Geology and 

Construction-Material 

Resources of Marion 

County, Kansas

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1060-B

Prepared in cooperation with State Highway Commission of Kansas, as part of a 

program of the Department of the Interior 

for development of the Missouri River 

basin

Geology and 

Construction-Material 

Resources of Marion 

County, Kansas

By F. E. BYRNE, C. P. WALTERS, J. L. HILL, and L. RISEMAN

GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF PART 

OF NORTHEAST KANSAS

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1060-B

Prepared in cooperation with State Highway Commission of Kansas, as part of a 

program of the Department of the Interior 

for development of the Missouri River 

basin

UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1959
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

FRED A. SEATON, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

The U. S. Geological Survey Library has cataloged this publication as follows:

Byrne, Frank Edward, 1907-

Geology and construction-material resources of Marion 

County, Kansas, by F. E. Byrne [and others] Washington, 

U. S. Govt. Print. Off., 1959.

iv, 63-95 p. maps, diagrs., table. 25 cm. (U. S. Geological Survey. Bulletin 1060-B. Geology and construction materials of part of 

northeast Kansas)

Part of illustrative matter fold, col. in pocket.

"Prepared in cooperation with State Highway Commission of 

Kansas, as part of a program of the Dept. of the Interior for development of the Missouri River basin."

Bibliography: p.93.

1. Building materials. 2. Geology, Economic Kansas Marion Co. 

(Series: U. S. Geological Survey. Bulletin 1060-B. Series: U. S. 

Geological Survey. Geology and construction materials of part of 

northeast Kansas)

553.5

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U. S. Government Printing Office 

Washington 25, D. C.
CONTENTS

Page

Abstract. __________--_--__-___-__________-____________-_----_-_--_ 63

Introduction.___-----_-________-___-____-_-__-_-___-___-_-___-_-_- 63

Geography.___________________________________________________ 64

Location of the area._______________________________________ 64

Drainage _________________________________________________ 64

Climate---..---------_-_-_____-_-_-_________._----- 64

Transportation routes.-____-______-_-__-________-__-_---_-- 67

Investigation procedure. _______________________________________ 67

Acknowledgments _____________________________________________ 68

(Characteristics of stratigraphic units._________________________________ 68

Permian system___-_--___-___-_______-.--___._________-_--_--_ 69

Chase group.____-.-_____-____.-_-_________.____._.-__--.- 69

Wreford limestone-----_-___________-__-____________-_- 69

Matfield shale___-__________________.___..___._ 70

Barneston limestone-___-_-_---___________________-_-_- 70

Doyle shale...____________________________________ 72

Winfield limestone__-_-__--___-______-____-___-----_. 74

Odell shale_________________________________________ 76

Nolans limestone__-__--____-__-_-__-___-__-____-_-_-_- 76

Sumner group Wellington formation._______________________ 77

Cretaceous system..___________________________________________ 82

Kiowa shale_______________________________________________ 82

Dakota sandstone.__-_-__-___--_-__-_-_-_____________-___- 83

Quaternary system.____-_----_--_____-_-_-_________-_______---.. 84

San born formation. __ _ _____________________________________ 84

Terrace deposits____-_-_-_-_____-_____-_-_______-__-_--___- 86

Alluvium. ___.._________._________________________ 86

Inventory of construction materials--_-______-_-_-____-_______-__--_- 87

Aggregate for concrete.________________________________________ 87

Road metal_-._----___-____-______--___-._.____.____._______ 88

Mineral filler._____-________________ .______________ 90

Riprap._____. ________________________________________._. 90

Structural stone.______________________________________________ 91

Subgrade and embankment material._________-___________--_--_- 92

Selected bibliography.__-__--____--_______________-_______ ---_____ 93

Index.__________-___--_--_-__-____________-___________.__.____. 95

m
IV CONTENTS

ILLUSTRATIONS

PLATE 3. Geologic and construction-materials map of Marion County,

Kans_-__---.____._______-_.-__-___._--_____-_-____ In pocket

4. Stratigraphic units that crop out in Marion County, Kans. In pocket

Page

FIGURE 3. Index map of Kansas--__-__--_--_---_-----__----__---___ 65 

4. Chart of temperature ranges at Herington, Kans., and precipitation ranges at Marion, Kans.._.---__-,_.-___.._______ 66

TABLE

TABLE 1. Summary of tests on construction materials of Marion County,

Kans...-.-___-_.-___-_-__----__-__-_-_--._--._____ In pocket
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF PART OF NORTHEAST

KANSAS

GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION-MATERIAL RESOURCES 

OF MARION COUNTY, KANSAS

By F. E. BYKNE, C. P. WALTERS, J. L. HILL, and L. KISEMAN

ABSTRACT

Sources of construction materials in Marion County, Kans., were studied as a 

joint project of the U. S. Geological Survey and the State Highway Commission 

of Kansas. The county is in south-central Kansas at the west edge of the 

Flint Hills.

Rocks of early and middle Permian age crop out extensively over the eastern 

two-thirds of the county. These rocks are composed of alternating beds of gray 

limestone, many of which are markedly cherty, and varicolored shale. Two 

formations of Early Cretaceous age at the surface in the western part of the 

county are the Kiowa shale, a marine deposit that rests disconformably on the 

Wellington formation of Permian age, and the Dakota sandstone, a series of 

interfingered lenses of shale and sandstone. In many parts of the county the 

Permian and Cretaceous rocks are covered by thin layers of sediments deposited 

by the wind and streams during the Quaternary period. These sediments, 

divided into three units, are shown on an accompanying geologic map as the 

Sanborn formation, terrace deposits, and alluvium.

Limestone, the local material most useful in construction, is suitable for use 

as aggregate, road metal, riprap, and structural stone. Sand from the Sanborn 

formation is used as road metal. Silt from the Sanborn formation and from 

terrace deposits might be used as mineral filler.

INTRODUCTION

Members of the U. S. Geological Survey studied the sources of construction materials in Marion County, Kans., during the summer of 

1948 and during 1950 as part of a statewide project conducted in cooperation with the State Highway Commission of Kansas. This report, which is based on that study, is a contribution to the geologic 

mapping and mineral resources investigations being made as a part of 

the U. S. Department of the Interior program for the development 

of the Missouri River basin.

The primary purpose of the investigation was to accumulate field 

and laboratory data on the availability and suitability of geologic 

materials in Marion County that could be used in the construction of

63
64 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

dams, irrigation canals, highways, airports, or other structures. Additional geologic data are included to facilitate the exploitation of 

known prospects and the search for other sites where materials might 

be obtained economically.

GEOGRAPHY 

LOCATION OF THE AREA

Marion County is in the fourth tier of the counties south of the 

Kansas-Nebraska boundary and is the sixth county west of the KansasMissouri boundary (fig. 3). It has an area of about 954 square miles 

and comprises slightly more than 26 townships. The county lies between parallels 38°05' and 38°37' north latitude, and meridians 96°49' 

and 97°23' west longitude. It is bordered on the east by Morris and 

Chase Counties; on the west by McPherson and Harvey Counties; on 

the north by Dickinson and Morris Counties; and on the south by 

Butler and Harvey Counties.

The eastern townships of Marion County, at the west edge of the 

Flint Hills, are characterized by a well dissected topography with 

deeply incised valleys, thin soils, and many limestone outcrops. The 

major drainage is southeastward along the axis of Cotton wood River. 

The central part of the county is characterized by lower, more rounded 

hills because of the greater thickness of shale exposed at the surface. 

The northwestern part of the county shows a more rugged terrain 

developed in sandstone and shale of Cretaceous age.

DRAINAGE

The Cotton wood River, the largest stream in the county (pi. 3), 

flows southeastward across the center of the county. The major 

tributaries are Clear and Mud Creeks, which flow southward; French 

Creek and the South Cottonwood River, which flow eastward; and 

Doyle Creek which flows northeastward.

CLIMATE

Marion County is in an area of continental-type climate in which 

the summers are relatively long and hot, and the winters short and 

fairly cold. The mean annual temperature is 56°F. and the monthly 

mean ranges from a low of 20°F. in January to a high of 80°F. in 

July. There is an average of 95 cloudy days, 95 partly cloudy days, 

and 175 clear days each year. The ground is covered by snow on an 

average of 20 days of the year. Normal annual precipitation is 30.13 

inches. The average date of the first killing frost is October 18 and 

that of the last killing frost is April 18 (Flora, 1948). A chart of 

temperature ranges at Herington, Kans., and precipitation ranges at
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This report Report in preparation Pu

FIGURE 3. Index map of Kansas showing area of this and other 
66 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 67

Marion, Kans. (fig. 4), was compiled from "Climatological data" 

(U. S. Dept. Commerce, 1937-46) to provide basic data necessary for 

good engineering construction. The chart indicates, for the 10-year 

period, the average number of days each month in which the maximum daily temperature fell within one or another of the temperature 

ranges vitally important in various kinds of engineering construction. Only from November to March, inclusive, are there days in 

which the maximum temperature does not exceed 32°F., and the maximum average incidence is 7 such days in January. July, the warmest 

month of the year, has an average of 18.8 days with maximum temperatures above 90 °F. The chart shows the average difference between the daily maximum and minimum temperatures for each month. 

