GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 118

August 1951

GEOLOGIC CONSTRUCTION-MATERIAL 

RESOURCES IN SHERIDAN COUNTY,

KANSAS

By 

Henry V. Beck and Robert K. McCormack

PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH THE STATE 

HIGHWAY COMMISSION OF KANSAS

R. C. Keeling, State Highway Engineer

S. E. Horner, Chief Geologist 

R. D. Finney, Engineer of Materials

Prepared as part of a Program

of the Department of the Interior

for Development of the Missouri River Basin
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Oscar L. Chapman, Secretary

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

W. E. Wrather, Director

Washington, D. C.

Free on application to the Geological Survey, Washington 25, D. C.
CONTENTS

Introduction ..............

Purpose of the investigation .....

Geography .............

Area covered by the

investigation. ........

Topography ..........

Drainage ...........

Climate ............

Transportation routes .....

Investigation procedure .......

Acknowledgments .........

Characteristics of the outcropping

Stratigraphic units ..........

Introduction ............

Niobrara formation of the

Smoky Hill chalk member .....

Areal distribution .......

General description . .....

Representative measured

section ...........

Thickness ...........

Construction material .....

Ogallala formation .........

Areal distribution .......

General description ......

Representative measured

section ...........

Thickness ...........

Construction materials .....

Sanborn formation .........

Areal distribution .......

General description ......

Representative measured

sections...........

Thickness ...........

Construction materials .....

Terrace deposits ..........

Areal distribution .......

General description ......

Representative measured

sections ...........

Thickness ...........

Construction materials .....

Alluvium .............

Areal distribution .......

General description ......

Representative measured

section ...........

Thickness ...........

Construction materials .....

Inventory of construction materials . . . 

General ..............

Aggregate for concrete ...... i

Engineering and geologic

characteristics .......

Stratigraphic sources and performance characteristics . . . 

Ogallala formation .....

Sanborn formation .....

Terrace 'deposits ......

Page

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

r?

3

3

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

11

11

1111

Alluvium ........

Road rneta 1 .........

Engineering and geologic 

characteristics ....

Aggregate for concrete . . 

Crushed rock ......

Stratigraphic sources and

performance characteristics. 

Sources of aggregate

for concrete ......

Crushed rock ......

Smoky Hill chalk 

member of the 

Niobrara formation. 

Mortar bed of the

Ogallala formation . 

Mineral filler ..........

Engineering and geologic

characteristics ......

Stratigraphic sources and

performance characteristics. 

Sanborn formation ....

Terrace deposits. . . . .

Volcanic ash ..........

Engineering and geologic

characteristics ......

Stratigraphic sources and 

performance characteristics ........

Ogallala formation ....

Sanborn formation ....

Riprap .............

Engineering and geologic

characteristics ......

Stratigraphic sources and 

performance 

characteristics ......

Smoky Hill chalk member 

of the Niobrara 

formation .......

Ogallala formation ....

Structural stone .... f. ....

Engineering and geologic

characteristics ......

Stratigraphic sources and performance characteristics . . 

Smoky Hill chalk member

of the Niobrara formation 

Ogallala formation ....

Calcareous binder ........

Engineering and g'eologic

characteristics ......

Stratigraphic sources and 

performance characteristics ...........

Smoky Hill chalk 

member of the 

Niobrara formation. . . 

Ogallala formation ....

References cited ...........

Page

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12

in 

12

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If. 

ir

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ILLUSTRATIONS

Page

Plate 1. Map showing construction materials and geology of Sheridan County, Kans. ... In pocket 

Figure 1. Index map of Kansas showing areas covered by this report and by other

construction materials investigations ................... £

2. Chart showing temperature ranges at Hoxie, Kans. .............. 2

3. Chart showing precipitation ranges at Hoxie, Kans. .............. >

4. Outcropping stratigraphic units in Sheridan County, Kans. , and

their construction materials ....................... 4

5. Geologic cross section of the valley of South Fork Solomon River ....... 5

TABLE 

Table 1. Summary of materials tests .................... .... In pocket

ii
GEOLOGIC CONSTRUCHON-MATERIAL RESOURCES IN

SHERIDAN COUNTY, KANSAS 

%

Henry V. Beck and Robert K. McCormack

INTRODUCTION 

Purpose of 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. A field party 

composed of personnel from the two cooperatin'g 

agencies was sent into Sheridan County, Kans. , 

in the summer of 1949 to investigate sources of 

engineering construction materials. This report 

of the Sheridan County investigation is a part of 

the general inventory, and a contribution to the 

geologic mapping and mineral resource investigation being made in connection with studies of 

the Missouri River Basin (Cong. doc. , 1944).

The primary objective of the investigation was 

to accumulate all field and laboratory data pertaining to the geologic materials in Sheridan 

County that would be useful 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

Area covered by the investigation. --Sheridan 

County is in the second tier of Kansas counties 

south of the Nebraska border and in the third 

tier east of the Colorado border. (See fig. 1. ) 

It comprises 25 townships and covers an area of 

about 900 square miles. The county is bounded 

on the north by Decatur County, on the east by 

Graham County, on the south by Gove County, 

and on the west by Thomas County.

Topography. --Sheridan County is near the 

center of the Great Plains physiographic province, and near the western boundary of the 

Plain* Border subdivision of that province. 

Eastward-flowing streams have dissected the 

eastern part of the county more than they have 

the western half. The interstream areas are 

generally flat and wide. Dissection is most conspicuous in the area between the South Fork 

Solomon River and the'Saline River.

The average altitude of the county is 2500 ft. 

The lowest point, 2250 ft, is on the South Fork 

Solomon River at the eastern boundary of the 

county, and the highest point, 2900 ft. is near 

the western border of the county in the vicinity 

of Menlo.

Drainage. --The principal streams in Sheridan 

County are the South Fork and North Fork 

Solomon River, and the Saline River. The northward-flowing tributaries of these streams are 

from 2 to 6 miles long and average 3 miles in 

length. The southward-flowing tributaries are 

not as numerous, but average 5 miles in length.

Minor streams are Sand Creek in the westcentral part of the county, Bow Creek in the 

northern part, and Prairie Dog Creek near the 

northwestern corner.

Climate- --Sheridan County is in an area of 

continental-type climate in which the summers 

are relatively long and hot, and the winters 

short and fairly cold. The mean annual temperature is 53 F; the mean temperature ranges from 

a low of 29 F in January to a high of 79 F in July. 

There are 55 cloudy days a year, 110 partly 

cloudy days, and 200 clear days. The ground is 

snow-covered 30 days of the year. The normal 

annual precipitation is 19. 35 in. The average 

date of the first killing frost in the fall is October 

11, and that of the last killing frost in the spring 

is May 1 (Flora, 1948).

Figure 2, a chart showing temperature ranges 

at Hoxie, Kans. , was compiled from Climatological data (U. S. Dept. Commerce, 1937-46), to 

provide basic data on temperature in relation to 

engineering construction. The chart indicates, 

for the 10-year period, the number of days each 

month in which the maximum daily temperature 

fell within certain designated ranges arbitrarily 

based on temperatures important in various 

phases of engineering construction.

Days in which the maximum temperature does 

not exceed 32 F occur only from November to 

March, inclusive, ,with the maximum incidence 

of 5. 9 days in January. July is the warmest 

month of the year, with an average of 22. 8 days 

having maximum temperatures above 90 F. The 

chart also shows the average difference between 

the daily maximum and mimimum temperatures 

for each month. The greatest difference in daily 

temperatures, 26 F, is in October; and the least 

difference, 20 F, is in January.

Inasmuch as precipitation also conditions the 

number of working days in engineering construction, figure 3, a chart showing precipitation ranges at Hoxie, Kans. , is presented to 

show the effect of this climate factor. The ranges 

in precipitation were selected arbitrarily.

1
Report in 

preporation

Report 

published

Figure I. Index map of Kansas showing areas covered by this report and by other 

construction materials investigations

No of days Jan. Feb. Mar Apr. May June | July Aug. S«pt Oct. Nov. Dec.

29°F 29°F 30°F 3C?F 29°F 32°F 29°Fl26°F

EXPLANATION

I

Doys in which maximum temperature was more than 90° F 

(no concrete construction)

|Days in which maximum temperature was between 6I°-90° F

 (no interference with any type of construction]

j

9 Days in which maximum temperature was between 41"-60° F

(no interference with concrete construction;

no bituminous surfacings laid)

NDays in which maximum lemperoture wos between 32*-4O° F 

(concrete construction requires protection)

 Doy$ in which maximum temperature was less titan 32° F 

 (no concrete construction)

Data for both charts

compiled from 

Climatological Data

Kansas Section

for years 1937 to

1946, inclusive.

