGOL 60, and determined to be competitive computationally with most other methods. ?? 1979.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1980

Computational methods for a three-dimensional model of the petroleum-discovery process

A discovery-process model devised by Drew, Schuenemeyer, and Root can be used to predict the amount of petroleum to be discovered in a basin from some future level of exploratory effort: the predictions are based on historical drilling and discovery data. Because marginal costs of discovery and production are a function of field size, the model can be used to make estimates of future discoveries within deposit size classes. The modeling approach is a geometric one in which the area searched is a function of the size and shape of the targets being sought. A high correlation is assumed between the surface-projection area of the fields and the volume of petroleum. To predict how much oil remains to be found, the area searched must be computed, and the basin size and discovery efficiency must be estimated. The basin is assumed to be explored randomly rather than by pattern drilling. The model may be used to compute independent estimates of future oil at different depth intervals for a play involving multiple producing horizons. We have written FORTRAN computer programs that are used with Drew, Schuenemeyer, and Root's model to merge the discovery and drilling information and perform the necessary computations to estimate undiscovered petroleum. These program may be modified easily for the estimation of remaining quantities of commodities other than petroleum. ?? 1980.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1980

Discrim: a computer program using an interactive approach to dissect a mixture of normal or lognormal distributions

DISCRIM is an interactive computer graphics program that dissects mixtures of normal or lognormal distributions. The program was written in an effort to obtain a more satisfactory solution to the dissection problem than that offered by a graphical or numerical approach alone. It combines graphic and analytic techniques using a Tektronix1 terminal in a time-share computing environment. The main program and subroutines were written in the FORTRAN language. ?? 1980.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1982

Three FORTRAN programs for finite-difference solutions to binary diffusion in one and two phases with composition-and time-dependent diffusion coefficients

Geological examples of binary diffusion are numerous. They are potential indicators of the duration and rates of geological processes. Analytical solutions to the diffusion equations generally do not allow for variable diffusion coefficients, changing boundary conditions, and impingement of diffusion fields. The three programs presented here are based on Crank-Nicholson finite-difference approximations, which can take into account these complicating factors. Program 1 describes the diffusion of a component into an initially homogeneous phase that has a constant surface composition. Specifically it is written for Fe-Mg exchange in olivine at oxygen fugacities appropriate for the lunar crust, but other components, phases, or fugacities may be substituted by changing the values of the diffusion coefficient. Program 2 simulates the growth of exsolution lamellae. Program 3 describes the growth of reaction rims. These two programs are written for pseudobinary Ca-(Mg, Fe) exchange in pyroxenes. In all three programs, the diffusion coefficients and boundary conditions can be varied systematically with time. To enable users to employ widely different numerical values for diffusion coefficients and diffusion distance, the grid spacing in the space dimension and the increment by which the grid spacing in the time dimension is increased at each time step are input constants that can be varied each time the programs are run to yield a solution of the desired accuracy. ?? 1982.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1983

Geotherm: the U.S. geological survey geothermal information system

GEOTHERM is a comprehensive system of public databases and software used to store, locate, and evaluate information on the geology, geochemistry, and hydrology of geothermal systems. Three main databases address the general characteristics of geothermal wells and fields, and the chemical properties of geothermal fluids; the last database is currently the most active. System tasks are divided into four areas: (1) data acquisition and entry, involving data entry via word processors and magnetic tape; (2) quality assurance, including the criteria and standards handbook and front-end data-screening programs; (3) operation, involving database backups and information extraction; and (4) user assistance, preparation of such items as application programs, and a quarterly newsletter. The principal task of GEOTHERM is to provide information and research support for the conduct of national geothermal-resource assessments. The principal users of GEOTHERM are those involved with the Geothermal Research Program of the U.S. Geological Survey. Information in the system is available to the public on request. ?? 1983.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1985

SAS program for quantitative stratigraphic correlation by principal components

A SAS program is presented which constructs a composite section of stratigraphic events through principal components analysis. The variables in the analysis are stratigraphic sections and the observational units are range limits of taxa. The program standardizes data in each section, extracts eigenvectors, estimates missing range limits, and computes the composite section from scores of events on the first principal component. Provided is an option of several types of diagnostic plots; these help one to determine conservative range limits or unrealistic estimates of missing values. Inspection of the graphs and eigenvalues allow one to evaluate goodness of fit between the composite and measured data. The program is extended easily to the creation of a rank-order composite. ?? 1985.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1985

PREPRO: a computer program for encoding regional exploration data for use in characteristic analysis