The greatest of these average differences in daily temperatures, 

25.4°F., is in October; the least of them, 19.4°F., is in December.

The chart also shows arbitrarily selected precipitation ranges at 

Marion, Kans. Records for the 10-year period 1937-46 show that in 

June, for example, there is an average of 20.2 days that do not have 

measurable precipitation; 3.2 days that have from a trace to 0.1 inch; 

4.8 days that have 0.11 to 1 inch; and 1.8 days that have more than 

an inch.

TRANSPORTATION ROUTES

Two railroads serve the county (pi. 3). One branch line of the 

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad crosses the southeastern 

part through Florence and Peabody; a second extends westward from 

Florence through Marion, Hillsboro, and Lehigh; the third branch 

passes through Lost Springs near the northeastern corner of the 

county. The county is also served by two branch lines of the Chicago, 

Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad. One crosses diagonally from 

Dickinson County to McPherson County, passing through Ramona, 

Tampa, and Durham. The other branch extends southward through 

Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Antelope, Marion, Aulne, and Peabody.

There is a well-developed system of Federal, State, and county 

roads (pi. 3). The Federal highways are of concrete (U. S. 50) or 

black-top construction (U. S. 56 and U. S. 77). Kansas Highway 15 

has both black-top and metaled sections; Kansas Highway 150 is 

black-topped. County and township roads are usually metaled and 

give access to graded earthen roads laid out along most of the section 

lines in the county.

INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE

This report is based on field work of the reconnaissance type. The 

eastern two-thirds of the county were mapped by Riseman and Hill 

in the summer of 1948, and the western third by Walters in the sum465868 59 2
68 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

mer of 1950. The base map (Highway Planning Map, scale: 1 inch 

equals 1 mile) was provided by the State Highway Commission of 

Kansas. Drainage lines were added to the base map for greater 

ground control in mapping. These were taken from aerial photographs (scale: 4 inches equal 1 mile) made available by the Soil 

Conservation Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture. The drainage lines were checked against maps compiled by the Soil Conservation Service (scale: 1 inch equals 2 miles) and further checked in 

the field.

The areal distribution of stratigraphic units exposed in Marion 

County was mapped in the field. Because the project was primarily 

concerned with construction materials, no attempt was made to include 

geologic problems not related to the occurrence of these materials.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For assistance in the compilation of the geologic map and the data 

on construction materials, acknowledgment is made to S. E. Horner, 

then chief geologist, R. D. Finney, engineer of materials, and W. E. 

Gibson, engineer of tests, of the State Highway Commission of Kansas 

at Topeka and Manhattan, Kans.; Victor Muse, Marion County conservationist of the Soil Conservation Service, U. S. Department of 

Agriculture; and many residents of the county who contributed information of value.

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRATIGRAPHIC UNITS

This discussion of the geologic formations that crop out in Marion 

County emphasizes the areal distribution, general characteristics, and 

thickness of each stratigraphic unit. A representative measured section is given for each formation or member. The measured sections 

are not complete, especially in poorly exposed sections of shale, but 

each presents the characteristic features of a formation or member. 

The construction materials of each unit are listed in plate 4.

Plate 3 shows the location of construction materials and the geology 

of Marion County, Kans. Each stratigraphic unit is indicated by an 

identifying symbol and its outcrop areas are shown by a distinctive 

pattern. Railroads, roads, and drainage lines are shown also to provide a basis for evaluating the availability of sources of construction 

materials.

Symbols indicate whether a pit or quarry is operating, has been 

operated, or is a prospect; the type of construction materials available 

at each site; and the quantity of material (in units of 10,000 cubic
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 69

yards) that can be removed from beneath unconsolidated sediments 

less than 6 feet thick.

The oldest system of rocks exposed at the surface in Marion County 

is the Permian which crops out in all but the northwestern part 

of the county, where it lies close to the surface (pis. 3 and 4). 

Kocks of Cretaceous age overlie Permian strata in the northwestern 

part of the county and have a maximum thickness of about 140 

feet. Deposits of gravel, sand, silt, and clay of Pleistocene age 

that once overlay nearly all the older rocks are now scattered erosional remnants, some as thick as 20 feet. Recent deposits are in 

stream valleys and are thickest in the valleys of the larger streams.

PERMIAN SYSTEM

The oldest formation of Permian age outcropping in Marion 

County is the Wreford limestone which is exposed in a single small 

outcrop in the Cotton wood Eiver channel (pis. 3 and 4). The next 

oldest formation, the Matfield shale, crops out in the valley of the 

Cottonwood River and along the eastern border of the county in the 

deeper valleys tributary to the river. Prominent in the eastern tier 

of townships is the Barneston limestone which forms bluffs and 

terraces. Above the Barneston limestone and parallel to it in outcrop is the Doyle shale which erodes easily, except for a step formed 

by the Towanda limestone member. A still higher terrace is formed 

by the Winfield limestone which is separated from the next terraceforming unit, the Nolans limestone, by the Odell shale.

The youngest Permian formation in the county is the Wellington, 

which is 700 feet thick. The 450 feet that crop out forms a broad, 

northward-trending band in the western part of the county.

CHASE: GROUP 

WREFORD LIMESTONE

Of the Wreford limestone, only the Schroyer limestone member, 

the upper subdivision of the formation, is visible at the surface in 

the county; it is the oldest stratigraphic unit exposed in the county 

and may be observed beneath a bridge over the Cottonwood River 

in the NW^SW^ sec. 10, T. 21 S., R. 5 E. The limestone is light 

to dark gray and contains two blocky beds of gray chert and several 

partings of gray shale. Because the formation is deeply buried 

elsewhere in the county, it is not a likely source of construction 

material.
70 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

MATFIELD SHALE

The Matfield shale crops out in the southeastern part of Marion 

County mostly in the valley of the Cottonwood River east of Florence. Its outcrops are generally inconspicuous because of greater 

resistance to erosion of the overlying Barneston limestone and the 

consequent slumping of blocks of limestone which conceal the shale 

outcrop.

The formation is composed largely of shale but includes a limestone member, the Kinney, which crops out near Florence in the 

channel of the Cottonwood River. As exposed in the valleys of the 

Cottonwood River and its tributaries, the Matfield is a varicolored 

shale in which red and green-gray zones predominate; there are a 

few thin interbedded layers of gray limestone and calcareous shale 

and some marine fossils in the calcareous zones.

About 50 feet of the shale is exposed; its total thickness is about 

80 feet.

Because of its few outcrops and the predominance of shale, the 

formation is of little value as a source of construction materials.

BARNESTON LIMESTONE

The Barneston limestone crops out prominently at Florence and 

throughout the southeastern part of the county. The Cottonwood 

River has cut completely through the formation at Florence, as have 

some of the river's tributaries to the east. Other streams have cut 

down to or into the formation and its massive beds form the steep 

limestone walls distinctive of valleys in the eastern part of the county.

This formation is composed of two limestone members separated 

by a thin shale member. The lowest is the Florence limestone member in which chert is so abundant that in highway and other cut 

sections the rock appears to be predominantly chert with only a 

minor amount of nodular limestone inclusions. It is gray to tan, 

highly fossiliferous, and broken by vertical jointing into blocks about 

1 foot across. Brown limonite stain marks the fracture surfaces.

The chert is generally gray but has bands of tan color in places. 

Small crystals of quartz line the solution cavities and coat some 

of the fracture surfaces.

The Oketo shale member, which overlies the Florence limestone 

member, is silty and calcareous, massive or poorly bedded, and contains marine fossils. It is dark gray and weathers to buff or light 

gray. The shale is only 1 or 2 feet thick in Marion County.

The Fort Riley, the uppermost member of the formation, is a
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 71

fairly hard, very fossiliferous limestone. Thin beds of gray shale 

form partings between thick sequences of limestone beds. With the 

exception of a zone of rather massive limestone near the base and 

another in the middle of the member, the limestone beds are platy, 

and the shale partings are mostly among the platy beds of limestone. 

The massive beds tend to form broad terraces. The lower zone of 

massive limestone is known as rimrock.

When unweathered the Fort Riley is gray to buff, but it appears 

white in the outcrops, where blocks several feet across are conspicuous evidence of vertical jointing in the member.

Outcrops of the Barneston limestone may be observed near Florence and in T. 18 S., R. 5 E.; T. 19 S., R. 5 E.; T. 20 S., R. 5 E.; 

and T. 21 S., R. 5 E. There is an unusually good exposure of the 

Fort Riley limestone member along U. S. Highway 77 in the 

NEi^NEi/4 sec. 13, T. 21 S., R. 4 E. ; the Oketo shale and Florence 

limestone members are well exposed in an Atchison, Topeka and 

Santa Fe railroad quarry half a mile northeast of Florence in the 

SW14SEV4 sec. 6, T. 21 S., R. 5 E. The full thickness of the 

Barneston limestone, about 80 feet, is exposed on the hillsides east 

of Florence.

Representative section of the Florence limestone and Oketo shale members of 

the Barneston limestone in an Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad quarry

in the SWy^Ey^ sec. 6, T. 21 8., R. 5 E.

