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Geohydrology of Ellsworth County

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Stratigraphic Sections

The following measured sections represent typical exposures of outcropping rocks in Ellsworth County.

1. Section across Kiowa Formation-Ninnescah Shale contact in cutbank in the NE NW SW sec. 1, T. 17 S., R. 6 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Measured by Paul C. Franks. Thickness,
feet
Kiowa Formation:
Covered.
4. Shale, medium-gray with olive-gray to reddish-brown overtones and jarosite stain, weathers moderate olive gray; clay fraction composed mainly of illite and montmorillonite but contains appreciable kaolin; thin-laminated; fissile. Top marked by weathered zone of cone-in-cone concretions as much as 1 foot thick; upper parts of sequence contain scattered gypsum crystals. Base marked by silty limestone or coquina bed about 0.1 foot thick; dusky-red to blackish-red; contains Turritella, Ostrea, and other pelecypods. Sparse discoidal impure siderite concretions12.2
3. Shale, medium-gray with olive-gray to reddish-brown stain, weathers moderate olive gray; clay fraction composed largely of illite and montmorillonite but contains appreciable kaolin; very sparse chlorite near base; thin-laminated; fissile; plastic. Wavy contact with next below. Base Kiowa Formation22.0
Thickness of exposed Kiowa Formation34.2
Unconformity.
Ninnescah Shale:
2. Siltstone, moderate-light-green to light-greenish-gray, thin-laminated but poor fissility, blocky fracture; illitic and chloritic; sparse expansible mixed-layer clay. Top 0.1 to 0.4 foot stained moderate reddish brown to dark yellowish orange by iron oxide; dolomitic cement near top forms thin resistant ledge. Grades irregularly into next below2.9
1. Siltstone, moderate-reddish-brown to grayish-red, blocky to conchoidal fracture, locally indistinctly laminated; illitic, chloritic, and contains sparse vermiculitic or chloritic mixed-layer clay; contains sparse irregular seams of pale-green to light-greenish-gray dolomitic siltstone as much as 1 foot thick. Sparse beds less than 0.1 foot thick of silty micaceous white to light-greenish-gray dolomite; scattered concretions of white to light-greenish-gray silty dolomite as much as 0.3 foot thick and 0.6 foot long9.5
Thickness of exposed Ninnescah Shale12.4

2. Partial section of Kiowa Formation in overflow spillway of Kanopolis Reservoir near the SE cor. sec. 4, T. 17 S., R. 6 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Measured by William Ives, Jr. Thickness,
feet
Kiowa Formation:
Top of cut.
5. Sandstone, light-gray to dark-yellowish-orange, fine-grained, thin-laminated; sparse cross-laminae; laminae and cross-laminae form thin- to medium-bedded sets; generally friable; quartz grains subangular to subrounded. Base marked by persistent lamina of iron oxide2.5
4. Sandstone, light-grayish-orange, very fine grained, laminated to thin-laminated; sparse cross-laminae; friable but some laminae well indurated. Grades into next below2.0
3. Siltstone, very light gray, thin-laminated; scattered lenticular laminae of medium-light-gray siltstone in upper foot; more abundant toward base; abundant disseminated pyrite in some laminae; contains scattered pyritic nodules in lower foot. Grades into next below4.0
2. Shale, medium-dark-gray, non-silty, thin-laminated; low plasticity; contains abundant discoidal concretions of impure siderite; lenticular calcareous cone-in-cone near base; powdery jarosite and abundant small selenite crystals on bedding surfaces13.5
1. Sandstone, very light gray to dark-yellowish-orange, fine-grained; thin to medium lenticular beds separated by seams of friable argillaceous sandstone. Lenticular beds stand out in relief on weathered surfaces. Contains pyritic nodules as much as 2 inches in diameter6.5
Thickness of exposed Kiowa Formation28.5

3. Partial section of Kiowa Formation on steep bank on south side of Thompson Creek near the cen. SE sec. 28, T. 16 S., R. 7 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Measured by William Ives, Jr. Thickness,
feet
Pleistocene deposits:
Covered.
9. Volcanic ash (Pearlette), white, silt-sized particles, cross-stratified. Thickness variable8.0
8. Silt, moderate-brown, friable. Largely covered. Contact with next below poorly exposed5.0
Thickness of exposed Pleistocene deposits13.0
Kiowa Formation:
7. Shale, medium-gray above to dark-gray below. Fissile below to platy above, nonsilty, plastic in upper parts; contains intercalated lenticular beds of fine-grained light-brown sandstone; discoidal concretions of impure siderite common in lower parts. Poorly exposed34.0
6. Sandstone, yellowish-gray to dark-yellowish-orange, very fine to fine-grained, thin-bedded, friable to indurated; sparse pyrite nodules. Thickness variable11.0
5. Shale. Lower two-thirds dark-gray, nonsilty, laminated, fissile; contains sparse nodules of impure siderite. Upper third medium-gray, laminated, platy, plastic; has thin laminae to thin lenticular beds of light- to medium-light-gray intercalated coarse silt to very fine sand15.0
4. Coquinoid limestone, generally light-grayish-red; irregular thin bedding and laminae with thin lenticular interbeds of cone-in-cone in some places; abundant interstitial clay. Composed mainly of fragments of small gastropods and pelecypods. Thickness variable but approximates0.5
3. Shale, dark-gray, nonsilty, laminated, platy to fissile; breaks with subconchoidal fracture; sparse shell fragments; zone of elliptical medium-gray impure siderite nodules 2 feet above base5.0
2. Sandstone, medium-gray, medium-grained, argillaceous, calcareous cement; contains abundant disseminated pyrite and pyrite nodules; contains lenses of cone-in-cone and layers rich in iron oxide; sparse pelecypod fragments. Grades into unit next below1.0
1. Clay, medium-gray, laminated blocky fracture; contains carbonized plant fragments resembling grass blades and sparse pyritized twigs2.0
Thickness of exposed Kiowa Formation68.5

