KGS--Geology of Russell County--Fossils

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Part III

Fossils from Wells in Central Kansas

By Raymond C. Moore

General Conditions

In his microscopic study of cuttings from deep wells in central Kansas, Mr. Bramlette discovered a considerable number of fossils. Some of these are small fragments of shells that were so much broken up by the drill that their specific, or even their generic, identification is impossible. The cuttings also contain diminutive, even microscopic, fossils which are so small that they were not destroyed by the drill, and may be separated, practically unbroken, from the cuttings. These small fossils are the most valuable for subsurface correlation, because in most well cuttings they are much more abundant than the larger fossils; because they are, in general, sufficiently complete to permit rather precise identification; and because most of them are as good stratigraphic markers as the large fossils. Unfortunately, however, although most of the larger fossils in the rocks of Kansas have been studied and described, the microscopic fossils are not yet generally known.

An examination of the cuttings from wells in Russell, Lincoln, Ellsworth, McPherson and Marion counties showed the occurrence in several wells of a cherty limestone containing many microorganisms. In the more westerly wells this limestone was everywhere found at about the same stratigraphic distance below the base of the Permian salt beds. In the wells in McPherson and Marion counties, where there are no salt beds, the most fossiliferous zone is found in the upper part of the stratigraphic section, and evidently corresponds to one of the cherty limestones of the marine Permian which crop out farther east. The fossils obtained from the cuttings were studied in order to ascertain, if possible, whether the fossiliferous zone in the different wells belongs to one formation. and to identify that formation. The similar position of the fossiliferous zone as recorded in the logs, especially the logs of wells in Russell, Lincoln and Ellsworth counties, strongly indicates stratigraphic equivalence, and the general similarity of the faunas, which are composed of foraminifers, bryozoans and ostracods, is suggestive, though not conclusive, of equivalence, for these are the classes of organisms that would normally be preserved in well cuttings. However, as other comparable lots of small fossils are not found in beds above and below the fossiliferous zone, and as the fossils in the several wells occur in similar rock, as the stratigraphic position of the fossiliferous zone is about the same in all the wells, and as the general composition of the faunas is identical, it may reasonably be assumed that the fossiliferous bed in each of these wells lies at the same stratigraphic horizon. If so, it is a valuable marker in stratigraphic correlation and in the determination of structure. Even if one or another of the different kinds of microscopic fossils is not found in all the collections, and even if there is some variation in species, they may still represent a single formation, for the small amount of cuttings preserved from anyone well may not adequately represent the formation as a whole, and a certain amount of variation in genera and species may be expected from place to place within a single formation.

The Oswald Well, Russell County

The fossils listed below come from a depth of 1900-1920 feet in the Stearns-Streeter Company's No. 1 Ed Oswald well, in the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of sec. 8, T. 12 S., R. 15 W., Russell County:

Fauna from 1900-1920 feet in the Stearns-Streeter Ed. Oswald well, Russell County, Kansas.
Bryozoa:
	Acanthocladia sp. A.
	Acanthocladia sp. B.
	Fenestella sp.
	Batostomella ? sp.
	Rhombopora sp. A.
	Rhombopora sp. B. aff. R. lepidodendroidea
	Rbombopora? sp.
	New genus aff. Leioclema
Ostracoda:
	Bythocypris sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. B.

This fauna shows a predominance of ramose bryozoans, all very well preserved except Fenestella, which is represented by a single fragment. The specimens of Acanthocladia are not like those of any species yet described, and probably represent new species. There are specimens of two distinct types of Rhombopora, the larger of which resembles closely specimens of R. lepidodendroidea identified from upper Pennsylvanian and lower Permian formations in Kansas. The specimen listed as a new genus is a striking little fossil that shows the large, rounded, rather well-spaced zooecia of Leioclema with intervening angular mesopores opening on the surface, but this, unlike that genus, has a prominent tubular axial canal, somewhat like that in Rhabdomeson. Among the ostracods Bairdia is strongly predominant, most of the specimens from the Stearns-Streeter well belonging to a single species, which resembles B. beedei, but is smaller and somewhat longer than that form. A single specimen belonging to the genus Bythocypris was found. All the ostracods are smooth-shelled.