Barneston limestone :

Oketo shale member : Feet 

Shale, silty, calcareous, dark -gray, hard; little evidence of bedding ; weathers buff ; upper and lower contacts indistinct ;

abundant fossils _ ___ _ _ 1. 0> 

Florence limestone member :

Limestone, massive, light-tan, hard ; a few scattered chert nodules

in basal part ; weathers to darker tan ; contains fossils__ 3. 3 

Limestone, light-gray to buff, massive; with layers and nodules

of dark-gray flint ; weathers tan ; fossils abundant in lower half- 2. 3 

Limestone, light-buff, massive, moderately hard ; with thin wavy

horizontal streaks ; weathers gray tan ; a few scattered chert

nodules ; fossils abundant __ __ _ .7 

Limestone, light-buff, massive, moderately hard; contains abundant layers and scattered nodules of dark-gray chert ; stylolites ;

weathers darker buff ; scattered fossils ________ _ _ 19. 8

Total exposed thickness of the Florence limestone and

Oketo shale members___________________ 27.1 

Base covered
72 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Representative section of the Fort Riley limestone member of the Barneston 

limestone in a road cut in the NEty NEty sec. 13, T. 21 8., R. 4 E.

Doyle shale. 

Barneston limestone :

Fort Riley limestone member : Feet

Limestone, gray, clayey, porous, massive, soft, thin-bedded ; calcite 

geodes in upper 18 in. ; streaked along bedding planes with limonite; weathers dark tannish gray 3.0

Limestone, slightly clayey, hard, light gray-buff; weathers light 

gray; limonite stains. __ _ 3.0

Limestone, clayey; soft in upper part; large areas blue gray, 

other areas tan gray ; weathers to lighter gray and tan ; upper 

half weathers to very thin beds; lower half weathers to 

blocky, irregular beds ; fossiliferous. ___ __ _ _ 5. 7

Limestone, massive, hard, tan-gray to blue-gray; weathers light 

tan gray; fossiliferous _____________ - ____ - ____ 1.5

Limestone, soft, clayey ; breaks up into angular fragments of unequal size ; light buff mottled with blue gray ; weathers lighter 

buff and blue gray; weathers platy ; fossiliferous _ 10. 0

Limestone, clayey, dark blue-gray mottled with buff; splits 

easily; weathers lighter color ____________________ 1.3

Limestone, thin-bedded, light gray-buff : weathers buff ; fossiliferous.... __ _____ _ _ ___ ___ _ 8.5

Total exposed thickness of the Fort Riley limestone member-_ 33. 0 

Base covered

DOYLE SHALE

The Doyle shale tops the broad bench underlain by the Barneston 

limestone. The Towanda limestone member, the middle member of 

the formation, forms a small but conspicuous terrace about 30 feet 

above the Fort Riley. Stream valleys are deeply incised into the 

Barneston limestone, but those in the Doyle shale generally are broad 

and gently sloping except near their heads where they become markedly steeper especially near the overlying Winfield limestone.

This formation is exposed in the valley of Doyle Creek southwest 

of Florence and in the valley of the Cottonwood River northwest of 

Florence. Most of its other exposures are in the easternmost tier of 

townships where the outcrops parallel those of the Barneston limestone.

The Doyle shale is composed of two members of varicolored shale 

separated by a slabby or platy limestone member. The lowest, the 

Plolmesville shale member, is calcareous, thin bedded to blocky, contains few fossils, and has gray, buff, green, and red zones. Where 

locally present a few thin beds of limestone in the Holmesville make 

it difficult to determine the contact with the underlying Fort Riley 

limestone member. The Towanda limestone member is thin bedded, 

hard, slabby, bluish gray to buff, contains few fossils, and splits into 

thin pieces suitable for use as flagstones; in some /ones the bedding
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 73

planes total 10 or 15 to an inch. It crops out as a persistent hillside 

terrace. Uppermost in the formation is the Gage shale member. 

It is calcareous and fossiliferous in the upper part and in most places 

is gray to buff or olive. The lower and middle zones are varicolored, 

clayey, and contain fewer fossils. These beds are green, gray, buff, 

red, maroon, and chocolate. The walls of the broad valleys cut into 

the member in many places are covered by a soil too thin to hide the 

varicolored bands.

The total thickness of the Doyle shale is about 80 feet, of which 

about 45 feet is the Gage shale member, 10 feet is the Towanda limestone member, and 25 feet the Holmesville shale member.

Representative section of the Towanda, limestone and Holmesville shale members 

of the Doyle shale in a road cut in the NE^NE^ sec. 13, T. 21 8., R. 4 ESoil : silty clay loam, crumbly, <Jark-brown ( 1.5 feet) . 

Doyle shale :

Towanda limestone member :

Limestone, fine-grained, gray to tan, very thin bedded; breaks

along bedding planes into plates 0.5-1 in. thick ; shaly appearance in outcrop ; weathers light buff _ , ___ _ 3. 5 

Limestone, well-bedded, gray to tan-gray, fairly coarse textured ;

splits along bedding planes and forms blocks and plates 1-6 in.

thick ; weathers light buff ; thin, irregular partings of shale 4. 0 

Limestone, massive to platy, blue-gray to buff; fine- to coarsegrained and angular, weathers buff -gray and to massive blocks

about 8 in. thick _________________________ _ 3. 0 

Holmesville shale member :

Shale, silty, calcareous ; buff to tan ; limestone stringer in middle,

with geodes ; weathers light tan _______ _ . 9 

Shale, silty, calcareous, buff, blocky; partially consolidated lens

in lower part ; weathers tan ______________ 1. 1 

Shale, silty, slightly calcareous, thin-bedded, buff and gray;

weathers light tan ___________________________ . 8 

Shale, silty, calcareous, massive, gray-brown; weathers light

tan with fretwork ; transparent calcite crystals present _____ 1. 2 

Shale, clayey, slightly calcareous, hard, mottled gray-green;

weathers light gray green ______________________ 1. 5 

Shale, clayey, noncalcareous. dark gray-green ; upper part more

blocky than lower part ; weathers gray green _____ _ 1. 2 

Shale, clayey, calcareous, massive, light tan-gray, mottled with

gray-green : weathers lighter tan gray ________________ . 7 

Shale, clayey, calcareous, massive, gray-green; weathers light

gray green ___________________ ______ _ ___ 1. 3 

Limestone, hard, massive, gray ; weathers light gray with limonite

stains ____________________________________ . 8 

Shale, clayey, calcareous, soft, light-gray ; grades to buff in lower

part ; weathers light tan gray ____________________ . 6 

Shale, clayey, noncalcareous, massive to blocky, hard ; dark gray

streaked with black and green ; weathers dark gray green __ . 5
74 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Representative section of the Towanda limestone and Holmesvitte shale members 

of the Doyle shale in a road cut in the NE^NEy^ sec. 13, T. 21 8., R. 4 E. 

Continued

Doyle shale Continued

Holmesville shale member Continued Feet 

Shale, clayey, brittle, hard, light-gray; noncalcareous except for 

upper part which contains abundant calcite geodes; lower part 

has thin bedding laminae; weathers gray___________ 1.2

Total exposed thickness of the Holmesville shale and

Towanda limestone members (top eroded)_________ 22.3 

Base covered

Representative section of the Gage shale member of the Doyle shale along U, 8.

Highway 77 in the SWy^NW^, see. 26, T. 20 8., R. 4 E. 

Doyle shale:

Gage shale member : Feet 

Shale, silty and clayey, fairly well bedded, gray-green to buff;

jointed at 4-in. intervals; highly fossiliferous zone at base 4 

Shale, calcareous, clayey, light-gray to white; nodular calcareous

concretions; fossiliferous_______________ _ ___ 4 

Shale, calcareous and clayey, greenish-gray to tan; calcite vein

fillings; fossiliferous_________________________ 10 

Shale, clayey, massive to blocky. varicolored, red to gray-green, 

predominantly maroon____________ 15

Total thickness exposed______ _ 33 

Base covered

WINFIELD LIMESTONE

The Winfield limestone forms a conspicuous hillside bench south 

and east of Marion and throughout the eastern tier of townships. 

Elsewhere the formation is beneath the surface or crops out only in 

the bottoms of stream valleys.

The formation consists of two limestone members separated by a 

shale member. The Stovall limestone member, which overlies the 

Doyle shale, is recognized easily because it contains large nodules of 

gray chert. This member is gray or buff and about 2 feet thick. The 

chert nodules are about 6 inches across, and many small fossils are 

embedded in them. The chert is more resistant to weathering than 

is the limestone matrix, but when highly weathered it forms a porous 

material called "tripoli."

Overlying the Stovall limestone member is the Grant shale member which is about 8 feet thick, gray to buff or olive, fossiliferous, and 

calcareous.

The Oesswell limestone member, the upper unit of the formation, 

is about 20 feet thick, and contains fossils and a few thin partings of 

shale. The thin-bedded upper half is sometimes called the "Luta limestone." Concretions and geodes are displayed in weathered outcrops.

The total thickness of the formation is about 40 feet of which about 

30 feet is limestone.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 75

Representative section of the Stovall limestone and Grant shale members of the 

Win/ield limestone along U. 8. Highway 77 in the SWtyNWy^ sec. 26, T. 20 8., 

R.4E.

Winfleld limestone:

Cresswell limestone member (8 feet).

