Geology and 

Construction-Material 

Resources of Morris 

County, Kansas

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1.0 60 - A

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
J
Geology and 

Construction-Material 

Resources of Morris 

County, Kansas

By MELVILLE R. MUDGE, CLAUDE W. MATTHEWS, and JOHN D. WELLS

GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF PART OF 

NORTHEAST KANSAS

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1060-A

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 » 1958
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

FRED A. SEATON, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Thomas B. Nolan, Director

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

Washington 25, D. C.
CONTENTS

	Page 

Abstract_ _______________________________________________________ 1

Introduction______________________________________________________ 1

Purpose of the investigation-___________________________________ 1

Geography..__________________________________________________ 2

Area covered by the investigation. . _-________---_________-__ 2

Topography._ ____________________________________________ 2

Drainage.________________________________________________ 2

Climate_____________________________________________ ___ 2

Transportation routes---___-__________-______-___________-_ 5

Investigation procedure._______________________________________ 6

Acknowledgments _____________________________________________ 6

Characteristics of the outcropping stratigraphic units __________________ 6

Permian system______________.________________________________ 7

Council Grove group____-__-___-___________________________ 7

Johnson shale_________-_______________________-_______ 8

Red Eagle limestone___________________________________ 8

Roca shale__________________________________________ 8

Grenola limestone. ____________________________________ 9

Eskridge shale________________-________________ 9

Beattie limestone______________________________________ 10

Stearns shale__________________________________________ 11

Bader limestone_______________________________________ 11

Easly Creek shale.__________________________ 12

Grouse limestone_________________________________ 12

Blue Rapids shale_____________________________________ 12

Funston limestone____________________________________ 13

Speiser shale__________________________________________ 13

Chase group____________________________________________ 14

Wreford limestone________________________________ ___ 14

Matfield shale______ _____________________ 15

Barneston limestone___________________________________ 16

Doyle shate____________________________-____________ 18

Winfield limestone________.____________________________ 18

Odell shale______________________________ 20

Nolans limestone_______________________________ _ 20

Sumner group Wellington formation.______________ _ 21

Quaternary system.___________________________________ 21

Sanborn formation_______________________________________ 22

Terrace deposits-___________---_________-_____--___--____-- 23

Alluvium_________________________________ 23

Inventory of construction materials_______-__-_____________-_--______ 27

Aggregate for concrete______________-_______________ _ 28

Mineral filler.__________________________________ 29

Riprap.._______________________________________________ __ 29

Structural stone.______________________________________________ 30

Road metaL---_-_______-____-__-_.-_____-_-____--.___----___ 31

Subgrade and embankment material. ____________________________ 33

m
IV CONTENTS

Page 

Selected bibliography________________________________________ 35

Stratigraphic sections,__________________________________________ 35

Index___________________________________________________________ 61

ILLUSTRATIONS

PLATE 1. Map showing construction materials and geology of Morris

County, Kans_________________________________._In pocket

2. Stratigraphic units in Morris County, Kans., and their construction materials_________-____________--________-__..In pocket

PictTRB 1. Index map of Kansas showing area covered by this and other

construction materials reports______ _ ___ 3

2. Chart showing temperature and precipitation ranges at Council

Grove, Kans________________________________ . 4

TABLE

TABLE 1. Summary of tests on construction materials of Morris Countyt

Kans._____________________________.__ 24
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS OF PART OF NORTHEAST

KANSAS

GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION-MATERIAL RESOURCES 

OF MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS

By MELVILLE R. MUDGE, CLAUDE W. MATTHEWS, 

and JOHN D. WELLS

ABSTRACT

The geologic units cropping out in Morris County are rocks of the Permian and 

Quaternary systems, of which the oldest exposed Permian formation is the Foraker 

limestone and the youngest is the Wellington formation. The limestones in the 

formations are gray, massive, and fossiliferous; some of the limestones contain 

nodules and lenses of chert. The shales are mainly variegated and nonfossiliferous; 

however, beds of gray shale in some of the units are fossiliferous. In the northeastern part of the county biostromes are found in the Funston limestone and in 

the Threemile limestone member of the Wreford limestone.

The Quaternary units consist of loess and fluival deposits. Loess mantles much 

of the broad flat uplands, whereas extensive deposits of chert gravel, possibly late 

Tertiary in age, are present along many of the streams and Recent alluvial deposits 

are common along all the streams.

Much of the limestone is used for concrete aggregate, road metal, riprap, and 

structural stone. The limestone units most quarried are the Threemile limestone 

member of the Wreford limestone, the Fort Riley limestone member of the Barneston limestone, the Cresswell limestone member of the Winfield limestone, and the 

Cottonwood limestone member of the Beattie limestone.

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE OP THE INVESTIGATION

The State Highway Commission of Kansas and the United States 

Geological Survey are cooperating in the compilation of a State-wide 

construction materials inventory. The Morris County investigation is 

a part of the general inventory, and a contribution to the geologic 

mapping and mineral-resources investigation being made in connection 

with studies of the Missouri River basin (Congressional documents, 

1944). A field party composed of personnel from the two cooperating 

agencies undertook an investigation of sources of engineering construction materials in Morris County, Kans. in the summer of 1948; it was 

completed in the fall of 1949. Plate 1 was prepared to show the 

geologic occurrence of the construction materials.

The primary objective of the investigation was to accumulate all 

field and laboratory data pertaining to the geologic materials in

1
2 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Morris County that would be of use in the construction of dams, highways, railways, airports, and other engineering structures. Additional 

geologic data are included in this report but only to the extent of providing information useful in the development of the prospects reported 

in the inventory or for the location of other materials required for 

future engineering needs.

GEOGRAPHY

ABBA COVERED BY THE INVESTIGATION

Morris County is in the fourth east-west tier of Kansas counties 

south of the Nebraska border and in the fifth north-south tier west of 

Missouri. (See fig. 1.) The county is bounded on the north by Wabaunsee and Geary Counties, on the west by Dickinson and Marion Counties, on the south by Marion and Chase Counties, and on the east by 

Wabaunsee and Lyon Counties.

TOPOGRAPHY

The average altitude of Morris County is 1,300 feet. The lowest 

point, about 1,125 feet, is on the Neosho River at the southeastern 

boundary, and the highest points, about 1,525 feet, are in the central 

and southwestern parts of the county.

The three most conspicuous topographic features in the county are 

the valley of the Neosho River, the rolling upland plains in the north, 

central, and southwestern parts of the county, and the Flint Hill 

escarpment, which extends through the eastern part of the county. 

The Flint Hills have been carved by streams from alternating beds of 

shale and flint-bearing limestone. Conspicuous benches on the sides of 

most of the valleys have been formed by differential erosion of the 

limestone. The steep slopes between benches are composed of shale, 

which is eroded more rapidly than limestone.

Terrace and gravity-moved deposits (colluvium) are located along 

most of the streams, and extensive deposits of windblown silt (loess) 

occupy a large part of the upland area in the northern and western 

parts of the county.

DRAINAGE

The principal stream in Morris County is the Neosho River, which 

begins in the northwestern part of the county and flows southeast. 

(See pi. 1.) The northwesternmost part of the county lies in the 

drainage area of Clark Creek and the southwestern part is drained by 

Diamond Creek.

CLIMATE

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

the summers are relatively long and hot and the winters are short and
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FIGURE t. Index map of Kansas showing area covered by this and other construction-materials reports.

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GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

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GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 5

fairly cold. The mean annual temperature is 55° F, according to S. 

D. Flora (1948), and ranges from an average low of 29° F in January 

to a average high of 80° F in July. There are an average of 85 cloudy 

days, 95 partly cloudy days, and 185 clear days in a year. The 

average date of the first killing frost in the fall is October 18, the average date of the last killing frost in the spring is April 21, and the 

ground is covered with snow 25 days of the year.

Figure 2, a chart showing temperature and precipitation ranges of 

Council Grove, Kans. was compiled from Climatological Data furnished by the Kansas section of the Weather Bureau, U. S. Department of Commerce, for the years 1937 to 1946, inclusive, to provide 

basic data on temperature and precipitation in relation to engineering 

construction.

Days in which the maximum temperature does not exceed 32° F 

occur only during the period from November through March, with 

the maximum incidence, 7.4 days, in January. July is the warmest 

month of the year, and on an average there are 19.7 days having a 

maximum temperature which exceeds 90° F. The chart also shows 

the average difference between the daily maximum and minimum 

temperatures for each month. The greatest difference in daily temperatures, 27° F, is in July and October, and the least difference, 21° 

F, is in January and December.

The ranges in precipitation were selected arbitrarily. Based on 

the 10-year average, there are, for example, 18.8 days in June, in which 

no measurable precipitation fell, 4.8 days in which the precipitation 

ranged from a trace to 0.1 inch, 5 days in which 0.11 to 1 inch of rain 

fell, and 1.4 days in which the precipitation was more than an inch. 

Continuing rains fall, for the most part, in the late spring and early 

fall, and other rainfall is generally in the form of showers of short 

duration. The normal annual precipitation is 31.36 inches.

TRANSPORTATION ROUTES

Morris County is served by three railroads, the Chicago, Rock 

Island, and Pacific; the Missouri Pacific; and the Missouri, Kansas, 

and Texas. (See pi. 1.) Transcontinental Highway U. S. 56 extends 

through the county, as do four State highways. (See pi. 1.)

Roads are on section lines in the relatively broad, flat areas. Where 

the topographic relief is great, however, the roads have been located 

along stream valleys and, in some places, along the interstream areas. 

In the central and south-central parts of the county, where dissection 

has been greatest, the number of roads is relatively small. U. S. 

Highway 56 and part of combined State Highways 13 and 57 are 

constructed of bituminous materials. The other State highways 

are surfaced with sand and gravel. All principal county roads are

450956 58 2
6 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

surfaced with local material or sand and gravel obtained from outside 

the county. Minor or farm-access roads are surfaced or are maintained as earth roads. All roads, other than Federal and State, are 

maintained by the county.

INVESTIGATION PROCEDURE

The base map used in the field was compiled from aerial photographs 

(scale: 1 inch equals 1 mile) provided by the State Highway Commission of Kansas. The photographs were also used in the placement 

of the contact lines between adjacent stratigraphic units. Some of 

the mapped units are single lithologic units, but most of them are 

composed of limestone and the shale overlying it. The mapped 

stratigraphic units are those recognized by Moore, Frye, Jewett and 

others (1951). The principal emphasis of this report is on construction materials. Those geologic problems which are not critically related to construction materials are considered, for purposes here, to 

be of secondary importance. Fossils were identified and used by the 

field party as an aid to the identification of stratigraphic units.

An effort was made to assemble all existing data pertaining to construction materials in the county; these are presented in table 1.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Appreciation is expressed to the following for their aid in contributing information used in the compilation of the geologic map and the 

construction-materials data included in this report: State Highway 

Commission of Kansas at Topeka and Manhattan, Kans., R. D. 

Finney, engineer of materials, W. E. Gibson, engineer of tests, and 

S. E. Horner, chief geologist; and the State Geological Survey of 

Kansas at Lawrence, Kans., J. C. Frye, former executive director, 

and J. M. Jewett, geologist. We wish to thank the engineer of 

Morris County for his aid in the materials survey and the many residents of Morris County who readily cooperated with us.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OUTCROPPING 

STRATIGRAPHIC UNITS

This discussion of the outcropping stratigraphic units of Morris 

County emphasizes the areal distribution, general characteristics, and 

thickness of each formation or group of formations, and presents the 

geologic information required for the location and effective development of the construction materials.

A summary of the geologic and construction-materials data for 

each stratigraphic unit is presented in plate 2. The areal distribution 

of the stratigraphic units is shown on a geologic map of Morris County 

(pi. 1), and each mapped unit is indicated by an identifying symbol.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 7

[Representative measured sections for most of the stratigraphic 

units are included in the part of this report entitled "Stratigraphic 

sections" and are referred to in the discussion of each unit. This is 

done as an aid to the identification of the geologic formations locally 

in the field.

The locations of pits and quarries are also shown on plate 1. The 

symbols indicate whether the pit or quarry has been operated, or is 

a prospect; the type of construction material available at each site; 

and the quantity of the material (in units of 10,000 cubic yards) that 

can be removed under no more than moderate overburden (unconsolidated sediments less than 6 feet thick). Most of these sources of 

construction materials are listed in table 1 and are numbered within 

each classification of material according to the following plan: the 

numbering starts in the northeasternmost township and continues 

along the same tier to the western boundary of the county; it is continued in the next tier south starting again with the township in the 

easternmost range and proceeding to the western boundary of the 

county, and so on. Within a township the sources are numbered in 

the same sequence as are the sections of the township.

PERMIAN SYSTEM

All the consolidated rocks exposed in Morris County are of 

Permian age. (See pi. 2.) The Wellington is the only formation of 

the Sumner group in this county. The Council Grove and Chase 

groups are exposed in Morris County; however, the oldest group, the 

Admire, is not exposed. The areal distribution of the Council 

Grove, Chase and Sumner groups is shown on plate 1.

The discussion of the outcropping rocks of the Permian system is 

organized on the basis of formations. Key beds, ones which are more 

easily identified than other beds, are indicated in the following 

descriptions. Those units which are not key beds are best identified 

by their position above or below a key bed. The color described for 

each formation and member pertains only to the unweathered exposures of the rocks.

COUNCIL GROVE GROUP

The Council Grove is the lowest group of Permian rocks exposed 

in Morris County. (See pi. 2.) It includes the formations from the 

top of the Speiser shale down to the base of the Foraker limestone. 

All of these formations, except the Foraker limestone, are exposed in 

Morris County. Formations and the members of which they may 

be composed are described separately and their outcrop areas are 

shown on plate 1.

Outcrops of the Council Grove group are found in the east-central 

and southeastern parts of the county. (See pi. 1.) The conspicuous
8 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

hillside benches are the result of differential weathering of the resistant limestone beds; the nearly vertical slopes are composed of shale 

which is more readily eroded. The average thickness of that part of 

the Council Grove group exposed in the county is 264 feet.

JOHNSON SHALE

Only the upper part of the Johnson shale (pi. 2) crops out in this 

county. It is a silty and calcareous tan-gray thin-bedded shale interbedded with many thin calcareous lenses and nodules. The exposed 

thickness of the Johnson shale is 4 feet. (See measured section 39.)

BED EAGLE LIMESTONE

The Red Eagle limestone is composed of three members which are, 

in ascending order, the Glenrock limestone, Bennett shale member, 

and Howe limestone member. It is about 13 feet thick. (See pi. 2.)

Glenrock limestone member. The Glenrock is soft to medium-hard, 

light-gray porous limestone. It contains clay nodules, weathers 

blocky, and has an oolitic texture in its basal part. Small fusulinids 

are abundant in its middle part. It is 0.8 foot thick. (See measured 

section 39.) The Glenrock limestone member is characterized by its 

thickness, color, and abundance of fusulinids.

Bennett shale member. The Bennett is composed of silty calcareous 

olive-drab thin-bedded shale, contains a variety of fossils which are 

most abundant in its upper part, and is about 9 feet thick. (See 

measured section 39.)

Howe limestone member. The Howe is composed of massive layers 

of medium-hard porous gray-orange to tan-brown limestone. Crystals of pink or white celestite (strontium sulfate) are generally found 

on its weathered surface. Microfossils (ostracodes) are abundant in 

the uppermost beds. This member is about 3 feet thick. (See 

measured section 39.)

The Howe is easily identified by its color, thickness, and the 

abundance of microfossils in its upper part.

ROCA SHALE

The Eoca shale (pi. 2) is largely a clayey and calcareous thinbedded tan-gray shale, but tan-brown, gray-green, and purple beds 

are also present. Thin lenses of clayey gray limestone occur in its 

middle and lower parts. Calcareous nodules and concretions are 

common in some of the shale beds. Minute fossils are common in 

most of the layers of limestone, but were not found in the shales. 

The Eoca shale averages 23 feet in thickness. (See measured 

section 38.)
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 9

GEENOLA LIMESTONE

The Grenola limestone (pi. 2) consists of five members which are, 

in ascending order, the Sallyards limestone member, Legion shale 

member, Burr limestone member, Salem Point shale member, and the 

Neva limestone member. The average thickness of the formation is 

about 40 feet.

Sallyards limestone member. The Sallyards consists of a single bed 

of fossiliferous limestone, which is generally medium hard, gray, and 

locally clayey and shaly. It generally weathers blocky to platy. 

This member averages 0.5 feet in thickness. (See measured section 38.)

Legion shale member. The Legion is a nonfossiliferous gray, tangray, and olive-drab thin-bedded shale with a dark-gray bed of shale 

in the lower part. It is about 7 feet thick.

Burr limestone member. The Burr consists of two layers of limestone separated by a thin bed of shale. The upper limestone bed is 

medium hard, tan gray, massive, and weathers platy. The lower 

limestone bed is soft, gray brown, and massive. The intervening 

bed of shale is silty, gray to tan gray, and thin bedded. Fossils are 

present at most places in the limestones, but are absent from the shale. 

This member averages about 8 feet in thickness.

Salem Point shale member. The Salem Point is a silty calcareous 

olive-drab to dark-gray shale in the upper part, and is clayey, calcareous, and tan gray in the lower part. This member is nonfossiliferrous, and averages 12 feet in thickness. (See measured section 37.)

Neva limestone member. The Neva consists of numerous thick 

layers of limestone, and a thick layer of shale interbedded in its lower 

part. The uppermost layers of limestone are hard, porous, and 

massive, with bedding planes apparent on weathered surfaces. The 

middle bed of limestone is massive, soft, and porous to cavernous. 

The bed of shale in the lower part of the member is gray green to 

tan gray and thin bedded near the top, but it is dark gray and fissile 

near the base. The lowermost bed of limestone is hard, tan, and 

blocky. A prominent hillside bench formed by the Neva is about 

25 feet beneath the Cottonwood limestone member of the Beattie 

limestone. Fossils are generally present in the shale bed and in most 

of the limestones. This member is about 13 feet thick. (See measured section 36.)