4. Composite section across Dakota Formation-Kiowa Formation contact in secs. 28 and 33, T. 15 S., R. 7 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Top of section is in exploration trench near the cen. SW sec. 28; bottom of section is base of cutbank of the Smoky Hill River near the cen. S2 sec. 33. Measured by Paul C. Franks and Robert W. Scott. Thickness,
feet
Dakota Formation:
Terra Cotta Clay Member:
Covered.
28. Sandstone. Basal 2 feet, yellowish-orange due to abundant "limonite" cement, very fine- to fine-grained, crinkly, laminated bedding; abundant interstitial clay. Higher parts, weather moderate yellowish brown, medium-grained; high- and low-angle cross-laminae in tabular and wedge-planar sets less than 5 feet thick; set boundaries about horizontal; vector resultant of cross-stratification dip bearings is N. 37° W.; also horizontal lamination; abundant iron-oxide stain and cement form diffusion structures; abundant interstitial clay. Scour-fill contact with next below; sandstone thickens to southeast to replace most of the Dakota section described below down to bed number 194.5
27. Clay grading down to siltstone, light-gray grading to very light gray, sparse red mottles in upper 0.5 foot; blocky fracture in upper 1 foot; trace amounts of carbon as fragments and flecks; clay fraction composed almost exclusively of kaolin. Grades irregularly into next below4.7
26. Siltstone, very light gray, hard, kaolinitic; abundant "limonite" in top 0.2 foot; abundant carbon flecks, fragments, and plant imprints define indistinct wavy lamination in basal 0.2 foot; sandy in basal 0.1 foot3.1
25. Siltstone, very light gray to white, hard, kaolinitic. Suggestion of wavy laminate and thin laminae in basal 3 feet; sparse limonite stain along laminae. Forms resistant ledge5.3
24. Siltstone, light-gray with red-brown mottles and subvertical stringers; mottling less intense in upper 1 foot where indistinct horizontal lamination apparent; argillaceous; sparse yellowish-brown speckling from alteration of siderite(?) grains; clay fraction composed almost completely of kaolin. Grades sharply into next below5.0
23. Siltstone or sandstone, yellowish-gray with abundant "limonite" stain near top, silt-sized to very fine grained; sparse films and seams of gray shale; ripple-laminated; micaceous; carbon as flecks and woody fragments. Grades sharply into next below1.1
22. Siltstone, medium-light-gray, sparse lenticular siltstone laminae, blocky fracture; clay fraction largely composed of kaolin. Grades sharply into next below1.7
21. Siltstone or sandstone, yellowish-gray with "limonite" stain, silt-sized to very fine grained; sparse films and laminae of gray shale carrying carbon flecks; ripple-laminated; micaceous; sparse carbonized wood fragments1.4
20. Siltstone, medium-light-gray with brown overtones, thin-laminated, non-fissile, blocky fracture; abundant carbon as flecks and woody fragments; most argillaceous near base. Grades sharply into next below1.0
19. Siltstone and clay. Largely light-gray and very light gray to light-greenish-gray siltstone with abundant moderate-red mottles as much as 0.15 foot in long dimension. Mottles form aggregates or nearly vertical streaks as much as 1 foot in long dimension. Top 1 foot is light gray with sparse mottling. Encloses lenses of plastic medium-gray to medium-dark-gray clay as much as 3 feet thick and about 5 feet above base of unit; clay fraction composed largely of kaolin11.4
18. Covered interval. Scattered exposures of gray to greenish-gray kaolinitic siltstone and clay with red mottles14.0
17. Clay grading down to shale and siltstone. Clay, light-gray with dark-reddish-brown mottles; mottling less apparent downward. Basal 1 to 2 feet of sequence is shale containing siltstone laminae. Shale, light-gray to very light gray. Siltstone laminae concentrated in basal 0.5 foot, dusky-yellow to moderate-red; abundant iron-oxide stain in basal silty interval. Clay fraction composed mainly of kaolin. Laterally becomes medium-light-gray and light-gray siltstone and clay with moderate-red mottling; dark yellowish-orange "limonite" stain common; blocky fracture; sparse gypsum crystals on fracture surfaces; contains sparse subspherical clay-siderite(?) concretions as much as 1 foot in diameter near base. Base Dakota Formation6.0
Thickness of exposed Terra Cotta Clay Member59.2
Kiowa Formation:
16. Zone of iron-oxide concentration, moderate-reddish-brown to dark-yellowish-orange, abundant gypsiferous coatings along subhorizontal wavy hematitic veinlets, silty, argillaceous; clay fraction composed mainly of kaolin and "degraded" illite. Grades irregularly into next below and next above. Laterally becomes ripple-laminated and horizontally laminated sandstone containing shaley laminae, U-shaped Arenicolites burrows, and abundant iron-oxide stain and cement in top 2.5 feet0.5
15. Intercalated siltstone and sandstone. Siltstone is very light gray to medium-gray; sandstone is yellowish-gray, very fine grained, friable except where locally cemented by calcite; clay fraction composed mainly of kaolin and "degraded" illite; micaceous; contains sparse carbon flecks along bedding surfaces; laminated to thin-bedded; interfingers laterally with sandstone next below and with sandstone like that described above. Thickness variable but approximates1.3
14. Sandstone, yellowish-gray, stained pink and red by clay wash from basal Dakota, very fine to fine-grained; sparse clay pellets in basal 2 feet; small- and medium-scale wedge-planar to tabular high-angle cross-lamination; cross-stratification dip bearings highly varied but mainly to southwest; set boundaries about horizontal or inclined a few degrees in direction of dip of cross-strata; sparse microcross-beds. Symmetrical transverse cord interference ripple marks common on set boundaries; wave lengths less than 0.3 foot. Ripple and even lamination more common than cross-stratification in upper 2 to 3 feet. Calcite cement locally forms calcareous concretions as much as 6 feet long and 3 feet thick near top of sandstone. Friable, micaceous, sparse shaley partings, grains of pink chert; sparse U-shaped Arenicolites burrows in upper 2 to 3 feet. Sharp contact with siltstone next below. Thickness variable; thickens southward to interfinger with and to replace most of the section described below. Measured7.5
13. Siltstone, light-gray grading down to medium-light-gray; kaolinitic and illitic; indistinct lamination; sparse carbon flecks; jarosite stain near base; silty near middle of unit. Sharp contact with next below. Pinches out to south1.5
12. Sandstone and siltstone grading down to argillaceous siltstone, very light gray grading to medium-light-gray in basal 1 foot; sparse yellowish-orange "limonite" stain; very fine grained to silt-sized; ripple-laminated in upper parts; sparse clay films in upper parts; bedding indistinct in lower parts. Undulose contact with next below; seems to grade laterally into sandstone3.0
11. Siltstone, brownish-gray, indistinctly laminated, plastic; contains abundant disseminated carbon flecks; clay fraction largely kaolinitic. Grades sharply into next below; pinches out to south1.0
10. Siltstone and sandstone interlaminated with shale, very light gray with medium-gray shale laminae, weathers dark yellowish-orange, ripple-laminated. Sandstone, very fine-grained, most abundant at top and bottom of sequence. Sequence contains sparse U-shaped Arenicolites burrows; micaceous; carbon as flecks and woody fragments; sparse marcasite and siderite nodules. Grades laterally into sandstone; sharp contact with next below3.1
9. Siltstone and shale, interlaminated, very light gray and medium-gray, weathers dark-yellow-orange; clay fraction largely kaolinitic but with appreciable "degraded" illite; ripple-laminated; proportions of shale increase downward. Where shale is more abundant than siltstone, siltstone forms bands and contorted laminae less than 1 cm thick. Jarosite stain in basal 2 feet; scattered marcasite nodules; micaceous; sparse carbon flecks on bedding surfaces. Grades laterally into sandstone and siltstone like next above; grades sharply into next below3.7
8. Clay grading down to siltstone, dark-gray grading down to light-gray with brown overtones; poor fissility in upper 0.5 foot; clay fraction largely kaolinitic; yellowish-gray to brownish-gray argillaceous veins penetrate into siltstone from upper clay; sparse carbonaceous flecks and fragments, mainly in lower 5.5 feet7.0
7. Clay, grayish-black grading down to brownish-gray; clay fraction composed mainly of kaolin and "degraded" illite and montmorillonite. Upper 2 feet very carbonaceous or lignitic and transected by yellowish-gray to brownish-gray veinlets less than 4 mm thick; veinlets decrease in abundance downward. Blocky fracture, indistinct lamination in upper 1.5 feet. Scattered carbonaceous flecks, carbonized wood fragments, and leaf imprints below upper lignitic clay4.3
6. Clay, as above, with carbonaceous or lignitic top; medium-light-gray at base and carrying sparse discoidal impure siderite concretions and "limonite" stain in basal 1 foot; clay fraction composed mainly of "degraded" illite but contains appreciable kaolin4.6
5. Sandstone with interlaminated silt and shale, very light gray and medium-gray, weathers light brown to dusky brown and pale orange, very fine grained, thin-bedded to thin-laminated; ripple laminae common. Shale ranges from silty to nonsilty. Local calcareous cement, scattered marcasite nodules; micaceous; glauconitic; sparse Arenicolites burrows. Prominent zone of discoidal impure siderite concretions less than 0.2 foot thick marks top. Grades sharply into next below4.0
4. Shale, medium-light-gray grading down to olive-gray; clay fraction composed mainly of "degraded" illite or illite and montmorillonite but contains appreciable kaolin. Upper 3.5 feet stained by jarosite, thin-laminated, fissile. Upper parts very plastic and contain abundant marcasite nodules along bedding planes; lower parts less plastic and contain abundant impure siderite seams or concretions less than 0.1 foot thick9.2
3. Shale, medium-dark-gray, fissile, thin-laminated; clay fraction composed mainly of illite and montmorillonite; contains sparse beds less than 0.2 foot thick of very light gray siltstone or sandstone; "limonite" stain on weathered surfaces; silt-sized to very fine grained; calcite cement, micaceous, glauconitic; locally almost completely replaced by marcasite, particularly where carbon fragments are common. Concretionary impure siderite bed 0.1 to 0.2 foot thick marks top of sequence. Seam of cone-in-cone 0.05 foot thick about 1 foot below siderite bed expands locally to form cone-in-cone concretions up to 1 foot thick. Sparse sand-filled Y-shaped burrows and scattered fish scales5.3
2. Zone of cone-in-cone concretions. Very fine grained sandstone bed 0.1 to 0.2 foot thick marks top of zone; very light gray where fresh; symmetric transverse ripple marks on bedding surfaces; calcareous cement; locally replaced by marcasite, particularly where carbon fragments are common. Cone-in-cone concretions project downward from sandstone bed into underlying shale; sandstone bed locally warped over tops of the concretions; some concretions partly encased by sandstone bed. Cone-in-cone concretions as much as 1 foot thick and 4 feet long; concretions have shale cores1.5
1. Shale, medium-dark-gray, thin-laminated, fissile; scattered gypsum crystals on laminae; upper parts contorted around cone-in-cone concretions next above; clay fraction composed mainly of illite and "degraded" illite; sparse marcasite nodules and impure siderite concretions up to 0.2 foot thick and 1 foot in diameter along bedding planes; sparse thin beds of very fine grained sandstone as above4.2
Thickness of exposed Kiowa Formation61.7