The Thurman Well, Lincoln County

Cherty limestone at a depth of 1,382 feet in the Thurman well, sec. 25, T. 12 S., R. 10 W., near the town of Sylvan Grove, in Lincoln County, yielded a collection of small fossils that is somewhat larger arid more varied than that obtained from the Stearns-Streeter Ed Oswald well. The fauna is made up nearly equally of foraminifera, bryozoans and ostracods.

Fauna from 1,382 feet in the Thurman well, Lincoln County, Kansas.
Foraminifera:
	Tetrataxis sp. A.
	Tetrataxis sp. B.
	Fusulina sp. A.
	Fusulina sp. B.
Bryozoa:
	Acanthocladia? sp. aff. A. sp. B,. Oswald well.
	Fenestella sp. ? aff. F. inaequalis Ulrich
	Fenestella sp. aff. F. limbata Foerste
	Fenestella sp. A.
	Fenestella sp. B.
	Fenestella sp.
	Polypora sp.
	Septopora sp. A. aff, S. biserialis (Swallow)
	Septopora sp.
Worm tube:
	Spirorbis sp.
Ostracoda:
	Bythocypris sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. C.
	Bairdia sp. D.
	Bairdia sp. E.
	Cytherella? sp.
Echinodermata:
	Crinoid stems

The Thurman fauna is marked first by the presence and relative abundance of foraminifera, and second by the dominance of the fenestelloids among the bryozoans. The number and the variety of ostracods is greater than in the Stearns-Streeter Ed Oswald well.

The minute shells identified as Tetrataxis are very well preserved and under the microscope show clearly the arrangement of the chambers that make the low cone typical of a member of the Valvulina group. The base of the cone-shaped shell is flat or concave and is marked by the irregularly stellate opening to the interior. Species A, which is generally the more abundant, is about 0.5 mm. in diameter or less; species B has a diameter across the base of the cone of about 1.4 mm. and is more strongly concave beneath. Eusulina sp. A. is a moderately robust species, about 4 mm. long and 1.5 mm. in diameter. Its internal structure has been studied, but shows no features that definitely distinguish it from other species of Fusulina. Fusulina sp. B. is a diminutive species, which is apparently distinct from A.

Among the bryozoans, the genus Fenestella predominates, being represented by four or five species. Specific identification of these forms is difficult, because much of the material is fragmentary and because the bryozoans from this horizon have not been thoroughly studied. Polypora and Septopora are also represented.

A simple, moderately large and well-preserved worm tube belonging to the genus Spirorbis, with flat base, low spiral coil, and spire having a diameter at base of 1.8 mm., was obtained from the Thurman well.

There are several types of ostracods, but the smooth, unsymmetrical-shelled Bairdia predominates. The form listed as species A appears to be the same as one of the types from the Oswald well. Some of the species, especially Bairdia sp. C, which is the smallest of the group, measuring 0.6 to 0.7 mm. in length by 0.4 mm. in height, are represented by a number of excellently preserved specimens.

The Sheridan Well, Ellsworth County

The Sheridan well, drilled in sec. 21, T. 15 S., R. 6 W., southeast of Carneiro, Ellsworth County, has yielded a micro-fauna from a depth of 1,250 feet, which appears to represent the fossiliferous horizon already noted. The species distinguished are as follows:

Fauna from 1,250 feet in the Sheridan well, Ellsworth County, Kansas.
Foraminifera:
	Tetrataxis sp. A.
	Fusulina sp. B?
	Fusulina sp. C.
Bryozoa:
	Rhombopora sp. cf. R. lepidodendroidea
	Rhombopora sp.
	Batostornella ? sp.
	Acanthocladia sp. A?
	Fenestella sp. aff. F. conradi-compactilis Condra
	Fenestella sp. A.
	Fenestella sp. B?
	Fenestella sp. C.
	Fenestella sp. D.
	Fenestella sp. E.
	Polypora sp.
	Septopora? sp.
Ostracoda:
	Bythocypris sp. aff. sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. C.
	Bairdia sp. F.
	Kirkbya sp. A.
	Kirkbya sp. B.
Echinodermata:
	Crinoid stem
	Areheocidaris sp. A.
	Archeocidaris sp. B.