Grant shale member: Feet 

Shale, silty, calcareous, massive, gray-green; numerous geodes;

fossiliferous ________________________ 4.0 

Shale, silty and clayey; massive to poorly bedded; fossiliferous_ 5.0 

Stovall limestone member:

Limestone, hard, dense, light-gray to buff; chert nodules; fossiliferous ; in two distinct beds, each about 1 ft thick______ 2.0

Total thickness of Stovall limestone and Grant shale members _______________________________ 11.0 

Doyle shale.

Representative section of the Grant shale and the Cresswell limestone members 

of the Winfield limestone in a, quarry in the SEy^NWy^ sec. 15, T. 19 8., 

R.4E.

Winfield limestone:

Cresswell limestone member: Feet 

Limestone, clayey, thin-bedded to platy, light-gray; weathers

lighter gray 1.9 

Limestone, massive, soft, light-gray; contains abundant geodes;

weathers slightly darker gray; fragments of shale in upper

part___________________-____ __ ___ 4.6 

Shale, clayey, slightly calcareous, light-green; platy to thin

bedded; weathers to lighter green . 5 

Limestone, clayey, soft, tan-gray; generally massive, but thin

bedded in places; weathers light buff- 2.1 

Shale, clayey, slightly calcareous, gray-green; abundant siliceous

concretions; weathers light green_ . 5 

Limestone, clayey, soft, massive, tan-gray; contains abundant

siliceous and calcareous geodes in lower half; weathers nearly

white_________________________ _ _ 12.0 

Limestone, slightly clayey, thin-bedded, light-gray; varied in

thickness; weathers tan________ . 3 

Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray; contains large siliceous

geodes in basal part; weathers tan gray; fossiliferous 4.3 

Limestone, hard, massive, gray; weathers light gray and has

limonite stains; contains siliceous concretions 1-8 in. thick;

bottom of concretion zone is about 8 in. from bottom of bed;

concretions are gray to very dark gray, and weather red brown

and to lighter weight; fossils abundant in concretions 2.3 

Grant shale member:

Shale, limy or clayey, light-gray; breaks out in angular blocks;

tipper foot grades into Cresswell; weathers tan gray 7.0

Total exposed thickness of the Grant shale and Cresswell

limestone members (top eroded) 35.5 

Base covered 

465868 88 8
76 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

ODELL SHALE

The Odell shale overlies the Winfield limestone, both cropping out 

in the same parts of the county. Because the Odell shale is easily 

eroded, it forms concave stream valleys whose floors are in the Winfield 

limestone.

The subdued colors generally are visible through the soil mantling 

the Odell shale. Its color zones grade from green through buff, 

chocolate brown, and maroon to red; red is dominant near the top; 

greenish gray and buff near the bottom. The 20- 30-foot formation 

contains few fossils.

Representative measured section of the Odell shale in a quarry in the SEViNWy^

sec. 15, T. 19 8., R. J, E.

Odell shale: Feet 

Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky to massive, gray-green; weathers

tan gray___________________________________ 4. 5 

Shale, clayey, slightly calcareous, blocky to massive, dark-green;

weathers gray green___________________________ 1.8 

Shale, clayey, slightly calcareous, blocky; chocolate-brown with 

thin (1 in. or less) beds of gray-green and mottled shales; 

weathers to rose__________________ ___ 9.8 

Shale, silty, noncalcareous, blocky with angular fragments, graygreen; weathers light green___________ 2.7

Total thickness present________ 18. 8 

Winfleld limestone.

NOLANS LIMESTONE

The Nolans limestone consists of two limestone members separated 

by a shale member (pi. 4). The basal Krider limestone member 

overlies the Odell shale and is overlain by the Paddock shale member; 

the Herington limestone member is at the top. The main area of the 

outcrop, marked by broad flat hills capped by the Herington limestone member, is along U. S. Highway 77 north of Marion and extends 

irregularly east and west of this line for a distance of 4 or 5 miles 

(pi. 3). South of Marion and west of the Cotton wood River, the 

outcrop is intersected by Doyle Creek near Peabody before it swings 

eastward toward Burns where it is found as narrow erosional remnants on the highest hills.

The Krider limestone member consists of two thin beds of limestone, each about a foot thick, separated by a bed of shale which usually 

is also about a foot thick. The limestone is clayey, massive, soft, 

tan to gray, and f ossiliferous.

The Paddock shale member is 2 to 12 feet thick, calcareous, clayey, 

and gray to tan. Fossils are abundant in some outcrops.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 77

The Herington limestone member is somewhat dolomitic, buff to 

tan, and rather dense and massive. It separates into large blocks 

during weathering because the joints cutting it are widely spaced. 

Calcareous geodes and siliceous concretions are present, and some 

zones are f ossilif erous.

The full thickness of the Nolans limestone in Marion County is 

at least 25 or 30 feet, but its high topographic position has facilitated 

weathering and erosion so its outcrops are only 10 to 15 feet thick 

in most places.

Representative section of the Nolans limestone in a road cut in the

sec. 26, T. 18 8., R. 4 E. 

Soil (0.1±foot). 

Nolans limestone :

Herington limestone member : Feet 

Limestone, clayey, soft, massive, light-gray; weathers rapidly

and tan ; calcareous geodes fairly abundant ; fossiliferous _ _ 7. 9 

Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray ; weathers tan__ . 1 

Limestone, clayey, soft, tan-gray, large blocky pieces ; weathers 

tan_ _____ __ _ ______ . 7

Paddock shale member :

Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray; weathers tan gray;

fossiliferous _______________ ________ 2.0

(Note : This is the minimum observed thickness of this member ; 

in the same area a maximum thickness of 9 ft was observed.) 

Krider limestone member :

Limestone, clayey, soft, massive, tan-gray; weathers slightly 

darker gray ; fossiliferous _ _ 1. 3

Total thickness of the Nolans limestone present 11.8 

Odell shale.

SUMNEB GROUP WELLINGTON FORMATION

The Wellington formation is several hundred feet thick and crops 

out in about half the county (pis. 3 and 4). North of Marion, most 

of the outcrops are west of U. S. Highway 11 ; south of Marion, the 

formation caps hills near Aulne and Peabody; along the west boundary 

of the county the Wellington is covered by formations of Cretaceous 

and Pleistocene age.

Most of the outcrop area is a rolling land given variety by a few 

subdued terraces developed from beds of limestone. Outcrops are 

composed largely of shale, but some contain beds of limestone or 

gypsum. The Hutchinson salt member, which is near the middle of 

the formation, does not crop out because the salt dissolves rapidly
78 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

when exposed to rainwash; however, it is present in the subsurface 

only a short distance west of Marion County and is mined there at 

Kanopolis, Hutchinson, and Lyons.

The Wellington is 700 feet thick; the lower 450 feet of it crops out 

in Marion County.

The following members and beds of the Wellington formation were 

identified in the field. This terminology follows closely that of Ver 

Wiebe (1937, p. 4, 5), and the rocks are in ascending stratigraphic 

order.

1. Pearl shale member: Predominantly a faint-hued varicolored 

clayey and calcareous shale; includes at least one thin bed of tan-gray 

crystalline dolomitic limestone; about 40 feet thick.

2. Hollenberg limestone member: Also known as the Hollenberg 

limestone bed; coarsely crystalline cellular tan-gray limestone of 

which some zones are dolomitic; 8 feet thick.

3. Geuda Springs shale member: A greenish-gray clayey shale 

which includes, in its middle part, a bed of hard gray anhydrite and 

a layer of thin-bedded soft light-buff limestone; about 200 feet thick. 

The Prairie Creek limestone bed, near the top of the Geuda Springs 

shale member, has been only tentatively identified; it is composed of 

two thin beds of chalky white limestone separated by a layer of 

greenish-gray shale; about 9 feet thick.

4. Annelly gypsum member: A series of dark-gray thin-bedded 

shale beds alternating with beds of white, pink, or gray gypsum; 

about 20 feet thick.

5. Chisholm Creek shale member: Thin-bedded soft varicolored 

clayey shale; about 40 feet thick.

6. Carl ton limestone member: Interbedded thin layers of soft 

platy clayey gray to buff limestone and soft calcareous gray to tangray shale; zones containing fossil plants and insects (Elmo insect 

bed) are included in this member; about 70 feet thick.

7. Highland shale member: Thin-bedded clayey varicolored 

shale; about 40 feet thick.

8. Slate Creek shale member: Thin-bedded dark-gray clayey 

shale; about 10 feet thick.

9. Afton shale member: Thin-bedded to blocky red, green, and 

gray calcareous clayey shale; interbedded thin layers of gray-tan 

limestone; includes numerous calcareous concretions; about 30 feet 

thick.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 79

Representative section of the Pearl shale member of the Wellington formation 

in a road out in the SWy^SWy^ sec. 14, T. 20 8., R. 3 E.

