Research

Research Interests

Contribution of Ohio River islands to Floodplain Growth in Upper Ohio River Valley

Ohio River Islands are temporary features. The upper valley contains example of islands in various stages of accretion to the floodplain. The focus of this work is to:

1) delineate islands that have already been added to the floodplain.

2) understand the timing and processes involved in island accretion.

Microfacies of Ancient Lake Deposits of the Teays Valley and Assessment of the Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment Archives

This work focuses on extracting evidence of paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental changes during the MIS 22-21 glacial-interglacial cycle recorded by the deposits of ancient Lake Tight which occupied the former Teays River valley roughly 800,000 years ago.  The primary goal is to exploit this high-resolution record to delineate short-term trends of decadal, centennial, and potentially millennial scales. To this end, geochemical climate proxies are used in tandem with assessments of sediment sources, depositional processes, and intra-seasonal events. This is a cooperative project with Dr. El-Shazly.

Relict Pattern Ground and Thermokarst Features along Pleistocene Glacial Margins

In southcentral and east central Ohio French and Millar (2014) indicate a narrowing of the width permafrost belt of last glacial maximum. Here the permafrost belt appears to have been narrower that any area in the Midwest lying between the Mississippi River and Appalachian Mtns. Here, the very limited width of permafrost zone in this area from south central Ohio to southwestern Ohio has been attributed to 1) lack of through field investigations and 2) a strong environmental gradient in this region. To better define the ancient permafrost zone, my research uses Google Earth images to identify and map the distribution of relict patterned ground, a feature characteristic of permafrost zones, along the front of the Wisconsin glacier at maximum extent in Ohio.

Weathering Durability of Upper Paleozoic Mudrocks of the Appalachian Plateau

The resistance of argillaceous rocks to weathering is an important engineering concern for geotechnical projects of many types. Many approaches have been proposed for assessing this important attribute. This work compares the results of two newer methods developed by Bryson, et.al. (2012, 2019), the Loss Slake Index (LSI) and Electrical Jar Slake test (ESJ).  It focuses on testing and applying these methods for assessment of Pennsylvanian and Permian mudrocks of the Appalachian Plateau.

Origin of Relict Landslide Assemblages and Associated Colluvial Lithofacies

A large assemblage (50+) of paleo-slumps have been identified in one small watershed of southeastern Ohio a few 10s of miles south of the Pleistocene glacial fronts. Dating of soils buried on the tops of ancient slump blocks suggest initial movement occurred more 7800 years ago. Work continues and is focused on; 1) using OSL dating to further constrain age of the slumping event(s), 2) identify the colluvial process which buried ancient soils on the slump block top to depths of 7+ ft, and 3) evaluate the extrinsic trigger(s) of slumping.

Recent Student Research

The projects listed here were conducted to meet the Capstone course requirement for the Geology program. They include both in-house internships and senior theses. Some were supported by WV NASA Undergraduate Fellowships.

Survey of Relict Pattern Ground Periglacial Features along Wisconsin Glacial Maximum in Portions of Ohio: Madeleine Tisler, 2026

Micromorplogy of Varves of mid-Pleistocene Lake Tight, Teays Valley WV; Sedimentation Rates and Paleoenvironmental Change

Zach Sparks, 2025.

(Funded by WV NASA Undergraduate Summer Fellowship)

Durability of Pennsylvanian Red Beds Using Electric Jar Slake Test Method.

 Jamie Ward, 2024

Durability of Pennsylvanian Red Beds Using Electric Jar Slake Test Method

 Jamie Ward, 2024

Loss Slake Index of Middle Pennsylvanian Mudrocks of the Appalachian Plateau in  West Virginia

Jack Pennington, 2024

(Funded by WV NASA Undergraduate Fellowship)

Assessment of the Electric Slake Jar method for Determining Weathering Susceptibility of an Upper Pennsylvanian “Redbed”, central Appalachian Plateau of West Virginia

Jackelyn McClanahan, 2023

Analysis and Applications of USGS Water Quality Online Data with Respect to Specific Conductivity Levels in Ten West Virginia Streams

Kelley Cusick, 2022

Modified Slake Durability Index and Loss Slake Index Determination of Upper Pennsylvanian, Monongahela Group Strata for Better Weathering Susceptibility Classification of Mudrock Samples

