Date of Award

Summer 8-2020

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Program

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Department

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Major Professor

Dr. Mark Kulp

Second Advisor

Brad Robison

Third Advisor

Chris McLindon

Abstract

A geologic investigation of the Lake Hermitage area west of the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana suggests an active, regional growth fault has caused rapid local subsidence. The Magnolia growth fault is a down-to-the-south, deep-seated listric fault bounded to the west and east by two salt diapirs. Evidence from 3D seismic data, well logs, and biostratigraphy, in addition to local geomorphology, suggests the fault has been active since the Miocene and is causing submergence of wetlands on the hanging wall side. To investigate whether a correlation exists between deep-seated growth faults and subsidence at this location, near-surface data including vibracores, radiocarbon dated organic material, and 2D CHIRP seismic were collected to examine whether motion of the Magnolia growth fault has contributed to local subsidence in the Holocene. A complete understanding of fault-induced subsidence in southern Louisiana is necessary to maximize the benefits of coastal management.

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

Available for download on Thursday, August 07, 2025

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