Wellington formation:

Pearl shale member: Feet 

Shale, calcareous, irregularly bedded, gray to buff _ _ 2.0 

Limestone, dolomitic, cellular, tan-buff; badly weathered 1.4 

Shale, calcareous (beds of thin lime), very thin bedded, gray-bufi£_ 8. 0 

Shale, clayey, green-gray_____________________ __ 2. 0 

Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded; clayey and green-gray in basal

2 ft___________________________________ 10.0 

Limestone, clayey, cellular, soft, platy; lower 1 ft shaly; buff tan_ 1. 5 

Shale, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, greenish-tan- 2.0 

Shale, clayey, green-gray, thin-bedded to blocky; lower 0.5 ft calcareous, with concretions_ _______ 2. 5 

Shale, clayey, silty and calcareous, blocky; maroon and green

zones___________________________________ 2. 0

Shale, calcareous, platy, buff to tan_______ _ 3.0

Limestone, crystalline, cellular, dark-tan___ _ 1.2

Shale, clayey and calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky; banded gray,

buff, and green________________________ _ 3.0

Total thickness of Nolans limestone_______________ 38. 6 

Base covered

Representative section of the Pearl shale and Hollenberff limestone members 

of the Wellington formation in the SE%Sf!% sec. 34, T. 19 8., R. 3 E.

Soil: dark-brown sandy loam (2.0 feet). 

Wellington formation:

Hollenberg limestone member: Feet 

Limestone, dolomitic, crystalline, unevenly bedded, gray;

weathers tan ___ _ 2. 0 

Pearl shale member:

Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded, green-gray to buff, faintly varicolored; chalky zone 4 ft below top; many thin calcareous 

plates along bedding planes; irregular mudstone concretions. 20. 0±

Total exposed thickness of the Pearl shale and Hollenberg 

limestone members___ ___ ___ ___ _ 22. 0±

Representative section of the Geuda Springs shale member of the Wellington 

formation (probably including the Prairie Creek limestone bed) in a road 

cut in SEy^SEy^ sec. 36, T. 14 S., R. 2 E.

Wellington formation:

Geuda Springs shale member: Feet 

Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded, platy, buff to gray________ 6. 0 

Prairie Creek (?) limestone bed:

Limestone, platy, thin-bedded, buff to white, nonfossiliferous. 2.0 

Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded, buff-gray____________ 5. 0 

Limestone, platy to blocky, buff to white; limonite stains

on surface_____________________________ 2.0 

Shale, calcareous, platy, gray-buff_______ ___ 1.0

Total thickness exposed_____________ ___ ___ 16. 0
80 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Representative section of the Annelly gypsum member of the Wellington formation in creek bank in the NWy+NW^ sec. 19, T. 20 8., R. 2 E.

Soil, sandy and gravelly, gray (2 feet).

Pleistocene or Pliocene: Feet 

Conglomerate, coarse, poorly sorted, crudely stratified; pebbles mostly 

limestone, a few siliceous, and a maximum of 2 in. in diameter; 

siliceous sand; mass cemented with calcite (3 feet). 

Wellington formation:

Annelly gypsum member:

Shale; upper part massive, silty, light gray; lower part thin

bedded, clayey, dark gray__________ 10 

Gypsum beds, massive to jumbled, coarse, crystalline, dark gray; 

scattered lenses of finer grained pink gypsum; shaly partings, 

dark gray, about an inch thick___________________ 12

Total exposed thickness of the Annelly gypsum member__ 22

Representative section of th'e Chisholm Creek member of the Wellington formation in a gully in the SWy+SWy* sec. 4, T. 17 8., R. 2 E.

Wellington formation: Feet 

Carlton limestone member__________________ 20

Chisholm Creek shale member:

Shale, clayey, blocky, light-green and maroon 3 

Shale, clayey, red________________ _ 2 

Shale, clayey, light-green_________ _ 6

Total exposed thickness of the Chisholm Creek shale member_ 11 

Base covered

Representative section of th'e Carlton limestone member of the Wellington formation in a road cut in the SWy+SWy* sec. 24, T. 20 8., R. 1 E.

Wellington formation:

Carlton limestone member: Feet 

Shale, very calcareous, gray, thin-bedded to platy; weathers buff;

thin limestone partings ________________ ____ 10. 0

Limestone, thin-bedded, fine-textured, light-gray___________ 3. 0

Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded, buff to gray; thin limestone in

middle part _________________________________ 6.0

Limestone, thin-bedded, buff to white; thin partings of shale__ 2. 5 

Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-buff; thin limestone beds in

middle part_______________________________ 6. 0 

Limestone, flaggy, buff to light-gray; uneven nodular surface and

thin, curved laminations_____ _ _ _ . 5 

Shale, thin-bedded, dark-gray; some very calcareous beds_____ 10. 0 

Limestone, flaggy to thin-bedded; with concentric laminations__ . 4 

Shale, thin-bedded, dark-gray____________________ 1. 5 

Limestone, thin-bedded, buff to gray_____ __________ 1. 0

Total exposed thickness of the Carlton limestone member___ 40. 9 

Base covered
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 81

Representative section of the Carlton limestone and Highland shale members of 

the Wellington formation in a streambank in the SEy^SE^ sec. 8, T. 11 S., R. 2 E.

Wellington formation :

Highland shale member : Feet 

Shale ; silty in zones ; thin bedded, crumbly ; varicolored bands of

gray-green, gray, maroon___ _ 10.0 

Carlton limestone member :

Limestone, platy, gray to tan _ _ 1. 5 

Shale, clayey, very thin bedded, gray-green_ _ _ _ _ 1. 5 

Limestone, platy, tan_ _ _ _ ___ ___ _ ____ _ . 5 

Shale, clayey, thin-bedded, dark-gray to black _ _ _ _ _______ 2. 0 

Limestone, shaly, platy, gray _ _ _ _ 1. 5 

Shale, clayey, thin-bedded ; banded dark gray and black _____ 12. 0 

Shale, clayey and calcareous ; banded dark gray and light gray _ 3. 0 

Limestone, clayey, platy, gray-buff ; brecciated and recemented

at outcrop ___ _ _ ________ __ 1. 0

Shale, clayey, platy, dark-gray 3.0 

Shale, very calcareous, gray _ . 5 

Shale, clayey, platy, dark-gray _ ___ __ ___ 2. 0

Limestone, lenticular, gray. _ _ _______ . 2 

Shale, calcareous, light-gray _ __ ____ _ _____________ 2. 0

Limestone, gray ___ _ ______ _ __________________ . 5

Shale, calcareous, light-gray ______________________ 3. 0

Total exposed thickness of the Carlton limestone and Highland shale members ________________________ 44.2 

Base covered

Representative section of the Slate Creek and Afton shale members of the Wellington formation in the NWy^NE^ sec. S3, T. 19 8., R. 1 E.

Wellington formation :

Afton shale member : Feet 

Shale, thin-bedded to blocky ; includes calcareous zones containing

biscuit-shaped concretions ; red toward top ; the rest is gray

buff ___________________________________ 20. 0 

Shale, calcareous, gypsiferous, thin-bedded, buff, concretionary___ . 5 

Shale, thin-bedded to blocky ; calcareous zones ; gray with a few

thin red beds ____________________ _ _____ __ 12.0

Shale, thin-bedded to blocky, gray and maroon; with calcareous

zones ___________________________________ 7. 0 

Slate Creek shale member :

Shale, clayey, gray ; with calcareous seam in middle part ; upper

half blocky, lower half very thin bedded ____ _ ___ __ 4. 0 

Shale, clayey, with blocky calcareous zones 2 in. thick; mostly

very thin bedded; gray _ _ _ 1.8 

Shale, clayey, thin-bedded, dark-gray, fairly hard __ 10. 0 

Shale, silty, massive, red _________ __ ___ _ __ 2. 0

Total exposed thickness of the Slate Creek and Afton shale

members __ _ _ _ _ . 57. 3 

Base covered
82 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS 

CRETACEOUS SYSTEM

Rocks of Early Cretaceous age crop out in all the western part of 

the county (pi. 4), but exposures are most extensive in the area west 

and northwest of Hillsboro (pi. 3). In the Cretaceous of Marion 

County, the Kiowa shale is the older formation and the Dakota sandstone is the younger.

KIOWA SHALE

The Kiowa shale is exposed principally in townships 17, 18, and 

19 S., R. 1 E. (pis. 3 and 4), but there are isolated outcrops south 

and east of these three townships which are in the northwestern part 

of the county. Erosion of the Kiowa shale has exposed the underlying Wellington formation in some places, such as in the walls of 

the Cottonwood River valley west of Durham.

The Kiowa shale, largely a marine deposit, underlies the Dakota 

sandstone and overlies the Wellington formation. As mapped on 

plate 3, the Kiowa shale includes only predominantly fine-grained and 

well-stratified material. Weathering of the thick clay shales forms 

landslide or slump topography.

The basal part of the Kiowa shale is a moderately soft fine-grained 

well-bedded light-buff nonfossiliferous sandstone that grades upward 

into a fine, white or gray, poorly cemented silt, 15 feet thick. Together 

the sandstone and silt are 20-25 feet thick, but they are not present 

throughout the area. Carbonized plant remains are in the lightcolored silts. Clay shale beds, totaling 20-80 feet thick and generally 

black or dark colored and thin bedded, make up most of the Kiowa 

shale which has a maximum thickness in Marion County of 130 

feet.

Thin beds of bentonite and of iron-cemented sandstone are in the 

formation; some of the weathered outcrops of shale are covered in 

places with crystals of gypsum (the variety known as selenite) as 

much as 6 inches in length.