Issued by

Weather Bureau

United States

Deportment of Commerce

EXPLANATION

I Doys in which precipitotion 

I was mar* than I inch

(no construction activity)

, Days in which precipitation 

| was between Oil and I inch

I Days in which precipitation 

was between a trace and O.I inch 

(no interference with construction]

 Days In which there wos 

j no precipitation

Figure 2.-Chart showing temperature ranges at Hoxie, Kansas Figure 3-Chart showing precipitation ranges at Hoxie, Kansas
As based on a 10-year average (U.S. Dept. 

Commerce, 1937-46) there are 19.6 days in 

June, for example, in which no measurable 

precipitation fell; 5. 7 days in which the precipitation ranged from a trace to 0. 1 in. ; 3. 7 days 

in which 0. 11 to 1 in. of rain fell; and 1 day in 

which the precipitation was more than 1 in. Continuing rains fall, for the most part, in the late 

spring and early fall, and other rainfall is generally in the form of showers.

Transportation routes. --Sheridan County is 

served by two railways, the Union Pacific and 

the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific; three 

transcontinental highways (U. S. 24, 83, and 

383); and two Kansas highways (23 and 123). 

Kansas Highway 123 is a metaled, all-weather 

road, the other State and Federal highways are 

of the black-top type of construction.

County and township roads, for the most 

part, follow section lines. Some of them are 

metaled with materials available locally, 

whereas others are maintained as earth roads.

The locations of the railroads and roads are 

shown on plate 1.

Investigation Procedure

This report is based on field work of the reconnaissance type. The base map (scale: 1 in. 

equals 1 mile), including drainage lines, was 

provided by the State Highway Commission of 

Kansas. The areal distribution of the strati - 

graphic units that outcrop in Sheridan County 

was then mapped in the field. The mapped 

stratigraphic units are those recognized by the 

United States Geological Survey (Wilmarth, 

1938) and the Kansas Geological Survey (Moore, 

R.C. Frye, J. C. and Jewett, J. M. , 1944). The 

principal emphasis of this report is on construction materials. Geologic problems not 

critically related to construction materials, 

therefore, are considered to be of secondary 

importance.

An effort was made to accumulate all 

existing data pertaining to construction materials in the county; these are presented in 

table 1, a summary of materials tests.

Acknowledgments

Appreciation's expressed to the following for 

their aid in contributing information found useful 

in the compilation of the geologic map and of 

construction material data included in this report: the State Highway Commission of Kansas 

at Topeka and Manhattan, Kans. , S. E. Horner, 

chief geologist, R. D. Finney, engineer of materials, and W. E. Gibson, engineer of tests; 

the Sheridan County office of the Soil Conservation Service, U. S. Department of Agriculture; 

and Vernon Huntington, county engineer of 

Sheridan County.

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OUTCROPPING 

STRATIGRAPHIC UNITS

Introduction

This discussion of the Outcropping stratigraphic units of Sheridan County emphasizes the 

areal distribution, general characteristics, 

thickness, and the construction materials in 

each formation. This part of the report presents the geological information required for 

the location and effective development of the 

construction materials.

A summary of the data for each geologic 

formation or member is presented in figure 4, 

.and the relations of the stratigraphic units to 

one another are illustrated in figure 5, a geologic cross section of the valley of the South 

Fork Solomon River.

The areal distribution of the local strati - 

graphic units is shown on plate 1, a map showing construction materials and geology of 

Sheridan County, Kans. Each unit is indicated 

by an identifying symbol, and its outcrop areas 

are shown by a distinctive pattern.

The locations of pits and quarries also are 

shown on plate 1. The symbols indicate whether 

the pit or quarry is or 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 (unconsoiidated sediments less 

than 6 ft thick). Most of these sources are 

listed in table 1. Materials represented on the 

map by inclined letters have not been tested 

and are not listed in table 1. All materials 

sources listed in table 1 are numbered within 

each materials classification 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.

Niobrara formation of the 

Smoky Hill Chalk member

Areal distribution. --The Smoky Hill chalk 

member of the Niobrara formation is the only 

stratigraphic unit of Cretaceous age that crops 

out in Sheridan County. (See pi. 1 and fig. 4. ) 

It probably underlies the entire area of the 

county but is concealed by younger, overlying 

formations except along stream courses. The 

outcrops are most numerous along the valley 

walls of the Saline River in the southeastern 

part of the county. Several small outcrops are 

mapped along the South Fork Solomon River.
f

Section

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0-100

200

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I

TOtiQfophic units

ond 

members

Alluvium

Terrace 

deposits

Sonborn 

formotion

Ogollolo

i

£ Smoky Hill

I

Generalized description

Predominontly gray silt with numerous interbedded 

lenses of sand and sandy gravel.

Gray, light-gray, or tan-gray clayey silt-, interbedded 

lenses of sand and sandy gravel in basal part.

Predominantly tan-gray or red-brown clayey silt in 

the upper part-, local lenses of sand and gravel in 

the basal part; buried soil present locally, 

occasional lenses of volcanic ash-, fossil snails 

common.

Interbedded lenses of sand, gravel, silt, and clay; 

tan, green, and brown; lenticular ledges of gray 

mortar bed; lenses of light-gray to white volcanic 

ash.

Chalky shale interbedded with chalk and shaly 

chalk; tan, brown, and orange -colored; thin

silicified lenses m upper part-, interbedded 

thin la»"»rs of bentonite.

materials

Aggregate 

Rood metol

Aggregate 

Road metal 

Mineral filler

Mineral filler 

Aggregate 

Road metal 

Volcanic ash

aggregate 

Road metal 

Structural stone 

Volcanic ash 

Calcareous binder

Riprap

Structural stone 

Calcareous binder

Riprap 

Road metal

Figure 4.0utcropping strotigraphic units in Sheridan County, Kons., and their construction materials.
II * --II- /i ___________I _L i -i. - 

i I ~ - *- i \ i _ - i -  -... i - J i ...._._!.- i -=n1

Smoky Hill 

chalk rrxfnbcr 

of Niobroro

formotlon

Scale

EXPLANATION

Concealed unconformity

mlJes

Shaty chalk

Figure 5._Geologic a-oss section of the valley of the South Fork Solomon River along line A-B (line 

between sees. I and 2, T. 8 S., R. 26 W. and sees. 35 and 36, T. 8 S., R. 26 W.)
near the Graham County line, along U. S. Highway 24 just west of Studley, and along the south 

valley wall of the South Fork Solomon River in 

the same.vicinity. The westernmost outcrop of 

the unit is in the NE^SE £ sec. 23, T. 10 S. , R. 

28 W. where it forms a small nose on the north 

wall of the valley of the Saline River.

General description. --The Smoky Hill member is the only marine deposit exposed in 

Sheridan County. Its contact with the underlying 

Fort Hays limestone member of the same formation is below the present land surface. At one 

time a still younger Cretaceous formation, the 

Pierre shale, was present above the Smoky 

Hill chalk member, but subsequently it was removed except for small remnants which may 

still exist beneath the younger formations, the 

Ogallala and Sanborn.

The Smoky Hill consists of interbedded layers 

of chalky shale and chalky limestone. Some of 

the chalk beds are massive and may be as much 

as 6 ft thick, and their color varies markedly 

over the outcrop area. Near Studley, for example, the chalk includes white, yellow, and 

bright orange zones. The orange-colored layers 

are very clayey and softer than the white and 

yellow beds. The upper few feet of the member 

in this area are characterized by geodes and 

veins of calcium carbonate which have been deposited in small openings and fractures.

A prominent bluff on the south side of the 

South Fork Solomon River in the SE^NW £ sec. 

25, T. 10 S. , R. 27 W. exposes the Smoky 

Hill chalk member capped by a foot-thick bed 

of the Ogallala formation. The chalk is thinbedded at this location and more brown than the 

exposures near Studley. Geodes and veins of 

calcium carbonate are abundant in the upper 2 

ft of the chalk. Chalk that is mottled tan-orange 

and orange-red is exposed in a Stream bank in 

the SE^SE 1 sec. 21, T. 8 S. , R. 26 W.

Lenses in the Smoky Hill chalk member have 

been silicified, and Frye and Swineford (1946) 

suggest that the silicification was accomplished 

by downward-percolating waters which had dissolved silica from stratigraphically higher beds 

of volcanic ash. An exchange of dissolved silica 

for some or all of the calcium carbonate in the 

chalk may have been made as the subsurface 

waters percolated through this member. The 

silicified lenses are brown and dark brown with 

included greenish streaks. The material is hard, 

very brittle, and occurs in beds from 0. 2 to 0. 5 

ft thick, which seldom persist laterally for more 

than a few feet.

