Kansas Geological Survey, Bulletin 157, pt. 2, originally published in 1962

Progress Report of the Kansas Basement Rocks Committee and Additional Precambrian Wells

by Virgil B. Cole and Daniel F. Merriam

Originally published in 1962 as Kansas Geological Survey Bulletin 157, pt. 2. This is, in general, the original text as published. The information has not been updated. An Acrobat PDF version (2.4 MB) is also available.

Abstract

The Kansas Basement Rocks Committee is actively collecting data pertaining to Precambrian rocks of Kansas. An additional 84 wells known to encounter the Precambrian bring the total number of known Precambrian tests in Kansas to about 2,200 as of December 31, 1961. A generalized configuration map of the surface of Precambrian rocks shows major post-Mississippian structural features in the state. Potassium-argon age dates for five samples range from 1165 to 1460 million years.

Introduction

Since the first list of Precambrian wells drilled into Precambrian rock in Kansas was published (Cole and others, 1961), many additional wells have encountered basement rocks. Desirability of keeping the list up to date and available for interested workers, because of the considerable present interest in the Precambrian, warrants publication of this first supplement. Information is presented with the same format as that in the earlier publication.

Most of the wells listed in this supplement were drilled in 1961, but a few had been drilled previously. Any information concerning other omissions, additions, and corrections forwarded to Kansas Geological Survey, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, will be appreciated.

The Kansas Basement Rocks Committee, operating under the guidance of the Basement Rocks Project Committee of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, P. T. Flawn, Chairman, consists of the following members: V. B. Cole, Chairman, L. H. Cornell, P. C. Franks, W. W. Hambleton, P. L. Hilpman, R. P. Lehman, and D. F. Merriam. Objectives of the committee include:

1. To collect data and serve a community of interest.
2. To facilitate geophysical investigations.
3. To explore possibilities of economically valuable deposits. (4) To study effects of the basement on overlying units.

One of the most important functions of the committee is to gather available samples and cores and arrange for their permanent storage. This the committee is actively doing, and the material is kept on file in the offices of the Kansas Survey at Lawrence.

Reports on several projects by members of the committee have been published as:

1. "Wells Drilled Into Precambrian Rock in Kansas" by V. B. Cole, D. F. Merriam, P. C. Franks, W. W. Hambleton, and P. L. Hilpman: Kansas Geol. Survey, Bull. 150, p. 1-169, 1961. [available online]
2. "Distribution of Precambrian Basement Rock Types in Kansas" by D. F. Merriam, V. B. Cole, and W. W. Hambleton: Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists, Bull., v. 45, no. 12, p. 2018-2024, 1961.
3. "Configuration of Precambrian Basement Rocks in Kansas" by V. B. Cole: Kansas Geol. Survey, Oil and Gas Investigations No. 26, map, 1962. [available online]

It is hoped that these preliminary results will encourage others to undertake study of Precambrian problems, especially in Kansas.

Acknowledgments

We thank Miss Polly Peterson of Phillips Petroleum Company and Miss Polly Smith of the Kansas Geological Survey for help in compiling and checking the list of wells. The Oil and Gas Division of the Kansas Survey keeps current a list of Precambrian wells and this was most helpful. J. Laurence Kulp of Lamont Geological Observatory of Columbia University made the age determinations on five Precambrian core samples. Several members of the Basement Rocks Committee offered suggestions and help in matters concerning special problems and reviewed the manuscript.

Configuration of Precambrian Surface

A generalized map prepared by Cole (1962) of the configuration of the surface of Precambrian rocks has been generalized at reduced scale for inclusion here (Fig. 1). Major structures of the state are evident. The surface is highest in northeastern Kansas at about 500 feet above sea level and lowest in southwestern Kansas at about 6000 feet below sea level.

Figure 1—Configuration of surface of Precambrian rocks in Kansas (contour interval—500 feet). The map is generalized from one prepared by Cole (1962).

Techniques of presentation of the configuration map are being investigated; one such method, using inclined profiles and shading, is reproduced as Figure 2. The cartographic work is under the general supervision of George F. Jenks, Department of Geography, University of Kansas. In addition, a 3D model of the surface is being prepared for permanent display.

Figure 2—Configuration of surface of Precambrian rocks shown by inclined profiles and shading; map prepared by George F. Jenks. Inclined-plane profiles were developed by Professor Tanaka Kitiro; further adaption of the technique was developed by Professor Arthur H. Robinson of the Department of Geography, University of Washington.

Precambrian Age Dates

Potassium-argon ages of five samples from Barton, Rush, and Morris Counties were determined by J. Laurence Kulp of Lamont Geological Observatory of Columbia University. Dates obtained range from 1165 to 1460 million years, comparable to ages elsewhere in the central United States (J. L. Kulp, personal communication to W. W. Hambleton, October 17, 1961). Source of the material dated is in Table 1 and Figure 3.

Table 1—Potassium-argon dates of samples of Kansas Precambrian rocks (determined by J. L. Kulp).

Figure 3—Location of wells from which samples were obtained for dating by potassium-argon method (determined by Dr. J. L. Kulp).

List of Precambrian Wells

The list (Table 2), which is arranged by township in west and east ranges, includes name of the well, location, surface elevation, depth to Precambrian rock, datum of Precambrian surface, total depth, lithology of Precambrian rock penetrated, and sedimentary rock unit resting on Precambrian. These data have been compiled from electric and radioactivity logs, top cards, drillers logs, sample logs, and logs of the Kansas Sample Log Service.

Table 2—Additional boreholes drilled to Precambrian rocks in Kansas.

Kansas Geological Survey
Placed on web Dec. 10, 2018; originally published April 15, 1962.
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