Typical exposures of the dark, clayey, shale beds occur throughout 

the outcrop area, but the thickest are in sees. 1-6 in T. 17 S., R 1 E. 

An outcrop along the road between sees. 2 and 3, T. 17 S., R 1 E., is 

easily accessible. An outcrop at the west side of sec. 7, T. 17 S., 

R. 1 E., also easily accessible, shows the effects of landslide and slump.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 83

Representative section of the Kiowa shale in the SEy^SE1/^ sec. 2, T. 17 8.,

R. 1 E.

Feet

Dakota sandstone_ _ 30. 0 

Kiowa shale:

Shale, silty, gray; with yellow streaks 3.0 

Shale, sandy, massive, buff_ _ 2.0 

Sandstone, fine-grained quartz, brown 1.3 

Shale, silty, massive, gray_ 2.0 

Shale, sandy, buff; interbedded with gray silt and brown sandstone,

with repetition of sequence about every 1.5 ft 20.0 

Shale, clayey, blocky, greenish-gray___ _ . - 6.7 

Sandstone, massive to concretionary, crossbedded in part; cemented

by iron oxide; lenticular; strongly resistant to weathering 2.5 

Shale, sandy, silty, laminated, light-brown and gray; interbedded with 

thin layers of fine, well-sorted, micaceous, brown sandstone containing plant fossils_______________________________ 5. O 

Shale, clayey, thin-bedded; dark gray near top, grading to light 

greenish gray. Many thin zones of iron oxide concretions with a 

2-foot bed of brown iron oxide in middle of zone; gypsum___ 20. 0 

Shale, clayey, thin-bedded, dark blue-gray; subject to slumping; yellow and brown iron oxide; thickness variable; contains clay____ .4 

Shale, clayey, thin-bedded, dark blue-gray to black. A few thin, sandy 

zones; some gypsum crystals at surface. Subject to slumping- 30.0

Total exposed thickness of the Kiowa shale___________ 92.9 

Base covered.

DAKOTA SANDSTONE

The high hills near the northwestern corner of Marion County were 

formed from the Dakota sandstone which crops out most prominently 

in T. IT S., R. 1 E., and in the western part of T. 17 S., R. 2 E. There 

are less conspicuous exposures in T. 18 S., R. 1 E., and in T. 19 S., 

R. 1 E.

The Dakota sandstone as mapped on plate 3 may be a part of the 

Kiowa shale, but on the basis of topographic position and because of 

different uses which would be made of the rock in engineering construction, the upper beds of standstone are here designated as the 

Dakota sandstone.

Beds of fine- to medium-grained massive brown to red sandstone 

make up the conspicuous part of its outcrop. Nearly as much soft 

clayey shale is present in the formation, but in most places it is partly 

covered by blocks slumped from an overlying ledge of sandstone.

The massive to well-bedded sandstone shows crossbedding in some 

zones. Where it is firmly cemented with silica and iron oxide it is 

very resistant to weathering and erosion, but most beds are cemented 

with varying amounts of calcium carbonate; their outcrops are not 

prominent. Exposures of this formation may be distinguished from
84 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

those of the underlying, soft Kiowa shale by the lack of slumping 

and landsliding; the different kind of vegetatio^i above the Dakota 

sandstone reflects a subsurface drainage superior to that of the Kiowa 

shale. The total thickness of rocks mapped as Dakota sandstone is 

about 45 feet.

Representative section of the Dakota sandstone in the SEV^SE^^ sec. 2,

T. 17 8., R. 1 E.

Dakota sandstone: Feet 

Shale, sandy and clayey; includes thin beds of brown sandstone:

gray, mottled with buff and red ________ - o. 0 

Clay, bentonitic, gray-white ____________ __ .6 

Cla^y, bentonitic, tan to gray ____ , ______ , ______ _ 1. 0 

Shale, clayey, dark-gray to black _________ __ __ _ 8. 0 

Shale, silty to clayey, greenish-gray ; thin seams of brown micaceous

sand ____ __ _ _ _ __ _ ___ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ ____ ___ _ 1. 4

Sandstone, massive, medium-grained and well-sorted: upper 3 ft

maroon to reddish, lower 5 ft gray green to buff ; contains thin partings of blue clay ________________ 8.0 

Sandstone, well-bedded, medium-grained and well-sorted, buff to reddish: partings of blue-gray shale _ __ _ ___ 6.0

Total thickness present_________________________ 30. 0 

Kiowa shale.

QUATERNARY SYSTEM

Rocks of Quaternary age crop out in every township in Marion 

County (pis. 3 and 4). Those in the western part of the county, near 

the McPherson County line, are the oldest deposits of this age. They 

are water-deposited gravel, sand, silt, and clay and were, until recently, called the McPherson formation. Because that name has been 

abandoned by the Kansas Geological Survey (Moore and others, 

1951), the rocks are included in the Sanborn formation in this report. 

Also mapped on plate 3 as Sanborn formation are the wind, slope 

wash, and gravity deposits. Terrace deposits formed when the 

streams were at higher levels than at present are mapped along the 

major drainage lines. Present deposits of streams are designated 

alluvium but most are too small to be mapped.

SANBORN FORMATION

The thickest deposits of the most widely distributed formation in 

Marion County, the Sanborn formation of Pleistocene and Recent( ?) 

age, are in the southwestern part of the county and there mask nearly 

all of the older, underlying formations (pis. 3 and 4). In other parts 

of the county the formation is exposed principally in the areas between streams.

Frye and Fent (1947) divided the Sanborn formation into members which the writers did not map separately because the purpose of
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 85

this survey did not warrant the field work, including test drilling, 

that would have been required. Reference to the Sanborn formation 

as an undivided unit seems adequate for the purpose of this inventory 

of construction materials.

The oldest material mapped as Sanborn formation is a high-level 

deposit of sand, gravel, silt, and clay about 20 feet thick that is now restricted to the western edge of the county but which at one time 

extended over at least half the county. The coarser material was 

deposited by streams; some of the finer sand and silt was deposited 

by the wind. No extensive deposits of gravel were noted, but scattered pebbles remain in extensive areas where erosion has removed 

the finer material.

Reworked and wind-deposited silt is also mapped as Sanborn formation on plate 3. This material is principally in the interstream areas 

and along the valleys of the larger streams. These widely distributed 

deposits average 4 or 5 feet in thickness, but may be as much as 15 

feet thick. This wind-deposited silt merges near the base of the hills 

with deposits of slope wash and gravity-moved material. Three representative sections are described.

The maximum thickness of the formation is about 20 feet.

Representative section of the Sanborn formation measured by angering in the 

NWy^NWy* sec. 11, T. 22 8., R. k E.

Soil, silty clay loam, dark-brown (1 foot).

Sanborn formation: Feet 

Clay, dark chocolate-brown________________________ 2.0 

Clay, silty, dark chocolate-brown______________________ 2.0 

Silt, clayey, light chocolate-brown_____________________ .8

Total thickness present--__________________ _ 4.8 

Limestone of Permian age.

Representative section of the Sanborn formation obtained by angering in the 

SWy^NEy^ sec. 30, T. %1 8., R. 4 E.

Sanborn formation: Feet 

Silt, red-brown_________________________ _ 9.0 

Sand, fine, light red-brown________ _ 1.5

Total thickness present__________________ 10. 5

Limestone of Permian age.

Representative section of the Sanborn formation visible in a creek bank in the 

NWy^NWy^ sec. 19, T. 20 8., R. 2 E.

Soil, sandy and gravelly, gray (2 feet).

Sanborn formation: Feet 

Conglomerate, coarse, poorly sorted, poorly stratified; pebbles predominantly light-colored, mostly limestone, but a few quartz; sand 

coarse and mostly siliceous; cement calcareous, porous, fairly hard, 

tan to buff____ - 3.0

Wellington formation.
86 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSASTERRACE DEPOSITS

There are terrace deposits in the valleys of all the major streams in 

the county. Smaller tributary streams commonly flow in terraced 

valleys, but in most of them the distribution of terrace deposits is 

very irregular. The width of the terrace deposits is most uniform in 

the valley of the Cottonwood River where it ranges from 0.25 mile 

(west of Durham) to 1 mile (east of Florence).

The terrace deposits are composed mostly of silt, but also include 

some intermixed clay and lenses of sand and gravel. The silt is dark 

gray to brown, but an appreciably darker "A" soil horizon 1 foot 

thick has developed at the top. Lenses of sand at different depths 

in the terrace deposits of the Cottonwood River valley, south of 

Marion, lie beneath the water table and have not been tested as a 

source of fine aggregate.

The highest terrace along the Cottonwood River is about 30 feet 

above the normal river level. Recent floods have deposited silt on 

some of the lower levels mapped as terrace deposits on plate 3.

Terrace deposits were not measured, but cut banks reveal uniformly 

stratified beds of dark silt containing lenses of sand. Drillers' logs 

of water wells indicate a maximum thickness of 50 or 60 feet.

ALJLUVIUM

The deposits formed by streams in their present erosion cycles are 

designated alluvium and constitute the youngest stratigraphic unit 

in the county. In this report alluvium is defined as the material 

which underlies the present flood plain of a stream, and the flood 

plain is defined as the area adjacent to the stream channel that is 

covered by water at normal flood stage. Only a small amount of alluvium has been mapped on plate 3 because most of the deposits are 

too small to be shown.