5. Section across Dakota Formation-Kiowa Formation contact on the northeast bank of the Smoky Hill River near the cen. N2 SW sec. 1, T. 16 S., R. 7 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Measured by Paul C. Franks. Thickness,
feet
Dakota Formation:
Terra Cotta Clay Member:
Covered.
24. Sandstone, very pale orange, weathers dark yellowish orange to dusky brown and dark reddish brown, fine- to medium-grained, sparse coarse grains; basal foot has abundant interstitial clay; higher parts show small- to medium-scale high-angle tabular or wedge-planar cross-stratification and even bedding. Abundant iron-oxide cement throughout. Scour-fill contact with next below3.0
23. Siltstone and sandstone. Heterogeneous sequence of siltstone to very fine-grained sandstone, very light gray to very pale orange; weathers to form prominent ledges as much as 1.5 feet thick; stained moderate reddish brown to dark yellowish orange and dusky red; ledges have granular surfaces probably derived from oxidation of siderite grains or pellets as much as 2 mm in diameter; locally calcareous and gypsiferous. Other siltstone and sandstone beds as much as 1 foot thick, thin- or ripple-laminated, very pale orange to dark-yellowish-orange and moderate-brown, micaceous. Intercalated siltstone, medium-gray, weathers light gray, kaolinitic; commonly thin-laminated; forms beds less than 1 foot thick. Sequence grades sharply but irregularly into next below25.0
22. Clay, light-gray grading down to medium-light-gray; abundant moderate-red mottles in upper parts; abundant dark-yellowish-orange to grayish-red stain in upper 3 feet; weathers medium red to pale brown and very pale orange; dominantly kaolinitic. Abundant granular aggregates of hematite on weathered slopes in top 2 feet. Grades into next below6.1
21. Shale, medium-light-gray with brownish overtones, weathers light-gray, nonsilty, kaolinitic, poorly thin-laminated to fissile. Grades sharply into next below1.0
20. Siltstone, brownish-gray grading down to very light gray; locally top 2 feet is very carbonaceous and brownish black; kaolinitic; hard; blocky fracture; top and basal 2 feet shows even thin-lamination or ripple-lamination; sparse medium-gray shale seams and films; micaceous; abundant carbon flecks, fragments, and films; sparse jarosite stain. Grades sharply into next below12.3
19. Siltstone and sandstone interbedded with shale. Siltstone and sandstone are light-grayish-orange; shale is medium-dark-gray. Sequence is thin- and ripple-laminated; contains about 30 percent silty shale; micaceous. Sandstone beds, very fine grained, as much as 0.5 foot thick. Grades into next below4.0
18. Sandstone, very pale orange, weathers very light gray to light grayish orange, medium fine grained; cross stratified; high-angle, wedge-planar, and tabular sets about 2 feet thick; cross-beds dip mainly to northwest; sparse horizontally laminated sets as much as 2 feet thick. Micaceous, sparse interstitial clay, generally clean, sparse grains of pink chert and black opaques, sparse clay fragments and pebbles, friable. Forms bench and grades southward into sequence of interbedded sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Grades sharply into next below5.5
17. Siltstone, medium-gray, grading down into light-olive-gray; dominantly kaolinitic; indistinctly laminated near top; blocky fracture below; sparse laminae of fine-grained sandstone near top; sparse jarosite stain. Grades sharply into next below2.0
16. Clay and siltstone. Clay grades down into siltstone as silt content increases; very light gray with green and yellow overtones and abundant moderate-red mottles; dominantly kaolinitic; plastic; weathers to puffy variegated slope ranging from pinkish gray to pale red. Grades into next below20.8
15. Siltstone, light-gray with brown overtones, argillaceous; clay fraction kaolinitic but contains appreciable illite and "degraded" illite; plastic; bedding indistinct; micaceous. Generally stained by wash from next above. Grades into next below1.5
14. Siltstone and sandstone. Siltstone grades down into interlaminated siltstone and sandstone in basal 3 feet. Siltstone, medium-light-gray, weathers very light gray; clay fraction kaolinitic, but contains appreciable illite; plastic; micaceous; contains carbon flecks and fragments; laminated where intercalated with sandstone. Sandstone, grayish-orange, weathers very light gray, very fine grained, micaceous. Sequence thickens to south and interfingers with sandstone next below5.7
13. Sandstone, very pale orange, weathers white to light-grayish-orange and very light gray, very fine- to fine-grained, crossbedded; sparse horizontal laminae; cross-strata mainly in tabular sets as much as 2.5 feet thick, sparse wedge-planar sets; set boundaries locally dip as much as 5 degrees in reverse direction from cross-strata; vector resultant of cross-stratification dip bearings is N. 55° W.; horizontal laminae in sets as much as 1.5 feet thick; sparse gray shaly partings; micaceous; sparse grains of pink chert and black opaques. Forms prominent bench and thins southward. Scour-fill contact with next below12.0
12. Siltstone grading down into clay, very light gray grading down to light-gray and light-greenish-gray with pale-red to dark-reddish-brown mottles, weathers white to very pale orange with moderate-reddish-orange to dark-grayish-pink stain in mottled parts; clay fraction contains kaolin and some illite and "degraded" illite; blocky to conchoidal fracture; waxy luster in basal 2 feet. Grades into next below3.9
11. Clay, light gray, weathers very light gray, non-fissile but laminated to thin-laminated; composed largely of kaolin but contains appreciable illite and "degraded" illite; hard; waxy luster; contains carbon flecks and fragments. Grades sharply into next below1.2
10. Siltstone, very light gray with moderate-reddish-brown mottles in lower half, weathers white or very pale orange with moderate-reddish-orange to pale-reddish-brown stain; clay fraction composed largely of kaolin, illite, and "degraded" illite; hard; blocky fracture; indistinctly laminated in basal and top 0.5 foot; contains sparse grains or pellets of hematite probably derived from siderite3.9
9. Clay, grayish-black grading down to moderate-olive-gray, weathers medium light gray to very light gray with olive to brown overtones; composed largely of kaolin, illite, and "degraded" illite; plastic; weathers to puffy slope littered with sparse gypsum crystals. Indistinctly laminated but nonfissile; contains carbon as flecks, fragments, and films; thin-laminated and lignitic in upper 0.5 foot. Grades sharply into sandstone next below by increasing silt and sand content. Base Dakota Formation2.4
Thickness of exposed Terra Cotta Clay Member110.3
Kiowa Formation:
8. Sandstone, moderate-red to dark-yellowish-orange, fine-grained, very argillaceous; bedding indistinct; abundant iron-oxide cement; weathers to concretionary masses, lumps, and aggregates less than 1 foot thick and 2 feet in long diameter cemented by iron oxide. Grades irregularly into next below1.0
7. Siltstone grading down into shale, medium-light-gray to medium-gray, weathers light gray; upper parts stained dark yellowish orange by wash from next above; laminated toward base; clay fraction composed largely of kaolin, illite, and "degraded" illite; silt content decreases downward; sparse jarosite stain. Basal 0.5 foot contains siltstone or very fine grained sandstone laminae. Grades sharply into next below by alternation of lithology3.1
6. Sandstone, siltstone, and shale, interbedded. Shale laminae increase in abundance downward. Siltstone and sandstone, very light gray to light-gray; shale, medium-gray; sequence weathers very pale orange to dark yellowish orange. Thin-bedded and ripple- and even-laminated. Prominent close-spaced vertical joints in sandy and silty parts. Contains sparse marcasite or pyrite nodules; nodular concentrations of calcite cement; disseminated iron-oxide cement in upper foot; micaceous; small, nearly vertical burrows about 2 mm in diameter in sandy and silty parts. Grades sharply into next below by loss of lamination and decrease in abundance of silt7.5
5. Siltstone and shale, medium-gray, weathers light gray to light olive gray; composed largely of kaolin, illite, and "degraded" illite; non-fissile in upper 1 foot; otherwise thin-laminated. Abundant discoidal concretions of impure siderite as much as 0.3 foot thick and 3.5 feet long along bedding planes13.8
4. Shale, medium-gray, weathers light gray to light olive gray; composed mainly of illite and montmorillonite, but contains appreciable kaolin; thin-laminated; abundant discoidal concretions of impure siderite as much as 0.1 foot thick and 2 feet in long diameter below zone of cone-in-cone. Top marked by sandstone bed about 0.2 foot thick, medium-gray to pale-yellowish-orange, calcareous cement, glauconitic; numerous marcasite nodules. Concretions of cone-in-cone with radial arrangement of cones locally project downward into the shale from the base of the sandstone bed; concretions as much as 0.5 foot thick and 2 feet in long diameter5.8
3. Shale, medium-dark-gray, weathers medium light-gray; clay fraction composed largely of illite and "degraded" illite; laminated, silty; abundant gypsum crystals on weathered slope. Contains beds of very fine-grained dark-yellowish-orange sandstone as much as 1 foot thick; laminated, calcareous, glauconitic, marcasite nodules. Sequence grades sharply into next below4.7
2. Siltstone, brownish-gray, weathers light gray with brown overtones; abundant carbon as fragments, flecks, and film; micaceous. Basal 0.5 foot has laminae of dark-yellowish-orange siltstone or very fine grained sandstone; sandy base grades laterally into ripple-laminated and cross-bedded very fine grained sandstone; bedding surfaces of sandstones show nearly symmetrical transverse ripple marks striking N. 40° W4.2
1. Shale, medium-dark-gray, light-brown to dark-reddish-brown stain along sandstone seams, dominantly illitic; thin-laminated; gypsum crystals on weathered slopes. Sandstone seams as much as 0.1 foot thick; very fine grained, micaceous, calcareous3.3
Thickness of exposed Kiowa Formation43.4