Thin beds of gray-green and olive-drab bentonite, presumed to be weathered volcanic ash, 

are numerous in the Smoky Hill chalk member. 

They are interbedded with the chalky shale, and 

are best displayed in exposures in the southeastern part of the county.

Representative measured section. --A stream 

bank in the SE£NE i sec. 33, T. 10 S. , R. 26 W. 

shows the following section of the Smoky Hill 

chalk member:

Feet 

Ogallala formation .......... 10. 8

Smoky Hill chalk member of the

Niobrara formation: 

Chalk; thin beds of hard, siliceous

chalk interbedded with soft chalky

shale; chalky shale is yellow

orange, siliceous chalk is brown . . 6.2 

Limestone; chalky; massive, soft; 

- tan, weathers gray tan ....... 1.1

Shale, chalky and silty; tan,

weathers tan gray ......... .1

Limestone, chalky; massive, soft;

tan, weathers gray tan ....... .8

Chalk, silicified; brittle, breaks

into angular fragments; light

brown, weathers brown ...... .1

Limestone, chalky; massive, soft;

tan, weathers gray tan with white

and pink streaks ......... 4. 6

Bentonite; flaky; gray green,

weathers olive drab ........ .1

Limestone, chalky; massive, soft;

tan, weathers brown ........ .8

Bentonite; flaky; olive drab ...... .1

Limestone, chalky; massive, soft;

tan, weathers brown ........ 1.6

Bentonite; two layers separated by a

thin layer of chalk; olive drab .... .2 

Limestone, chalky; massive, soft;

orange tan with white bands,

weathers gray tan ......... 2. 1

Bentonite; flaky; olive drab ...... .1

Limestone, chalky; massive, soft;

tan, weathers gray tan ....... 1. 4

Base covered 19.3

Thickness. --Individual outcrops of the Smoky 

Hill chalk member are 5 to 35 ft thick. The 

thickest exposures are along the south wall of 

the valley of the Saline River near the southeastern corner of the county. The aggregate 

thickness of the chalk in Sheridan County, as 

estimated from outcrop width and regional dip, 

is 600 ft.

Construction materials. -- 

Calcareous binder. 

Road metal. 

Structural stone.

Ogallala formation

Areal distribution. --The Ogallala formation 

of Pliocene age crops out in many places in 

Sheridan County. (See pi. 1 and fig. 4.) Most of 

the outcrops are in stream valleys and are the 

result of present-day streams having cut through 

the overlying Sanborn formation. The Ogallala 

formation is best exposed in the valleys of the 

northward-flowing tributaries of the South Fork 

Solomon River, Saline River, Sand Creek, and, 

to a lesser extent, Prairie Dog Creek. Exposures also occur in the main streams, but may 

not be continuous from one tributary to the next. 

Undoubtedly the Ogallala formation underlies 

much of the remainder of the county but is 

buried to a variable depth by the overlying Sanborn formation. (See fig. 5. )
Certain zones in the Ogallala formation are 

similar in physical characteristics to zones in 

the overlying Sanborn formation and in some 

places only arbitrary contacts can be drawn between the two formations. The contacts, as 

mapped, are based upon the presence in the 

Ogallala formation of mortar-bed ledges, beds 

of clay and clay shale, and thick lenses of sand 

and gravel. The Sanborn formation is predominantly silty, mortar-bed ledges do not occur in 

it, clay is not a characteristic material, and its 

sand and gravel lenses generally are less extensive and thinner than those in the Ogallala 

formation.

General description. --The Ogallala formation 

consists of interbedded lenses of sand, gravel, 

silt, and clay. The bulk of the material composing this formation was eroded by streams 

that headed in the Rocky Mountains, was transported eastward by these streams, and was deposited as a sedimentary mantle over the sur-' 

face of the High Plains.

This formation includes lenticular layers of 

light-gray, massive, lime-cemented sand and 

sandy gravel. Such layers are termed mortar 

beds. A mortar bed is harder than other materials in the formation, so that in most places 

differential erosion causes it to project as a 

conspicuous hillside ledge. Some ledges are 

less than one foot thick, but many others are as 

much as 10 ft thick, such as that exposed in a 

valley wall in the NW^SW £ sec. 10, T. 8 S., R. 

26 W. Generally the mortar beds are composed 

of fine sand cemented by lime. A mortar bed 

composed of gravel-size particles of granite, 

quartz, feldspar, and basic igneous rocks loosely cemented by calcium carbonate is exposed in 

a stream bank in the SE£NE £ sec. 31, T. 3S., 

R. 29 W. The exposure shows prominent 

crossbedding, and is about 15 ft thick.

The Ogallala formation in Sheridan County 

is composed predominantly of beds of loose 

sand, gravel, and silt, with occasional lenses 

cemented to form mortar beds. Because of 

this variation in composition, a rugged topography has been developed over a large part of 

the eastern half of the county. In the W^ sec. 1, 

T. 9 S. , R. 26 W. a rough erosional surface 

has been developed in the sandy part of the 

Ogallala and thin layers of mortar bed make 

ledges at different levels along the hillsides. 

This feature is found most commonly on the 

south valley wails of the South Fork Solomon 

River, and Sand Creek as far west as Hoxie.

Sand and gravel typical of the Ogallala 

formation are exposed in a pit in the N W £ NE £ 

sec. 19, T. 9 S. , R. 29 W. The constituent 

particles are granite, feldspar, quartz, 

chalcedony, and dark-colored igneous rocks. 

In the upper part of this exposure the sand 

and gravel are stained greenish. A mortar 

bed crops out about 30 ft above this pit.

There are lenses of volcanic ash in the 

Ogallala formation. The volcanic ash is material discharged into the atmosphere during 

the explosive phase of a volcanic eruption and 

carried by the wind to be finally deposited in

sheltered places on the land surface, as in 

stream valleys and lake basins. The ash consists of shards of glass-like material, and is 

white to light gray. The ash sometimes contains extraneous particles of sand, gravel, and 

silt washed in by streams or slope-wash during 

the period of ash fall. The beds of ash in the 

Ogallala formation average 3 ft in thickness. 

Material from a pit in the SE£SW£ sec. 12, T. 

8 S., R. 27 W. is used locally in the construction of roads of the bituminous-mat type. The 

ash in this pit is neither extensive nor thick. 

There are stringers of bentonite throughout the 

upper part of the deposit, indicating that some 

alteration has taken place since the time of its 

deposition.

Representative measured section. --The 

following section of the Ogallala formation is 

exposed in an abandoned pit in the NW £ NW £ sec. 

32, T. 8 S. , R. 29 E. :

Feet

Sanborn formation: Silt

Ogallala formation:

Mortar bed; silt and fine sand poorly 

cemented by calcium carbonate at 

base, well cemented at top; light 

tan, weathers tan gray and 

nodular ............. 3.5

Silt, with fine sand throughout, 

calcareous with calcium carbonate concretions; brown, weathers 

tan ............... 3.8

Sand, fine, with silt, clay, and a 

few gravel particles, calcareous; 

massive; brown, weathers tan ... 3.4

Sand and gravel; clean; abundance 

of basic igneous rock fragments; 

light tan, weathers light gray ... 4.4

Clay, with some sand, calcareous; 

concretions of clay cemented with 

calcium carbonate in upper 2 ft; 

thin stringer of carbonaceous 

matter 1. 3 ft from top; mottled 

olive drab and light gray, weathers 

tan gray............. 3.3

Silt, with sand and clay, calcareous;

granular; light gray-green .... .8

Sand, fine, with some gravel, clayey, 

slightly calcareous; loosely compacted; olive drab, weathers light 

gray .............. 1.4

Sand and gravel; sand in upper part 

with some clay, coarse near the 

base; sand poorly sorted and composed of quartz and feldspar; gravel 

largely granitic fragments; thin 

layer of carbon-stained sand and 

gravel 3 ft from top; light tan, 

weathers light gray ........ 8.7

Mortar bed; sand and gravel well 

cemented by calcium carbonate; 

crossbedded; gray ........ 3. 0

Total thickness exposed (base covered) 32.3

Thickness. --The thickness of the Ogallaia 

formation is variable throughout the county, and 

ranges from a featheredge to a maximum of 200 

ft. Average outcrops are 20 ft in thickness.
Construction materials. - - 

Volcanic ash. 

Riprap. 

Road metal.

Aggregate for concrete. 

Calcareous binder.

Sanborn formation

Areal distribution. --The Sanborn formation 

of Pleistocene and Recent age is the most widely 

distributed formation outcropping in Sheridan 

County. (See pi. 1 and fig. 4. ) At one time the 

formation undoubtedly extended over the full 

area of the county, but it subsequently has been 

eroded from the courses of many of the streams. 