The Neva is a good marker bed and is easily recognized by its 

massive limestone members, the porous zone near the middle, its 

thickness, and by the shale zone in its lower part.

ESKRIDGE SHALE

The Eskridge shale (pi. 2) is mostly a clayey calcareous tan-gray 

to gray-green shale, but maroon, green, and purple zones are also 

present in many exposures. In many places there is a massive clayey
10 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

tan-gray limestone bed in the upper part of the formation and one or 

more shaly limestone beds in the lower part. The upper limestone 

is slightly more than a foot thick and weathers to platy fragments. 

A massive lens of hard gray limestone in the lower part of the formation crops out in an exposure in the center of sec. 33, T. 17 S., R. 9 E., 

in which fossil clams (pelecypods) are very abundant; they are common 

in the other limestone lenses. A bed of impure coal, 0.2 of a foot thick, 

was observed in the upper part of the Eskridge shale in the SWXNEK 

sec. 1, T. 17 S., R. 9 E., and fossil leaves are present in a thin bed of 

shale near the middle of the formation in the SW^NWK sec. 15, T. 17 

S., R. 9 E., and in the SW#NE% sec. 1, T. 17 S., R. 9 E. The formation is about 25 feet thick. (See measured sections 33-35.)

The Eskridge shale is easily recognized by its varicolored zones, 

thin beds of fossiliferous limestone, and by its position between the 

Beattie and Grenola limestones.

BEATTIE LIMESTONE

The Beattie limestone (pi. 2) consists of three members which are, 

in ascending order, the Cottonwood limestone member, Florena shale 

member, and Morrill limestone member. Its average thickness is 

about 22 feet.

Cottonwood limestone member. The Cottonwood is a hard massive 

light-gray limestone. Two or three bands of chert nodules from 0.2 

to 0.3 foot thick, generally occur in the middle and upper parts and 

isolated nodules are scattered throughout in most exposures. Solution channels are conspicuous in many of the outcrops. A light-gray 

rounded ledge is characteristic of the prominent hillside bench formed 

by this member. Small fusulinids are abundant in its upper part 

but are not so numerous in the lower part. The average thickness 

of the member is 5.5 feet. (See measured sections 32 and 33.) The 

Cottonwood limestone member is a good marker bed and is easily 

identified by its massiveness, thickness, color, thin bands of chert, the 

abundance of small fusulinids, and its prominence as an erosional 

feature.

Florena shale member. The Florena is silty in the upper part but 

its lower part consists of interbedded silty and clayey zones, both of 

which are carbonaceous. The upper part is blocky, tan, and gray 

green, whereas the lower part is fissile to thin bedded and black to tan 

gray. Fossils are very abundant in the lower part, especially Chonetes, 

but are absent from the upper part. The Florena is about 12 feet 

thick. (See measured section 32.)

The Florena shale member is easily identified by the abundance of 

fossils in its lower part and by its position just above the prominent 

outcrops of the Cottonwood limestone member.

Morrill limestone member. The Morrill is composed of two thin
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 11

beds of limestone separated by a thin bed of shale. The upper limestone bed is tan gray, medium hard, and platy to blocky. The lower 

limestone bed is gray to tan gray, soft, massive, cavernous, and contains numerous thin bands of red calcite. The bed of shale is clayey 

and tan brown. This member forms a recognizable hillside bench at 

only a few places. Its average thickness is about 5 feet. (See measured section 32.)

The Morrill is best identified by its platy and cavernous limestone 

and by its position above the easily identified Cottonwood limestone 

member of the same formation.

STEARNS SHALE

The Stearns shale (pi. 2) is mostly silty, calcareous, and gray green, 

but tan, tan-gray, blue-gray, brown, and black zones are also present. 

Many thin lenses of limestone are distributed throughout the shale, 

and most of them are soft, clayey, and weather blocky or to a shaly 

appearance. Fossils, including plants, are in some of the lenses of 

limestone and beds of shale. The formation is about 35 feet thick. 

(See measured section 32.)

BADER LIMESTONE

The Bader limestone consists of three members which are, in ascending order, the Eiss limestone member, Hooser shale member, and the 

Middleburg limestone member. (See pi. 2.) This formation averages about 20 feet in thickness.

Eiss limestone member. The Eiss consists of two beds of limestone 

separated by a bed of shale. The upper limestone bed is hard, dense 

in some zones and porous in others, gray, very fossiliferous and massive, whereas the lower is medium hard, gray, less fossiliferous and 

weathers to form plates and small irregular-shaped chips. The intervening bed of shale is clayey, calcareous, gray, and blocky. A minor 

hillside bench formed in part by the upper limestone bed is about 

30 feet beneath the prominent bench formed by the Grouse limestone. 

The surface of this bench contains small blocks of porous limestone. 

This member is about 7 feet thick. (See measured sections 31 and 

32.) The Eiss limestone member is easily identified by the upper 

layer of porous blocky limestone and by the lower layer of very fossiliferous platy limestone.

Hooser shale member. The Hooser is a silty and calcareous varicolored shale. Tan-gray and gray-green zones are most numerous, 

but maroon and purple zones are also present. The Hooser is nonfossiliferous and averages about 6 feet in thickness. (See measured 

section 31.) The Hooser is easily recognized by its varicolored shales 

and by its position immediately above the Eiss limestone member.

Middleburg limestone member. The Middleburg consists of two 

beds of limestone separated by a layer of shale. The limestone is
12 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

hard, dense, massive, and tan gray to gray brown. The upper limestone bed weathers to small, irregular-shaped blocks whereas the 

lower limestone bed weathers to small, irregular-shaped plates. The 

intervening bed of shale is silty, calcareous, black to dark gray, and 

thin bedded to very thin bedded (fissile). The erosional feature of 

this member is a smaller and less conspicuous hillside bench than is 

characteristic of the Eiss limestone member. Fossils are common in 

the two layers of limestone but none were observed in the intervening 

shale. The average thickness of the Middleburg is 7 feet. (See 

measured section 29.)

EASIY CREEK SHALE

Most of the Easly Creek shale (pi. 2) consists of beds of silty and 

calcareous olive-drab to gray-green shale, although thin zones of 

maroon, tan, and green shale are present in some exposures. Very 

calcareous shale, which contains many calcareous concretions, is 

present in the lower part of the formation. The average thickness of 

the Easly Creek shale is 17 feet. (See measured sections. 28-30.)

CROUSE LIMESTONE

The Grouse limestone (pi. 2) consists of thick beds of limestone in 

the upper part, a thick bed of shale in the middle part, and a thin 

bed of hard limestone in the lower part. The upper beds of limestone 

are hard, light gray, massive, and commonly weather into numerous 

plates; they are separated by one or more partings of calcareous shale 

which are 0.05 to 5.5 feet in thickness. The thick shale in the middle 

part of the formation is clayey to silty, calcareous, olive drab, and 

about 8 feet thick. The lower bed of limestone is hard, somewhat 

dense, gray to gray orange, and massive; it ranges from 1.5 to about 

3 feet in thickness.

This formation forms a very prominent hillside bench which is 

characteristically covered by small plates of weathered limestone. 

Fossils are present in the beds of limestone. The average thickness 

of the formation is about 16 feet. (See measured sections 27-29.) 

The Grouse limestone is easily recognized by the abundant plates of 

light-gray limestone which typically mantle its outcrops.

BLUE EAPIDS SHALE

The Blue Kapids shale (pi. 2), composed of silty and clayey beds 

of tan to gray-green shale, has one or more layers of limestone in its 

upper part. The limestone is tan or gray, medium hard, and in most 

places contains calcareous nodules and some clay balls. Calcareous 

lentils and pockets of celestite are common in the beds of shale. A 

1.3-foot-thick bed of limestone in the upper part of this formation 

forms a small bench in the area south of Council Grove. Fossils
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 13

occur only in the beds of limestone. The Blue Rapids shale is about 

26 feet thick. (See measured section 27.)

FUNSTON LIMESTONE

The Funston limestone (pi. 2) is generally composed of two or 

more limestone beds separated by thin beds of shale. The upper bed 

of limestone is thick, massive, soft, and light gray, whereas the other 

limestone beds are thin, dense, and dark gray. Small calcareous 

discs of algal origin are fairly common in the limestone. The intervening beds of shale are usually silty, calcareous, and tan to tan gray. 

A small hillside bench about 15 feet beneath the very prominent bench 

containing the Threemile limestone member of the Wreford limestone 

is typical of the Funston limestone. Large blocks of porous crossbedded limestone are present in the Funston terrace in the NE# 

sec. 25, T. 15 S., R. 9 E. This formation averages 12 feet in thickness.

The biostrome in the Funston coincides in areal distribution in this 

county with that of the biostrome of the Threemile and can be traced 

into western Wabaunsee County and southeastern Riley County. 

This facies of the Funston consists of thick beds of massive light-gray 

limestone composed almost entirely of oolites. The weathered surface clearly shows crossbedding in the limestone. A silty and calcareous tan-gray bed of shale is in the lower part of the formation 

and is underlain by a thin bed of limestone. The total thickness of 

this biostrome in Morris County is not known, because only 6 feet 

of the upper part is exposed, but it is 28% feet thick in Wabaunsee 

County. (For detailed descriptions of the Funston limestone, see 

measured sections 24-27.) This formation can be recognized by its 

many thin gray limestone beds and by its position beneath the easily 

identified Threemile limestone member of the Wreford limestone.

SPEISER SHALE

The Speiser shale (pi. 2) is composed of beds of varicolored shale 

and generally includes a thin bed of limestone in its upper part. The 

beds of shale are silty to clayey and are mostly calcareous; tan-gray 

and gray-green zones are characteristic of the upper part of the 

formation and gray-green and maroon zones predominate in the lower 

part. The thin bed of limestone is hard, clayey, gray, and weathers 

blocky to thin bedded. A second thin lens of the limestone, also in 

the upper part of the formation, is present in some exposures. The 

uppermost beds of shale and some exposed beds of the limestone are 

fossiliferous. Speiser shale averages 15 feet in thickness. (See 

measured sections 21, 23-26.)

The Speiser shale is readily recognized by its varicolored beds and 

the thin limestone and tan-gray fossiliferous shale in its upper part.

450956 58 3
14 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

It is overlain by the Threemile limestone member of the Wreford 

limestone, an excellent marker bed.

CHASE GROUP

The Chase is the uppermost group of formations in the Permian of 

Morris County. (See pi. 2). Formations of the Chase group crop out 

in all parts of the county except the extreme eastern and southeastern 

parts. (See pis. 1 and 2.) Conspicuous and easily identified hillside 

benches are characteristic of the Herington, Cresswell, Towanda, Fort 

Riley, Florence, and Threemile units. The average thickness of the 

Chase group is 304 feet.

WREFORD LIMESTONE

The Wreford limestone is the basal formation of the Chase group. 

(See pi. 2.) Prominent hillside benches formed by this formation 

can be seen in the vicinity of Council Grove and in the east-central 

part of the county. The Wreford limestone is divided into three 

members which are, in ascending order, the Threemile limestone 

member, Havensville shale member, and the Schroyer limestone 

member. Its average thickess is 37 feet.

Threemile limestone member. Numerous exposures of the Threemile 

member can be seen in streambanks and road cuts in the east-central 

part of the county and are especially well exposed in the vicinity of 

Council Grove. This member makes a prominent rounded hillside 

bench. A massive bed of light-gray limestone in the upper part of 

the member often erodes as a conspicuous ledge which clearly indicates 

its outcrops on a hillside. The Threemile is generally composed of 

massive beds of hard light-gray limestone, most of which contain 

lenses and scattered chert nodules. A persistent, very calcareous 

and silty gray shale near the base of the unit is underlain by a bed 

of fossiliferous limestone 2 to 3 feet thick which contains 1, 2, or 3 

lenses of chert. This bed of limestone marks the base of the member 

and contains brachiopods, bryozoans and microfossils. This member 

averages about 13 feet in thickness.

A biostrome is present in a belt extending from a point south of 

Parkerville, southeast to Council Grove, and north along Munker 

Creek from that city. Mudge and Burton (in press) have traced 

this biostrome of the Threemile into the southwestern part of 

Wabaunsee County. The upper part of the limestone consists of 

thick, massive light-gray beds which are medium hard, porous, and 

contain only scattered nodules of chert. The lower part consists of 

soft dolomitic cavernous beds containing nodules and lenses of chert 

and a thick bed of shale. The shale is silty and very calcareous, 

dolomitic in some zones, and contains many geodes and calcareous 

nodules and lenses. This facies of the Threemile limestone member is
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 15

fossiliferous, and its average thickness is 30 feet. (For detailed 

descriptions of the Threemile, see measured sections 18-25.) It is a 

good marker bed and is easily identified by the continuous bed of 

shale in its basal part, the massive noncherty limestone in its upper 

part, the abundance of chert it contains in most zones, and the 

presence of the varicolored Speiser shale beneath it.

Havensville shale member. The Havensville is mainly a silty and 

calcareous gray shale. There is a thick massive bed of gray limestone 

in its upper part and somewhat thinner lenses of limestone occur 

locally in the middle and lower parts. Calcareous nodules and fracture fillings and calcite-filled geodes characterize the upper part of this 

shale in many places. The beds of limestone and the lower beds of 

shale are generally fossiliferous. The average thickness of this 

member is 12 feet, but in areas where the underlying Threemile is a 

biostrome, this shale is only 6 feet thick. (See measured sections 

17-21.)

The Havensville is best identified by its position between the two 

cherty limestones, the Schroyer and Threemile.

Schroyer limestone member. Outcrops of the Schroyer limestone 

member are generally associated with those of the underlying Threemile limestone member. Where these two members are present, the 

Schroyer erodes to a less conspicuous bench, above and farther back 

on the hillside than the prominent, rounded bench formed by the 

Threemile. The Schroyer consists of thick beds of limestone which 

contain numerous nodules and lenses of chert. The limestone is 

massive, gray, and soft to medium hard. The chert is hard dense 

gray to light gray, and weathers with a typical conchoidal fracture, 

most of the lenses of chert weather into small rectangular blocks 2 or 

3 inches in diameter.

Thin beds of silty calcareous tan shale occur locally at several levels 

within the member. In the center of the SW% sec. 23, T. 15 S., R. 

8 E. the Schroyer lacks the usual shale breaks, but does include a thick, 

massive bed of soft porous noncherty limestone in its middle part. 

Fossils are common in most of the beds of limestone. This member 

ranges from 7 to 19 feet in thickness. It averages 12 feet thick. 

(See measured sections 17-19.)

The Schroyer member is best identified by its chertiness and by its 

position above the Threemile member of the same formation.

MATFIEID SHALE

The Matfield shale crops out on hillsides beneath the prominent 

bench of the Florence, but is mostly covered by mantle slump. The 

Matfield shale is divided into three members which are, in ascending 

order, the Wymore shale member, Kinney limestone member and the
16 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Blue Springs shale member. (See pi. 2.) This formation averages 66 

feet in thickness.

Wymore shale member. The Wymore member is rarely exposed 

because of the absence of a good bench-forming limestone overlying it. 

It consists of beds of silty and calcareous shale, and is tan gray and 

thin bedded in the upper part and gray green, maroon, and blocky in 

the lower part. There is a thin bed of clayey limestone in its upper 

part. This member averages 30 feet in thickness. (See measured 

sections 16-18.)

Kinney limestone member. The Kinney is a single bed of massive 

medium-hard gray to tan-brown limestone. Elsewhere in the State 

the Kinney consists of two limestone beds separated by a fossiliferous 

shale bed. In Morris County the upper limestone is absent, therefore, 

the contact between the Kinney limestone member and the overlying 

Blue Springs shale member is placed at the top of the fossiliferous 

bed of shale. (See measured section 16.) This member crops out on 

many hillsides about 35 feet beneath the Florence, but in most areas 

it does not erode to a discernible bench. However, one such hillside 

bench has developed in the SE% sec. 10, T. 17 S., R. 8 E. This bench 

is covered by large light-gray blocks of weathered limestone and has a 

line of small bushes near its base. Other benches characteristic of 

this limestone can be seen in the SW#SW# sec. 15, T. 17 S., R. 9 E. 

and in the SEtfSWtf sec. 9, T. 17 S., R. 8 E. Microfossils are abundant in its upper part and larger fossils are present in the remainder 

of the member. The Kinney ranges from less than a foot to about 

4 feet in thickness. (See measured section 16.) The Kinney limestone member is easily recognized by its color, the presence of microfossils in its upper part, and by its position beneath the Florence 

limestone member of the Barneston limestone.

Blue Springs shah member. The Blue Springs is a clayey shale in 

its upper part, but is mostly silty in the lower part. Maroon and 

gray green are the most conspicuous colors, but zones of tan, gray, 

and purple are also present. Almost all of the beds are blocky and 

calcareous and in many places there are one or more thin beds of 

clayey limestone near the middle. Fossils are very abundant in the 

lower part of this member. It averages 34 feet in thickness. (See 

measured section 16.)

BARNESTON LIMESTONE

The Barneston limestone crops out in the northern, northeastern, 

central, and south-central parts of the county. This formation is 

divided into three members which are, in ascending order, the Florence 

limestone member, Oketo shale member, and the Fort Riley Irnestone 

member. (See pi. 2.) The Barneston limestone averages 68 feet in 

thickness.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 17

Florence limestone member. Outcrops of the Florence are abundant 

in the northeastern, central, and south-central parts of the county. 

The prominent hillside bench characteristic of this member is covered 

with small blocks and fragments of chert.

The Florence consists of thick beds of limestone that contain many 

nodules and bands of chert. The chert is gray to light gray, is generally mottled with dark gray, has a conchoidal fracture, and commonly has limonite and iron stains on the fracture planes. The bands 

of chert commonly fracture to form small elongated blocks 2 to 4 

inches in width. Concentric banding is well displayed in some of the 

fragments.