6. Section across Dakota Formation-Kiowa Formation contact at Buzzard's Roost (Needle's Eye) in the SE NE sec. 15, T. 15 S., R. 6 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Measured by William Ives, Jr. Thickness,
feet
Dakota Formation:
Terra Cotta Clay Member:
Top of hill.
15. Sandstone, dark-yellowish-orange to moderate-yellowish-brown, medium-grained, subrounded to subangular grains; medium-scale wedge-planar and tabular cross-stratification; generally friable except in upper 10 feet where iron-oxide cement and diffusion structures completely mask bedding. Grades sharply into next below; thickness variable. Maximum exposed33.0
14. Clay, medium-gray with dusky-red mottles, plastic, no obvious bedding; contains abundant limonitic spherules as much as 2 mm in diameter. Grades into next below5.0
13. Sandstone, dark-yellowish-orange, very fine to fine-grained, friable, no obvious bedding. Grades into next below1.0
12. Siltstone, light-gray with abundant dusky-red mottles, no obvious bedding, blocky fracture. Grades into next below3.5
11. Siltstone, dark-gray with sparse dusky-red mottles, no obvious bedding, blocky fracture. Grades into next below3.0
10. Siltstone, light-gray with grayish-red mottles, no obvious bedding, blocky fracture. Sparse hematitic or limonitic spherules altered from siderite(?). Grades into next below2.0
9. Siltstone, medium-light-gray with pale-yellowish-orange mottles near top becoming dusky red toward base, argillaceous except near base, no obvious bedding. Sparse siderite(?) spherules as much as 1 mm in diameter. Grades into next below9.5
8. Sandstone, yellowish-orange, weathers light brown, very fine grained; grains subrounded to subangular; gray silty seam near top. Abundant limonitic speckles as much as 1 mm in diameter in upper parts, probably altered siderite spherules4.0
7. Clay, medium-dark-gray with sparse dusky-red mottles, silty, somewhat plastic, no obvious bedding. Abundant limonitic spherules as much as 1 mm in diameter associated with red mottles; selenite crystals litter slope in lower half. Grades gradually into next below10.0
6. Siltstone, very light gray with abundant moderate-red and sparse pale-yellowish-orange mottles, argillaceous, no obvious bedding; abundant granular aggregates of hematite litter weathered slopes. "Limonite" stain on joints22.0
5. Siltstone, very light gray with sparse red mottles, poorly laminated near top, no obvious bedding in lower parts. Stands out in relief3.0
4. Siltstone, medium-gray, no obvious bedding, conchoidal fracture. Contains abundant carbonaceous debris and sparse pyritic nodules. Porcelaneous kaolin bed 0.2 foot thick 1.7 feet below top. Abundant selenite crystals in lower half and on weathered slopes8.5
3. Siltstone, medium-light-gray with sparse red and yellow mottles. Upper foot contains abundant very fine sand; less sandy below. No obvious bedding. Selenite crystals on weathered slopes of lower parts. Base Dakota Formation7.0
Thickness of exposed Terra Cotta Clay Member111.5
Kiowa Formation:
2. Sandstone, very light gray with sparse limonitic stain, very fine to fine-grained; quartz grains subangular; generally friable but calcite cement locally forms ellipsoidal concretions as much as 4 feet in long diameter; small- to medium-scale wedge-planar and tabular cross-stratification; transverse ripple marks on some bedding surfaces4.5
1. Siltstone, medium-dark-gray, no obvious bedding, blocky fracture2.0
Thickness of exposed Kiowa Formation6.5