This fauna is similar in general composition to those already listed, and a number of the species are identical, but it includes some interesting additional species. The most striking are the beautifully and delicately marked undescribed species of Kirkbya. Archeocidaris is represented by coarse and very fine spines. Among the rest, the genus Fenestella is dominant among the bryozoans, and there are numerous specimens of Bairdia, especially the rather distinctive little form here called species C.

The Allison Well, McPherson County

At a depth of 980-1,005 feet in the Allison well, in sec. 27, T. 19 S., R. 4 W., there is a cherty limestone containing numerous very small fossils which appear to lie at a stratigraphic horizon found at greater depths in wells farther west. The fauna obtained from the cuttings is as follows:

Fauna from the Allison well, McPherson County, Kansas.
Foraminifera:
	Nodosinella sp. A.
	Tetrataxis sp. A.
	Tetrataxis sp. B.
	Fusulina sp. B.
Bryozoa:
	Rhombopora sp.
	Fenestella sp. cf. F. conradi-compactilis Condra
	Fenestella sp. A.
	Fenestella sp. C.
	Fenestella sp. F.
	Fenestella sp.
	Polypora sp. A.
	Polypora sp.
	Septopora sp. A.
	Septopora sp. B.
Ostracoda:
	Bythocypris sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. C.
	Bairdia sp. E.
	Bairdia sp. G.
Echinodermata:
	Crinoid stems

In addition to the two species of Tetrataxis and the small Fusulina which are found in other wells, the collection from the McPherson well contains a number of small nodose uriiserial foraminifers which appear to belong in the genus Nodosinella. This type of fossil protozoan has been found at several places elsewhere in Permian and Pennsylvanian rocks, but not in Kansas.

Fenestella is the most abundant genus of Bryozoa in this lot, as well as in the collection from the Sheridan well, and three of the species listed appear to be common to both lots. The fragments of Polypora and Septopora are also closely similar to species of these genera found in other wells, but the specimens are so incomplete that they cannot be referred to the same species with certainty.

The ostracods, which are relatively numerous, belong to the smooth types, Bythocypris and Bairdia. The small species of Bairdia listed as species C, which is found in most of these collections, is the most abundant.

The Batt Well, Marion County

A fairly complete series of cuttings from the Argus Oil Company's Batt No. 1 well in sec. 9, T. 19 S., R. 4 E., Marion County, which were made available for microscopic examination, yielded a fairly prolific micro-fauna from a cherty limestone that lay at a depth of 265 to 275 feet. As this well is much farther east than those already mentioned, the cherty limestone in it might be expected to lie nearer the surface. The fauna identified from the cuttings at 265-275 feet in the Batt well contains the following species:

Fauna from 265 feet in the Batt well, Marion County, Kansas.
Foraminifera:
	Tetrataxis sp. A.
	Tetrataxis sp. B.
	Fusulina sp. B.
Bryozoa:
	Rhombopora sp. A?
	Rhombopora sp. C.
	Rhombopora sp. D.
	Rhombopora sp. E.
	Streblotrypa sp. A.
	Streblotrypa sp. B.
	Cystodictya sp. A.
	Cystodictya sp. B.
	Acanthocladia sp. A?
	Acanthocladia sp. C.
	Thamniscus sp. A.
	Fenestella sp. cf. F. conradi-compactilis Condra.
	Fenestella sp. F.
	Fenestella sp. G.
	Polypora sp.
	Polypora sp.
	Polypora sp.
	Septopora sp.
	Acanthoclema? ep.
Ostracoda:
	Bairdia sp. A.
Echinodermata:
	Crinoid stems
	Archeocidaris sp.

The number and the variety of the bryozoans in this lot are its most noteworthy feature. Associated with types found in collections obtained from wells to the west are several new genera, among them Streblotrypa, Cystodictya, and Thamniscus. The character of the Foraminifera, the occurrence of Bairdia sp. A as a representative of the ostracods, and the composition of the bryozoan division of the fauna, indicate the probable equivalence of. this fauna to those already described. A fairly large content of Rhombopora is suggestive of the fauna found in the Oswald well; the numerous fenestelloids relate it to the collections made in McPherson and Ellsworth counties.