Thick beds of silty calcareous tan-gray shale generally occur in the 

upper and lower parts of this member, and thin beds of this material 

are also present in the middle part in some outcrops. Fossils and 

fossil fragments occur in most of the layers of limestone and are 

present in some of the bands of chert. The Florence is well displayed 

in road cuts in the NW^NWK sec. 22, T. 15 S., R. 7 E. and the 

NE%NW% sec. 36, T. 14 S., R. 8 E. This member averages 25 feet 

in thickness. (See measured sections 14 and 15.)

The Florence limestone member is easily recognized by the prominent, rounded hillside bench, the abundance of chert it contains, and 

by its thickness.

Oketo shale member. The Oketo is generally a thin-bedded to 

blocky, silty and calcareous tan-gray shale mottled with some bluegray areas. A thin lens of limestone is present in its upper part. 

Fossils are abundant in some exposures but are rare in others. This 

member averages 6 feet in thickness. (See measured sections 12-14.)

Fort Riley limestone member. Outcrops of the Fort Riley member 

are conspicuous in the north-central, central, and south-central parts 

of the county. (See pi. 1.) It is composed of thick beds of limestone 

separated by thin partings of shale with a thick bed of shale usually 

present in the lower part. A thick layer of resistant limestone occurs 

at or near its base and is a very prominent rim on many hillsides; 

for this reason the bed is known as the rimrock. In some places, one 

of the beds of limestone near the middle of the member has similar 

outcrop characteristics. The basal rimrock layer is medium-hard 

light-gray somewhat porous limestone, is 3 to 6 feet thick; in many 

outcrops only 2 or 3 feet of this bed are exposed. The other limestone 

beds in the member are soft and weather in a manner similar to shale.

The Fort Riley is very well exposed in the NWKNW^ sec. 13, T. 

17 S., R. 7 E. Two ledges of massive limestone are displayed in the 

south-central part of the county, one in the upper part of the member 

and the other in the lower part. Many sinks have developed in the 

upper part of the member, such as those in sec. 31, T. 16 S., R. 6 E.,
18 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

sees. 5, 8, 11, 12, 24, and 25, T. 17 S., R. 7 E., and sec. 5, T. 16 S., 

R. 7 E. There are fossils in some of the limestones, but they 

are rarely found in the shales. This member averages 67 feet in 

thickness. (See measured sections 12-14.)

The rimrock of the Fort Riley is an excellent marker bed. It is 

easily identified by its prominent outcrop, thickness, color, and pitted 

surface.

DOYLE SHALE

The Doyle shale (pi. 2) crops out in the western and central parts 

of the county. This formation is divided into three members which 

are, in ascending order, the Holmesville shale member, Towanda 

limestone member, and the Gage shale member. The Doyle shale 

averages 37 feet in thickness.

Holmesville shale member. The Holmesville is mostly a clayeyshale in its upper part and silty-shale in its lower part. Gray and 

gray-green zones are most abundant but there is a thin bed of maroon 

shale in the middle part. The upper beds are highly calcareous and 

locally include calcareous plates and nodules. There may be one or 

more beds of gray somewhat dense limestone in the lower part which 

generally weather porous and cavernous. There are no fossils in 

this member, and it averages 16 feet in thickness. (See measured 

section 11.)

Towanda limestone member. The Towanda consists of many beds 

of hard gray to tan-brown limestone. It weathers blocky to platy 

and the surface of some of the weathered blocks are markedly pitted. 

Iron stains are common on fracture and bedding planes. This 

member forms a prominent hillside bench 30 to 40 feet above the 

rimrock of the Fort Riley limestone member of the Barneston limestone. Fossils are rare or absent. It averages 11 feet in thickness. 

(See measured section 11.)

The Towanda member is easily recognized by its thickness and 

color and by the small hard weathered blocks and plates associated 

with its outcrops.

Gage shale member. The Gage consists of tan and tan-gray clayey 

shale beds in the upper part, and gray-green and maroon silty shale 

beds in the lower part. A thin bed of tan crystalline limestone is 

locally present in its upper part. The only fossils in the member 

occur in this bed of limestone. The total thickness of the Gage is 

about 40 feet. (See measured section 10.)

WINFIELD LIMESTONE

Outcrops of the Winfield limestone are numerous in the western 

part of the county. The formation is divided into three members 

which are, in ascending order, the Stovall limestone member, Grant
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 19

shale member, and the Cresswell limestone member. The Winfield 

limestone is about 23 feet thick.

Stovall limestone member. The Stovall is a massive bed of hard 

gray limestone. It contains one or more lenses, and many scattered 

nodules, of chert. The lenses are 0.2 of a foot thick in some exposures 

in the northern outcrop area but are 0.7 foot in the NE%NW% sec. 

36, T. 17 S., R. 6 E. The limestone is 2.7 feet thick in the SEtfSEJi sec. 

14, T. 17 S., R. 5 E. and contains three lenses of chert each of which is 

0.3 to 0.5 of a foot thick. This member consists only of a bed of chert 

0.3 of a foot thick in the SWtfSEtf sec. 20, T. 16 S., R. 6 E. Most 

outcrops of the Stovall are covered with blocks of weathered limestone 

and nodules of chert. Fossils are common to abundant in this 

member. A small bench comprising this limestone underlies the 

prominent one containing the Cresswell limestone. Small folds and 

faults are abundant, but extend only a short distance vertically and 

laterally into the adjacent zones of the overlying Grant shale member 

and the underlying Gage shale member of the Doyle shale. The 

Stovall ranges from 0.3 of a foot to 2.7 feet in thickness. (See measured sections 9 and 10.)

The Stovall member is easily recognized by its thickness, the 

presence of lenses and nodules of chert, and by its position beneath 

the readily identified Cresswell limestone member.

Grant shale member. The Grant is a silty and calcareous tan-gray 

shale. The lower part of this member is highly calcareous. In its 

upper part, in the SE^SEK sec. 14, T. 17 S., R. 5 E., calcite-filled 

geodes are present; in lesser number, other geodes filled with chalcedony and quartz are also present. Fossils are uncommon in some 

exposures but are abundant in others. The Grant is about 10 feet 

thick. (See measured sections 8 and 9.)

Cresswell limestone member. The Cresswell consists of many beds 

of light-gray limestone. Its lower part is tan gray, hard, massive, 

and weathers into irregular blocks. Thin lenses of chert were observed 

in this part of the Cresswell in the SE%SE% sec. 31, T. 14 S., R. 5 E. 

whereas, over the remainder of its outcrop area, the chert occurs only 

as nodules scattered throughout the limestone. The middle part of 

the Cresswell consists of massive beds of medium-hard limestone, 

and its upper part is platy and soft to medium hard. Geodes of 

calcium carbonate and, less commonly, of silica are abundant in the 

upper part. Fossils are abundant only in the lower part of this 

member, and long spines of echinoids are especially abundant and 

characteristic. The Cresswell averages 12 feet in thickness. A 

prominent hillside bench is characteristic of this limestone; the outcrop is generally ragged because of the slumping of the limestone ledge. 

(See measured sections 7 and 8.)
20 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

The Cresswell limestone member is a good marker bed and can 

easily be indentified by its thickness, color, the presence of geodes, 

and the abundant echinoid spines in its lower part.

ODEII SHALE

The Odell shale is mainly silty, calcareous, and varicolored. Graygreen and maroon zones are abundant in its upper part and tan-gray 

and gray zones are typical of the lower part. No fossils were found in 

this formation. It averages about 20 feet in thickness. (See measured 

sections 4 and 6.)

NOIANS LIMESTONE

The Nolans limestone (pi. 2) is divided into three members which 

are, in ascending order, the Krider limestone member, Paddock shale 

member, and the Herington limestone member. It averages 23 feet 

in thickness.

Krider limestone member. The Krider consists of one or more beds 

of soft dolomitic limestone. The beds are generally gray or tan, 

weather blocky, and have a "sugary" or sandy texture. Pelecypods 

are usually common to abundant. This member is rarely part of a 

prominent hillside bench but small, poorly developed benches underlain by it can be observed in sees. 18, 19, and 30, T. 16 S., R. 5 E. 

The average thickness of the Krider member is 1.1 feet. (See measured 

sections 4, 5, and 6.)

The Krider is easily recognized by its thickness, color, softness, 

fossils, and its position beneath the Herington and Paddock members.

Paddock shale member. The Paddock is blocky, clayey, and 

generally noncalcareous, but in some places in its upper part it includes beds of very calcareous shale. It is tan to tan gray in the upper 

part and gray green in the lower part. A thin bed of hard dolomitic 

gray to gray-brown limestone occurs in the lower part of this member, 

but it is very thin in the southern part of the county. Fossils are 

abundant in some of the beds of shale. They are generally present in 

the limestone bed in the northern part of the outcrop area, but are 

absent from it in the southern part. The Paddock averages 15 feet 

in thickness. (See measured sections 4 and 5.)

Herington limestone member. Outcrops of the Herington are conspicuous in the western part of the county. (See pi. 1.) The member 

consists of thick beds of medium-hard slightly dolomitic limestone 

which are light gray, tan, and gray brown. The limestone is massive, 

weathers blocky, and contains some smallcalcite-lined cavities (geodes). 

The beds in the lower part of the member are soft and marked by 

many minute black specks.

A prominent, rounded hillside bench is characteristic of the Herington and, in most areas, the upper part of the Paddock shale member
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 21

is exposed beneath it. The member is well exposed in a railway cut 

in the SE#NE% sec. 7, T. 16 S., R. 5 E. Fossil clams (pelecypods) 

are common to abundant in almost all exposures of this limestone. 

It is about 7 feet thick. (See measured sections 4 and 5.)

The Herington is a useful marker bed because it is easily identified 

by its thickness, color, and fossils.

8TJMNER GROUP WELIJNGTON FORMATION

The Summer group is the uppermost group of Permian age in 

Morris County. The only formation of the Summer group present 

in the county is the Wellington formation (pi. 2), which crops out 

only in the southwestern part of the county. The part of this formation exposed in Morris County is composed mainly of tan-gray to graygreen shale, which is generally silty and thin bedded. A bed of limestone, 4 to 7 feet thick, is included in this formation and caps many of 

the hills in the outcrop area. This limestone has been called locally 

the Hollenberg limestone bed and it is generally hard, gray to gray 

brown, and has a somewhat crystalline texture. It is massive, but 

weathers blocky and porous to cavernous. Plates, nodules, and concretions of iron oxide (limonite) are present in the uppermost zone 

of the Hollenberg limestone bed in the NE#SE% sec. 6, T. 17 S., R. 5 

E., and many clay nodules and iron stains are found in some exposures. 

Additional thin limestone beds are interbedded in the shale in the 

lower part of the formation. No fossils were observed in any of the 

beds. The formation averages 30 feet in thickness. (See measured 

section 3.)

The Wellington formation is best identified by its position above 

the easily recognized Nolans limestone. The color and weathering 

characteristics of the Hollenberg limestone bed aid in its identification.

QUATERNARY SYSTEM

The most recently deposited sediments in Morris County are those 

of the Quaternary system (pi. 2), nearly all of which are unconsolidated. These sediments of nonmarine origin were deposited by 

wind, streams, slopewash, or by soil-mantle creep. Material deposited by the wind occurs on the interstream areas, including the 

broad, relatively flat uplands and along the sides of some valleys. 

Stream-deposited sediments are present along all of the major streams 

and their tributaries and are mostly restricted to the valley flats, but 

may also occur at higher levels on the valley walls of some of the 

larger streams. The materials which were deposited by soil-mantle 

creep or slopewash are present along the sides of most of the valleys 

and on some of the rock benches.

450956
22 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

SANBORN FORMATION

AREAI DISTRIBUTION

The Sanborn formation of Pleistocene and Recent (?) age is the 

most widely distributed stratigraphic unit that crops out in Morris 

County. (See pis. 1 and 2.) Frye and Fent (1947) have subdivided 

the formation into members, but this subdivision is not justified in 

a construction-materials inventory because the physical characteristics of the materials in separate units are not markedly dissimilar. 

The Sanborn formation, therefore, is treated as a single unit in this 

report.

As here defined, the Sanborn formation consists of materials deposited by wind (loess), by slopewash, by streams, and through the 

action of soil or mantle creep (colluvium). This formation consists 

of loess on the crests of the lower interstream areas and on the high 

upland flats; of slopewash, colluvium, and older terrace materials 

along the margins of the terraces of the major streams and in the 

valleys of their tributaries; and of loess and colluvium on limestone 

benches at various levels above the streams. Deposits of loess are 

most extensive in the vicinity of Dwight and White City, and in the 

central and southwestern parts of the county.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The loess of the Sanborn formation is gray, gray brown, or red 

brown and is composed of silt- and clay-size particles. Clay-size 

particles are the principal constituent of these deposits. The part of 

the Sanborn formation moved by slopewash and mantle creep is a 

heterogeneous mixture of silt, clay, and granule- to boulder-size angular fragments of chert, limestone, and shale. The silt and clay are 

commonly red brown but may be gray or gray brown. The streamdeposited material included in the Sanborn formation is composed of 

gray to red-brown silt and clay, with numerous interbedded lenses of 

angular and subangular particles of chert and limestone in the basal 

part.

Extensive deposits of chert gravel occur in the Sanborn formation, 

such as those along the north side of Indian Creek, the north side of 

Four Mile Creek and the west side of its tributaries, the west side of 

Rock and East Fork Creeks, and along streams tributary to the upper 

part of the Neosho River. They are composed of angular and subangular particules of chert, that differ in size from granules to cobbles; 

pebble-size particles are the most abundant. The matrix of silt and 

clay in which the gravel is embedded is generally red brown. Some 

of the chert gravels are at a higher level than most of the others, such 

as those in sees. 18 and 19, T. 17 S., R. 8 E., and appear to be older
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 23

inasmuch as many of the fragments of chert are considerably weathered to tripoli. These may correspond in age to the Tertiary chert 

gravels reported in south-central Kansas by Moore, Frye, and Jewett 

(1944). Siliceous nodules are present in some of the chert deposits 

in the southwestern part of the county.

The Sanborn formation averages about 15 feet thick; it ranges from 

a few inches in some places to a maximum of 50 feet in thickness in 

the northern part of the county. (For a detailed description of the 

Sanborn formation, see measured section 2.)

TERRACE DEPOSITS

AEEAI DISTRIBUTION

Terrace deposits of Quaternary age are composed of materials laid 

down by present-day streams in earlier cycles of deposition. They are 

mapped in the valleys of most streams in Morris County. (See pis. 1 

and 2.) Two terrace levels were observed in some places along the 

Neosho River and Rock Creek. The upper contact of this material is 

not well defined and it grades into the lower part of the Sanborn 

formation; this terrace level, therefore, was mapped with the Sanborn 

formation. The average width of the terrace deposits along the 

Neosho River is 1 mile. The width of the terraces of Rock and East 

Fork Creeks does not exceed a mile, and terraces of the other streams 

are not more than one-half mile wide.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION

The terrace deposits consist largely of gray to brown silt- and claysize particles, but contain some lenses of chert and limestone gravel. 

Vertical banks are characteristic of terrace sediments, and they show 

crude columnar jointing. The lenses of gravel are composed of granules and pebbles of subgranular chert and, less abundantly, subangular to rounded fragments of limestone, occur in the lower part of 

a deposit. (For a detailed description, see measured section 1.) The 

terraces above stream level range from a few feet along small streams 

to 50 feet or more in thickness along the Neosho River. The exact 

thickness of the terrace deposits could not be determined without 

drill-hole data.

ALLUVIUM

AREA! DISTRIBUTION

The sediment deposited by a stream on its present flood plain is 

alluvium. (See pi. 2.) Alluvium is mapped along the Neosho River 

and averages about 0.3 mile in width. The alluvium extends from the 

southeast corner of the county to a point 2 miles south of Council 

Grove. The straightening of the Neosho River and the presence of 

dikes prevent deposition of alluvium in the vicinity of Council Grove.
24 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. NORTHEAST KANSAS

TABLE 1. Summary of tests on construction

Location: All township designations are south and all range designations are east throughout table. 

Authority for test data: HO, State Highway Commission of Kansas. OS, sample collection and 

Accessibility to all sites is good except for Is 15 which is fair.

Number 

on 

plate 1

Location

Estimated ofamount material (cubic yards)

Thickness 

(feet)

1

& 

*0?

ss?

1 %

Overburden 

(maximum) Geologic unit

Authority fo data test 

Date of test

Chert gravel l

eg I_____

ce2

eg 3......

SEJ^SEM sec. 31, T. 14 S., 

R.9E. 

SEMSEJi sec. 13, T. 16 S., 

R. 7E. 

NEMNEM sec. 3, T. 17 S., 

R. 9E.

5,000 

1,000 

15,000

5 

2 

6

0 

3 

0

OS 

OS

OS

Sept. 1948 

Sept. 1948 ... 

Sept. 1948 

Limestone

Is l._ .

Is 2 ......

Is 3 

Is 4 

Is 5 ......

Is 6 

Is 7 ...

Is 8 __ ..

Is 9 

Is 10 

Is 11.....

Is 12 

Is 13 .....

Is 14..... 

Is 15 __ . 

Is 16 

Is 17 ..... 

Is 18 .....

Is 19 

NEMNWM sec. 33, T. 14 S., 

R. 8E.

NEMSEK sec. 21, T. 14 S., 

R. 7E. 

NWJ£NWJ£ sec. 13, T. 14 

S., R. 5E. 

NEMNWM sec. 1, T. 15 S., 

R. 8E. 

SWMSWM sec. 23, T. 15 S., 

R. 8E. 

NEMS WJ£ sec. 26, T. 15 S.t 

R. 8E.

SWMS WJ£ sec. 30, T. 15 S., 

R. 8E.

SEJ£SWJ£ sec. 11, T. 15 S.. 