Alluvial deposits of the Cottonwood River are predominantly silt 

and fine sand, but include some lenses of coarse sand and gravel. The 

sand is composed principally of grains of quartz and feldspar, but the 

gravel includes particles of chert and limestone derived from locally 

outcropping rocks. The alluvium is generally dark gray or dark 

brown, but in the valleys of the smaller streams, especially in the 

western half of the county, the sand is light tan to light orange. 

These deposits are too limited in area to be shown on plate 3, but 

some local use has been made of them.

The alluvium, which has a maximum thickness of about 20 feet, 

could not be measured in representative section because of its low 

topographic position.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 87

INVENTORY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

The objectives of this inventory of construction materials in Marion 

County are to define the construction materials as they are classified 

in this report and to relate the materials to the map units in which 

they occur.

Whenever available, laboratory test data have been introduced into 

the report to aid the reader in the evaluation of materials. The information given in table 1 is based on standard testing procedures of 

the State Highway Commission of Kansas (1945, Gradation factor, 

p. 16; Sieve analysis, p. 333-334; Soundness, p. 335-336). This information is based also on the procedures of the American Association of 

State Highway Officials (1947, Absorption, p. 251-252; Compressive 

strength, p. 257-258; Deval abrasion, p. 235-236; Liquid limit, p. 

198-201; Los Angeles abrasion, p. 237-239; Plasticity index, p. 202- 

204; Specific gravity, p. 249-250; Toughness, p. 240-241; Weight per 

cubic foot, p. 253-254).

It is expected that prospects listed in this report will be proven by 

augering, drilling, or test pitting, and that the materials will be subjected to laboratory testing for specific uses before production.

No attempt was made to complete an exhaustive survey of all possible sources of materials, but every effort was made to correlate the 

available construction materials with the geologic formations mapped 

on plate 3.

AGGREGATE FOB CONCRETE 

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Aggregate for concrete is classified in this report as fine aggregate 

and mixed aggregate. At this writing, no satisfactory fine aggregate 

has been produced in the county although a siliceous sand in the Sanborn formation outcrop area southwest of Hillsboro might prove suitable. The material is listed in table 1 as fine aggregate even though 

the sample tested contained a considerable amount of clay and soft 

shale. Mixed aggregate consists of sand and hard, durable pebbles or 

stone pieces free from adherent coatings. The natural gravel in the 

county has not been utilized for this purpose, but a number of limestone beds in the eastern half of the county have yielded rock that, 

after crushing, is suitable for use as the coarse fraction in aggregate 

for concrete. Most of the sand used locally in mixed aggregate is 

shipped from Wichita, Kans.

Because only the material used as the coarse fraction is being produced locally, materials of the other fractions are not considered in 

this report. The materials in all classifications are exposed at the 

surface or have a soft or unconsolidated overburden sufficiently thin 

to permit economic development. Most of the deposits overlain by
88 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

thick or consolidated beds, or that are relatively inaccessible, are not 

listed in this inventory because the cost of removal or transportation 

is considered prohibitive.

Plate 3 shows that the sampled localities for individual limestone 

units are relatively few. Although the samples can be taken as an 

indication of the general character of the same bed at other localities, 

further tests should be made before opening new quarries and pits.

STRATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Actual or potential sources of the coarse fraction of aggregate for 

concrete are:

1. Nolans limestone. Much of the Herington limestone member 

is too soft for use in aggregate for concrete. (See Is 1, Is 2, Is 3, Is 4, 

Is 6, and Is 7 in table 1.) If the limestone is to be used for this purpose, testing of each ledge may be necessary before the rock is quarried.

2. Winfield limestone. The Cresswell limestone member is the 

most exploited source of crushed rock in Marion County. The Riddle 

quarries in sees. 6 and 7, T. 20 S., R. 4 E. produce from this member 

which has a few ledges that supply durable stone for concrete aggregate. (See Is 11 in table 1.) Other tested localities are Is 5, Is 8, Is 

10, Is 12, and Is 22. The test data given in table 1 for these samples 

show that the rock is variable in quality.

3. Doyle shale. The Towanda limestone member in some outcrops 

appears to be hard and durable. It is a possible source of coarse aggregate for concrete, and test data for it are shown in table 1 under Is

13. Is 20, and Is 21.

4. Barneston limestone. The Fort Riley and Florence limestone 

members are potential sources of coarse aggregate for concrete. Because of their great thickness these limestone units can supply large 

quantities of crushed-stone aggregate. Data for localities tested (Is

14. Is 15, Is 16, Is 17, Is 18, and Is 19), appear in table 1.

ROAD METAL 

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Road metal, known also as surfacing material, base-course material, 

crushed stone, and aggregate, is material that may be applied to a 

road to improve the performance characteristics of that road and to 

insure an all-weather surface. Many geologic materials fulfill this 

requirement, and the list of such materials differs from one area to 

another. Materials available in Marion County for use as road metal 

are:

1. Fine aggregate (fa 1, table 1).

2. Indurated rocks: limestone a compact massive layer of calcareous material, fairly hard; and flinty limestone limestone that
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCT ION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 89

contains a considerable amount of gray, nodular, siliceous 

material.

Limestone and flinty limestone are not distinguished in the classification in table 1 because they may be used also as structural stone 

and riprap.

STRATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Sandy material is found in the Sanborn formation in several areas 

in the western half of Marion County, generally in the uplands. Material tested thus far has not been suitable for use in concrete because 

of its fairly large content of fine or soft material. However, the material is suitable for certain uses in road construction: sand similar 

to sample fa 1 can be used in aggregate for bituminous surface course, 

bituminous concrete, binder base course, and asphalt base course. 

Field observation indicates that even though the sand deposits may 

underlie rather extensive areas in the western tier of townships, their 

thickness generally does not exceed 6 feet under a soil less than 3 feet 

thick.

Sources of indurated rock are:

1. Florence limestone member of the Barneston limestone. The 

Florence is a very siliceous limestone and contains some beds that are 

more than 50 percent flint. It has been quarried extensively near Florence: east of Florence a large quantity is available under approximately 2 feet of overburden. (See pi. 3.) Outcrops tested are Is 15 

and Is 17. The material is suitable for use in bituminous surface 

course, for cover material, aggregates for surfacing or resurfacing, and 

for keyed-type crushed stone base course.

2. The Fort Riley limestone member of the Barneston limestone. 

This limestone is exposed at the surface or has less than 6 feet of 

overburden throughout an area of several square miles in eastern 

Marion County. The rock changes considerably in character throughout its 40 feet of thickness. Tested samples, Is 14, Is 16, Is 18, 

and Is 19 (data in table 1), indicate that the limestone is satisfactory 

for use in road construction.

3. Doyle shale. The Towanda limestone member is a local source 

of road metal (Is 13, Is 20, and Is 21 in table 1). The material has 

been found satisfactory for use as aggregate for bituminous surface 

course and for keyed-type crushed stone base course.

4. Winfield limestone. Limestone from the Cresswell limestone 

member has been widely used for crushed rock in Marion County. It 

has been found suitable as aggregate for bituminous surface course, 

bituminous concrete and sheet asphalt surface course, cover material,
90 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

bituminous retread-surface and bituminous drag treatment, surfacing 

and resurfacing, and stone for keyed-type crushed-stone base course. 

(See Is 5, Is 8, Is 10, Is 11, Is 12, and Is 22 on pi. 3 and in table 1.)

5. Nolans limestone. The Herington limestone member crops 

out in a large part of northeastern Marion County. The properties 

of the stone differ from one outcrop to the next (Is 1, Is 2, Is 3, Is 4, 

Is 6, and Is 7 in table 1) but all are acceptable for use as road metal.

6. Wellington formation. The Carlton limestone member (of Ver 

Wiebe, 1937) is the only abundant limestone in the western half of 

the county. It has been used locally as crushed rock, but the only 

sample reported here, Is 9, was found unsuitable for that use.

7. Dakota sandstone. Dakota sandstone is widely used as road 

metal in central and north-central Kansas. It was not tested in the 

laboratory.

MINERAL FILLER

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Material composed predominantly of silt-size particles (50 percent or 

more of the material passing the No. 200 sieve) is classified as mineral 

filler. It has no more than a trace of sticks or other organic impurities, 

but may contain minor amounts of fine sand or clay. W. E. Gibson 

of the Road Materials Laboratory of the State Highway Commission 

of Kansas states (oral communication) that material will qualify for 

mineral filler only if laboratory tests indicate a low coefficient of 

cementation.

STRATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Samples of mineral filler were not obtained in Marion County, but 

suitable silty material appears to be in sufficient quantity in the Sanborn formation in the southwestern quarter of the county, and the 

terrace deposits may also be a source of material acceptable as mineral 

filler.

RIPRAP

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Riprap, as defined in this report, is any material suitable for protecting earthen fills from erosion. To be acceptable for this use the 

material must have a specific gravity of 2.0 or higher and be sound and 

free from cracks and other structural defects or impurities that would 

cause it to disintegrate through erosion, slaking, or freezing and thawi ng. The material should be in blocks having approximately rectangular faces 7 inches or more in width.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 91 

STBATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Both the Florence and Fort Riley limestone members of the 

Barneston limestone are suitable for use as riprap if the rock is produced from sound ledges. Tested samples are Is 14, Is 15, Is 16, Is 17, 

Is 18, and Is 19. Very porous cherty beds in the Florence limestone 

member should be avoided because of their rapid disintegration in 

freezing and thawing weather.