The formation caps the interstream areas, 

principally, where it conceals older stratigraphic units. (See fig. 5. }

General description. --The Sanborn formation 

is composed of materials deposited by streams, 

slope-wash, wind, and through the action of 

gravity. Frye and Fent (1947) have divided the 

formation into members. Itwas not feasible to 

attempt the mapping of these members in the 

field work on which this report is based. To do 

so would have required a greatly extended field 

program, including test drilling. The treatment 

of the Sanborn formation as an undivided unit 

seems adequate to serve the purpose of this 

construction materials inventory.

The upper part of the formation is predominantly silt but scattered throughout are a few 

particles of sand and gravel size. The color 

is light gray, tan, or tan gray. There is a 

prominent soil profile developed at the top of 

this formation. The A horizon is characteristically rather thin, ranging from 0. 5 to 1. 1 

ft. It is usually dark gray but in places is 

brown, and has a granular texture. The 

thick B horizon is characterized by lighter 

color and secondary calcium carbonate deposited by downward-percolating subsurface 

water. The calcium carbonate is disseminated 

throughout the zone or is locally concentrated 

within the zone in the form of nodules or pipelike concretionary masses. This zone characteristically stands in vertical banks and 

develops a crude columnar structure, the result of the intersection of irregular joint 

planes. A buried (fossil) soil is exposed in a 

road ditch in the NE^NW £ sec. 24, T. 8S., 

R. 29 W. In this exposure the top soil is 

separated from the buried soil by 0. 7 ft of 

tan-gray silt which is clayey and calcareous. 

The buried soil is dark-gray silt and clay with 

calcium carbonate along the fracture surfaces. 

At this exposure the buried soil is 0. 9 ft 

thick. Fossil snails are found above and below 

the buried soil zone.

Lenses of sand and sandy gravel are present in the basal part of the formation. They are 

about 6 ft thick, pinch out laterally within 

short distances, and contain a small percentage 

of material derived from the weathering and 

erosion of the Ogallala formation and the Smoky 

Hill member. Such lenses are deposits laid 

down along streams or materials carried from

higher levels by slope wash, and are usually 

markedly cross-bedded.

Several deposits of volcanic ash were found 

in the basal part of the Sanborn formation. In 

a pit in the NW^NW £ sec. 34, T. 8 S.', R. 28 

W. , the volcanic ash is white and light gray. 

The dip of the beds is toward the south. The 

ash is overlain by coarse silt which contains 

large irregular masses of fine sand cemented 

by calcium carbonate. Another deposit of 

volcanic ash is exposed intheNW^-SW £ sec. 4, 

T. 6S., R. 27 W. The ash is exposed in a 

road ditch, which is about 15 ft thick, and shows 

horizontal bedding in the lower part. The overburden is 8 ft thick, and is composed of sand 

and gravel with some reworked ash, all showing crossbedding. The ash is underlain by fine, 

light-tan sand of the Sanborn formation.

Fossil snails were collected from several 

outcrops of the formation and were used, in 

part, for purposes of correlation.

The Sanborn formation occurs in two topographic positions: (1) as a blanket of unconsolidated material covering the interstream areas, 

and (2) as a relatively thin veneer of material 

covering the lower part of the valley walls of 

the larger streams. The deposits are mapped 

as a single stratigraphic unit because the contact between these two levels of Sanborn 

deposition has been obscured over much of the 

county through the action of slope wash. Generally the Sanborn formation is eroded to form 

a gently undulatory surface. The headward 

parts of some stream valleys that have been 

cut into the Sanborn formation, however, exhibit a phenomenon known as "catstep erosion, " 

which is probably the result of gravity sliding 

of water-saturated silt toward the streams. The 

"catsteps" are bounded by scarps 1 to 5 ft high 

and can be traced horizontally for several hundred feet. Bluffs 20 ft high have been formed in 

the same way on the south wall of the Saline 

River in the southwestern part of the county. 

They are composed of silt which has a tendency 

to stand in vertical banks.

Representative rneasured sections. --(1) The 

following section is exposed in a road cut in the 

SE£NE£ sec. 9, T. 8 S. , R. 28 W. :

Feet 

Soil: Silty; poorly developed; gray brown . 0. 8

Sanborn formation:

Silt with some clay, calcareous;

loosely compacted; quite porous;

gray tan, weathers light gray;

high-spired snail shells fairly

common ............. 5. 5

Silt, with some clay, calcareous;

loosely compacted; light brown,

weathers light gray; snails

common ............. 3.4

Silt, with some clay and sand, slightly

calcareous with some small calcium

carbonate concretions; more compact

than the above; gray brown, weathers

pinkish tan ............ 1.1
Sand, silty with some gravel, calcareous; loosely compacted; 

reddish tan, weathers pinkish 

tan ...............

Silt, clayey and sandy, calcareous; 

loosely compacted and porous; 

mottled gray and pinkish tan . .

Feet

2.6

3.2

Total thickness exposed (base covered) . 16. 6

(2) The following section of the Sanborn formation is exposed in a road cut along U. S. 

Highway 24 in the NW^NWl sec. 20,T. 8S., 

R. 28 W. :

Feet

Soil: Silt, clayey, slightly calcareous;

gray ................ _0.6

Sanborn formation: " 

Silt, clayey, more calcareous than 

soil, calcium carbonate disseminated throughout; tan, weathers 

tan gray .............. 4. 3

Silt, clayey, calcareous; tan,

weathers tan gray; low- and highspired snail shells ......... 13.2

Silt, clayey, sandy in basal part,

. very calcareous; tan, weathers

light gray ............. 15. 5

Silt, some clay, calcareous; massive; 

large irregular concretions composed of fine sand cemented by 

calcium carbonate; gray brown, 

weathers gray .".......... 9. 4

Silt, with some clay and fine sand; 

slightly calcareous; friable; 

tan, weathers light tan gray ..... 5. 3

Total thickness exposed (base covered). 48. 3

Thickness. --The formation is variable in its 

thickness, and has been completely eroded from 

the valleys of many of the streams. The greatest 

thickness, about 100 ft, is in the interstream 

area between Sand Creek and the North Fork 

Solomon River in the western half of the county. 

The average thickness is 30 ft.

Construction materials. -- 

Mineral filler. 

Volcanic ash. 

Aggregate for concrete. 

Road metal.

Terrace Deposits

Areal distribution. --Terrace deposits are 

characteristic of the valleys of the major 

streams in the county. (See pi. 1 and fig. 4. ) 

Narrow extensions of the terraces project into 

the valleys of streams tributary to these major 

drainage lines. The width of the terrace deposits changes rapidly within short distances. 

Those of the Saline River are about 0. 6 mile 

wide in the eastern part of the county but narrow 

westward to about 0. 2 mile. The deposits along 

the South Fork Solomon River range from 0. 7 

mile wide in the eastern part of the county to 0. 3 

mile near the western border. The terraces

along Lhe North Fork Solomon River may be as 

much as a mile wide near the northeastern corner of the county but are less than 0. 1 mile in 

the western part. The terrace deposits along 

Prairie Dog Creek near the northwestern 

corner of the county average about 0.2 mile in 

width. Local evidences of a higher (older) terrace level were observed along the South Fork 

Solomon River, but because the composition is 

similar to that of the lower terrace, the two 

levels are mapped as a single unit on plate 1. 

The topographic position of the terrace deposits, with respect to other formations in the 

county, is illustrated in figure 5.

General description. --The terrace deposits 

are composed of silt with some clay in the upper 

part, but the lower part is more sandy and includes local lenses of cross-bedded sand and 

gravel. The silt is tan gray to dark gray, and 

there is usually a well-developed A soil horizon 

present in the uppermost part of each outcrop. 

This horizon is usually dark gray but is brown 

in places. The underlying B horizon is typically 

tan gray'but may be light brown, and is clayey.

The lenses of sand and sandy gravel that are 

found in the lower part of the terrace deposits 

are composed of granitic material (quartz, pink 

feldspar, and fragments of granite). The largest 

particles in a pit in the NE£ NEA sec. 32, T. 10 

S. , R. 26 W. are fragments of chalk and siliceous chalk of local origin. The source of the 

sand is the Ogallala formation.

Lumps of black shale are present in an 

abandoned wet pit in the NE-^SW £ sec. 36, T. 8 

S. , R. 26 W. These lumps were probably 

pumped up with the sand and gravel and were 

derived from nearby outcrops of the Pierre 

shale of Cretaceous age. The sand and gravel 

of this pit are composed predominantly of 

fragments of quartz, feldspar, and granite.