R. 6E. 

SE^SWJi sec. 26, T. 15 S., 

R. 5E. 

SWJ^SEM sec. 28, T. 15 S., 

R. 5E.

NWJ^NWM sec. 17, T. 16 

S., R. 9 E. 

NWJ^NWJi sec. 18, T. 16 

S., K. 9 E.

N WJ£NEJ£ sec. 26, T. 16 S., 

R. 9E. 

NEMNEM sec. 33, T. 16 S.,

NEMNWM sec. 11, T. 16 S., 

R. 8E. 

SEJ^NWJ^ sec. 18, T. 16 S., 

R. 8E.

SEJ^NEJ^ sec. 23, T. 16 S., 

R. 8E. 

NWJ^SEM sec. 23, T. 16 S., 

R. 8E. 

SEMNEJi sec. 27, T. 16 S., 

R. 8E.

20,000

10,000 

10,000 

20,000 

10,000 

1,000

5,000

20,000 

10,000 

10,000

1,700 

27,000

10,000 

5,000 

60,000 

25,000

3,000 

5,000 

5,000

9

5 

10 

8 

2.5 

2

6

10 

4 

3

5 

5

6 

1.5 

20 

5

5 

6 

3

5

10 

5 

5 

6 

4

5

3

5 

5

8 

6

5 

5 

2 

5

4 

10 

5

Florence ....._ ...

Ki"Tipy

TMirAAmilo

(Ledge No. 1)

(Ledge No. 2)

as

as

as 

as

HO

as 

as

HO

as 

as

HO 

HO 

HO

as 

as 

as

HO

HO 

HO

as

Sept. 1948 

Sept. 1948 ... 

Sept. 1948 

Sept. 1948 ... 

Aug. 1935... 

Sept. 1948 ...

Sept. 1948 

Mar. 1935 ... 

Sept. 1948 ... 

Sept. 1948 

Aug. 1935 ... 

Dec. 1945. 

Dec. 1945-... 

Sept. 1948 

Sept. 1948 ... 

Sept. 1948 

Jan. 1935 ....

Mar. 1938 

Jan. 1946 .... 

Sept. 1948 

1 Gradation factor for eg 1,5.89; eg 2,4.12; eg 3, 5.38.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 25

materials of Morris County, Kansas

description of material by IT. S. Geological Survey; laboratory tests by State Highway Commission.

Description of materials

Laboratory test data

Water absorbed 

(percent)

£

1 

&|

r<D&GO

Los Angeles (perloss) cent 

Soundness (25 

cycles) Toughness

Laboratory No.

Chert gravel '

Sieve analysis: Percent on % in. 24; % in. 49; no. 4, 69; 

no. 16, 86; no. 100, 92; percent passed no. 200 (wash), 7.48. 

Sieve analysis: Percent on H in. 25; % in. 36; no. 4, 46; 

no. 16, 59; no. 100, 63; percent passed no. 200 (wash), 36. 24. 

Sieve analysis: Percent on % in. 39; % in. 55; no. 4, 65; 

no. 16, 73; no. 100, 76; percent passed no. 200 (wash), 

23.53. Mostly flint pebbles, but some limestone pebbles, in a matrix of clayey silt.

2.32

2.12 

2.34

.......

0.89 

0.99 

0.93

 -

60552 

6C561 

60543

Limestone

Massive gray limestone; includes several thin bands 

of chert. 

Massive light-gray limestone. Rejected because of 

excessive wear, 7.3 percent (Deval).

Blocky light-gray limestone; includes nodules of flint in 

some zones but not in this. Nonflinty ledge near top 

of member. 

Gray light-brown and red granular porous limestone. 

Rejected for use as surfacing material because of excessive wear, 8.0 percent (Deval).

Soft powdery yellowish limestone; somewhat porous and 

contains numerous geodes. 

Light-yellow limestone which contains 10-15 percent flint. 

Rejected for use as surfacing material because of excessive wear, 5.6 percent (Deval). 

Light-yellow porous limestone. Rejected under sees. 

107-112, and 114, standard specifications, 1945 ed. 

White somewhat crystalline limestone. Accepted under 

sees. 107, 108, and 114, standard specifications, 1945 ed.

Hard massive light-yellow-gray limestone; somewhat 

porous. 

Blocky crystalline light-yellow and gray limestone. 

Massive tan-gray limestone; contains a few nodules of 

blue-gray flint. 

Massive light-yellow-gray limestone; contains numerous 

solution channels. Wear = 11.4 percent; rejected under 

sec. 60, standard specifications, 1934 ed. 

Soft light-yellow and brown limestone. Accepted for use 

as surfacing material; percentage of wear = 14.75. 

Massive crystalline light-gray limestone. Accepted under 

sees. 107-112, and 114, standard specifications, 1945 ed. 

Massive porous light-gray limestone. Samples taken 

from nonflinty zone near top of member.

9.61 

2.07 

9.81 

2.22 

4.04 

11.25

2.9

2.96 

13.38 

5.79

10.54 

9.87

5.51 

15.7 

7.7

9.0

4.68

2.46 

1.96

2.46 

2.07 

2.47 

2.46 

2.01

2.02

2.40 

1.88 

2.23

1.88 

2.02

2.26 

2.25 

1.94 

1.94

2.02 

2.38 

2.32

36.5 

43.2

34.0 

39.6

30.4 

62.9

31.2

8.86

72.1 

46.3

36.6 

39.8 

61.8

34.7 

32.6

0.90 

0.97

0.97 

0.85 

Sound 

0.97 

0.96

Sound

0.95 

0.92 

Not sound

0.97 

0.93

0.92 

0.95 

0.94 

Sound

0.96 

0.96

5 

4 

7

4 

5

60548 

60542

60559 

60544 

2646 

60549 

60560

25355

60557 

60558 

26465

49152 

49153

60545 

60556 

60551 

24720

34042 

491 

605
26 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

TABLE 1. Summary of tests on construction

Number

on

plate 1

Location

Q

 ^T*

a &

a °

§ §

^

§3CO ?*

3 §12

i

Thickness

(feet)

i

1

r3 eg Sis1

 rH 03

1CO §

a

 a |

^ 2

^ |

oj.

^

O

Geologic unit

03 "S

 a

1

ti

<4H

^'S

5"S

Date of test

Limestone Continued

1820.....

1o O1

Is 22

*1c 9Q

?Q Ol

Is 25- _

Is 26 _ ..

|o O7

IQ OQ

IQ 90

Is 30. 

NE^NEJi sec. 36, T. 16 S.,

R. 7E.

SW^NWM sec. 11, T. 16 S.,

R. 5E. 

NEJ^NEM sec. 12, T. 16 S.,

R. 5E. 

SW^SEJ^ Sec. 19, T. 16 S.,

R. 5E. 

SE^SWM sec. 12, T. 17 S.,

R. 9E. NWMNWJi sec 22 T 17

S., R. 9 E. 

NWMNWM sec 25 T 17

S., R. 9 E.

QTn/"VTT?l/ etf\n OQ T1 IT Q

R. 9E. 

C ^SEJi sec. 17, T. 17 S.,

R. 6E. 

NEJCNEJ^ sec. 26, T. 17 S.,

R. 6E. 

NE^NWM sec. 5, T. 17 S.,

R. 5E.

20,000

10,000

50,000

150,000

15,000

5,000

5,000

5,000

50,000

2 nnn

5,000

10

3

19

10

7

4

5

4

10

5

5

2

6

6

4

5

2

5

5

2

5

(Ledge No. 1) 

Fort Riley _____

(Ledge No. 2)

MorrilL... ... .

HO

HO

HC

HO

HC

as

OS

OS

OS

HO

HO

as

Dec. 1945 .

Dec. 1945. 

Jan. 1935- _

May 1950 ...

Nov. 1934 ...

Sept. 1948.-

Sept. 1948...

Sept. 1948...

Sept. 1948 

Apr. 1950 .

Feb. 1946

Sept. 1948...

Small areas of alluvium are present north of Council Grove but are not 

of sufficient extent to be mapped. The alluvium of Rock Creek is 

present only on the inner curves of meanders and has a maximum 

width of about 0.3 mile. It extends from the Neosho River north to 

U. S. Highway 56. Deposits of alluvium too small to be mapped 

are also present along the other major streams in the county.

GENEEAI DESCRIPTION

The alluvmm along the Neosho River consists predominantly of silt 

and clay with interbedded thin lentils of gravel. The silt and clay 

are gray brown to gray. The gravel lentils contain mostly subrounded 

and round pebbles of local limestone and small percentages of clay and 

silt.

The alluvium along Rock Creek and other streams consists of graybrown silt and clay and many gravel lenses. These lenses contain 

subangular to angular particles of local limestone and chert, and small 

quantities of shale, silt, and clay.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 27 

materials of Morris County, Kansas Continued

Description of materials

Laboratory test data

 a

o>

.a 

S+j

,,*£u

us *

1

^R

wo

0,

OQ

^~^ to

I'd

^"

^

«^^

s <s ^i1

OQ

S

d

sH

1

fr

I

jj

J

Limestone Continued

Light-yellow and white limestone; some zones porous. 

Accepted under sees. 107, 108, and 114, standard specifications, 1945 ed. 

Fine-grained gray and light-gray limestone. Accepted 

under sees. 107-112, and 114, standard specifications. 

1945 ed.

gray limestone. Percentage of wear = 9.3; rejected for 

use as cover stone under sec. 60, standard specifications, 

1934 ed. 

Light yellow-gray fine-grained limestone. Accepted 

under supplemental specification 45-407 and sees. 108 

and 114, standard specifications, 1945 ed.

rejected for use in experimental matt surfacing.

Dense blocky light-gray limestone. ___________ ..

Blocky somewhat porous yellow limestone _____ __ __

Flinty light-yellow limestone. Unsound, rejected under 

supplemental specification 45-407 and sees. 108, 109, 111, 

and 114, excessive wear under sees. 109-112, standard 

specifications, 1945 ed.

grading and construction of rock embankment.

10.33 

2.86 

3.2

5.27 

6.4

5.09

9.22

8.02

1.28

2.02

2.47 

2.45

2.36 

2.23

2.19

2.14

2.40

2.30

2.17

2.58

50.0 

34.6

49.0

42.6

41.1

34.0

38.0

46.2

40.0

0.97 

0.96

0.97

0.89

0.97

0.91

0.97

0.84 

Sound

0.94

3

3

10

49150 

49151 

24721

67597 

24485

60546

60553

60547

60555

67280 

50077

60554

Bars of gravel are abundant in the beds of almost all the streams, 

and consist mostly of particles of chert but contain some fragments of 

limestone and shale. The particles range in size from granules to 

boulders, with those of pebble size the most abundant. The maximum 

estimated thickness of alluvium along the Neosho River is 30 feet. 

In the valleys of the other streams in the county, it is about 20 feet 

thick.

INVENTORY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

This inventory of construction materials in Morris County defines 

the construction materials as they are classified in this report, and 

relates the materials to the map units in which they occur. Where 

available, laboratory test data have been included to aid the reader 

in an evaluation of the materials. The information given in table 1 is 

based on standard testing procedures of the State Highway Commission of Kansas (1945), and the American Association of State Highway 

Officials (1947). It is expected that prospects shown on plate 1 will be
28 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

proved by subsequent augering, drilling, or test pitting and that the 

materials themselves will be subjected to laboratory testing prior to 

production for specific uses.

Although many prospect pits and quarries were located, no attempt 

was made to complete a survey of all possible sources of materials. 

In relating the construction materials that are available in Morris 

County to the geologic formations mapped on plate 1, the use of the 

map should aid in the search for the materials needed in a construction 

project.

AGGREGATE FOB CONCRETE 

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Aggregate for concrete is classified as fine aggregate, mixed aggregate, and coarse aggregate. In this report the distinction is an 

arbitrary one based on the percentage of material retained on a 

standard No. 4 sieve. The portion of a sample retained on that sieve 

is designated as the coarse fraction. Material is classified as coarse 

aggregate if the coarse fraction is 15 percent or more by weight of 

the whole sample, as mixed aggregate if the coarse fraction is between 

5 and 14 percent, and as fine aggregate if the coarse fraction is less 

than 5 percent.

The materials reported in this and other classifications are exposed 

at the surface or are under soft or unconsolidated overburden sufficiently thin that they may be developed. Deposits that are overlain 

by thick or consolidated beds, or that are relatively inaccessible, 

usually are not included in this inventory because of the additional 

expense involved in their removal or transportation.

STRATIGRAPmC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

No deposits of sand and gravelly sand were found in Morris County. 

Almost all of the aggregate used in concrete construction in the 

county is obtained from the alluvium of the Kansas River in the 

vicinity of Junction City. Loess is considered by Plummer and 

Hladik (1948, p. 27-111) to be of prime importance as raw material 

for the manufacture of ceramic slag and for railroad ballast and concrete aggregate. They report that tests of ceramic slag by the roadmaterials laboratory of the State Highway Commission of Kansas 

indicate that it is a superior aggregate with a low density.

Four of the limestones included in table 1 were accepted by the 

State Highway Commission as rock to be crushed for the coarse 

fraction in aggregate for concrete. Numbers after the unit names in 

the following discussion have been assigned to the tested materials, 

which are designated by these numbers in table 1 and plate 1. These 

are the middle part of the Threemile limestone member of the Wreford
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 29

limestone (Is 17), the Funston limestone (Is 18), the rimrock and the 

next overlying bed of the Fort Riley limestone member of the Barneston limestone (Is 2 and Is 20), and the Cresswell limestone member 

of the Winfield limestone (Is 9 and Is 22).

Other possible sources of limestone which might be used as the 

coarse fraction in aggregate for concrete are the Towanda limestone 

member of the Doyle shale (Is 3), the Kinney limestone member of 

the Matfield shale (Is 6), the Middleburg limestone member of the 

Bader limestone (Is 14), the upper part of the Schroyer limestone 

member of the Wreford limestone (Is 19), the Grouse limestone 

(Is 25), the Morrill limestone (Is 27) and the Cottonwood limestone 

(Is 13) members of the Beattie limestone, and the Hollenberg limestone bed (of local usage) of the Wellington formation (Is 30).

MINEBAL FILLEB

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Material composed predominantly of silt-size mineral particles (in 

which 50 percent or more of the material passes the No. 200 sieve) 

is classified in this report as mineral filler. It has no more than a 

trace of organic debris, 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

No samples of material to be tested as mineral filler were collected 

inasmuch as all of the possible sources investigated contain such a 

high percentage of clay that the coefficient of cementation would be 

too high for acceptance.

An intensive search of the terrace deposits should reveal small 

quantities of acceptable mineral filler. It is doubtful that the Sanborn 

formation contains material that is acceptable for this use.

RIPRAP

ENGINEERING AND GEOIX3GIC CHARACTERISTICS

Riprap is any rock material suitable for protecting earthen fills 

from erosion. To be acceptable for this use the material must be 

relatively sound and free from cracks and other structural defects or 

impurities that would cause it to disintegrate through erosion, slaking, 

or freezing and thawing. It is desirable that the material be producible in blocks having approximately rectangular faces 7 inches or more 

in width and that the specific gravity be 2 or higher.

450956 58 5
30 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS 

STRATTGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

The limestone beds of the Permian system are the only sources of 

riprap known to be present in Morris County. Acceptable rock can 

be obtained from the stratigraphic units evaluated in the following 

discussion.

The noncherty layer of the Threemile limestone member of the 

Wreford limestone (Is 20) has been accepted for use as riprap by the 

State Highway Commission. Other possible sources are the Kinney 

limestone member of the Matfield shale (Is 6), the Cresswell .limestone 

member of the Winfield limestone (Is 9 and Is 22), the Cottonwood. 

limestone member of Beattie limestone (Is 13), the Middleburg limestone member, of the Bader limestone (Is 14), the Funston limestone 

(Is 18), the upper part of the Schroyer limestone member of the 

Wreford limestone (Is 19), and the rimrock bed of the Fort Kiley 

limestone member of the Barneston limestone (Is 20).

Test data for the Towanda limestone member of the Doyle shale 

(Is 3) indicate that it would fulfill the requirements for riprap, but 

field observation reveals that it fractures into small blocks too readily.

Rock from the Funston limestone and the massive beds of the 

Grouse limestone was installed as riprap on the upstream face of the 

dam at Lake Kahola. The bed of noncherty limestone in the Threemile member was the source of riprap placed along the Neosho River 

in Council Grove. The rimrock bed of the Fort Riley and the noncherty beds of the Florence limestone members of the Barneston 

limestone were used as riprap on the dam at Lake Council Grove. 

A small pond in the center of the NEK sec. 8, T. 15 S., R. 8 E. was 

riprapped with limestone from the Fort Riley member. A pond in 

the center of the NE% sec. 13, T. 16 S., R. 9 E., was riprapped with 

limestone from the Threemile member. The Funston and Grouse 

limestones and the Middleburg and Cottonwood members of the 

Beattie limestone were the sources of rock used on a railway fill in 

the SE# sec. 35, T. 16 S., R. 9 E.

STRUCTURAL STONE

ENGINEERING AND GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS

Structural stone is any hard, dense rock of adequate bearing strength 

that can be quarried and cut to desired size and shape. Material 

classified as structural stone is acceptable for use in the construction 

of buildings, bridge piers and abutments, and retaining walls. Pleasing appearance is a requirement for building stone that is not important 

in other uses of the same rock.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 31 

STRATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Many limestone beds of the Permian system cropping out in the 

county have been used as structural stone, their use having been 

governed principally by the accessiblility of quarries. Use of the 

following limestones as structural stone was observed.

Cresswell limestone member of the Winfield limestone. This rock 

was used in the construction of a house and barn in the NE#NE# 

sec. 34, T. 15 S., E. 5 E.

Fort Riley limestone,member of the Barneston limestone. Rimrock 

was used as structural stone in the courthouse in Council Grove. 