Correlation

Because of the similar composition of the faunas, the similar place of their occurrence in the well sections, the lithologic similarity of the beds containing them, and the apparent absence of like fossiliferous beds near by, it seems probable that all of the lots of fossils listed above belong to a single fossiliferous zone. There are, of course, a number of more or less fossiliferous zones in the upper Pennsylvanian-lower Permian section, but only a few notably cherty formations. As the fossil-bearing cherty rock in the wells is the uppermost rock of this character, its reference to the part of the Permian section that includes the Florence and Fort Riley formations is at once suggested, though a comparison of the available well records indicates that it may be the equivalent of the flinty Wreford limestone. Several fairly large collections of fossils taken from the outcrops of the Florence, Fort Riley, Wreford and adjacent formations were examined and fossiliferous fragments of these rocks were broken up in a search for microscopic organisms similar to those obtained from the well cuttings. Fragments of the Fort Riley, Florence and some other formations that showed numerous fenestelloid and other bryozoans on the surface yielded more or less broken bryozoan material, but the ground-up rock did not contain the foraminifers and ostracods that are characteristic of this horizon in the well cuttings. However, a small piece of Wreford limestone, which happened not to be a cherty fragment, contained the following species:

Fauna from crushed fragmernt of Wreford limestone from near Strong City, Chase County.
Foraminifera:
	Nodosinella sp.
	Valvulina (Tetrataxis?) sp. aff. V. bulloides Brady.
	Fusulina sp. B.?
Bryozoa:
	Rhombopora sp.
	Fistulipora sp.
	Fencstella sp. B.?
	Fenestella sp.
	Polypora? sp.
	Septopora sp.
Gastropoda:
	Murchisonia? sp.
	Small species aff. Bulimorpha
Ostracoda:
	Bairdia sp. A.
	Bairdia sp. C.
	Bairdia sp.
	Kirkbya sp. B.
Echinodermata:
	Crinoid fragments
	Archeocidaris sp.

Though it doubtless affords a very incomplete representation of the minute fossils in the Wreford formation, this small lot shows obvious similarities to lots obtained from the well cuttings. The Nodosinella closely resembles the forms referred-to this genus from the well in McPherson County. The species of Fusulina is small and appears to correspond to species B of the well collections. The specimens from the Wreford formation called Valvulina sp. aff. v. bulloides are different from the species of Tetrataxis in the cuttings, but although they are here placed in the broadly inclusive genus Valvulina, these shells may belong in the subgenus Tetrataxis.

The bryozoans of the Wreford suggest in general corresponding elements in the collections made from the wells, but the specimens are not sufficiently complete to permit detailed comparison.

Among the ostracods are species of Bairdia that are apparently identical with forms obtained from the wells, and also a good specimen of Kirkbya, which is the same as Kirkbya sp. B. from the Sheridan well, in Ellsworth County.

It appears that the fossiliferous zone described represents the Wreford limestone, and the persistence of the zone to the west, coupled with its rather distinctive fauna, lithology, and position in the section, indicates that it may be used readily as a key horizon in subsurface studies--a much more definite and reliable horizon than the base of the salt, the base of the red beds, or other beds that are less readily identified with certainty and that may differ in stratigraphic position in different places.

From other horizons in the deep wells of central and western Kansas small fossils, especially Fusulina, have been obtained. Examinations recently made at the outcrop of the Pennsylvanian rocks in Kansas and a study of well cuttings show that this genus extends downward at least to the Fort Scott limestone, at the base of the Marmaton formation. Fusulina obtained from a depth of 3,905 feet in the Whiteside well, in sec. 2, T. 24 S., R. 23 W., Ford county, indicates the presence of Pennsylvanian sediments at least to that depth in that well. In Russell County and adjacent parts of westcentral Kansas, Pennsylvanian fossils have been obtained at intervals to the bottom of the deepest wells yet drilled. The specific variation in Fusulina and the accompanying stratigraphic distribution of the species of that genus have not been fully investigated. Opportunity for obtaining valuable aid in subsurface work is here evident.

Notes on Other Fossils from Kansas Wells

During the recent examination of drill cuttings from Kansas wells the following occurrences of fossils were noted in addition to those described above. Most of these have not yet been carefully studied.

In the Batt well, in sec. 9, T. 19 S., R. 4 E., Marion County, large Fusulina were found at a depth of 1,240-1,260 feet; numerous rather large Fusulina at 1,500, and 1,515-1,525 feet; and Fusulina sp. at 2,300 feet. Thin sections were made of these and other specimens of Fusulina from wells, but the several species have not been satisfactorily differentiated.