7. Section across Graneros Shale-Dakota Formation contact starting at base of faceted spur, 0.1 mile south of the cen. W2 sec. 19, T. 15 S., R. 9 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Measured by Paul C. Franks. Thickness,
feet
Graneros Shale:
Covered.
11. Shale, dark-gray, weathers medium light gray with bluish overtones, dominantly kaolinitic but contains appreciable illite and mixed-layer clay, thin-laminated; fissile and papery; plastic; sparse zones of discoidal impure siderite concretions; sparse light-gray siltstone beds as much as 0.1 foot thick. Forms slopes littered with fragments weathered from siderite concretions and siltstone seams; gypsum crystals on weathered slopes. Abundant jarosites and "limonite" stain on bedding surfaces and fractures. Base Graneros Shale5.0
Thickness of exposed Graneros Shale5.0
Dakota Formation:
Janssen Clay Member:
10. Siltstone and sandstone with interbedded shale. Siltstone and sandstone, moderate-yellowish-brown to light-olive-gray. Intercalated shale, medium-light-gray, abundant "limonite" stain. Sandstone, very fine grained. Shale dominantly kaolinitic but contains sparse illitic and mixed-layer clay. Bedding indistinct. Weathers to rubbly slope of iron-oxide cemented fragments; abundant iron oxide concentrated in top 0.5 foot; forms bench. Grades laterally into either moderate-dark-gray to light-brownish-gray siltstone and thin-laminated shale or to very fine grained sandstone. Interfingers with next below2.9
9. Siltstone, alternating light-brownish-gray and pinkish-gray to very pale orange laminae, weathers pale grayish orange to very light gray. Laminae locally wavy and contorted and contain variable amounts of interstitial clay and carbon as flecks and films; micaceous. Nearly vertical tubes as much as 1 cm in diameter and 10 cm long filled with "limonite." Synaeresis(?) cracks on bedding surfaces. Resistant; forms ledge. Interfingers with next below2.3
8. Siltstone, light-brownish-gray to light-pinkish gray, grading down to moderate-brownish-gray, weathers very light brownish gray to light brownish gray with abundant platelets of dark-yellowish-orange siltstone on weathered slopes. Abundant interlaminated gray kaolinitic clay in basal parts. Abundant subvertical burrows or root imprints filled by "limonite" as much as 1 cm in diameter and 10 cm long; carbon as flecks and fragments; micaceous; jarosite and "limonite" stain along bedding and fracture surfaces; hard. Grades sharply into next below2.2
7. Shale, medium-dark-gray, weathers light gray, thin-laminated, fissile, papery, hard; dominantly kaolinitic. Basal 0.3 foot has sparse intercalated siltstone pods and wavy laminae. Lignitic just above basal silty zone; otherwise sparse carbon as flecks and films; sparse jarosite stain mainly near base. Grades sharply into next below by alternation of lithology and increase in silt content2.1
6. Siltstone, medium-gray to medium-dark-gray, weathers medium light gray with bluish cast, carbonaceous, kaolinitic, laminated in upper part but with poor fissility, blocky to platy fracture. Scattered argillaceous "limonite" concretions as much as 0.5 foot in diameter. Grades into next below4.7
5. Siltstone and sandstone, medium-dark-gray to dark-gray, weathers medium light gray. Very fine grained sandstone at base, siltier in upper parts; indistinct wavy and contorted thin-bedding or thin-laminae. Abundant interstitial kaolin; abundant carbon as fragments, flecks, and films; sparse jarosite and "limonite" stain. Forms crumbly ledge. Wavy contact with next below2.1
4. Siltstone, very light gray with abundant moderate-red mottles, weathers to puffy very pale orange to dark-grayish-pink slope, abundant yellowish-orange iron-oxide stain in top 2 feet, kaolinitic, plastic near top, non-plastic below; very silty near base. Abundant siderite spherules disseminated in gray parts; much of the siderite largely oxidized to hematite. Grades sharply into next below7.7
3. Siltstone, very light gray but much weathered and stained dark yellowish orange by iron oxide, moderate-red mottles where fresh; contains abundant limonite speckles relict from siderite(?) spherules; thin- to medium-bedded; sparse gray shaly laminae4.5
2. Clay, medium-light-gray grading down to medium-dark-gray with sparse dusky-red mottles, weathers to puffy light gray slope stained pale grayish orange by wash from next above, dominantly kaolinitic, plastic; laminated and fissile in upper parts; no obvious bedding in lower parts. Grades sharply into next below5.6
1. Siltstone, medium-light-gray with sparse moderate-red mottles, weathers to puffy light-gray and yellowish-gray slope, abundant yellowish-orange iron-oxide stain in top 0.1 foot, dominantly kaolinitic, hard, blocky to conchoidal fracture; contains abundant siderite spherules as much as 1 mm in diameter in gray siltstone between mottles1.7
Thickness of exposed Janssen Clay Member35.8

