The Dickinson press., 1907-10-26
LIehI TE IN
ABUNDANCE
National and State Geo.
logical Survey Examine
Coal and Fossils In
Western North Dakota

A large amount OF detailed work was
done in the state during the past season
by both the United States geological
survey and the state geological survey.
The study of the Ignite deposits Of
North Dakota and adjoining states. com
menced by the federal government two
years ago, was continued. The party Of
five was in charge of DR.. "A. G. Leonard,
who had associated with him Carl D.
Smith of Washington.
The work began at Medora and ex-
tended across the line into Montana,
covering strip of territory "a miles wide
on either side of the Northern Pacific
railroad. The outcrops of the different
coal beds were carefully mapped and
their thickness and extent determined.
1t was soon discovered that the individ-
ual Ignite seams, instead of covering
only limited area, as previously sup
posed, were, as matter of fact, of great
extent. One thick coal bed was traced
in the bluffs of the Little Missouri river
for distance of IL miles, while another
with thickness of Is feet and over was
found to continue for at least "a miles
But still more extensive coal seam is
one which is now largely burned out but
which is known to have covered an area
measuring 90 miles north and south by
20 miles east and west, or some go
square miles. This same Ignite bed had
thickness of IS to 18 feet. Other beds
occur with a thickness considerably
greater than this. The one near the
base of Sentinel Butte measures II feet;
another on Bacon creek, in southern Bill
lings county, is 80 feet thick, and the
coal bed exposed on Sand creek has a
thickness of IS feet. M
The age of the strata in which the
Ignite is found has long been in doub
and in order to determine it large col
lections of fossils. were made in thl
course Of the field work. In addition t
the specimens secured by the members
of the party, two of the geologists of thu
United States geological survey, Messrs
Knowlton and Peale. spent severa
weeks collecting about Bismarck. Dick
inson, Medora and Sentinel Butte, spend
ing ten days with the government part!
near Medora. The fossils, which were
mostly leaves, indicate that the age o
the coal.bearing strata is not Laramie, al
commonly supposed, but that they be
long to more recent formation callee
the Fort Union, from the old fort at tn,
mouth of the Yellowstone near Buford.
Much valuable information concerning
this Fort Union formation, which cover
the western half of North Dakota, wa
secured during the summer and will b.
incorporated not only in the report to b.
published by the United States geologi
|cal survey but will be available also TO
the state geological survey report.
While camped beside the Little Mis-
souri, at,Medora the party came nea
being drowned out, the flood, which wa
one of the highest in ~ years, coming
within a few inches of the tents.
While working in the vicinity of Sen
tinel Butte careful measurements wer
made to determine its exact height, sine
it is the highest point in the state. Tn
butte was found to rise go feet abov
the town of the same name and it has al
elevation of 1850 feet above sea level.
About the middle of August the stat
geologist, DR.. Leonard, organized q sec
ond party, consisting of himself and tw,
university students, ]. w. Bliss and W
]. Smith, which extended the work int
southern Billings county and adjacen
parts of Bowman county, under the aus
pices Of the state geological survey. TIL
expenses of the other party were paid b
the government, although the state SUI
vey receives the benefit of the informa
ton gathered during the field work. Blu
it was found desirable to extend tn
investigations beyond the restricted are
covered by the United States geologica
survey and therefore the second part
was outftted and followed up the Littl
Missouri to Little Beaver creek, in Bow
man county.
In the vicinity of Medora and: else
where large numbers of beautifully pre-
served fossil leaves were collected an
on Little Beaver creek great variety {