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Rock Formations
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Part 1--Rock Formations of Chase Countyby Raymond C. Moore, John Mark Jewett, and Howard G. O'ConnorIntroductionThis is the first of a series of reports on the stratigraphy, economic geology, and ground-water resources of eastern Kansas counties, consisting primarily of maps (Pls. 1, 2, and 3), but containing brief descriptive stratigraphy and discussions of ground water and other useful materials.Location and Geography The location of Chase County in Kansas is shown in Figure 1. The county lies in the approximate center of the eastern half of the state, including Ts. 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 S., Rs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 E. and the eastern tier of sections in Ts. 20, 21, and 22 S., R. 5 E., comprising approximately 774 square miles.Figure 1.--Index map of Kansas showing area described in this report and areas covered by other geologic maps, as of Feb. 2001. For additional information, the KGS Geologic Maps of Kansas Page.
The population of Chase County is 5,020 (1950 census). The population of Cottonwood Falls, county seat, is 1,047, and of Strong City 724. Cattle raising is the principal industry; about 70 percent of the area is unplowed grassland. Land surfaces in Chase County range from approximately 1,100 feet to 1,500 feet above sea level. The main topographic form is the Flint Hills escarpment and upland (Moore, 1930; Jewett, 1941, pp. 17-21; Schoewe, 1949, pp. 286-289), which is dissected by Cottonwood River and some of its tributary streams. Field Work Most of the field work on which this report is based was done in the summer of 1947 by Moore, Jewett, and O'Connor, who were assisted by James M. Parks and Edward J. Zeller. Ground-water investigations were made by O'Connor working more or less independently. Test drilling in alluvial deposits was done in the summer of 1948 under the supervision of O'Connor. Areal geology was mapped on air photographs (scale 1: 20,000). Rock sections were measured in detail, using a rule, Locke level with stadia, and telescopic level with a 12-foot rod.Previous Geologic Work Most of Chase County is included in the Cottonwood Falls quadrangle (between 38¡ and 38¡30' north latitude and 96¡30' and 97¡ west longitude) the geology and topography of which were described by Prosser and Beede (1904). Rocks cropping out in the Flint Hills in Chase and other counties have been studied by several geologists and have been described in several publications (Moore, 1918; Fath, 1921; Bass, 1929; Condra and Upp, 1931; Jewett, 1941). Because of the interest aroused several years ago when Precambrian rocks were found at comparatively shallow depths in the Nemaha anticline, the subsurface geology of Chase County has been described rather widely (McClellan, 1930; Lee and others, 1946).The geology of Chase County pertaining to oil and gas has been discussed by Jewett and Abernathy (1945), and by Jewett (1949); mineral resources were described briefly by Landes (1937, pp. 13-14). Acknowledgments Many citizens of Chase County were extremely helpful while field work was in progress. Their cooperation is greatly appreciated. Special thanks are expressed to several people who furnished information of various kinds. Among these are Willard Hilton, State Board of Health; N. D. Jackson, The Texas Company; Walter F. Kline, Elmdale Gas Company; William Wlivowsky, Strong City Gas Company; Earl J. Coulter, Cities Service Gas Company; and Hazen Bledsoe, driller. Plates 1, 2, and 3 were drafted by Alice White and W. W. Wilson. |
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Kansas Geological Survey, Chase County Geohydrology Comments to webadmin@kgs.ku.edu Web version March 2001. Original publication date Aug. 1951. URL=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/Geology/Chase/pt1_intro.html | ||