The stone has weathered only slightly, although some of the blocks 

have changed in color to dark gray or yellow brown. Stone from this 

member was also used in the construction of the stadium and a fence 

in the park at Council Grove, and of a single-arch bridge in tfafc NEK 

SEM sec. 26, T. 14 S., R. 7 E, .

ThreemUe limestone member of the Wreford limestone; This rock 

has been used in foundations and buildings in Council Grove. It. 

was also used in a retaining wall in the NE% sec. 10, T. 16 S., R. 8 E 

and in a house in the SE#SE# sec. 7, T. 16 S., R. 9 E. The stone in 

these structures shows very little deterioration through weathering.

Cottonwood limestone member of the Beattie limestone. This stone 

has been used extensively in the construction of buildings in Dunlap. 

The limestone shows slight weathering changes, including a darkening 

of the original gray.

ROAD METAL 

ENGINEERING AND GECXLOGIC 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 varies from one area to 

another.

STRATIGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

Mixed aggregate from the Kansas River is used as metal on all 

State highways except the part of Kansas Highway 13 that has been 

constructed as a bituminous mat. It also has been placed on farm-tomarket roads west of Burdick, south of Parkerville, south of Dwight, 

and on streets in White City, Dwight, Dunlap, Wesley, and Burdick.

Chert gravel is used extensively in eastern Kansas as metal on
32 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

light-traffic roads. As defined in this report, it is an unconsolidated 

sediment composed of angular to subangular gravel-size fragments of 

chert derived by the weathering and erosion of beds of cherty limestone, incorporated in a matrix of clay- and silt-size particles. This 

material may also contain subrounded to rounded gravel-size fragments of local limestones.

Chert gravel from the Sanborn formation and terrace deposits, and 

creek gravel, have been used in large quantities as metal for lighttraffic roads. The performance of these gravels is generally good. 

The material from the Sanborn formation is best for road metal inasmuch as it contains a clay binder and the particles do not exceed 

pebble size. Creek gravel is least desirable because of the wide range 

in the size of the gravel particles, the absence of a clay binder, and the 

difficulty in gaining access to deposits of it.

Alluvium. Test data for a sample of chert gravel (eg 1) are given 

in table 1. This material came from a creek bed and is known locally 

as "creek gravel." (Because of the scale of plate 1, it was necessary 

to map this source as a terrace deposit.) About 80 percent of the 

particles are chert and 10 percent are limestone and shale. In comparison with other gravels, this material is unusually coarse, although 

it contains a small percentage of wash. There are similar small deposits along most of the tributaries of the Neosho River and Rock, 

Clarks, and Diamond Creeks.

Sanborn formation. Two samples of chert gravel (eg 2 and eg 3) 

were obtained from the Sanborn formation. (See table 1 and pi. 1.) 

Both of these gravels are composed of sound and relatively coarse 

particles, but they contain a large percentage of wash. The gravels 

are predominantly fragments of chert and do not exceed pebble size. 

The wash is red-brown clay and silt.

Similar deposits can be found north of Indian Creek, along Four 

Mile Creek and its tributaries, along Haun and Crooked Creeks, in 

the interstream areas southeast of Wilsey, and along the eastern 

tributaries of Diamond Creek. Most of the gravel deposits occur in 

the basal part of the Sanborn formation in these areas.

Several of the limestones and one of the shales cropping out in 

Moms County have been crushed and used as road metal.

Wellington formation. Rock from this formation was used in the 

construction of roads along the west and south boundaries of sec. 32, 

T. 16S.,R.5E. A thickness of 5 to 6 inches of shale is placed on the 

road and graded and rolled to form a self-bonding type of macadam. 

This material, according to local residents, makes a good road as it is 

not excessively dusty and is not slick when wet. The Wellington is 

composed predominantly of silty and calcareous shales. Other similar
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 33

shales in the Permian system might also prove acceptable for a similar 

use.

CressweU limestone member of the Winjield limestone. This rock has 

been quarried extensively in the NEtfNEtf sec. 12, T. 16 S., R. 5 E. 

and used as road metal and for the coarse fraction in aggregate for 

concrete at the Herington Airbase. Crushed rock from this quarry is 

now being used on nearby farm-to-market and land-access roads.

Fort RUey limestone member of the Barneston limestone. Large 

quantities of limestone from the Fort RUey have been quarried in the 

SE^NEKNEX sec. 36, T. 16 S., R. 7 E. The crushed rock from this 

quarry has been used as ballast along the Missouri Pacific Railroad and 

in the construction of a stabilized base for many of the roadways in the 

Herington Airbase. It was also used as road metal on some of the 

nearby farm-access roads. Rock obtained from a large quarry in the 

NW^SW^ sec. 14, T. 14 S., R. 7 E. was used as baUast on the Chicago 

Rock Island and Pacific, and Union Pacific Railroads.

Florence limestone member of the Barneston limestone. In 1949 thenoncherty beds of limestone of the Florence were crushed at a quarry in 

the center of the SE% sec. 17, T. 17 S., R. 6 E. This material was used 

as road metal on farm-to-market and land-access roads in that 

vicinity.

Threemile limestone member of the Wreford limestone. In 1949 a large 

quarry in the biostrome of the Threemile limestone member was 

operated in the NW^NE}^ sec. 10, T. 16 S., R. 8 E. Material from this 

and other quarries in the Threemile in the vicinity of Council Grove 

has been used as riprap, structural stone, as the coarse fraction in 

aggregate for concrete, and as crushed rock for base-course constructional on part of U. S. Highway 56. It is also used as metal on many 

of the farm-to-market and land-access roads in the area.

SUB GRADE AND EMBANKMENT MATERIAL

ENGINEERING AND GEOL.OGIC CHARACTERISTICS

The following definition of subgrade and embankment material is 

adapted from the specifications compiled by the American Association 

of State Highway Officials (1937, p. 37-38). Suitable geologic materials for this kind of construction are: (1) fine granular unconsolidated 

sediments, including soil, of which 50 percent or more of weight passes 

through a No. 200 sieve; (2) 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; (3) broken or crushed rock.

STRATTGRAPHIC SOURCES AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS

All of the preceding materials listed are available in Morris County 

for the construction of subgrades and embankments and can be ob-
34 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

tained as the product of excavation along a project or from immediately adjacent areas. The geologic formations from which these 

materials can be produced are: (1) Fine granular sediments. The 

Sanborn formation and terrace deposits contain almost unlimited 

quantities of clayey silt. (2) Coarse granular sediments. The alluvium in the valleys of most of the streams in the county contains 

small quantities of limestone and chert gravel. (3) Broken or crushed 

rock. Most limestones of the Permian system are durable and resist 

crumbling and solution; they are thus acceptable for use in the construction of subgrades and embankments.

The shales of the Permian system vary greatly in their physical 

characteristics. The Matfield, Speiser, and Easly Creek shales have 

been used in the construction of embankments. These shales are predominantly silty and calcareous; other silty shales which might prove 

acceptable for this use are:

Wellington formation.

Odell shale.

Grant shale member of the Winfield limestone.

Oketo shale member of the Barneston limestone.

Wymore shale member of the Matfield shale.

Havensville shale member of the Wreford limestone.

Hooser shale member of the Bader limestone.

Stearns shale.

Salem Point shale member of the Grenola limestone.

Bennett shale member of the Red Eagle limestone.

Johnson shale.

The shales which are predominantly clay and are possibly usable 

for that reason are:

Paddock shale member of the Nolans limestone.

Gage shale member of the Doyle shale (Clayey in upper part, silty in lower

part). 

Holmesville shale member of the Doyle shale (Clayey in upper part, silty

in lower part).

Paddock shale member of the Nolans limestone. 

Gage shale member of the Doyle shale (Clayey in upper part, silty in lower

part). 

Holmesville shale member of the Doyle shale (Clayey in upper part, silty

in lower part). 

Blue Springs shale member of the Matfield shale (Clayey in upper part,

silty in lower part but has been used in some construction). 

Speiser shale. (Interbedded silty and clayey zones; however, this material

has been used in some construction). 

Blue Rapids shale (Interbedded silty and clayey zones). 

Florena shale member of the Beattie limestone (Silty in upper part, clayey

in lower part). 

Eskridge shale. 

Roca shale.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 35

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

American Association of State Highway Officials, 1937, Highway materials specifications: Pt. 1, p. 37-38. 

 1947, Standard specifications for highway materials and methods of sampling and testing: Pt. 2, 5th ed. 361 p. 

Flora, S. D., 1948, The climate of Kansas: Kans. State Board of Agriculture, v. 67,

no. 285, 320 p. 

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

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

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

column: Kans. Geol. Survey Bull. 89. 

Mudge, M. R., and Burton, R. H., 1959 Geology of Wabaunsee County,

Kansas: U. S. Geological Survey Bull. 1068 (in press). 

Plummer, Norman, and Hladik, W. B., 1948, The manufacture of ceramic railroad

ballast and constructional aggregates from Kansas clays and silts: Kans. Geol.

Survey Bull. 76, pt. 4, p. 27-111. 

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

bridge construction: 512 p. 

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

and use of water resources: 78th Cong., 2d sess., S. Doc. 191.

STRATIGBAPHIC SECTIONS

The following stratigraphic sections include at least one of each 

geologic formation or member (except the Burr limestone and Legion 

shale members of the Grenola limestone) that crops out in Morris 

County. All sections were measured by the authors.

1. Terrace deposit in SE^NW^ sec. 11, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Soil; silt with some clay, dark gray (2± feet).

Quaternary terrace deposit: Feet 

3. Silt, dark-gray; stands in vertical bank and shows crude columar

structure _ ________________________________________ _ ____ 6. 0

2. Silt, blocky, tan-brown; shows columar structure and some stratification___________________________________________________ 15. 9

1. Silt, brown: numerous interbedded lenses of gravel composed of

fragments of chert and limestone-______-_____-_______-_____ 2.0

Thickness exposed____________________________________ 23. 9

Based covered.

2. Road cut in the NW^NW^ sec. 21, T. 14 S., R. 6 E.

Soil, black, granular (1.0 foot).

Sanborn formation: Feet 

3. Silt, clayey, blocky, dark-brown ; some calcareous concretions ______ 4. 6

2. Silt, blocky, reddish-brown; some gravel-size fragments of limestone

and chert________________________________________________ 3. 0

1. Silt, reddish-brown; numerous gravel-size fragments of limestone

and chert__-_____________-_______________________________ 3. 0

Thickness exposed.___________________________________ 10.

Base covered.
36 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

3. Road cut in the NE^NW^i sec. 5, T. 17 S., R. 5 E.

Soil, silly, black; contains fragments of limestone (1.0 foot). 

Wellington formation: -F«* 

12. Limestone, somewhat sandy, soft, thin-bedded, gray; part of

the Hollenberg bed (of local usage) __ ___ ________ 1. 0

11. Limestone, crystalline, blocky, gray, some limonite stains, base

of the Hollenberg bed (of local usage)____________-____--___-__ .5

10. Shale, silty, calcareous, granular; tan with some white streaks. __ 2. 2 

9. Limestone, clayey, tan; weathers thin bedded ___ ___________ . 2

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, light-gray; weathers gray______ 1. 4

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, tan ___ _______________________ . 3

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green. ____________________ 2. 6

5. Covered intervaL______~______________-____---_---__-_-____- 4. 0

4. Limestone, hard, crystalline, blocky, light-gray; weathers gray. . 5 

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green. ____________________ . 3

2. Covered interval____________________________________________ 1. 9

1. Limestone, soft, chalky, blocky, gray; weathers light gray_____ _ . &

Thickness exposed_____________________ __________ 15.

Base covered.

4. Road cut in the NW^NE^ sec. 31, T. 16 S., R. 5 E.

Soil, clay, silty, dark-gray; weathered limestone in lower part; about

3 feet thick. 

Nolans limestone:

Herington limestone member:

6. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray-brown; dense in part; feet 

weathers tan gray and blocky to nodular; some iron stains; 

fossil fragments abundant.. ________ _ _____________________ 4. 3.

5. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray; weathers tan gray and 

blocky; some limonite stains and calcite-lined cavities; fossils 

common________________________________----__-----___-_- 1. 9

Thickness exposed_________________-___---__----_---_--_ 6. 2

Paddock shale member:

4. Shale, clayey, noncalcareous, blocky, tan-gray; some iron stains__ 15. 3 

3. Limestone, hard, dolomitic, massive, gray-brown; weathers tan

gray and bloeky; some limonite stains______----_-----_-_--_- . 3

Covered interval________________________________-_____--___-_- 2. 0

Thickness exposed______________________________________ 17. &

Krider limestone member: 

2. Limestone, hard, somewhat crystalline, massive, tan-gray; weathers

blocky; some iron stains; some pelecypods____________________ 1. 4

Total thickness of Nolans limestone exposed _____________ 25. 2

Odell shale:

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, gray-green; calcareous zones in middle part; some limonite stains.________-_____ 4. Q>

Base covered.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 37

5. Railway cut in the NW^iNW^i sec. 31, T. 15 S., R. 5 E. 

Soil; silty, reddish-brown, granular (3.0 feet). 

Nolans limestone:

Herington limestone member:

14. Limestone, soft, massive, tan; weathers tan gray and blocky; Feet 

many vertical joints; weathered surface pitted; ealcite-filled 

cavities., ___ __ ___ __ __ ___ __ ___ ____ __ _ _ 2. 0

13. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan; weathers platy and tan

gray 2. 0 

12. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan-gray; weathers tan and

bloeky; iron stains on surface _ ___________________________ 1. 6

Thickness exposed _______________________________ 5. 6

Paddock shale member:

11. Shale, silty, noncalcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers tan gray. 1. 0 

10. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray mottled with

blue-gray; many calcareous lenses; very fossiliferous__________ 1. 8

9. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, tan-gray; weathers gray_______ 4. 3

8. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, gray, lenticular; very

fossiliferous--_______________--___-_--______--__------__- . 2

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray to gray-green,

fossiliferous__________________________________ 2. 9

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, dark-gray to gray-green;

some limonite stains_____________________ _ 2. 3

5. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, dark-gray___ __.. .3 

4. Limestone, hard, dark-gray; weathers blocky; fossils common__ . 6 

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab mottled with

gray: very fossiliferous in upper part_.____________ _ 1. 6

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green to gray_ __- . 9

Thickness exposed . _____ ___________________ ___ 15.

Krider limestone member:

1. Limestone, hard, gray; weathers tan and blocky; fossils abundant, especially pelecypods _ ______ ____ _ __ __ . 8

Total thickness of Nolans limestone exposed. __ _ _____ _ 22 3

Base covered.

6. Streambank in the NW^NW^ sec, 29, T. 16 8., R. 5 E. 

Soil: silty, dark-gray; fragments of weathered limestone (1.0 ± foot). 

Nolans limestone:

Krider limestone member: *"««* 

5. Limestone, soft, blocky, tan; weathers gray___ ________________ 1.0

Odell shale:

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, granular, gray-green_______________ 0. 7

3. Shale, silty, very calcareous, blocky, gray-green.___________ _ . 1

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green__________________ 3. 8

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon________________ __ 3. 9

Thickness exposed__________________________________ _ 8. 5

Base covered.
38 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

7. Quarry in the NE^NE^ sec. 12, T. 16 S., R. 5 E.

Soil, silty, gray-brown; some limonite fragments (2± feet). 

Winfield limestone member:

Cresswell limestone member: *"««* 

2. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray; weathers blocky in 

the lower part and platy in the upper part; geodes abundant and 

contain chalcedony and crystals of calcite_ ___________________ 6. 2

1. Limestone, hard, massive, blue-gray; weathers tan and to large

blocks; contains siliceous nodules 1 to 3 inches in diameter. ___ 4 6

Thickness exposed___________-___----_-_--__---------- 10. 8

Base covered.

8. Road cut in the SE^SE^ sec. 31, T. 14 S., R. 5 E.

Soil; silty, dark-gray; fragments of weathered limestone (0.5 foot). 

Winfield limestone:

Cresswell limestone member: feet 

2. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan-gray; weathers to irregularly shaped blocks, some lenses of chert; echinoid spines abundant, other fossils common. ______________________-------_-- 4. 6

Grant shale member:

1. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray, fossiliferous. Exposed __ ________ __ _____ _ ________ __ __________ ___ 11. 1

Total thickness of Winfield limestone exposed ____________ 15. 7

Base covered.

9. Streambank in the SE^SE^i sec. 14, T. 17 S., R. 5 E.

Winfield limestone:

Grant shale member: feet 

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, tan-gray; weathers 

tan; contains numerous calcite-filled geodes and some filled with 

chalcedony and quartz; fossils rare. __________--___--_-_----_ 6±

Stovall limestone member:

1. Limestone, hard, massive, tan-gray; weathers tan and blocky, 3 

chert lenses, each 0.3 to 0.5 foot thick; chert nodules in upper 

part. ___________ __ ___ ____ _ ___ _ ___ _ _ _ _ -_-- _ 2. 7

Total thickness of Winfield limestone exposed ____________ 8. 7±

Gage shale member of the Doyle shale.

10. Road cut in the SW^SW^i sec. 25, T. 14 S., R. 5 E.

Soil, weathered fragments of chert and limestone from Stovall limestone

member of the Winfield limestone (1± foot). 

Doyle shale:

Gage shale member: feet 

13. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, light tan-gray_________ 4. 0

12. Covered interval________________________-____----------_--_- 5. 3

11. Limestone, hard, crystalline, tan, limonite-stained; weathers gray

and blocky; some microfossils __ __________________----_--_- . 3

10. Shale, silty, very calcareous, blocky, light-gray; weathers gray;

some iron stains___________________-__---__---_------_--_- 1. 8
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 39

9. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray, gray-green, and tan; Feet

weathers gray_____--____-__-______--____-_---_-_-_------ 0. 7

8. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan;

some limonite stains_____-________________-______-________ . 8

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green mottled with

brown and yellow; some iron stains_______________________ 3. 6

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab, limonite-stained;

weathers gray___________________________-_______________ . 8

5. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon; weathers light maroon._ . 5 

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers gray_____ . 5

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, dark-gray-green______________ . 5

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded; maroon with gray-green

lenses_________________________________________________ .2

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky; gray green with purple tint near

the base________________________________________________ . 3

Thickness exposed_____________--_-_--__--_-_---__--- 19. 3

Base covered.