8. Section across Graneros Shale-Dakota Formation contact 0.1 mile northwest of the cen. N2 sec. 6, T. 15 S., R. 10 W., Ellsworth County, Kans., on the west side of the road. Section starts at base of Dakota siltstone and clay exposed in road ditch. Measured by Paul C. Franks. Thickness,
feet
Graneros Shale:
Covered.
15. Shale, medium-dark-gray, weathers medium light gray with brown overtones and to puffy light-olive-gray slope, kaolinitic but contains appreciable illite and illite-montmorillonite mixed-layer clay, thin-laminated, fissile; sparse very light gray to dark-yellowish-orange siltstone laminae; sparse white kaolin seams containing appreciable montmorillonite as much as 0.1 foot thick; abundant jarosite stain; sparse imprints of pelecypods. Sharp contact with next below6.0
Thickness of exposed Graneros Shale6.0
Dakota Formation:
Janssen Clay Member:
14. Sandstone, grayish-orange, weathers pale grayish orange to dark yellowish orange, very fine grained, laminated to thin-bedded; laminae commonly wavy; bedding commonly masked by calcite cement; sparse dark-gray shaly partings. Abundant limonitic speckles and stain; sparse gypsum as crystals and cement; locally may contain siderite cement. Grades into next below1.5
13. Shale, medium-dark-gray with brown overtones, weathers medium light gray to light brownish gray, dominantly kaolinitic but contains appreciable illite and mixed layer clay, nonsilty, thin-laminated; contains intercalated sandstone laminae near top and siltstone laminae near base; scattered lenses as much as 0.5 foot thick of interlaminated siltstone and shale. Abundant carbonized plant debris; carbon flecks, fragments, and films; jarosite stain. Grades into next below by alternation of lithology4.2
12. Siltstone, very light gray to very light brownish gray, weathers very light gray to yellowish orange depending on abundance of "limonite" and jarosite stain, thin even laminae in upper parts, wavy laminae at base, carbon as flecks and fragments, micaceous. Nearly vertical tubes about 1 cm in diameter and up to 10 cm long may be either root impressions or burrows. Contact with next below is both scour-fill and gradational by alternation of lithology. Thickness somewhat variable, but approximates2.1
11. Shale, dark-brownish-gray to dark-gray, weathers medium gray with blue to brown overtones, thin-laminated, fissile, papery to platy, dominantly kaolinitic but contains appreciable illite and chloritic and vermiculitic mixed-layer clay; abundant carbon as flakes, films, and fragments; sparse jarosite stains. Grades into next below0.9
10. Lignite, brownish-black, thin wavy laminae, papery, argillaceous; contains abundant fragments of carbonized wood, imprints of stems and leaves; sparse jarosite stain. Grades sharply into next below0.6
9. Shale, medium-dark-gray with brown overtones, weathers medium light gray, dominantly kaolinitic, thin-laminated to indistinctly laminated; sparse very light gray siltstone laminae with faint jarosite stain. Silt content increases downward. Grades sharply into next below1.6
8. Lignite, as above, but with dark-yellowish-orange limonitic stain0.4
7. Shale, medium-dark-gray grading down to dark-gray, fissile, carbonaceous towards base, kaolinitic but contains sparse montmorillonite and vermiculitic mixed-layer clay; contains laminae and beds of very light gray siltstone as much as 0.1 foot thick in upper half; siltstone shows wavy thin laminae and plant imprints. Gypsum crystals on weathered slopes. Grades into next below2.6
6. Lignite, as above0.8
5. Siltstone grading down to sandstone, medium-light-gray with brown overtones grading down to very pale orange, weathers pinkish gray grading down to light gray or moderate yellowish brown. Contains abundant medium-gray siltstone laminae in lower parts. Sandstone, very fine grained and silty. Upper parts of sequence show no obvious bedding; becomes progressively thin-laminated and ripple-laminated downward. Micaceous; abundant carbon as flecks, fragments, and films; limonitic stain in basal sandstone. Grades sharply into next below5.4
4. Lignite, as above. Grades sharply into next below0.3
3. Shale grading down into siltstone, brownish-black grading down to medium-dark-gray, weathers medium gray grading down to light gray, dominantly kaolinitic but contains sparse illite and vermiculitic mixed-layer clay, fissile, thin-laminated and papery becoming blocky downward. Shale very carbonaceous and non-silty2.6
2. Lignite, as above. Grades sharply into next below0.4
1. Shale grading down into siltstone, medium-dark-gray with brown overtones, weathers very light brownish gray to medium light gray with blue to brown overtones, dominantly kaolinitic but containing sparse illite and vermiculitic mixed-layer clay, nonsilty, thin-laminated with good fissility in upper 2 to 5 feet, poor fissility though laminated in lower parts. Abundant very pale orange siltstone laminae and pods in lower part; siltstone weathers out as dark-yellowish-orange platelets. Contains carbon as flecks and films; jarosite and "limonite" stain on fracture and bedding surfaces; gypsum crystals on weathered slopes15.2
Thickness of exposed Janssen Clay Member38.6