Representative measured sections. --(1) The 

following section of a terrace deposit was obtained by drilling an auger hole in the valley of 

the South Fork Solomon River in the SW£ SW£ 

sec. 17, T. 9S., R. 30 W.:

Feet

Soil: Dark gray ..........

Terrace deposit:

Silt, some sand, calcareous;

brown ............

Silt, sand, and some clay, slightly

calcareous; loosely compacted;

tan gray ...........

Silt, sandy and clayey, calcareous;

very loose; tan ........

Silt, very little clay or sand, very

calcareous; loose; light tan. . . 

Silt, clayey, calcareous; loose;

light tan ...........

Sand, silty and clayey, calcareous;

tan gray ...........

Sand, very fine and clean, slightly

calcareous; light tan-gray . . . 

Silt, very clayey, some sand, calcareous, compact; tan

gray ............

0^3

2.7

1.0 

1.0 

3.0 

l.C 

1.0 

.3

.9
Feet

Sand and gravel, large amount of

silt and clay, calcareous; tan

gray ............... .8

Sand and gravel, clean, slightly

calcareous; tan gray ........ 1. 0

Total depth of hole . ......... 13. 0

(2) An auger hole along Sand Creek in the 

SE i sec. 20, T. 85,, R. 28 E. showed the 

following section of a terrace deposit:

Terrace deposit:

Silt, clayey, calcareous; dark brown. 

Silt, slightly clayey, calcareous;

tan gray ............

Silt, sandy, some clay, calcareous;

tan ..............

Silt, clayey, calcareous} tan gray . .

Feet

0.2 

2.3

4. 0 

1.0

Total depth of hole .......... 7. 5

Thickness. --The height of the terraces above 

the streams in the county is variable but is 

greatest in the eastern part of the county. The 

average difference in elevation is about 10 ft. 

The full thickness of the terrace deposits is 

estimated to be 40 ft along the major streams 

in the eastern part of the county. Extensions of 

the terrace deposits into the tributary valleys 

decrease abruptly in thickness away from the 

junctions with the larger streams.

Construction materials. -- 

Aggregate for concrete. 

Mineral filler. 

Road metal.

Alluvium

Areal distribution. --The deposits formed by 

streams in their present cycles are mapped as 

alluvium. (See pi. 1 and fig. 4.) They constitute the most recent stratigraphic unit in the 

county. Alluvium is defined in this report as the 

material that underlies the present floodplain of 

a stream. The floodplain is the area adjacent to 

the stream channel that is covered by water 

during normal flood stage. (See fig. 5. ) Alluvium is mapped along the Saline River and both 

forks of the Solomon River, but only in the 

eastern part of the county. Because of the scale 

of the map, very narrow alluvial deposits along 

some of the larger tributary streams could not 

be shown. The width of the alluvium averages 

0. 15 mile, and is greatest near the eastern 

border of the county.

General description. --Alluvial deposits of the 

Saline River are predominantly sand with some 

gravel but include considerable, silt in the 

western part of the county. The sand is composed largely of quartz and feldspar, and the 

gravel contains fragments of the Smoky Hill 

member. The alluvium of the South Fork 

Solomon River is mostly sand, but includes 

some gravel and silt in the eastern part of the

county, and ic more silty in the western part. 

The alluvial deposits of the North Fork Solomon 

River are predominantly silt with small lenses 

of sand and gravel by sand occuring locally. 

The color of the alluvium reflects, in a general 

way, the sand content of the material; the zones 

in which the alluvium is sandy tend to be tan, 

whereas those composed predominantly of silt 

tend to be brown or gray.

Representative measured section. --The relief of the alluvium is so low that a representative section could not b e measured.

Thickness. --The maximum thickness of the 

alluvial deposits is estimated to be about 30 ft,

Construction materials. -- 

Aggregate for concrete. 

Road rnetal.

INVENTORY OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 

General

The objectives of this inventory of construction 

materials in Sheridan County are to define the 

construction materials as they are classified in 

this report and to relate the materials to the map 

units in which they occur.

Whenever available, laboratory test data have 

been introduced into the report to aid the reader 

in the evaluation of the materials. The information given in table 1 is based on standard testing 

procedures of the State Highway Commission of 

Kansas (1945, Gradation factor, p. 16; Sieve 

analysis, pp. 333-34; Soundness, pp. 335-36). 

This information is based also on the procedures 

of the American Association of State Highway 

Officials (1947, Absorption, pp. 251-52; Compressive strength, pp. 257-58; Deval abrasion, 

pp. 235-36; Liquid limit, pp. 198-201; Los 

Angeles abrasion, pp. 237-39; Plasticity index, 

pp. 202-04; Specific gravity, pp. 249-50; 

Toughness, pp. 240-41; Weight per cu ft, pp. 

253-54.)

It is expected that prospects listed in this report will be proved by subsequent augering, 

drilling, or test pitting and that the materials 

themselves will be subject to laboratory testing 

prior to production for specific uses.

Although numerous prospect pits and quarries 

were located, no attempt was made to complete 

an exhaustive survey of all possible sources of 

materials. Every effort was made to correlate 

the construction materials that are available in 

Sheridan County with the geologic formations 

mapped on plate 1.

Aggregate for concrete

Engineering and geologic characteristics. -- 

Aggregate for concrete is classified as fine aggregate and mixed aggregate in table 1 and on 

plate 1. 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. The material is classified

10
as a mixed aggregate if the coarse fraction is 5 

percent or more by weight of the whole sample; 

as a fine aggregate if the coarse fraction is less 

than 5 percent. Fine and mixed aggregate will be 

considered together because of the standard 

practice of bringing the grading to specifications 

by sweetening or. screening.

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 economically 4eveloped. Deposits that are overlain by thick o|r 

consolidated beds, or that are relatively iljilaccessible, usually are not included in this inventory because of the additional expense 

involved in their removal or transportation.

Stratigraphic sources and performance 

characteristics. --The following stratigraphic 

units are actual or potential sources of aggregate for concrete:

(1) Ogallala formation. One sample of fine 

aggregate (fa 1) and 17 samples of mixed aggregate were obtained from this formation. (See 

table 1. ) The principal difference between aggregates of this formation and those of the 

Sanborn formation is that the Sanborn formation contains a higher percentage of mortar-bed 

fragments.

(2) Sanborn formation. Two samples of 

fine aggregate (fa 2 and 3) and 16 samples of 

mixed aggregate (ma 1 to 4, 7, 9, 11, 13 to 15, 

19, 24, 26, 29, 31, 36) were obtained from the 

Sanborn formation. Sand and gravel of this formation are composed of particles of granite, 

quartz, feldspar, and a small percentage of 

quartzite. Basic igneous rocks and mortar bed 

fragments are also present in these deposits in 

minor amounts.

Additional supplies of sand and gravel from 

the Sanborn formation are undoubtedly present 

in the basal part of the formation. They can best 

be located by intensive search of the margins of 

the mapped area of outcrop of the Sanborn formation (see pi. 1), especially in places where 

streams have cut through the formation into underlying stratigraphic units. However, the 

sands and gravels occur as lenses of variable 

extent, generally with only limited quantities of 

material available.

(3) Terrace deposits. One sample of fine 

aggregate (fa 4) and one sample of mixed aggregate (ma 28) were taken from the terrace deposits; the sampled localities are mapped on 

plate 1, and the test characteristics of the 

samples are given in table 1. Sand and gravel of 

the terrace deposits consist predominantly of 

fragments of granite, quartz, and feldspar. 

Basic igneous rocks and fragments of carbonate 

minerals occur in minor amounts, and chert 

also may be present.'

The quantity of sand and gravel that can be 

obtained trom terrace deposits is not large inasmuch as the lenses of sand and gravel are 

small and not numerous. Other deposits are

probably present in the eastern part of the 

county. The overburden is silt and may be removed easily.

(4) Alluvium. The alluvial deposits of this 

county were not sampled by the field party. 

These deposits would have to be pumped directly from the streams, and there was no 

facility available to obtain samples. The alluvial 

deposits of the South Fork Solomon River have 

been used locally in concrete and serve satisfactorily in small structures. There is a small 

percentage of fragments of soft, porous chalk 

and, locally, a high percentage of silt in these 

deposits. The alluvial deposits of the Saline 

Riverj'ctentain a high percentage of chalk and 

mortar-bed fragments.