11. Road cut in the SW^NW^ sec. 6, T. 14 S., R. 6 E.

Soil, silt with some clay, dark-gray; numerous limestone fragments (1±

foot). 

Doyle shale:

Towanda limestone member: feet 

16. Limestone, hard, platy, gray; weathers light gray; badly weathered

and fractured __ ________________________________________ 2. 3

15. Limestone, hard, crystalline, blocky, gray_____________________ . 6

14. Limestone, soft, tan; weathers gray and shaly; weathered surface

pitted___ __ __ _______ __ _ __ ___ __ _ _______ 1. 1

13. Limestone, hard, massive, tan; weathers gray and platy _ _______ 2. 5

Thickness exposed ___________________________________ 6. 5

Holmesville shale member:

12. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan; numerous calcareous plates and nodules______________-_-___--__---'---_- 1. 8

11. Shale, very calcareous, blocky, tan-gray; clayey in upper part, 

silty in lower part; weathers gray; calcite-filled fractures; 

numerous calcareous plates-_______________________-------- 2. 0

10. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky green; weathers gray green; iron

stains on fracture planes-______________________-__--_--__- 3. 2

9. Shale, silty, very calcareous, blocky, light-gray-green; weathers

gray ____________ _ ______ _ . 8

8. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; iron stains on fracture

planes__________________________________________________ .9

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon_______________________ . 6

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; some limonite stains._ . 4 

5. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, platy, tan- to light-gray__________ . 3

4. Limestone, crystalline, massive, gray; dense in part; weathers

blocky and light gray___________________________________ . 7

3. Shale, silty, very calcareous, granular, gray-green; numerous calcareous concretions; iron stains on fracture planes.___________ 1. 1
40 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, gray-green; iron Feet

stains on fracture planes______--_-_-_-_---------------____- 2. 4

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, granular to blocky, dark-gray___________ 1. 9

Thickness exposed_____-_----_----_-------_---------- 16. 1

Total thickness of Doyle shale exposed _________________ 22. 6

Base covered.

12. Road cut in the NE^NE^i sec. 5, T. 14 S., R. 6 E.

Weathered limestone and silty, dark-gray soil (2± feet). 

Barneston limestone:

Fort Riley limestone member: feet 

7. Limestone, soft, tan, porous; weathers tan gray and blocky; some

limonite strains___________________-____---___-----_---____ 0. 6

6. Limestone, soft, massive, tan- to tan -gray; weathers thin bedded in

upper part and bloeky in lower part; weathers light gray______ 11. 6

5. Shale, silty, very clacareous, thin-bedded, tan ; some limonite stains. _ . 6 

4. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-tan, porous; weathers tan 

gray and blocky; numerous fractures; some limonite stains; fossiliferous; forms "rimrock" outcrop--__--_--------___-------_ 5. 4

3. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded to platy, tan-gray;

weathers tan_____________________________________________ 1. 3

2. Limestone, hard, tan -gray; weathers blocky in lower part and

platy in upper part; some limonite stains; fossiliferous__ ________ 1. 0

Thicknessexposed__-__-___---__---------------------- 20.5

Oketo shale member:

1. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan;

fossiliferous_.____________________________________ _____ 5. 3

Top of Florence limestone member.

13. Road cut in the NE^NE^ sec. 8, T. 14 S., R. 6 E. 

Soil, silty and clayey, brown- to dark-gray; numerous weathered limestone

fragments (1± foot). 

Barneston limestone:

Fort Riley limestone member: Feet 

5. Limestone, medium-hard, gray, massive, porous; weathers blocky;

forms "rimrock" hillside bench______________ _____________ 3. 0

4. Limestone, medium-hard, tan-gray, fossiliferous; weathers platy___ 2. 0

Thickness exposed___________-__-___---------------- - 5.0

Oketo shale member:

3. Shale, silty, calcareous thin-bedded, olive-tan______________ . 5

2. Limestone, soft, clayey, blocky, brown; some fossils__________ . 3

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, olive-tan, fossilifereous; weathers

gray 4. 0

Thickness exposed__________---_----------------------- - 4. 8

Total thickness of Barneston limestone exposed.-_________ 9. 8

Base covered.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 41

14. Quarry in the center of NEY4 sec. 36, T. 16 S., R. 7 E.

Soil, silty, gray-brown; some limestone fragments (3± feet). 

Barneston limestone:

Fort Riley limestone member:

20. Limestone, soft, massive, porous, gray; weathers tan; thin string- Feet 

ers of calcite_________________________________________ 2. 5

19. Limestone, soft, tabular, light-gray, porous________________ 2. 4

18. Limestone, soft, massive, light-gray; each bed is about 0.6 foot 

thick, interbedded with a silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan 

shale which is 0.1 foot thick______________________________ 2. 1

17. Limestone, soft, tan; weathers blocky; some iron stains_______ . 8

16. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, brown ___________________ .2

15. Limestone soft, tan; weathers gray; some iron stains__________ 1. 7

14. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray_____________________ . 3

13. Limestone, soft, dolomitic, gray; weathers shaly_______________ . 2

12. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray_____________________ . 2

11. Limestone, medium-hard, tan, massive; weathers bloeky and

gray __ _______ 4 0

10. Limestone, soft, brecciated, tan-gray; shaly in upper part________ 2.8

9. Limestone, medium-hard, dense, massive to nodular, light-gray;

weathers tan brown; small solution channels_______________ 1. 3

8. Limestone, soft, clayey, blocky, dark-gray, fossiliferous_________ 2. 7

7. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray, fossiliferous; weathers tan and blocky; forms "rimrock" hillside bench_________ 44

6. Limestone, clayey, soft, blocky, light-gray; weathers tan; very

fossiliferous_____________________________________________ . 9

5. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan; weathers blocky to shaly

and tan gray; some iron stains and fossil fragments_________ 3. 2

Thickness exposed--___________-__------_________ 29. 7

Oketo shale member:

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab; weathers tan; 

calcareous lenses abundant; a calcareous lentil 0.9 foot thick 

grades laterally into shale; some iron stains; fossiliferous 

exposed___________________________._____________________ 7. 7

Florence limestone member:

3. Limestone, hard, massive, tan to blue-gray, weathers blocky;

some chert nodules and fossi]s_____________---_-_-_------_- 1. 2

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan- to blue-gray; some

calcareous lenses and fossil fragments._____-__--______-___-_ 1.1

1. Limestone, hard, massive, tan to blue-gray, fossiliferous; weathers

blocky; alternating thick beds of limestone and thin lenses of

chert; chert nodules abundant____________----------___--_- 8. 5

Thickness exposed.________________________________ 10. 8

Total thickness of Barneston limestone exposed--- 48. 2 

Base covered.
42 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

15. Spillway of Council Grove Lake in the NE^NE^ sec. 8, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Soil, silty, brown; many chert fragments (1± foot). 

Barneston limestone:

Florence limestone member: Feet 

14. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray; weathers blocky; numerous interbedded bands of blue-gray chert, each about 0.2 foot 

thick_____________.________________________ 6. 7

13. Limestone, medium-hard, thin-bedded, light-gray._____________ . 6

12. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray; weathers blocky; numerous interbedded bands of blue-gray chert, each about 0.2 

foot thick_______________________________ 2. 9

11. Limestone, hard, crystalline, massive, light-gray, fossiliferous;

weathers blocky; numerous stringers of chert._______________ 1. 7

10. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan______________________ . 1

9. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky to platy, light-gray; weathers

gray; numerous stringers of chert; some fossil fragments._____ . 5

8. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan; weathers gray________ 1. 0

7. Limestone, medium-hard, platy, gray, fossil if erous. _____________ . 4

6. Shale, very calcareous, platy, tan; weathers gray; some fossils____ . 7

5. Limestone, medium-hard, tan, fossiliferous; weathers bocky______ . 8

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan; weathers gray._______ . 1

3. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky, tan, cherty; weathers gray____. .7

2. Shale, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan______ . 3

1. Limestone, medium-hard, platy, tan-gray; weathers gray; some

veinlets of calcite present________--_--------_--__-_______ . 5

Thickness exposed___________-_______---_--_-_---_-_- 17. 0

Base covered.

16. Road cut and streambank in the SE^iSE^i sec. 31, T. 14 S., R. 9 E.

Soil, silty, dark-gray; fragments of chert (4± feet). 

Matfield shale:

Blue Springs shale member: Feet 

32. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green; weathers gray;

some bands of secondary calcite-----_--_---_--_-------___- 4. 1

31. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon__ _ ___________________ 2. 0

30. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green __ _______________ . 7

29. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon _______________________ .8

28. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, blocky; dark gray green in upper

part, dark gray to purple in lower part__-___-_-_-_--_______ . 7

27. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, thin-bedded, maroon____________ 1. 1

26. Shale, clayey, calcareous, bloeky, dark gray-brown mottled with

green and maroon; calcite veinlets- ___________ ___________ 3. 2

25. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, blocky, green ___ ______________ . 8

24. Limestone, soft, clayey, gray-green; contains solution cavities. __ . 3 

23. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, green and tan; some calcareous

lenses--_______________________________-___----_-_______ . 5

22. Shale, silty and somewhat sandy, calcareous, nodular, tan_ _ . 3 

21. Limestone, clayey, gray-green, lenticular and wavy _________ . 5

20. Shale, clayey, nonealcareous, massive, tan; some limonite stains. . 2 

19. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green __ _______________ 1. 8

18. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon____ ___________________ 1. 1

1 7. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green ____________________ .3
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 43

Feet 

16. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon_______________________ 0. 6

15. Shale, silty, calcareous, bloeky, gray-green.___________________ 14. 1

Thickness exposed_________-_______-_____-_-_---_--_- 33. 1

Kinney limestone member:

14. Shale, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray very fossiliferous__ . 4 

13. Limestone, crystalline, blocky, dark-gray, fossiliferous; poor outcrop expression__________________________________________ 3. 8

Thickness exposed______________________-_--_-------- 4. 2

Wymore shale member:

12. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray_________________ 2. 3

11. Limestone, clayey, platy, tan-gray_______________________ . 5

10. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray_________________ 6.0

9. Shale, silty, very calcareous, massive, tan-gray; weathers blocky _ 5. 1

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-brown._____________ 0. 4

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green. ___________________ 3. 2

6. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, maroon. ____________________ 1.2

5. Shale, silty, calcareous, bloeky, gray-green._______________ __ . 7

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon_______________________ 1. 2

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, dark-gray; weathers gray.______ . 9

2. Shale, silty, very calcareous, maroon; weathers gray____________ 1. 9

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, green____________________ 1.0

Thickness exposed-__________________________________ 24. 4

Total thickness of Matfield shale exposed _______________ 61. 7

Base covered.

17. Road cut in the center of SW^i sec. 23, T. 15, S., R. 8 E.

Soil, silty and clayey, brown; some chert fragments (0 to 4 feet). 

Matfield shale:

Wymore shale member: Feet 

11. Shale, clayey, calcareous, bloeky, gray-green; some iron stains.

exposed..- __ ___ _ _ ____ _______ ___ _____ _ __ _ 0. 5

Wreford limestone:

Schroyer limestone member:

10. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray; weathers tan gray and

blocky, but is platy in uppermost part; contains microfossils__ 2. 7

9. Limestone, medium-hard, gray; weathers tan gray and thin 

bedded; two thin partings of shale; contains microfossils and 

pelecypods________________________________________ . 6

8. Limestone, medium-hard, gray, fossiliferous; weathers tan gray

and blocky; some iron stains_____________________________ . 5

7. Limestone, soft, porous, massive, light-gray, fossiliferous; weathers 

tan gray, blocky, and in thin irregular beds in the upper part; 

stylolites common; some iron stains________________________ 4. 3

6. Limestone, soft, light-gray mottled with gray, fossiliferous; weathers blocky to shaly_________________________________ . 8

5. Limestone, medium-hard, gray; weathers tan and blocky; contains a 0.4-foot lens of chert in middle; some microfossils_____ 1. 0
44 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

4. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray; weathers tan and blocky; feet 

contains a chert lens 0.7-foot thick in upper half and a 0.3-foot 

lens at the base; some microfossils_________________ ___ 1. 7

3. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, gray; weathers tan;

some caleite-lined geodes.______________________________ . 4

2. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray; weathers tan and 

blocky to platy; contains calcite-filled pores and some fossil 

fragments_ _____________ _____ _______ __ 2. 6

Thickness exposed.______________________________ 14. 6

Havensville shale member:

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded; tan gray to blue gray at

base; very calcareous in lower part. Exposed._____________ 3. 4

Total thickness of Wreford limestone exposed ___________ 18. 0

Base covered.

18. Road cut in the SW^SW^ sec. 15, T. 15 S., R. 7 E.

Soil, silty and clayey, red-brown; some chert gravel (3± feet),

Matfield shale:

Wymore shale member: feet 

1 1 . Limestone, hard, gray, very f ossilif erous ; weathers tan and blocky _ _ 0. 6 

10. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan, very fossiliferous_______ 5. 3

Thickness exposed________________ __ __ _ _____ 5. 9

Wreford limestone: 

Schroyer limestone member:

9. Limestone, hard, dense in part, massive, light-gray; weathers tan

gray and blocky to platy; some small pores and fossils. _________ 2.9

8. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan; weathers light tan; thin

calcareous lenses and uodules common__ _ ___ __ 1. 3 

7. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray; weathers tan gray

and blocky; numerous chert nodules and lentils; two chert lenses

near the base; contains some fossils____________ __________ 3. 2

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan, f ossilif erous; weathers

tan to light gray; contains numerous nodules of limestone and

some of chert__________________________________ 1. 4

5. Limestone, medium-hard, dense in part; massive, gray; weathers

blocky; contains chert nodules, lenses, and some fossil fragments.. 1. 8

Thickness exposed________________-_-_----_--_-_- _ 10. 6

Havensville shale member:

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, gray-brown;

weathers tan; numerous calcareous nodules and stains. __ 1. 9 

3. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray, lenticular; weathers tan

gray and blocky to shaly; so me iron stains... ______________ _ . 1

2. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan, very f ossilif erous 3. 9

Thickness exposed___________ _____ __ 5. 9
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 45

Threemile limestone member: Feet 

1. Limestone, soft to medium-hard, dense in part, massive, tan- to 

light-gray, porous; weathers blocky; weathered surface pitted; 

some chert nodules and microfossils present-_________________ 20. 9

Total thickness of Wreford limestone exposed _ _______ _ 37. 4

Base covered.

19. Streambank and road cut in the SE^NW^ sec. 35, T. IB S., R. 8 E.

Soil, clayey, brown; some limestone fragments (2± feet). 

Wreford limestone:

Schroyer limestone member: Feet 

17. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, porous, gray, fossiliferous;

weathers blocky to platy in upper part; weathers tan gray____ 2. 6 

16. Limestone, hard, dense in part, massive, gray; weathers tan gray

and blocky; contains some fossils ___ _____________________ 1. 4

15. Chert, hard, dense, gray to light-gray, lenticular; weathers

blocky; some iron stains_____________-________-______-_--_ . 3

14. Limestone, medium-hard, light-gray; weathers tan gray and

blocky; some chert nodules and fossils_______.______________ . 5

13. Chert, hard, dense, gray to light-gray, lenticular, iron-stained;

weathers blocky_______ _ _______________________________ . 7

12.. Limestone, hard, somewhat crystalline, gray, fossiliferous;

weathers tan and blocky; some chert nodules_ _______________ . 2

11. Chert, hard, dense, tan to gray, lenticular, iron-stained; weathers

blocky _ _ _____________ __________________ . 2 

10. Limestone, soft, tan-gray; weathers tan and blocky; some microfossils___- _ _ ___ _____________________________________ . 6

9. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray; weathers tan gray

and platy; some chert nodules, lentils, and fossil fragments _ _ 1. 2

Thickness exposed--________-____-_____________-_---_-_ 7. 7

Havensville shale member:

8. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan;

calcareous lens near top; some iron stains___________________ 2. 6

7. Limestone, hard, dense, gray, lenticular; weathers tan and blocky;

has glass-like fracture; contains limonite nodules______________ . 2

6. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green; weathers tan;

calcareous stains present-_-_--_--___-____---___-_--------- . 3

5. Limestone, medium-hard, dark-gray; weathers tan and platy; some

chert nodules and fossils._________________________________ . 4

4. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan;

some calcite-lined cavities__--__--_-_------_-__-----_---__- 1. 1

3. Limestone, hard, massive, gray; weathers tan gray and blocky to

platy; limonite nodules and fossile fragments abundant; some

clay balls_________________________________ 1. 3

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

some calcareous nodules__________________________________ 4. 4

Thickness exposed______________-_-____-_-______ ___ 10. 3
46 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Threemile limestone member: Feet 

1. Limestone, medium-hard to soft, massive, light-gray, porous; 

weathers gray and blocky; some stylolites, chert nodules and 

lentils; upper part fossiliferous__-_______--___-_--__-__-____ 17. 1

Total thickness of Wreford limestone exposed ___________ 35. 1

Base covered.