Matt Shaffer, 2021

Selected Research

Professional Consulting Reports

Caudill, M.R., 2017, Soils and Geomorphic Analysis, Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, St. Albans, WV, Wastewater Treatment Facility; ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., 2016, Soils and Geomorphic Analysis, Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, High Carpenter Bridge, Middle Island, St. Mary’s, WV; ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., 2015, Soils and Geomorphic Analysis, Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, Mouth of Seneca Bridge Site, Seneca Rocks, WV; ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., Soils and Geomorphic Analysis, Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, New Ohio River Bridge Site, Wellsburg, WV; ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., 2011, Soils and Geomorphic Analysis, Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, Mid-Ohio Valley Technical School, St. Mary’s, WV; ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., 2010, Soils and Geomorphology Analysis, Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, Carver Career Center, Charleston, WV, ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., 2008, Soils and Geomorphology Analysis, Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, Development Site, Williamstown WV; ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., 2007, Soils and Geomorphology Analysis Deep Test Archaeological Assessment, Municipal Waterline Extension Project, ACS Group Inc. Columbus, Ohio.

Caudill, M.R., 1998, Alleghenian Coal Resources of western Pennsylvania, East Fairfield Coal Company, Lisbon, OH.

Referred Publications

Driese, S.G., Caudill, M.R., and Srinivasan, K., 1998, Late Mississippian paleokarst in east-central Tennessee: field, petrographic, and stable isotope evidence. Southeastern Geolofy, 37, 4, 189-204.

Caudill, M.R., Driese, S.G., and Mora, C.I., 1997, Compaction of vertic paleosols: Implications for burial diagenesis and paleo-precipitation estimates. Sedimentology, 44, 4, 673-686.

Caudill, M.R., Driese, S.G., and Mora, C.I., 1996, Preservation of a paleo-Vertisol and an estimate of Late Mississippian paleoprecipitation. Journal of Sedimentary Research, A66, 58-70

Caudill, M.R., 1990, Lithostratigraphy of Conemaugh marine zones (Pennsylvanian); Steubenville, Ohio -Weirton, West Virginia. Southeastern Geolofy, 31, 3, 1-10.

Caudill, M.R. and Schumacher, G.S., 1989, Ohio Blattoid(Insecta) Fossil Locality, Rediscovered. Journal of Paleontology, 60, 1, 121-124.

Abstracts

Shafer, C.M. and Caudill, M.R., 2022, Loss Slake Index of an Upper Pennsylvanian mudrock,  Appalachian Plateau, West Virginia. NC-SE GSA Mtg Absts. with Prog., 54, 4.

Caudill, M.R., 2021, Preliminary Mapping and Assessment of Landslide Assemblage, Minkers Run Area, Athens County, southeastern Ohio. NC-SC GSA Absts. with Prog., 53, 3.

Caudill, M.R. and Driese, S.G., 1999, Paleokarst conduit sediments and the origin of conglomerates in Upper Mississippian paleosols of the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee. GSA Absts. with Prog., 31, A7.

Caudill, M.R. and Driese, S.G., 1998 (invited), Transgression-driven rises in ancient, coastal groundwater tables: Evidence from vertic paleosols of Late Pennsylvanian (lower Conemaugh Group) cyclothems. Appalachian Cyclothems Symposium, GSA Absts. with Prog., 30, 2, 9.

Maps

Slucher, E.R., Swinford, E.M., Larsen, G.E., Schumacher, G.A., Shrake, D.L., Rice, C.L., Caudill, M.R., and Rea, R.G., 2006, Bedrock Geologic Map of Ohio. Ohio Geological Survey, BG-1.

Slucher, E.R., Caudill, M.R., and Swinford, E.M., 1992, Bedrock Geology of the Powell quad. Ohio Geological Survey, BGC4B1.

Caudill, M.R., 1991, Bedrock Geology of the Knoxville quad. Ohio Geological Survey, BGC1D6

Caudill, M.R., 1991, Bedrock Geology of the Wellsville quad. Ohio Geological Survey, BGC1E6

Caudill, M.R., 1991, Bedrock Geology of the Weirton quad. Ohio Geological Survey, BGC1D5.

Caudill, M.R., 1991, Bedrock Geology of the Richmond quad. Ohio Geological Survey, BGC1D7 1990

Caudill, M.R. and Slucher, E.R., 1990, Bedrock Geology of the Salineville quad. Ohio Geological