Road Metal

Engineering and geologic characteristics. -- 

Road metal, known also as surfacing material, 

crushed stone, and aggregate, is defined in this 

report as any material that may be applied to a 

road to improve the performance characteristics 

of that road. Many geologic materials fulfill this 

requirement, and the list of such materials will 

differ from one area to another. The following 

materials are available in Sheridan County for 

use as road metal:

(1) Aggregate for concrete. -

(2) Indurated rocks that are available in 

Sheridan County for use as road metal are: (a) 

chalky limestone, a compact, massive layer of 

calcareous material, variable in its hardness; 

(b) mortar bed, a compact, massive, layer of 

sand and/or gravel firmly cemented by calcium 

carbonate; (c) silicified chalk, a calcareous rock 

that has been altered to silica by the action of 

percolating subsurface waters.

The materials included here under crushed 

rock are listed in table 1 and mapped on plate 1 

under the more specific designations of limestone 

and mortar bed because, in addition to their use 

as road metal, they may be used as structural 

stone and riprap.

Stratigraphic sources and performance 

characteristic s. --

(1) Sources of aggregate for concrete. The 

materials listed in the section on aggregate for 

concrete have been used in Sheridan County as 

road metal on light-traffic roads or as basecourse material in roads of the black-top type 

of construction. Field observation indicates that 

they are adequate for these purposes. Their 

sources have been discussed under Aggregate for 

concrete.

(2) Crushed rock.

(a) Smoky Hill chalk member of the 

Niobrara formation. The Smoky Hill has not 

been used in this county as road metal, but the 

more chalky limestones in this unit have been 

quarried in other counties in northcentral 

Kansas, crushed, and applied to light-traffic 

roads.

11
(b) Mortar bed of the Ogallala formation. Mortar beds are numerous in the eastern 

part of the county and are a potential source of 

crushed rock for road metal. This use of the 

mortar bed was not observed in Sheridan County. 

Field observations in other counties indicate 

that performance characteristics of this material are satisfactory. The sand and gravel particles in the mortar bed are bound by the calcium carbonate cement to form a low-grade 

traffic-bound macadam. One sample (mb 1) 

that was considered characteristic of the material has been tested and the location of its 

source is mapped on plate 1.

Mineral filler

Engineering and geologic characteristics. -- 

Material composed predominantly ol silt-size 

mineral particles (50 percent or more of the 

material passing the No. 200 sieve) is classified in this report as mineral filler. It has no 

more than a trace of sticks or other 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 (personal communication) that material will qualify for mineral 

filler only if laboratory tests indicate a low coefficient of cementation.

Stratigraphic sources and performance 

characteristics. -- The folio wing stratigraphic 

units are actual^r potential sources of mineral 

filler:

(1) Sanborn formation. Two samples of silt 

from the Sanborn formation (mf 1 and mf 3) 

were tested for possible use as mineral filler.

(2) Terrace deposits. One sample of material classed as mineral filler was collected from 

the terrace deposits (mf 2). The test data for 

this sample are listed in table 1 and the locality 

is mapped on plate 1.

Volcanic ash

Engineering and geologic characteristics. -- 

Volcanic ash is sometimes classified as mineral 

filler but in the area covered by this report it is 

suitable for certain uses for which the usual 

silty filler is not suited. Volcanic ash consists 

predominantlyof the fine, glass-like shards 

ejected during the explosive phase of a volcanic 

eruption. The deposits may include silt-size 

particles of other origins and occasional thin 

seams of gravel and sand.

Stratigraphic sources and performance 

characteristics. --

(1) Ogallala formation. One deposit of volcanic ash of this formation was inspected by the 

field party. The material at this site is limited 

in quantity and the site is not easily accessible. 

The ash contains stringers of bentonitic clay. 

Other deposits of volcanic ash undoubtedly can 

be located within the mapped outcrop areas of 

the formation.

(2) Sanborn formation. One sample (va 1) 

of volcanic ash of this formation was collected 

and tested. Test characteristics of this material indicate that it is apparently suitable for 

use as mineral filler. Material from this pit 

was used in the bituminous-mat construction of 

Kansas Highway 23 south of Hoxie.

Other small lenses of volcanic ash undoubtedly 

occur in the basal part of the Sanborn formation 

in other parts of Sheridan County. It is probable 

that exploration for additional deposits should 

first be made in areas near the heads of tributary streams that have cut well down into the 

basal part of this formation.

Riprap

Engineering and geologic characteristics. -- 

Riprap, as defined in this report, is any mate - 

rial 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 freeze-and-thaw. It is desirable that the material be in blocks having 

approximately rectangular faces 7 in. or more 

in width and that the specific gravity be 2. 0 or 

higher.

Stratigraphic sources and performance 

characteristics. --

(1) Smoky Hill chalk member of the Niobrara formation. Samples from two localities 

were tested and the results of the tests are 

presented in table 1 (is 1 and 2). The service 

history of this material used in other counties 

indicates that the material disintegrates almost 

completely in a short time. The silicified beds 

in this member, if extensive enough, would be 

more desirable for this use.

(2) Ogallala formation. Rock from the 

ledge-forming mortar beds of the Ogallala formation has been used as riprap in other Kansas 

counties but its performance is unpredictable 

and is generally unsatisfactory. Mortar bed is 

the most wide-spread potential riprap material 

in Sheridan County for ledges outcrop in nearly 

all parts of the county.

Structural stone

Engineering and geologic characteristics. -- 

Structural stone, as defined in this report, is 

any hard, dense rock material that can be 

quarried and produced to desired size and shape. 

Materials fulfilling these requirements occur in 

the Smoky Hill chalk member of the Niobrara 

formation and in the Ogallala formation.

Stratigraphic source and performance characteristics. --

(1) Smoky Hill chalk member of the Niobrara 

formation. --Occasional structural use of the 

massive beds of chalk in the Smoky Hill chalk 

member was observed in Sheridan County. Field
observations indicate that the material is satisfactory for this purpose. The building housing 

the general store in Studley is constructed, in 

part, of this material, and the chalk has stood 

up well. The building was constructed in 1898 of 

chalk and mortar bed, and a natural lime cement 

from Graham County was used. The bond between the cement and chalk is still good. Some 

cracks have developed in the blocks of chalk, 

but these are probably the result of foundation 

settling.

(2) Ogallala formation. Use of ledgeform ing 1FnorTaT^bTors~oTTEe Ogallala formation 

as structural stone was observed in Sheridan 

County. The store at Studley, already mentioned, is constructed in part of this material. 

The mortar bed shows little sign of deterioration in this structure. Mortar bed is also used 

as foundation stone in farm buildings although in 

such a use the stone shows signs of deterioration possibly because of the moist ground in 

contact with it which causes slaking during the" 

rainy season and freeze-and-thaw during the 

winter months.

The test characteristics of mortar bed (table 

1) indicate that it is acceptable for use as 

structural stone; however, field observations 

reveal that the mortar-bed ledges are not 

uniformly hard. The appearance of finished 

structures built of this material may be marred 

by the differential weathering of some of the 

blocks.

Calcareous binder

Engineering and geologic characteristics. -- 

To be classified as calcareous binder the material must be composed essentially of calcium 

carbonate and must be soft and easily pulverized. A variety of geologic materials is included 

in this classification. Two local stratigraphic 

units are sources or potential sources of calcareous binder.

Stratigraphic sources and performance 

characteristics. --

(1) Smoky Hill chalk member of the 

Niobrara formation. The Smoky Hill has been

accepted by the State Highway Commission of 

Kansas as a potential source of material suitable for use as calcareous binder. The member 

contains numerous beds of chalky limestone 

which are soft, easily pulverized, and free from 

deleterious substances. This material can be 

obtained from most of the mapped outcrop ar,eas 

of the Smoky Hill chalk member in the county.

(2) Ogallala formation. Mortar bed in the 

Ogallala formation has been accepted as calcareous binder by the State Highway Commission of Kansas, and those in Sheridan County 

are thought to be suitable for this use. Some of 

the ledges contain coarse sand and gravel which 

might affect their acceptability.

REFERENCES CITED

American Association of State Highway Officials, 

1947, Standard specifications for highway materials and methods of sampling and testing, 

pt. 2, 5th ed. , 361 pp.

Congressional documents, 1944, 78th Cong. , 2d 

sess.,. S. Doc. 191, Missouri River Basin, 

conservation, control, and use of water 

reservoirs.

Flora, S. D. , 1948, The climate of Kansas: 

Kansas State Board of Agriculture, vol. 67, 

no. 285, 320 pp.

Frye, J. C. , and Fent, Ol S., 1947, Late 

Pleistocene loesses of central Kansas: 

Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. 70, pt. 3, pp. 

41-51.

Frye, J. C. , and Swineford, Ada, 1946, 

Silicified rock in the Ogallala formation: 

Kans. Geol. Survey Bull. 64, pt. 2, p. 57.

Moore, R. C. , Frye, J. C., and Jewett, J. M., 

1944, Tabular description of outcropping 

rocks in Kansas: Kansas Geol. Survey Bull. 