20. Road cut in the SW^NE^ sec. 28, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Wreford limestone:

Havensville shale member: Feet 

17. Limestone, hard, massive, very fossiliferous; weathers tan gray__ 2. 3 

16. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab; weathers tan___ 3. 3 

15. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded to platy, dark-gray,

fossiliferous ; weathers light to dark gray ____________________ .9

Thickness exposed____________________________________ 6. 5

Threemile limestone member:

14. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray; weathers tan gray and to 

irregular plates or blocks; numerous chert nodules; chert lens 

near middle__.________________________________________ 1. 9

13. Chert, light- to dark-gray, fossiliferous; weathers blocky ________ . 5

12. Limestone, hard, light-gray, fossiliferous; weathers tan gray and

blocky_____________________________________ 1. 0

11. Chert, light to dark-gray, very lenticular; weathers blocky; some

iron stains__-_----_-__________-_-_----_____---__-_-____ 0 to . 4

10. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray, porous; weathers tan gray,

blocky, and to thin irregular beds; limonite stains____-__ ___ 2. 9

9. Chert; light- to dark-gray, iron-stained; weathers blocky________ . 3

8. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray, iron-stained; weathers tan gray and blocky; soft in middle.____________________ 2. 2

7. Chert; light- to dark-gray, lenticular, iron-stained; weathers

blocky and nodular___________________________________ . 2

6. Limestone, medium-hard, light-gray, porous; weathers tan gray

and blocky; some iron stains._____________________________ . 7

5. Chert, light-gray to dark-gray, lenticular, iron-stained; weathers

blocky and nodular; some fossil fragments_________________ .2

4. Limestone, hard, light-gray; weathers tan gray and blocky; contains numerous fossil fragments-_____---_--__-_--_-_-_---_- . 7

3. Limestone and chert, hard, light-gray; weathers tan and blocky;

chert lenses and nodules abundant_________________________ 1. 1

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, fossiliferous; weathers tan;

some calcareous plates______________-_--___________--__-_- 1. 1

1. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray, iron-stained; weathers tan

gray and blocky; three lenses of chert present; some fossils____ 2. 4

Thickness exposed_______________________ ___ 15.

Total thickness of Wreford limestone exposed______ ___ 22. 1

Speiser shale.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 47

21. Quarry and streambank in the SE]4SW]4 sec. 2, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Wreford limestone:

Havensville shale member: Feet 

11. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan-gray, fossiliferous; weathers platy_______________________________________________ 1. 1

10. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green; weathers tan

gray; contains some fossils. ________________________________ 1. 0

Thickness exposed ___________________________________ 2. 1

Threemile limestone member:

9. Limestone, hard, dense in part, blocky, dark-gray; weathers tan

gray; irregular bedding__________________________________._ . 5

8. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray, vertically jointed;

weathers tan gray and blocky; some chert lentils; some stylolites. 16. 1

7. Limestone, soft, massive, tan, cavernous; weathers dark gray to 

tan brown and blocky to platy; bands of chert nodules, some 

calcite-filled cavities and fossils present.-____________________ 7. 1

6. Chert, hard, dense, blue-gray to light-gray; weathers blocky to

nodular__________________________________________________ . 4

5. Shale, clayey, calcareous, red-brown, cavernous; clay lentils in 

upper part; calcite-filled cavities and dense calcareous nodules; 

grades laterally into limestone _____________________________ .5

4. Chert, dense, hard, blocky, blue-gray to light-gray, lenticular;

some clay-filled cavities_______-_____-_____-____--_--_______ . 9

3. Shale, silty, massive- to thin-bedded, light-gray-green, very calcareous; dolomitic in part; contains numerous calcareous nodules 

and lenses; geodes abundant______________________________ 2. 2

2. Chert, dense, hard, blue-gray to light-gray, lenticular; weathers

blocky, contains clay-filled cavities.-________________________ .9

1. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky, tan; some chert nodules__ ___ . 7

Thickness exposed________________-__-----_-_-----_--_- 29. 3

Total thickness of Wreford limestone exposed-. __________ 31.4

Speiser shale.

22. Streambank and road ditch in the SW^NW^ sec. IS, T. 15 S., R. 7 E.

Soil, silty and clayey, red-brown; some chert gravel (0-4 feet). 

Wreford limestone:

Threemile limestone member: F*et 

7. Limestone, soft, massive, gray; weathers tan gray; fossil fragments

abundant____________________________________-_-_-_------ 2. 2

6. Limestone, soft- to medium-hard, dense in part, massive, tan- to 

light-gray, porous; weathers to irregular blocks; some iron stains, 

chert nodules and lentils; some fossils in upper part_ __________ 18. 3

5. Limestone, soft, massive, tan, porous; weathers tan gray; chert

nodules; 2 thin lenses of chert in upper part__ ________________ 2. 5

4. Chert, hard, dense, gray, lenticular; weathers blocky ____________ . 5

3. Limestone, soft, dolomitic, massive, tan-gray, porous, weathers

gray _ 1. 9
48 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Feet 

2. Chert, hard, dense, gray- to light-gray, lenticular_____________ 0. 5

1. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan; weathers tan gray and

blocky; some fossil fragments_____________________________ 1. 9

Thickness exposed______.___________________________ 27. 8

Base covered.

23. Stream cut in the SE^SW]^ sec. 30, T. 15 S., R. 8 E.

Wreford limestone:

Threemile limestone member: Feet 

11. Limestone, medium-hard, light-gray, porous; thin lens of chert in 

middle part; stylolites near base, some chert nodules and fossil 

fragments___________________________________________ 11. 9

10. Chert, hard, dense, blocky, dark-gray, lenticular._______________ . 3

9. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, light-gray; weathers gray and

blocky____________________________________ . 8 

8. Chert, hard, dense, blocky, dark-gray, lenticular, iron-stained;

weathers gray to dark gray.______________________________ . 3

7. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray- bo light-gray, fossiliferous;

weathers to irregular plates_______________________________ . 6

6. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, gray; grades upward

into limestone; weathers tan gray: fossils rare_________________ . 7

5. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray, fossiliferous; weathers tan 

gray and blocky; thick lens of chert in middle part; some chert 

nodules__________________________________________________ 1. 8

Thickness exposed________-_____-_-___---_-___--_---_ 16. 4

Speiser shale:

4. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray, fossiliferous;

more resistant zone in middle part; some iron stains.._________ 2. 9

3. Limestone, medium-hard, gray; weathers tan gray and to thin

chips; some fossil fragments______--_-_-_--------------_---_ . 6

2. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, green; light green in upper

part; some iron stains on bedding planes_____________________ 4 9

1. Shale, calcareous, blocky; clayey with some silt; maroon becoming

purple in the upper part________________.____________-_____ 3. 7

Thickness exposed___ _________________________________ 12. 1

Bast covered.

24. Road cut in the NW^SE^i sec. 23, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Soil, silty, gray, numerous chert fragments (1± foot). 

Wretord limestone:

Threemile limestone member: Feet 

11. Limestone and chert, hard, massive, light-gray to dark-gray;

weathers blocky___ _______________________________________ 1. 8

10. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab, fossiliferous;

weathers tan; numerous calcareous plates. __________________ 1. 1

9. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray, iron-stained; weathers tan

gray and blocky; three lenses of chert; contains fossil fragments.. 2. 4

Thickness exposed.___________________________________ 5. 3
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 49

Speiser shale: feet 

8. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab to tan-gray;

weathers tan gray; numerous calcareous nodules-____________ 3. 9

7. Shale, silty, slightly calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, gray- to

gray-green; weathers light gray; some iron stains. Hard, clayey,

gray limestone 0.3 foot thick is present in south end of road cut

but thins toward north end_______________________________ 2. 4

6. Limestone, clayey, hard, massive, gray; weathers tan gray and

blocky; some iron stains_____________________-___________-_ 1. 5

5. Shale, silty, very calcareous, gray-green; weathers light gray green. 3. 7 

4. Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, maroon mottled with gray

and gray-green; silty with some clay; weathers maroon ________ 4. 7

3. Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green; silty with some clay;

some thin calcareous plates; maroon stains on surface________ . 7

Thickness exposed__________-__-_________-____________ 16. 9

Funston limestone:

2. Limestone, hard, somewhat crystalline, massive, gray; weathers 

tan gray and blocky but becomes shaly near base; weathered 

surface shows crossbedding; maroon stains on surface_________ 5. 7

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan; numerous thin calcareous lenses______-_______________________ 5. 5

Thickness exposed____________________________________ 11. 2

Base covered.

25. Quarry in the SW%NE% sec. IS, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Wreford limestone:

Threemile limestone member: Feet 

11. Limestone, medium-hard, dense in -part, massive, light-gray, 

porous to cavernous; weathers gray and blocky; vertical fractures; contains some chert lentils, nodules and fossils__________ 7. 7

10. Chert, dense, hard, gray- to light-gray, lenticular; weathers

blocky______.____________________________ . 7

9. Limestone, soft, massive, gray to gray-green, porous, fossiliferous;

weathers tan and shaly; some calcite-filled cavities.___________ 1. 9

8. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray; weathers tan gray and

blocky; two lenses of chert; some chert nodules__________-__- 2. 1

Thickness exposed__________________________________ 12. 4

Speiser shale:

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray grading upward into graygreen, fossiliferous; some iron stains; some calcareous nodules and 

lenses; lower part more resistant to weathering.______________ 4. 1

6. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, gray to gray-green;

weathers gray green; iron stains on bedding planes____________ 2. 4

5. Shale, silty, very calcareous, massive, light-green; resistant to

weathering_______________________________________________ 1. 1

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, massive to blocky, light-green; becomes dark

gray green in lower part- __________________________________ 1. 9
50 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, dark-green; weathers gray; some Feet 

iron stains on fracture planes________-__---_-____-_---------_ 0. 2

2. Shale, silty to clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, maroon, limonitestained; becomes blocky in the lower part; calcium carbonate 

nodules in lower part____-______________-____-_------__-_-_- 5. 0

Thickness exposed_-_____________-_--____-___--_______ 14. 7

Funston limestone:

1. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan-gray, porous, very oolitic, 

fossiliferous; weathers blocky; weathered surface shows some 

crossbedding... __________________________________________ 6. 1

Base covered.

26. Road cut in the NW?{SEbi sec. 23, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Speiser shale: Feet 

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green.__________ ___ 0. 5

Funston limestone:

7. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, gray-green to light-gray; weathers

gray and blocky___________________________________ 48

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan________________________ . 1

5. Limestone, hard, dense, tan-gray; weathers blocky.______________ . 6

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan_______________- _ . 1

3. Limestone, hard, dense, gray, tabular; weathers blocky___________ . 1

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan; weathers tan gray ______ 2. 3

1. Limestone, soft, dark-gray; weathers blocky to shaly___________ . 5

Thickness exposed_______________-_-________---_--_-__ 8. 5

Base covered.

27. Road cut in the NWftNEM sec. S3, T. 16 S., R. 8 E.

Soil, silty, dark-gray; contains numerous limestone fragments and blocks

(1.5 ± feet).

Funston limestone: Feet 

15. Shale, clayey, slightly calcareous, very thin bedded, tan mottled

with gray ; weathers tan ; calcareous plates on surface ___________ 3. 2

14. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky, gray; weathers tan; some calcareous nodules and fossils _ ___________________________________ . 6

13. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan;

numerous calcareous lenses __ ____________________--_--_--__ 1. 6

12. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan-gray; weathers tan and

blocky but is shaly in upper part; some limonite stains; fossil

fragments abundant __ ___ __ _ _____ ___ _ _____________ 1. 3

11. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky; dark gray in lower

part, gray and tan gray in upper part; some iron stains. ________ 6. 4

10. Limestone, medium-hard, clayey, thin-bedded, gray; weathers tan

gray; some carbon stains; heavily limonite stained in upper part;

limonite nodules and clay balls abundant in upper part __________ .6

Thickness exposed._.__________________________________ 13. 7
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 51

Blue Rapids shale: Feet 

9. Shale, clayey and partly silty, calcareous, tan; massive to blocky in

lower part, becoming thin-bedded in upper part; some limonite

stains_________________________________________________ 1. 4

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers light gray

green; limonite and iron stains on fracture planes______________ 1. 9

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan; thin

calcareous lenses in middle part which join in part of the exposure

to form a very soft, porous, clayey limestone __________________ 3. 7

6. Shale, silty, with some clay, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers

light gray green______________________________________ 2. 0

5. Shale, silty, calcareous, tan-gray; thin-bedded, but thick bedded in

middle part; weathers tan; some limonite stains__________ 3. 2

Thickness exposed______________________ _ __ 12. 2

Grouse limestone:

4. Limestone, medium-hard, thin-bedded, light-gray; weathers tan___ 1.1 

3. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray; weathers tan and blocky;

bedding apparent in part of the exposure___________ 1. 4

2. Shale, silty to clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan_______________ . 1

1. Limestone, medium-hard, massive; weathers tan, thin-bedded in 

lower part, blocky in upper part; tan gray with numerous gray 

areas; numerous thin partings of shale; some limonite stains____ 5. 7

Thickness exposed____ __ _____ _______ __ ___ _ 8. 3

Base covered.

28. Road cut in the NWftNtyi sec. 14, T. 16 S., R. 9 E.

Soil, silty, dark green; limestone fragments (2 ± feet).

Grouse limestone: Feet 

7. Limestone, medium-hard, platy, tan-gray; weathers tan; some iron

stains; numerous thin partings of shale____________________ _ 2. 4

6. Limestone, hard, tan-brown; weathers tan gray and blocky; numerous

limonite nodules; abundantly fossiliferous___ _ ____ _ __________ 1. 3

5. Limestone, medium-hard, platy, tan-brown; weathers tan; some iron

stains ___________ ________ __________ _ ___ ___ . 6

4. Limestone, hard, somewhat crystalline, massive, tan-brown, fossiliferous, iron-stained; upper part dense; weathers tan and blocky 1. 1 

3. Shale, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, olive-drab; clayey with

some silt; weathers tan to gray; some iron stains. __ _ ____ 6. 9 

2. Limestone, hard, massive, gray, slightly clayey, fossiliferous; dense

in part; weathers tan gray and to thin chips _ _ ______ _ _ _ __ 3. 2

Thickness exposed_________________________ 15. 5

Easly Creek shale:

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; fractures are iron stained.

Exposed-.._____________________________ 3±

Base covered.
52 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

29. Road cut in the NE%NEY4 sec. 13, T. 16 S., R. 9 E.

Grouse limestone: *"««* 

11. Limestone, medium-hard, thin-bedded, tan; weathered and covered

by slump; contains some fossils______________________________ 3. 0

10. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky, tan-gray; weathers tan; pitted

along joints_____________________________________ 1. 5

9. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; mostly covered_____ 5. 5

8. Limestone, clayey, medium-hard, platy, light-gray, fossiliferous:

weathers blue gray__________________________________-______ 1.4

7. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky, tan-gray; weathers tan_________ 1. 3

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab, very fossiliferous;

weathers tan; some calcareous lenses in lower part.___________ 8. 8

5. Limestone, hard, dense in part, gray-orange, limonite-stained; 

weathers tan brown; weathers to shaly appearance near the top, 

blocky in lower part; contains some fossils.--._____________ _ 1. 3

Thickness exposed_________________-_-_--__-______-__- 22. 8

Easly Creek shale:

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, gray-green; weathers

light gray green; iron stains on fracture planes. ________ ____ 9.7

Bader limestone: =====

Middleburg limestone member:

3. Limestone, hard, dense in part, massive, tan-gray fossiliferous; 

weathers gray brown and blocky; weathered surface shows bedding 

planes; some limonite nodules______________________________ 1. 9

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, very thin bedded, black- to dark-gray.____ 3. 2

1. Limestone, hard, massive, gray-brown; weathers tan gray and to

irregular plates and blocks; some iron stains.__________________ 2. 3

Thickness exposed____________-_____-_-_----------____- 7. 4

Base covered.

30. Road ditch in the NW%NW% sec. 22, T. 17 S., R. 9 E.

Grouse limestone: badly weathered and eroded (l±foot).

Easly Creek shale: Feet

14. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, brown__________________ 0. 2

13. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers gray_______ 2. 0

12. Shale, clayey, highly calcareous, blocky, gray-green____________._ 1. 0

11. Shale, clayey, calcareous, granular, gray-green____________----_- . 4

10. Shale, silty, calcareous, granular, maroon.______________________ . 6

9. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green____________-___ . 4

8. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon_______________-_-------- 1. 1

7. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green______________________ 1. 0

6. Shale, clayey, calcareous, mottled gray-green and maroon; thinbedded but with thin blocky layers interbedded______________ 1. 5

5. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, dark-gray-green________________ . 5

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green__________-___-_-_ . 8

3. Shale, very calcareous, concretionary, gray__-_----_--__--------- 6

2. Shale, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green_____________________ 1. 4

1. Shale, very calcareous, concretionary, tan________-_-______------ 3. 4

Thickness exposed__________________________-___--_--- 14 9

Middleburg limestone member of the Bader limestone.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 53

31. Road cut in the SE^NE^NE^ sec. 13, T. 16 S., R. 9 E,

Base of Middleburg limestone member of the Bader limestone. 

Bader limestone:

Hooser shale member: Feet 

5. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray, limonite-stained;

weathers tan; calcareous nodules_________________________ _ 2. 5

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, maroon___-_____-___- __________ . 4

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky; gray green mottled with purple in

middle part; calcareous nodules in middle part _ _____________ 2. 6

Thickness exposed.___________________________________ 5. 5

Eiss limestone member:

2. Limestone, hard, dense in part, gray- to tan-gray, fossiliferous;

weathers blocky to nodular______________________________ 1. 4

1. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray, heavily limonite stained;

weathers tan gray_______________________________________ 3. 5

Thickness exposed________________________________-___ 4. 9

Total thickness of Bader limestone exposed.. __ _________ 10. 4

Base covered.

32. SEHNWli sec. 36, T. 16 S., R. 9 E.

Soil, silty, gray, some weathered limestone fragments (2± feet). 