9. Section front Hartland Shale Member of Greenhorn. Limestone down into Dakota Formation in the NE SE NW sec. 6, T. 15 S., R. 10 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Section measured in west road ditch starting at rim of hill at road curve, thence north down the hill. Measured by William Ives, Jr. Thickness,
feet
Greenhorn Limestone:
Hartland Shale Member:
15. Chalky shale, yellowish-gray to dark-yellowish-orange, generally laminated, platy when dry; contains three thin bentonite beds in lower half and two thin limestone beds containing small shell fragments5.4
14. Limestone, yellowish-gray and dark-yellowish-orange, fossiliferous0.2
13. Chalky shale, yellowish-gray and dark-yellowish-orange, laminated; contains limestone beds; fossiliferous2.6
Thickness of exposed Hartland Shale Member8.2
Lincoln Limestone Member:
12. Limestone, yellowish-gray and light-gray, crystalline, very thin bedded; basal contact sharp; petroleum odor on fresh break; fossiliferous1.6
11. Clay, dark-yellowish-orange, bentonitic, slightly calcareous0.4
10. Limestone, grayish-orange, finely crystalline to medium-crystalline, laminated to platy, very silty1.2
Thickness of Lincoln Limestone Member3.2
Graneros Shale:
9. Shale, clayey, light-olive-gray and dark-yellowish-orange; contains a thin limestone 1 foot below top; calcareous in part; unfossiliferous3.9
8. Limestone, lenticular to concretionary, sandy in part, pale-yellowish-orange; contains coarsely crystalline calcite veins; uneven basal contact; fossil fragments numerous0.9
7. Shale, clayey, dark-gray on fresh surface, weathers light gray, platy to blocky on fresh exposure, fissile on weathering; gypsum crystals common on bedding planes. Upper 2.6 feet light brown; contains a 0.4 foot bentonite bed at top. Generally noncalcareous; contains a thin bed of poorly to well-cemented sandstone 8.5 feet above base26.0
6. Sandstone, moderate-brown streaked with gray, irregular uneven surfaces, fine-grained, some silt; contains some gypsum crystals1.3
5. Shale, medium-dark-gray to dark-gray, mostly clay shale, fissile, laminated; contains numerous beds of yellowish-orange siltstone and lignite fragments in lower 2 feet4.6
Thickness of Graneros Shale36.7
Dakota Formation:
4. Siltstone, dark-gray, noncalcareous; irregular base; contains much fine carbonaceous material2.6
3. Shale, clayey, grayish-black, laminated; surfaces wavy; contains silt beds, some thickening to several inches; very carbonaceous throughout; contains three lignite seams, one at base, one near middle, and one 0.5 foot below top7.5
2. Siltstone, dark-gray above and light-gray in lower part, generally laminated but locally massive; contains much sand in lower part4.2
1. Shale, dark-gray, laminated to fissile, noncalcareous3.0
Thickness of exposed Dakota Formation17.3

10. Section from Hartland Shale Member of Greenhorn Limestone down into Dakota Formation in the SE NE NE sec. 29, T. 15 S., R. 10 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Section measured in north road ditch from top of hill, thence down hill to the west. Measured by William Ives, Jr. Thickness,
feet
Greenhorn Limestone:
Hartland Shale Member:
7. Chalky shale, pale-orange to dark-yellowish-orange, thinly laminated, weathers fissile; contains two very thin beds of coarsely crystalline limestone and three bentonite beds in lower 5 feet13.0
Thickness of exposed Hartland Shale Member13.0
Lincoln Limestone Member:
6. Limestone, light-brownish-gray in upper part and grayish-orange in lower part, finely crystalline, thin-bedded; has petroleum odor on fresh break; contains thin bentonite beds3.2
Thickness of Lincoln Limestone Member3.2
Graneros Shale:
5. Shale, clayey, yellowish-brown, calcareous, locally silty; laminated and fissile when dry, blocky and plastic when moist2.7
4. Bentonite, dark-yellowish-orange, conchoidal fracture when dry1.0
3. Shale, clayey, dark-yellowish-brown with lighter streaks, laminated and fissile, plastic when moist; contains thin laminae of yellowish-orange calcareous siltstone1.7
2. Shale, olive-gray, very thinly laminated; splits into paper-thin sheets. About 20 feet above base is a zone of very thin calcareous siltstone slabs. At 15 and 13 feet above the base are two thin noncalcareous sandstone lenses. Selenite crystals common on bedding planes28.7
Thickness of Graneros Shale34.1
Dakota Formation:
1. Siltstone, light-gray; much iron staining and cement; no apparent bedding; noncalcareous0.5
Thickness of exposed Dakota Formation0.5