Some of the limestone from the Towanda limestone member of the 

Doyle shale is suitable for use as riprap although much of the stone 

breaks into thin plates during weathering. Samples tested are Is 13, 

Is 20, and Is 21.

The Cresswell limestone member of the Winfield limestone is a 

source of rock suitable for use as riprap and, apparently, so is the 

Stovall limestone member of the Winfield. These beds may be observed in the spillway and dam at Marion County lake. Tested 

samples of the Cresswell are Is 5, Is 8, Is 10, Is 11, Is 12, and Is 22.

The Herington limestone member of the Nolans limestone is extensive in outcrop where it is obtainable in pieces of suitable size 

and shape for use as riprap. Tested localities are Is 1, Is 2, Is 3, 

Is 4, Is 6, and Is 7.

STRUCTURAL STONE 

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Structural stone, as defined in this report, is any hard dense 

rock material that can be quarried and cut to the desired size and 

shape. Materials fulfilling the requirements are in the Permian 

limestones in the eastern half of Marion County.

STRATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Individual ledges within both the Florence and Fort Riley limestone members of the Barneston limestone are suitable for use as 

building stone (Is 14, Is 15, Is 16, Is 17, Is 18, and Is 19). The rimrock beds of the Fort Riley are quarried extensively for dimension 

stone.

Rock from the Towanda limestone member of the Doyle shale 

is suitable for use as structural stone, but, except for the basal 

massive zone, most of the rock has a tendency to split into thin 

plates. (See Is 13, Is 20, and Is 21 on pi. 3 and in table 1.)

The Cresswell limestone member of the Winfield limestone is quarried locally for use as structural stone (Is 5, Is 8, Is 10, Is 11, Is 12, and 

Is 22). Buildings in Marion that were constructed of the material 

50 years ago show little deterioration.
92 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

The Herington limestone member of the Nolans limestone has 

been quarried locally for use in the construction of houses and farm 

buildings. The stone is easily shaped into building blocks because 

of the spacing of joints and the well-defined bedding plane separations at about 1 foot intervals. Tested samples are Is 1, Is 2, Is 3, 

Is 4, Is 6, and Is 7.

SUBGEADE AND EMBANKMENT MATERIAL 

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

The definition of subgrade and embankment materials, designated 

"fill material" in plate 4, is adapted from the specifications compiled 

for the American Association of State Highway Officials (1947). 

Geologic materials suitable for this kind of construction are: finegranular unconsolidated sediments, including soil, of which 50 percent or more pass through a No. 22 sieve; coarse-granular unconsolidated sediments and broken or crushed consolidated rocks, of 

which at least 65 percent by weight is retained on a No. 200 sieve; 

broken or crushed rock.

STRATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

All materials listed in the definition are available in Marion 

County for the construction of subgrades and embankments; they 

may be the product of excavation along the alinement of the structure or they can be obtained from adjacent areas.

Fine-granular sediments of the Sanborn formation and the terrace 

deposits contain large quantities of silt or clayey silt. The extensive 

outcrops of these formations mapped on plate 3 indicate that the 

material is available in most of the county.

A small quantity of sand is available for use hi the construction 

of subgrades and embankments. The two sources of this coarsegranular sediment readily accessible are the Sanborn formation, in 

the southwestern part, of the county, and the alluvium of the Cottonwood River.

Formations of both Permian and Cretaceous ages are actual or 

potential sources of broken or crushed rock for subgrade and embankment material. Each one of the limestones of Permian age 

listed in plate 4 and mapped on plate 3 is a source of broken or 

crushed rock for this use. In most places the Permian shales are 

silty and have an adequate bearing strength for use in the construction of subgrades or embankments. The high content of clay in 

the shales of the Wellington formation might be a limiting factor 

in the use of the shales.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MARION COUNTY, KANS. 93

Dakota sandstone of Cretaceous age appears to be entirely acceptable as a source of crushed rock for subgrade or embankment 

construction.

The bentonite and clay in the Kiowa shale make its use undesirable in the construction of subgrades or embankments.

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

American Association of State Highway Officials, 1947, Standard specifications

for highway materials and methods of sampling and testing: Ft. 2, 5th

ed., 361 p. 

Flora, S. D., 1948, The climate of Kansas: Kansas State Board of Agriculture,

v. 67, no. 285,320 p. 

Frye, J. C., and Fent, O. S., 1947, Late Pleistocene loesses of central Kansas:

Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. 70, pt 3, p. 41-51.

Frye, J. C., and Swineford, Ada, 1946, Silicified rock in the Ogallala formation : Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. 64, pt. 2, p. 57. 

Moore, R. C., Frye, J. C., Jewett, J. M., and others, 1951, The Kansas rock

column: Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. 89,132 p. 

State Highway Commission of Kansas, 1945, Standard specifications for State

road and bridge construction, 512 p. 

U. S. Congress Documents, 1944, Missouri River Basin, conservation, control,

and use of water reservoirs: 78th Gong., 2d sess., S. Doc. 191. 

U. S. Department Commerce, Weather Bureau, 1937-46, Climatological data,

Kansas Section, 

Ver Wiebe, W. A., 1937, The Wellington formation of central Kansas: Bull.

Municipal Univ. of Wichita, Kans., v. 12, no. 5, p. 3-18. 

Wilmarth, M. G., 1938, Lexicon of geologic names of the United States: U. S.

Geol. Survey Bull. 896, pts. 1 and 2, 2396 p.

INDEX

Page

Acknowledgments__._____._.__ 68 

Afton shale member___ ______ ___ 78,81 

Aggregate, for concrete.--.___---_-- . 87-88 

Alluvium____________.__ _ 86 

Annelly gypsum member___._ - ____ _ 78,80

Bameston limestone.---____.-..-.-. 69,70-72,88 

Bentonite.--. - 82,93

Bibliography, selected-,-.-._ - . 93

Carlton limestone member.... _ . 78,80-81

Chert---- - -. -. 74

Chisholm Creek shale member...----...----- 78,80

Clear Creek --------. --. .--.- 64

Climate ---- _ 64-67

Concretions..-..__....__ _ __ 71,77

Cottonwood River...-----..-.-- ...- 64,70,86

Oresswell limestone member._..__.__._ 74,75,91

Dakota sandstone -- 83-84,90,93

Doyle Creek 64,76

Doyle shale -- -- 72-74,88,89

Drainage- __ 64

Florence limestone member-._______ _ 71,89,91

Fort Riley limestone member..... .. _ 70-71,89,91

French Creek....-.-.-.-..-.... --..---.__ 64

Gage shale member.. ___- __ __-_ -____.. 73, 74

Geodes - - 74,77 

Qeuda Springs shale member. __-. __ 78,79 

Grant shale member.- - - _-_...____..._.. 74-75

Herington limestone member-______ 76-77,88,91,92

Highland shale member_____ _. _- 78,81 

Highways in report area.-----.-------..__._._ 67

Hollenberg limestone member_.._-------- 78

Holmesville shale member. . ._-_ .__.. 72-74 

Hutchinson salt member...._ _--- _ 77-78

Introduction.._- -_ _ _ 63-64

Investigation, method of__ _- 67-68

purpose -- -- -._.- - ____. _ 63-fi4

Kanney limestone member__ . . 70

Kiowashale.--.-- ._- _-_ 82-83

Krider limestone member.. __.. ...._ .. 76

Page

Location of area..._.. . 64 

Luta limestone see also Cresswell limestone 74

McPherson formation. 

Marion County LakeMarion, Kansas.__. 

Matficld shale.. _... 

Mineral filler. 

Mud Creek_ 

84

91

67

70

90

64

Nolans limestone. -----__----------- 76-77,88,90

Odell shale-- .... 

Oketo shale memberPaddock shale member..-.. . .._ _ _. 76-77 

Pearl shale member...--_-_._ - _ _ 78,79 

Prairie Creek limestone bed. --- . - --- 78,79 

Precipitation----...--.---.------.-------- 64,66

90

Railroads in report area.--- -------- -

Riprap... - 

Road Materials Laboratory, of State Highway 

Commission of Kansas...--------

Road metal__------------------ ---------

Sanborn formation._-----. - 84-85,89,92

Schroyer limestone member-.-... _. ..-_ 69 

Selenite-... -. - 82

Slate Creek shale member..- -------..._.-_ 78,81

Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department

of Agriculture....-.- .------ -- 68

South Cottonwood River. ------------------ 64

Stovall limestone member.. - 74-75

Structural stone-..-----------.-------- 91-92

Terrace deposits..---------------------------- 86

Testing procedures... _ . _ __.. ___ 87 

Towanda limestone member.. ____ 72-74,91

Transportation....-_ -..__--------------- 67

Tripoli 74

Wellington formation--.. - --------- 77-81,90

Winfield limestone_-. --- - 74-75,88,89-90 

Wreford limestone .-- -- -__ - . 69

95

o