Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-20

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Prof. Samuel Aughy, geologist Of Nebraska
delivered q lecture nj Niobrara On the 9th,
substantially = follows:
The physical sciences are now the psinci-
pal studies Of the intellectual world. Fifty
years ago metaphysics attracted most Of the
attention Of scholars. Prior TO this the elias
io received the principal attention. Ofthe
natural sciences geology is receiving more
study than any other. And just at present
there Il no deld that receives more atten-
ton than Nebraska. Collections oil fossils Of
plants, animals, and fishes from this state are
found not onl, In the principal museums Of
the Uunited States, but in those ofthe entire
scientific world.
As is probably understo,d by all inter.
ested il this study, the geology Of the world
being deposits of different periods, zone
later deposits. In this state we have none
Of the earlier formations, except what has
been brought here a. drift. There was =
time when water covered the entire
surface Of this continent. Then
by changes land appeared in different
places. The first appearance on the conti-
nent was in Canada, and here some of the
earlier formations are found. The Oldest
formations in this state are of the carboni-
ferrous period and found in the southeast part
of the state 1t extends as far north ~ Fl.
Calhoun, then runs of southwest and IL seen
near Lincoln. II is in this part of the state
that dry land first appeared In Nebraska.
Geologists denote the period next after
the carboniferous as the fermian. II was
during the change from the one to the other
that the upheaval Of Appalachian chain of
mountains took place. Following the per-
milan age were the triasic and cretaceous. II
is with the cretaceou, that We are concerned
in this state, for it is along this portion Of
the Missouri that the finest appearances Of
this age are found. A number Of years ago
this locality attracted the attention Of
European biologists. Scientists we're sent
over here and took back with them four
tons Of fossils. It wss from there that the
fint published report ofthe geology of
state was made. 1t is . matter Of no little
interest that it should b made by foreign
ers and in . foreign land. One Of the most
important characteristics of the cretaceous
period Is that it contains remains of plants
and trees the same as we now find here.
This period is divided into five groups,
the Dakota, Fl. Benton, Niobrara, Fl
Pierre and Fox Hills groups. The Dakota
are found about Lincoln and also in Dixon
county. 1t is a redi.h colored stone that
can he easily dressed into any shape. In
that the same kind of fossils are found that
now exist on the shores Of the pacific Ocean.
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one time the eastern shore Of the Pacific. In
Holland now present a similar example.
The water is shallow for a distance from
land and numerous islands appear. 1t is
the same process Of depo.it that's now going
on there that is supposed to have taken
place here when this was q part Of the Pa
cifc. The Fit. Benton group of blue chalk
rock is much more extensive than the Dako.
tn and Of more interest to US. II ia in this
group that great basins of Ignite coal are
found. 1t is in this kind of rocks that the
great coal beds of Colorado and Utah are
found. But there these rocks have been
broken up and the strata lie at angles and in
this way the coal is exposed at numerous
places. Here, however, although we have
exactly the same kind of rocks, they lie
horizontally. and the only way Of finding
the coal is by boring in numerous places until
it is found. This of course is expensive
and should be done atpublic expense. Pri.
vate individuals cannot very we'll run the
risk Of missing the coal basins, as is likely
to be the case With . few borings. There Is
not Z particle Of doubt but there is coal in
abundarce and some day men will stumble
upon il and find their fortunes. Next above
this comes the Niobrara group, 20 named on
account of the abundance in this locality.
1t is the pure white chalk rock found here
80 abundantly, and lies generally between
the blue aud yellow. The deposit forming
this group were made in = great depth Of
water. 1t 10 now ensrally admitted that
the bottom of the sea frequently undergoes
periods of rising and falling. This is de.
termined by the fossils found at various
places. When the cable was being laid q
process Of deposit was found at q depth Of
two miles under water similar to that by
by which the Niobrara group must have
been made. The Fl. Pierre and Fox hills
groups follow next, but lie further up the
Missouri river and are not therefore Of 30
much local interest to us.
This entire cretaceous period is embraced
in what is called the reptillian age, aud the
fossils Of this period are found bones of i'm
mense serpents.: They range from so to
200 feet in length. It is curious to note also
that even the animals Of various kinds, and
the birds partook more or less of the char
acteristics Of serpents.S The teeth, laws and
other parts resembled those Of the reptiles.
Many such specimens have been found in
the Niobrars group, and are supposed to
have been washed down by the various
streams into the lNge body Of water that
covered this locality at that time.
After the cretaceous m the tertiary
deposita It was. during this & that The
upheaval Of the Rocky Mountains toook
place. Alter this uphesyal there existed a