Bader limestone:

Eiss limestone member: Feet 

39. Limestone, medium-hard, platy, gray; weathers tan. Fossil

fragments abundant.-______________-___-_-----_-____--__- 2. 2

Stearns shale:

38. Shale, silty, calcareous, granular, gray-green __ ____________ 2. 2

37. Shale, silty, calcareous, granular, tan-gray, fossiliferous. ________ 3. 3

36. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, tan-gray ______________________ 1. 0

35. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green __ ____________ 1. 5

34. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green; contains fragments of pink crystalline limestone_________________________ 1. 2

33. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, dark-blue-gray __ _____________ 1. 0

32. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded; dark-blue-gray.----------- 5. 2

31. Limestone, hard, crystalline, blocky, dark-blue-gray, fossiliferous- . 6 

30. Shale, clayey, slightly calcareous, blocky, dark-blue-gray ________ 1. 4

29. Shale, very calcareous, brown, very fossiliferous; weathers tan

gray; contains numerous calcareous concretions and thin lenses

of limestone. _ _______ ___ _____________________________ 3. 9

28. Shale, clayey, calcareous, granular, gray-green mottled with tan. 1. 1 

27. Shale, carbonaceous, very thin bedded, black; some fossil plants. . 1 

26. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green mottled with black. . 5 

25. Shale, carbonaceous, very thin bedded, black; some fossil plants. . 9 

24. Shale, silty, calcareous, platy, gray-green __ _ ____ 2. 2

23. Limestone, soft, gray-green; weathers shaly to blocky __ ___ . 4 

22. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, tan __ __ . 1 

21. Limestone, soft, gray-green; weathers shaly to blocky __ _ . 4 

20. Limestone, soft, thin-bedded, red-brown. _________ _______-_. .1
54 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Feel

19. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, light-gray-green............. _ 1. 2

18. Limestone, soft, concretionary, tan-brown_______-_________-___ . 1

17. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green.___________________ 1. 1

16. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, light-tan-gray ________________ . 7

15. Shale, silty, very calcareous, blocky, gray-green___ ____ __ 1. 9

14. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, tan____________________ __ . 5

13. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green_______ __________ . 3

12. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, tan-gray______________________ . 6

Thickness exposed____________________________________ 33. 5

Beattie limestone:

Morrill limestone member:

11. Limestone, medium-hard, tan-gray; weathers blocky__________ 0. 5

10. Limestone, medium-hard, dark-tan-gray; weathers light gray and

platy_________________________________ _____ . 8

9. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky to platy, dark-tan-gray; weathers

tan___________________________________________________ 1. 0

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-brown____________ . 4

7. Limestone, medium-hard; blocky, dark-tan-gray; weathers light

gray and platy__________________________ __ ___ . 4

6. Limestone, soft, cavernous, dark-gray; interbedded thin bands of

red calcite_____________________________________________ 1. 5

Thickness exposed_____-__-________-___-_-_-_-____-_- 4. 6

Florena shale member:

5. Shale, clayey, noncalcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, tan_ _______ 0. 6

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; contains some fossils._ 3. 6 

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; thin zones of

calcareous concretions__________________---________------- 3. 9

2. Shale, carbonaceous, very thin bedded, black, very fossiliferous__ 1. 3

Thickness exposed- ___________________--______----__- 9. 4

Cottonwood limestone member:

1. Limestone, hard, massive, tan-gray; weathers blocky and light gray 

to tan; interbedded thin bands of chert; forms a prominent 

hillside bench; fusulinids abundant..._______ _ 5. 3

Total thickness of Beattie limestone exposed___________ 19. 3

Eskridge shale.

33. Spillway of Lake Kahola in the NWft SE% sec. 33, T. 17 S., R. 9 E.

Beattie limestone:

Cottonwood limestone member: Ftet 

10. Limestone, hard, massive, light-gray, porous, limonite-stained; 

weathers tan gray and blocky; occasional chert nodules; some 

solution channels; fractures to large blocks; forms a very 

prominent hillside bench. Fusulinids abundant in upper part, 

fossil fragments abundant in lower part.._-_-_-__----------- 4. 9
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 55

Eskridge shale: Feet 

9. Shale, blocky to thin-bedded, tan-gray; clayey with some silt;

weathers gray; iron stains on fracture planes; calcareous lenses 

in upper part____ _______________________ _____________ 10. 4

8. Limestone, clayey, tan-gray; weathers platy; iron stains on fracture planes in lower part______________________________ 1. 8

7. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, gray-green; calcareous nodules and iron stains in lower part ______________ 2. 0

6. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, maroon; some iron stains______ 1. 4

5. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, gray-green;

maroon tint in middle part; iron stains on fracture planes_______ 3. 5

4. Limestone, hard, dense, blocky, gray; weathers light gray_____ __ . 9

3. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, gray-green; iron

stains on fracture planes.-______________________________ 4. 6

2. Limestone, hard, massive, gray, porous; weathers tan gray and

blocky; pelecypods abundant_______-___________________--_-- 1. 9

1. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, tan- to tan-gray; thin limestone

lens in upper part; cavernous in middle part_________________ 3. 7

Thickness exposed-__________________________________ 30. 2

Neva limestone member of the Grenola limestone.

34. Streambank in the SWytNW% sec. 15, T. 17 S., R. 9 E.

Cottonwood limestone member of the Beattie limestone:

Eskridge shale: Feet 

26. Covered..__________________________________ 10. 0 

25. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers light gray__ . 8 

24. Shale, clayey, calcareous, gray-green; weathers light green._______ . 3

23. Shale, clayey, calcareous, extremely carbonaceous, platy to massive,

black; weathers gray_______________________________________ . 3

22. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, red-brown to gray-brown; weathers

tan_____________________________________________________ . 1

21. Shale, clayey, calcareous, extremely carbonaceous, platy, black;

weathers gray_____________________________________________ . 4

20. Shale, clayey, carbonaceous, calcareous, platy, dark-gray; weathers

gray __ __ . 3 

19. Shale, clayey, carbonaceous, calcareous, platy; dark-gray with

orange streaks; weathers gray_______________________________ . 6

18. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, black; weathers gray; abundant

fossil plants_________________________________________ . 7

17. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, dark-gray to tan; weathers gray;

fossil leaves abundant______________________________________ . 2

16. Limestone, massive, black- to tan-gray; weathers gray__________ . 1

15. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, light-green; weathers light gray__ . 5 

14. Shale, clayey, calcareous, gray-green; weathers light gray _________ , 4

13. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, blocky, light-green to tan; weathers

tan_____________________________________________________ 1. 1

12. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, light-gray.___________________ . 6

11. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, light-gray _____________________ . 4

10. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers light

gray ____ __ . 7
56 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

9. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, blocky, orange- to gray-green; Feet 

weathers tan___________-________-_____----__------_------- 1. 1

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, red-brown; weathers tan,_______ . 9

7. Shale, clayey, calcareous, gray-orange; weathers tan______________ . 7

6. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, light-tan-gray; weathers white, and

to a fretwork_______________________ ____________________ 1. 7

5. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers light green__ .8 

4. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, light-tan-gray _______ ______________ 1. 5

3. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, platy, turquoise; weathers gray___ . 2 

2. Limestone, massive, light-gray___---------------_--_----------- . 6

1. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, blocky to platy, dark-gray-green;

weathers light gray green; some limy zones______---_-_______ 1. 3

Thickness exposed.____________________________________ 26. 3

Base covered.

35. Road cut in the SEftNWyt sec. 1, T. 17 S., R. 9 E.

Cottonwood limestone member of the Beattie limestone: 

Eskridge shale: feet 

19. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, tan; weathers light tan; numerous

limestone zones___________________________-____----_-__--__ 0. 9

18. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, tan; weathers light tan________ 2. 2

17. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-brown; weathers tan.______ 3. 8

16. Limestone, shaly, platy, tan-gray, weathers gray_______---___-___ 1. 1

15. Limestone, platy, tan-gray to light-gray; weathers gray___________ . 6

14. Shale, clayey, calcareous, light-green; weathers light gray _________ . 1

13. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green, weathers light gray

green_____________________________________________________ 3. 9

12. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-brown; weathers gray______ . 2

11. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, gray-green; weathers light green._ . 3 

10. Shale, clayey, calcareous, orange; weathers tan__________________ . 1

9. Shale, clayey, calcareous, dark-gray; weathers light gray__________ . 2

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, extremely carbonaceous._______________ . 2

7. Shale, clayey, calcareous, very thin bedded; gray to black with

orange streaks; weathers gray; contains organic material______ . 5

6. Shale, silty, calcareous, very thin bedded, black; weathers gray;

fossil leaves abundant______-__-_______----___-_-------_--_- . 4

5. Shale, clayey, calcareous, orange; weathers tan._________________ . 2

4. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, red-brown; weathers tan_________ . 3

3. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, platy, gray-orange; weathers tan___ . 4 

2. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, platy, tan; weathers light tan______ . 2

1. Shale, clayey, very calcareous, platy, tan-gray; weathers gray_____ 1. 1

Thickness exposed.____________________________________ 16. 7

Base covered.
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 57

36. Streambank in the NW}£NE}£ sec. SB, T. 16 S., R. 9 E.

Soil, silty, gray-brown, granular (2± feet). 

Grenola limestone:

Neva limestone member: Feet 

11. Limestone, medium-hard, platy, tan, badly weathered-__ ____ 1. 0

10. Limestone, soft, massive; brown in lower part, tan brown in upper

part; surface pitted__________________ __. 2. 7

9. Limestone, medium-hard, fragmental, irregularly bedded, tan__ 1. 3 

8. Limestone, medium-hard, massive, tan-gray_____ __ 1. 0 

7. Covered interval____________________ _ 2.0

6. Limestone, medium-hard, blocky, tan-brown._________________ 1. 0

5. Limestone, soft, shaly, gray-green; contains fusulinids__________ . 4

4. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green, iron-stained. . . 4 

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, platy, tan-gray, iron-stained_.__________ . 7

2. Shale, carbonaceous, very thin bedded, black___________ _ . 2

1. Limestone, hard, tan, fossiliferous; weathers light gray___ _ 1. 0

Thickness exposed________________________ _ 11. 7

Salem Point shale member.

37. Road cut in the SW^SW^, sec. 24, T. 17 S., R. 9 E.

Grenola limestone:

Base of Neva limestone member:

Salem Point shale member: feet 

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab; weathers tan;

some iron stains.____________________ __ 5. 5

2. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, dark-gray to black;

weathers gray__________________________________________ 1. 9

1. Shale, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, tan-gray to gray;

clayey with some silt; weathers tan______________________ 3. 9

Thickness exposed_____________________ _______ 11. 3

Base covered.

38. Road cut in the SE^SE^ sec. 23, T. 17 S., R. 9 E.

Soil, silty, dark-gray, granular (0.5 ± foot). 

Grenola limestone:

Sallyards limestone member: feet 

24. Limestone, medium-hard, light-gray, fractured; iron stains on

fracture planes; weathers platy._______ __ _________________ 0. 5

Roca shale:

23. Shale, silty, calcareous, granular, tan-gray; weathers gray.______ 1. 7

22. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky, tan-gray; weathers gray ____ . 7

21. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, gray-green_____ _____________ . 3

20. Shale, clayey, calcareous, tan-brown; contains thin zones of calcareous concretions_______________ ___________ 1. 3

19. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green; weathers tan__ . 8 

18. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, tan-brown; scattered calcareous

concretions____________________________ __ 1. 4

17. Shale, clayey, calcareous, platy, tan-gray; weathers tan; some iron

stains and calcareous lenses.___________ _____ __ 4. 1
58 GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, NORTHEAST KANSAS

Feet 

16. Limestone, clayey, platy to blocky, light-gray, fossiliferous. _______ 0. 2

15. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, light-gray._________________ .1

14. Limestone, clayey, very soft, light-gray; weathers platy; iron stains

present_____________________________________________ . 2

13. Shale, silty, very calcareous, thin-bedded, gray__________________ . 6

12. Limestone, clayey, gray; weathers tan gray and blocky to platy;

some limonite stains______________________ _______ ___ . 9

11. Limestone, hard, gray with purple tint, iron-stained; weathers to

irregular blocks.____________ ____ _________ ______ . 6

10. Shale, clayey, calcareous, blocky to thin-bedded, gray-green grading

down to tan-green; some iron stains___-______-_---_----______ 1. 3

9. Shale, silty, calcareous, blocky, tan-gray; some calcareous lenses.__ 3. 2 

8. Shale, clayey, calcareous, thin-bedded, gray-green; iron stains on

fracture planes_____________ ___________________________ . 9

7. Shale, very calcareous, thin-bedded to platy, gray to gray-green;

iron stains on fracture planes__-_-------_-----_-----------___ . 2

6. Shale, silty, granular to thin-bedded, gray-green; calcareous in

upper part, noncalcareous in lower part. ______________ _____ 1.8

5. Shale, silty, noncalcareous, blocky, dark-gray; weathers purple;

some iron stains___^_______ _____ _______________ . 6

4. Shale, very calcareous, tan-gray to purple, cavernous to porous;

some green lentils_______________________________________ . 3 to . 9

3. Shale, clayey, noncalcareous, blocky, tan-gray to dark-gray; weathers tan_______________________________________ ______ 1. 0

2. Shale, silty, slightly calcareous, thin-bedded to blocky, maroon

grading down to gray-green_________________________________ 1. 8

1. Limestone, clayey, dense, hard, tan-brown; weathers tan gray and

platy ______________ ____ __ .__ . 7

Thickness exposed____---____-_-------_-----------_-_- 25. 3

Base covered.

39. Road cut in the NE^NW^4SW^4 sec. 36, T. 17 S., R. 9 E.

Soil, silty, gray-brown (2± feet). 

Red Eagle limestone:

Ho we limestone member: Feet 

5. Limestone, hard, gray-orange, limonite-stained; weathers gray and 

blocky; microfossils very abundant and give limestone sandy 

appearance _ __ _ _ _____ __ __ _______ _____________ 0. 9

4. Limestone, medium-hard, tan-brown, porous; weathers blocky;

celestite nodules on surface _ _ ____________________________ . 8

Thickness exposed.-...-- _________-__-__-.__ _____ 1. 7

Bennett shale member: 

3. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, olive-drab, limonite-stained,

very fossiliferous; weathers tan._______ _ ________________ 9. 4
GEOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS, MORRIS COUNTY, KANSAS 59

Glenrock limestone member: feet 

2. Limestone, medium-hard to soft, light-gray mottled with graybrown, porous; weathers bloeky; clay nodules abundant; oolitic 

texture near base; fusulinids in middle part. __ ______ _ 0. 8

Total thickness of Red Eagle limestone exposed __ ___ 11.9 

Johnson shale:

1. Shale, silty, calcareous, thin-bedded, tan-gray; weathers tan; calcareous lenses and nodules present--- _____________________ 4. 0

Base covered.

INDEX

Page

Acknowledgments___________.. 6 

Aggregate for concrete_________ 28-29 

Alluvium___________............... 23-27,32

Bader limestone________________ 11-12 

Barneston limestone______________ 16-18 

Seattle limestone_______________ 10-11 

Bennett shale member____________ 8 

Bibliography, selected_____________ 35 

Blue Rapids shale_______________ 12-13 

Blue Springs shale member__________ 16 

Burr limestome member___________ 9

Chase group__________________ 14-21 

Climate____________________ 2-3 

Cottonwood limestone member._______ 10,31 

Council Grove group. _____________ 7-14 

Cresswell limestone member._____ 19-20,31,33 

Crouse limestone_______________ 12

Doyle shale.__________________ 18 

Drainage__ ..____________.__ 2

Easly Creek shale_______________ 12

Elss limestone member.____________ 11

Eskridge shale...._______________ 9-10

Florena shale member_____________ 10 

Florence limestone member__________ 17,33 

Fort Riley limestone member_. ___ 17-18,31,33 

Funston limestone.______________ 13

Gage shale member_____ 

Geography ..........

Glenrock limestone memberGrant shale member____ 

Grenola limestone_____

..____.. 18

 ...__ 2

 . .... 8

._____.._._ 19

. ........ 9

Havensville shale member__________ 15

Herington limestone member_________ 20-21

Highway Commission, Kansas State..___ 1

Holmesvllle shale member__________ 18

Hooser shale member._____________ 11

Howe limestone member.. __________ 8

Introduction__________________ 1-2

Inventory, construction materials. _____ 27-34

Investigation, area covered__________ 2

procedure _..........._____ 6

purpose.__________________ 1-2

Johnson shale _

Kinney limestone member. 

Krider limestone member..

Legion shale member. .. 

Loess______ .

Page 

16 

20

9

2

Matfleld shale...................__... ... 15-16

Middleburg limestone member 11-12 

Mineral filler....... _________... 29

Morrill limestone member___.__ 10-11

Neva limestone member. 9 

Nolans limestone._______.. 20-21

Odell shale... . 

Oketo shale member.

. . .... 20 

. .- . 17

Paddock shale member..__ 20 

Permian system__.....__ . 7-21

Quarries and pits, locations 7 

Quaternary system. . 21-27

Red Eagle lunestone....___._ 8 

Riprap.._____.. _.. .. 29-30 

Road metal...._.__.___..... . 31-33 

Roca shale____.. ___ 8

Salem Point shale member... ___ 9 

Sallyards limestone member... 9 

Sanborn formation-________ 22-23,32 

Schroyer limestone member____ 15 

Speiser shale.. .. 13-14 

Sterns shale_.__ .. 11 

Stovall lunestone member___... 19 

Stratigraphic sections___________ 35-59 

Stratigraphic units, characteristics of outcropping-...___ 7-27 

Structural stone___________ 30-31 

Subgrade and embankment material___ 33-34 

Sumner group 21

Terrace deposits____.________ 23 

Threemile limestone member_____ 14-15,31,33 

Topography___ . 2 

Towanda limestone member. 18 

Transportation routes _ 5-6

Wellington formation...... 21,32-33

Winfield limestone.-. ___..... 18-20

Wreford limestone.______________. 14-15 

Wymore shale member.______.......... 16

o

61