The preprocessor (PREPRO) computer program offers the exploration geologist a variety of options for encoding regional exploration data into ternary form for use in characteristic analysis. PREPRO's options include variable-input formats, cursor input, ordering among a set of input variables, and selectable ternary transformations. Moreover, the program provides for the display of results which, in turn, makes possible review, reselection, and retransformation of variables. Most important, the performance of the listed steps in an interactive computing environment results in rapid and efficient preprocessing of the data.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1986

Management of the life and death of an earth-science database: some examples from geotherm

Productive earth-science databases require managers who are familiar with and skilled at using available software developed specifically for database management. There also should be a primary user with a clearly understood mission. The geologic phenomenon addressed by the database must be sufficiently understood, and adequate appropriate data must be available to construct a useful database. The database manager, in concert with the primary user, must ensure that data of adequate quality are available in the database, as well as prepare for mechanisms of releasing the data when the database is terminated. The primary user needs to be held accountable along with the database manager to ensure that a useful database will be created. Quality of data and maintenance of database relevancy to the user's mission are important issues during the database's lifetime. Products prepared at termination may be used more than the operational database and thus are of critical importance. These concepts are based, in part, on both the shortcomings and successes of GEOTHERM, a comprehensive system of databases and software used to store, locate, and evaluate the geology, geochemistry, and hydrology of geothermal systems. ?? 1986.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1986

Color images of Kansas subsurface geology from well logs

Modern wireline log combinations give highly diagnostic information that goes beyond the basic shale content, pore volume, and fluid saturation of older logs. Pattern recognition of geology from logs is made conventionally through either the examination of log overlays or log crossplots. Both methods can be combined through the use of color as a medium of information by setting the three color primaries of blue, green, and red light as axes of three dimensional color space. Multiple log readings of zones are rendered as composite color mixtures which, when plotted sequentially with depth, show lithological successions in a striking manner. The method is extremely simple to program and display on a color monitor. Illustrative examples are described from the Kansas subsurface. ?? 1986.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1986

Geostatistical analysis of gas potential in Devonian shales of West Virginia

The geologic processes that control the occurrence of gas in the Devonian shales of West Virginia are understood poorly. Locating a new Devonian shale well may depend upon proximity to known producing wells. Maps of initial potentials and probability of success can play an important role in exploration and development. Experimental semivariograms show large nugget effects for both variables. Contour maps of kriged estimates for these variables show northeast-southwest and northwest-southeast-trending linearities that may implicate natural fractures as controls on gas presence and production potential. ?? 1986.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1987

CLAYFORM: a FORTRAN 77 computer program apportioning the constituents in the chemical analysis of a clay or other silicate mineral into a structural formula

The FORTRAN 77 computer program CLAYFORM apportions the constituents of a conventional chemical analysis of a silicate mineral into a user-selected structure formula. If requested, such as for a clay mineral or other phyllosilicate, the program distributes the structural formula components into appropriate default or user-specified structural sites (tetrahedral, octahedral, interlayer, hydroxyl, and molecular water sites), and for phyllosilicates calculates the layer (tetrahedral, octahedral, and interlayer) charge distribution. The program also creates data files of entered analyses for subsequent reuse. ?? 1987.

Computers & Geosciences↗
USGS1988

FORTRAN 77 programs for conductive cooling of dikes with temperature-dependent thermal properties and heat of crystallization

Temperature histories obtained from transient heat-conduction theory are applicable to most dikes despite potential complicating effects related to magma flow during emplacement, groundwater circulation, and metamorphic reaction during cooling. Here. machine-independent FORTRAN 77 programs are presented to calculate temperatures in and around dikes as they cool conductively. Analytical solutions can treat thermal-property contrasts between the dike and host rocks, but cannot address the release of magmatic heat of crystallization after the early stages of cooling or the appreciable temperature dependence of thermal conductivity and diffusivity displayed by most rock types. Numerical solutions can incorporate these additional factors. The heat of crystallization can raise the initial temperature at the dike contact, ??c1, about 100??C above that which would be estimated if it were neglected, and can decrease the rate at which the front of solidified magma moves to the dike center by a factor of as much as three. Thermal conductivity and diffusivity of rocks increase with decreasing temperature and, at low temperatures, these properties increase more if the rocks are saturated with water. Models that treat these temperature dependencies yield estimates of ??c1 that are as much as 75??C beneath those which would be predicted if they were neglected. ?? 1988.

Computers & Geosciences↗