52, pt. 4, 212 pp.

State Highway Commission of Kansas, 1945, 

Standard specifications for State road and 

bridge construction, 512 pp.

U. S. Department Commerce, Weather Bur., 

1937-46, Climatological data, Kansas 

section.

Wiimarth, M. G. , 1938, Lexicon of geologic 

names of the United States: U. S. Survey 

Bull. 896, pts. 1 and 2, 2396 pp.

13

IHT.-DW. SBC.. WA3H.. B.C. If a*
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

NORTHWEST QUARTER CIRCULAR II8-PLATE I

"^t-ir \ 
JU-frt v- U...-. i/. i u..

Upper Cretaceous Pleistocene and Recent A.

^

CRETACEOUS TERTIARY QUATERNARY
SOUTHWEST QUARTER CIRCULAR MS-PLATE I

I

I

I

R3QW

o 

o

Base map prepared by 

State Highway Commission of Kansas MAP SHOWING CONSTRUCT ON MATERIALS AND GEOLOGY OF S

Scale

4 milts

1951
SOUTHEAST QUARTER CIRCULAR 118 y -^ v _-* ix I /v t \ *>* S / _ « I IT IXLI4

i^-.s ri

ii \ H

r-ArtoH

 J

Geologic contact

Operated pit or quarry

Prospect pit or quarry

Is 

Limestone

mt> 

Mortar bed

fa 

Fine aggregate

ma 

Mixed aggregate

mf 

Mineral filler

va 

Volcanic ash

ma 

Inclined letters indicate materials not tested

ma I

Vertical letters indicate materials listed 

in table I and their sample numbers

1.0

Quantity of material available 

(in units of 10,000 cubic yards)

Federal (US) highway

State highway

Other roads, all classes

H I I I I I I lRailroad

City

Section line

_IL

Township corner

Stream, permanent

Stream, intermittent

Line of cross section, figure 5 (along line 

between sees. I and 2, T 8'S., R. 26 W., 

and sees. 35 and 36, T. 8 S., R. 26 W.)

SHERIDAN COUNTY, KANS. Geology by H.V Beck and Robert K. McCormock 

Geology drafted by V L. Stallbaumer and KM. Lay, 

U. S. Geological Survey

Approximate mean 

declination, 19 51
Table I. Summary of material tests

(Blank spaces indicate data not available)

 5 

1- 

|

If

|Fine aggregate 

]Uned oggregate 

.V

ll

3

s| J.

il

Number plate on 

fot

fo2

fa 3

fo4

mol

mo 2

mo 3

ma 4

ma 5

ma 8

ma 7

ma 8

ma 9

molO

mall

ma 12

mo 13

mo 14

mo 19

mate

ma 17

mo 18

ma 19

ma 20

ma 21

mo 22

ma 23

ma 24

ma 25

mo 26

mo 27

mo 28

mo 29

ma 30

ma 31

mo 32

mo 33

ma 34

mo35

mo 36

val

mf I

mf2

mf 3

Isl

Is 2

mbl

Location

1/4 fraction

NE

sw

NW

NW

SW

NE

SW

SE

SW

NW

NW

SW

SW

NE

SW

SE

NE

SW

SW

SE

NW

SE

SW

sw

NE

NW

NW

SE

SW

SW

SW

NE

SW

SW

SW

NE

NE

NE

C

SE

NW

NE

NE

SW

SW

SE

NW

1/4 section

sw

sw

SW

SW

SW

NE

SE

SW

SE

SW

SE

NW

SW

SW

SE

SW

NW

SW

NW

SE

NW

SW

NE

NW

SW

SE

NW

NW

NE

SW

SW

NE

SW

SW

NE

NE

SE

SE

SW

SE

NW

NE

SE

SW

NE

SW

NW

c

S I/)

II

20

35

36

23

17

17

28

27

29

2

30

27

17

II

7

II

34

26

28

9

3

9

9

10

13

15

20

2O

23

31

32

27

18

24

25

27

31

36

23

34

15

22

19

23

35

10

g

o.

4

6

7

7

10

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

7

8

8

8

6

8

8

8

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

9

10

IO

IO

to

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

8

8

8

8

8

10

8

(W) Ronge 

27

26

27

26

26

27

27

27

28

28

30

30

27

27

27

28

28

28

29

29

26

28

28

28

28

28

28

29

30

26

26

26

27

28

28

28

28

28

29

30

28

27

27

29

26

26

26

sill

epoo

6,000

2,500

10,000

2,500

29.OOO

I.6OO

1,500

6,000

12,000

12,000

spoo

9,000

SpOO

7,500

I2.OOO

20,000

2,000

2,200

6,000

39,000

6,000

iopoo

5,000

21,000

iopoo

epoo

spoo

10,000

spoo

iopoo

iopoo

2,900

7,500

2,000

iopoo

4,500

4POO

4pOO

12,000

3pOO

90POO

80,000

lOQCOO

4.OOO

II.OOO

40,000

Average

||

9

6

6

.6

5

12

6

8

6

6

12

6

12

9

6

6

6

6

6

6

19

6

9

6

9

IO

6

8

6

6

12

6

5

9

5

12

9

6

6

9

6

15

12

15

12

15

8

| Overburden ;

!(feet) 

6

4

3

2

4

4

4

5

4

3

10

5

5

3

1

2

3

4

4

2

4

4

5

2

2

2

2

4

3

5

1

2

5

2

3

3

6

3

1

4

8

'

2

2

5

2

4

Accessibility

Poor

Good

Good

Good

Fair

Good

Good

Fair

Good

Fair

Fair

Good

Fair

Good

Fair

Good

Good

Good

Fair

Good

Good

Good

Fair

Good

Fair

Good

Good

Good

Fair

Fair

Good

Good

Good

Good

Fair

Good

Good

Fair

Fair

Good

Good

Good

Good

Good

Fair

Good

Fair

Geologic formation 

or member

Ogollolo

Sanborn

Sonborn

Terrace deposrt

Sonborn

Sonborn

Terrace deposit

Sonborn

Ogaltolo

Ogollolo

Sonborn

Ogaltoto

Sanborn

Ogattato

Sonborn

Ogollolo

San barn

Sanborn

Sanborn

Ogollolo

Ogollolo

Ogollolo

Sonborn

Ogollolo

Ogollolo

Ogattoto

Ogollolo

Sonborn

Ogollolo

Sonborn

Ogollolo

Terrace deposit

Sonborn

Ogollolo

Sonborn

Ogollolo

Ogoltoto

Ogollolo

Ogaltato

Sanborn

Sonborn

Sanborn

Terroce deposit

Sanborn

Smoky Hill

Smoky Hill

Ogallolo

£ 

f S 

I*

ll

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

SHCK

SHCK

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

SHCK

SHCK

USGS

USGS

US9S

SHCK

USGS

USGS

SHCK

USGS

USGS

USGS

SHCK

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

SHCK

SHCK

USGS

SHCK

SHCK

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

USGS

SHCK

*J>

 5

i

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1941

1946

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1946

1948

1949

1949

1949

1948

1949

1949

1940

1949

1949

1949

1942

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1942

1942

1949

1942

1942

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1949

1937

Sieve analysis

il

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

1

2

O

1

0

0

0

1

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

0

3

1

4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4

2

0

0

J» ^

a. m

1

0

0

2

3

1

3

3

,

3

8

3

3

3

1

4

3

2

2

3

3

2

2

1

5

2

6

4

9

2

1

2

5

3

1

1

6

4

3

0

c 

0

S*

t 0

4

3

4

3

9

6

9

14

6

7

15

10

5

8

7

to

9

8

6

5

9

5

7

5

15

5

10

7

15

7

9

6

II

7

5

5

II

8

10

.0

0

i

0 

28

25

37

16

39

39

45

65

43

41

41

43

23

39

48

45

43

50

29

23

47

29

48

25

54

32

35

34

48

32

39

33

41

38

46

36

43

28

3B

0

0

Percent on

No. 100

91

94

92

97

91

95

98

95

96

97

94

95

94

92

95

95

96

95

92

95

97

94

96

96

98

95

98

97

96

95

94

98

92

97

93

96

96

97

93

3

0

4

0

Percent passed (wash) No.200 

6.41

410

5.44

I.B7

4.9

3.69

0.7

2.73

3O6

1.88

3.62

3.11

362

6.27

353

269

267

397

1.90

1.32

3.57

347

1.66

0.6

2.44

1.40

0.79

4.13

5.48

137

6.11

2.07

56

2.38

24

2.0

4.33

866

99

91

99

2 Description of the material

Froction

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

5

F

C

F

C

F

£

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

c

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

C

F

|

en

v>

ru

an

so

4O

90

*,

tu

.V)