11. Section from Fairport Chalk Member of Carlile Shale down into Graneros Shale in the SE NE NE sec. 6, T. 14 S., R. 10 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Section measured in back slope and west ditch of county road from highest part of backslope, thence down hill to north. Measured by William Ives, Jr. Thickness,
feet
Carlile Shale:
Fairport Chalk Member:
29. Chalky shale, yellowish-orange, weathers light-yellowish-orange, poorly laminated; 1.5 feet below top is a thin bed of bentonite; lines of concretionary or nodular limestone beds occur at about 1-foot intervals separated by yellowish-orange chalky shale; contains clams and other fossils8.9
28. Limestone, pale-orange, fossiliferous.3
27. Chalky shale, dark-grayish-orange, poorly laminated, fossiliferous5.4
Thickness of exposed Carlile Shale14.6
Greenhorn Limestone:
Pfeifer Shale Member:
26. Limestone (Fence-post bed), light-grayish-orange with a middle band of dark-grayish-orange1.0
25. Chalky shale, dark-grayish-orange, poorly laminated2.9
24. Limestone, light-pinkish-gray.3
23. Chalky shale, dark-grayish-orange.9
22. Limestone, light-pinkish-gray.4
21. Chalky shale, dark-grayish-orange.9
20. Limestone, light-pinkish-gray.4
19. Chalky shale, grayish-orange.8
18. Limestone, pale-orange.2
17. Chalky shale, grayish-orange and light-gray; contains nodules of limestone2.1
16. Limestone, pale-orange.4
15. Chalky shale, light-grayish-orange2.1
14. Limestone, light-grayish-orange.3
13. Chalky shale, pinkish-gray to grayish-orange, fossils, poorly laminated2.2
12. Limestone, light-grayish-orange.4
11. Chalky shale, pinkish-gray and grayish-orange1.0
10. Limestone, light-grayish-orange.2
9. Chalky shale, pinkish-gray to grayish-orange1.3
Thickness of Pfeifer Shale Member17.8
Jetmore Chalk Member and Hartland Shale Member, undifferentiated:
8. Limestone, light-grayish-orange; contains numerous clams0.4
7. Chalky shale, very pale orange with darker bands 4.2 feet and 8.2 feet below top; contains a 0.4-foot-thick bentonite bed 5 feet above base, and another 0.5-foot-thick bed at the base; fossiliferous16.6
6. Limestone, brownish-gray, finely crystalline.2
5. Chalky shale, yellowish-orange with some lighter and darker bands throughout12.5
4. Limestone, brownish-gray, finely crystalline.1
3. Chalky shale, yellowish-orange with lighter and darker bands throughout15.6
Total thickness of exposed Jetmore Chalk and Hartland Shale Members, undifferentiated45.4
Lincoln Limestone Member:
2. Limestone, brownish-gray with some light-gray, thin-bedded; separated by thin chalky shale beds; petroleum odor on fresh break; contains fossil fragments. Thin bentonite bed 1.6 feet below top2.6
Thickness of Lincoln Limestone Member2.6
Graneros Shale:
1. Shale, dark-yellowish-brown in upper part grading to light-gray in lower part, laminated in upper 15 feet; contains small selenite crystals; unfossiliferous24.2
Thickness of exposed Graneros Shale24.2

12. Section from Fairport Chalk Member of Carlile Shale down into Graneros Shale in the NE sec. 11, T. 14 S., R. 8 W., Ellsworth County, Kans. Section measured in east and west road ditches along Kansas Highway 14. Measured by William Ives, Jr. Thickness,
feet
Carlile Shale:
Fairport Chalk Member:
34. Chalky shale, light-grayish-orange mottled both lighter and darker, poorly laminated, weathers platy or flaky; contains several lines of nodular pale-orange limestone. Bentonite 6.5 feet above base9.4
Thickness of exposed Fairport Chalk Member9.4
Greenhorn Limestone:
Pfeifer Shale Member:
33. Limestone (Fence-post bed), very light gray, weathers light grayish orange; contains darker streak in middle part; fossiliferous1.1
32. Chalky shale, pale-orange containing darker zones, poorly laminated, weathers platy; contains nodular limestone in middle part2.7
31. Limestone, light-grayish-orange; speckled appearance; very fine sand-sized grains; contains much crystalline calcite.3
30. Chalky shale, very pale orange, poorly laminated, weathers platy, fossiliferous1.1
29. Limestone, very light gray, mottled yellow, fossiliferous.4
28. Chalky shale, very pale orange, poorly laminated.7
27. Limestone, light-gray.4
26. Chalky shale, pale-orange, poorly laminated1.0
25. Limestone, light-gray.2
24. Chalky shale, grayish-orange1.0
23. Limestone, light-gray.2
22. Chalky shale, very pale orange1.0
21. Limestone, very light gray, mottled yellow.4
20. Chalky shale, very pale orange; contains darker bands2.4
19. Limestone, light-grayish-orange, mottled dark-yellowish-orange, weathers into irregular slabs.5
18. Chalky shale, pale-orange, poorly laminated1.4
17. Limestone, very light gray, mottled yellow.3
16. Chalky shale, pale-orange grading to pinkish-gray in lower part2.5
15. Limestone, light-gray; contains few clam molds and isolated sharks' teeth.3
14. Chalky shale, pinkish-gray, poorly laminated1.3
13. Limestone, light-gray, few fossils.3
12. Chalky shale, dark-pinkish-gray, poorly laminated1.4
Thickness of Pfeifer Shale Member20.9
Jetmore Chalk Member and Hartland Shale Member, undifferentiated:
11. Limestone, light-pinkish-gray, many clam molds and a few isolated cephalopod molds0.6
10. Chalky shale, light-gray to grayish-orange; contains two darker bands near middle; poorly laminated9.7
9. Shale, olive-gray, poorly laminated, weathers platy, very calcareous, unfossiliferous1.8
8. Bentonite, yellowish-orange.5
7. Covered interval11.0
6. Limestone, light-olive-gray, weathers light grayish orange, fossiliferous.3
5. Clay shale, light-brown, very calcareous, unfossiliferous.8
4. Bentonite, light-yellowish-orange, calcareous in lower part.5
3. Chalky shale, pale-orange, poorly laminated, weathers crumbly or blocky; contains thin laminae of limestone in lower part. Bentonite beds 3.0 feet above base and 5.0 feet above base; limestone bed 3.2 feet above base15.5
Thickness of Jetmore Chalk and Hartland Shale Members, undifferentiated40.7
Lincoln Limestone Member:
2. Limestone, generally brownish-gray with a band of pale-orange limestone near top, finely crystalline with much fossil debris, thin-bedded with beds separated by thin chalky shale bed; distinctive petroleum odor on fresh break; contains bentonite beds near top and bottom1.6
Thickness of Lincoln Limestone Member1.6
Graneros Shale:
1. Shale, yellowish-orange to light-brown, laminated, weathers crumbly; few fossils3.3
Thickness of exposed Graneros Shale3.3

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Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
Placed on web Sept. 18, 2008; originally published March 1971.
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