85

65

in

75

40

90

IB

80

40

90

50

75

40

85

IS

as

30

65

If)

80

40

85

40

rX> 

Jtt

75 

25

90

50

n

30

85

50

65

40

90

50

ao

30

65

15

90

50

85

40

65

I}

90

50

65

20

60

25

/O

40

80

30

SO

40

80

40

9O

20

80

30

00

35

i O

55

50

30

HO

no

3

5

35

10

BO

W

40

40

10

50

60

10

50

4f>

3

40

60

2 

60

5 

70

5

50

40

5

4O

50

40

50

50

5

40

40

20

70

3

35

50

5

50

IO

40

10

50

35

10

50

50

50

50

Feldspor

5

 S

15

10

?n

10

IO

IB

5

15

 i

5

I

20

2

15

to

Tr

10

20

?0

30

5

15

Tr

2 

fl

5

Tr

3

30

2

5

5

5

5

15

25

Tr

5

10

15

Tr

10

25

15

IO

15

5

20

Tr

20

3

10

25

5

Ift

10

in

5

Tr

5

Tr

Tr

110

1

IO

Tr

Tr

3

Tr

Tr

Tr

2

5 

Tr

9

3

5

2

Tr

2

S

Tr

1

5

Tr

Basic igneous 

rocks

5

5

5

5

6

5

r

Tr

10

5

5

Tr

5

Tr

I

Tr

10

IS 

Tr

Tr

10

3

5

5

5

3

5

to

5

Tr

2

Tr

Tr

Tr

Tr

Tr

10

Tr

6

5

S

Tr

Ouartzite

5

Ib

5

5

5

Tr

15

 i

2

5

5

10

5

2

Tr

10

Tr

5

5

Tr

5 

10

5

5

Tr

2

Tr

Tr

5

5

2

Tr

5

5

2

Tr

25

10

5

5

5

5

10

Tr

5

5

3

5

Tr

3

1

Tr

10

5.

1

Tr

1

Tr

5

Tr

5

Chert ond cholcedony

Tr

Tr

*

Tr

Tr

Tr

5

6

Tr

1

2

Tr

Tr

Tr

Tr

3

Tr

9

Tr

2

3

5

1 

fe

4

10

5

Tr

S

Tr

Tr

5

10

Tr

20

Tr

Tr

10

5

1r

25

Tr

30

10

2

Tr

Tr

I

Tr

1

Tr

2

 

5

5

Tr

5

5

2

Tr

Tr

5

Light-brown silty cloy.

Light-brown silty cloy

Light-brown silty cloy

Ve low ond brawn limestone ond some chert.

Vellowish gray ond brown limestone ond some 

brown chert.

Fine sand cemented with calcium carbonate; 

. gray. Commonly colled mortar bed

Laboratory test doto

Weight per

(dry) foot cubic 

98 I

1037

1069

103.4

IO67

98.1

lll.O

109.9

103.6

105.1

107.3

106.0

102.1

1055

1064

108.2

IO9.6

104.4

1096

105.0

1105

107.7

107.5

108.2

IO95

107.9

111.4

114-9

1080

103.7

104.6

103.9

1046

1076

107.8

107.6

1096

109.1

104.0

56.0

740

86.0

720

Specific grovt) 

(dry)

256

2.56

2.56

2.58

256

2.99

262

2.56

2.60

260

2.57

2.59

256

2.60

2.60

2.60

2.60

2.61

2.60

2.60

2.60

2.60

2.50

2.60

260

2.60

2.61

2.61

2.50

2.59

2.59

2£0

259

258

2.54

2.60

2.55

2.57

2.58

232

1.54

1.72

2.11

Gradation 

factor

269

259

293

2.40

2.96

3.13

346

3.87

326

323

3.30

324

269

310

3.36

3.33

3.29

3.48

278

256

336

2.B2

3.39

2.67

372

293

3.34

3.O4

356

2.95

3.19

323

3.IB

3.16

358

320

294

343

3O6

3O9

Compressive 

strength 

ratio

-1

1 3

0.91

1.59

1.33

1.60

163

1.22

1.35

1.31

122

1.39

III

1.09

2.10

1.54

1.99

1.29

133

143

0.84

1.56

142

I.9B

0.96

1.14

131

1.66

171

1.32

1.50

1.15

1.77

1.27

1.25

1.15

1 15

167

1.20

1.06

1.25

m s.

1.02

0.98

131

t.lO

I. IB

1.57

1.16

1.35

1.28

124

129

1.22

1.09

1.67

140

1.47

1.26

1.40

1 15

1.01

142

135

r.98

1.04

1 10

1.25

1.52

1.38

1.20

1.22

l.tl

1.40

1.27

1.24

1.12

0.99

1 37

1.26

1 17

1.12

Los Angeles percent loss

C 

296

U 

260

D 

293

C 

30.0

C 

284

C 

31.2

C 

276

C 

280

A 

324

C 

36.0

290

30.2

28.0

27.7

306

286

282

29.4

270

31.0

35.4

28.0

290

2B4

31.2

335

332

360

288

278

31.3

30.2

280

32.0

86.0

58.2

303

m 

if 

1 "

098

096

096

0.97

0.99

0.9B

0.97

099

097

0.96

0.98

098

0.97

0.97

097

099

Q96

098

099

098

0.48

0.98

098

094

0.91

098

094

O.97

099

0.98

0.99

031

0.50

not 

sound

Toughness

4

Cementotion

1

100*

90

100*

Absorption

2545

1622

\ 

u

Cl

Cl

cl

Cl

Cl

st

st

cl

Cl

cl

cl

cl

cl

ct

Cl

st

cl

It st

cl

Cl

Cl

st

cl

ct

st

cl

Cl

cl

cl

st

ct

cl

Cl

Cl

st

Laboratory No.

63765

63769

63761

63773

63772

63785

42776

50759

64071

64O69

63784

64070

63760

6377B

63767

64O68

50734

59195

63771

64067

63777

59196

63774

63761

39440

63764

63783

64066

44923

63766

63762

63776

63759

64O64

44924

44925

63770

44927

44928

64O65

63763

66910

66906

66909

63782

63775

32499

Remarks

Somewhat plastic when wet.

Overburden well compacted.

Occasional cloy bolls.

Occasional cloy balls.

Acceptable under Sec. 67, Kons. Highway Stand. Spec. (ed. 1937).

Acceptable under Sec. 106, Kons. Highway Stand. Spec. (ed. 1945).

Clayey in basal port.

Limonite stains in upper port.

LensM of silt ond cloy in tower port.

Overburden is sandy Silt.

Overburden is sandy.

Some grovel particles coated with lime.

Overburden is somewhat silty. Acceptable under Sec. 106, 

Kons. Highway Stand. Spec. fed. 19451

Overburden is silt.

Particles well rounded.

Upper 4 feet well compacted; cloy lens I foot thick near base

Acceptable under Sec. 67, Kons. Highway Stand. Spec. (ed. 1937).

Overburden is loose silt, sand, ond grovel.

Acceptable under Sees, 69, 67. 69, 71, 73, ond 79, Kons. 

Highway Stand. Spec. (ed. 1937).

Overburden is clayey silt.

Contains thin seams of mortar bed ond some cloy bolls.

Contains large particles of chalk, siliceous cholK.ond 

mortar bed fragments.

Overburden of silt, sand, ond grovel. Contains calcareous 

concretions ond some cloy bolts.

Limonite (brown) stain throughout.

Some large mortar bed fragments ond smalt cloy bolls. Acceptable 

under Sees 65,67, 69, 7f,U «M 79, Kons Highway Stand. Spec. fed 1937).

Acceptable under Sees 65, 67 69, 71, 73, ond 75, Kons 

Highway Stand Spec. (ed. 1937).

Acceptable under Sees. 65, 67 69, 71, 73, ond 75, Kons. 

Highway Stand Spec, (ed 1937)

Acceptable under Sees. 65, 67. 69, 71, 73, ond 75, Kons. 

Highway Stand. Spec. (ed. 1937).

Plasticity index -2; liquid limit = 31. Cementotion factor 

excessive

Plasticity index ' 8, liquid limit: 29. Cementotion factor high.

Plasticity index = II; liquid limit * 34. Cementation factor 

excessive.

1. SHCK, State Highway Commission of Kansas: sieve analysis ond laboratory tests by SHCK. 

USGS, U. S. Geological Survey: sample collection ond description of material by USGS.

2. C, coarse fraction, retained an No. 4 sieve; F, fine fraction, passed through No 4 sieve; 

Tr, trace.

3. Loss ratio.

4. cl, clear; st, straw; It st, light straw