A large and a small species of Fusulina were found in cuttings obtained at depths of 1,080-1,105 feet in the Urschel well, in sec. 16, T. 21 S., R. 5 E., Marion County.

The Sheridan well, in sec. 21, T. 15 S., R. 6 W., showed Fusulina in cuttings from 1,500 feet, from 1,700 feet, from 2,100 feet (two species), and from 2,300 feet.

Drillings from the Schubert well, a shallow well drilled near Bonner Springs, in Leavenworth County, show, in a limestone at depths of 67-73 feet that probably belongs in the Kansas City formation, specimens of Bythocypris sp., Macrocypris sp., Bairdia (a very minute species and a larger one), and an ostracode (new genus?) belonging to Beyrichiacea.

Drillings from the Phillips well, in sec. 3, T. 13 S., R. 13 W., Russell County, show a limestone at a depth of 1,981 feet that contains numerous small foraminifers, mostly of the types of Valvulina and Globigerina.

In the Stearns-Streeter Company's No. 1 Ed Oswald well, Russell County, a sample taken from a depth of 1,925 feet, just below the horizon of the bryozoan-ostracod fauna already described, contains Tetrataxis sp. B. and Bairdia sp. A. Samples from a depth of 1,985-2,010 feet contain Valvulina bulloides Brady?, Fusulina sp., Murchisonia? sp., Macrocypris? sp., Bythocypris sp., and Bairdia sp. A. A large species of Fusulina occurs rather abundantly at a depth of 2,753-2,795 feet in this well and also at a depth of 2,875-2,880 feet.

A sample of oolitic limestone in the producing zone of the discovery well, the M. M. Valerius Company's No. 1 C. E. Oswald well, taken from a depth of 3,010-3,014 feet, was ground to a thin section that showed a variety of small Foraminifera, Globigerina, Nodosellina and other forms in the centers of the grains of oolite. These grains are irregular in size and shape and show well-defined radial structure in their outer parts--the parts surrounding the central granules, most of which appear to consist of fragments of fossils. A small gastropod of the Sphaerodoma type was shown in the thin section. It should be easy to identify this horizon from similar samples obtained from other wells.

Addenda

Under date of April 3, 1925, P. V. Roundy made the following report on cuttings from the Phillips No. 1 well, sec. 3, T. 13 S., R. 13 W.:

All cuttings represent beds of Pennsylvanian age except possibly the cuttings from 3,170. The cuttings from 2,800 feet to 3,145 do not contain sufficient evidence to place them within any definite subdivisions of the Pennsylvanian.

The cuttings from 3,160 feet have an abundant fauna. The Ostracoda and Foraminifera represent a fauna that I have found only in beds of Pottsville age. It is possible in the present state of our knowledge of these forms that this fauna may occur in beds a little younger than Pottsville, but I do not think it probable. The mollusks, of which there are many, are all minute in size; many appear to be immature, and some probably are mature. These forms, Doctor Girty considers, are more apt to belong in a fauna of Pottsville age than in a younger fauna. The only objection to placing this fauna as of Pottsville age is the lack of known outcrop beds of that age in Kansas. However, since these fossils come from underground beds, so far geographically from the surface exposures of the lowest Pennsylvanian beds in Kansas; I feel that this factor should have little weight.

The cuttings from 3,170 feet have only three species, two of which are doubtfully identified and might represent either Mississippian or Pennsylvanian beds, and the third species, a single specimen, known only from the Pennsylvanian, is very abundant in the cuttings from 3,160, and might have actually slumped in the well from that horizon when the sample from 3,170 was taken by the driller.

A faunal list is given below:

2800.	Fusulina inconspicua? Crinoid stem segments.
2815.	Fusulina inconspicua? Crinoid stem segments.
	Bairdia n. sp.
2825.	Fusulina sp.; crinoid stem segments.
	Bairdia sp.
2835.	Nothing determinable.
2856.	Fusulina sp.; indet. brachiopod.
2930.	Bairdia sp.
3000.	Crinoidal fragments; bryozoan fragment.
3020.	Fusulina sp.; crinoidal fragments; Rhombopora? sp.; brachiopod fragment; Productus spine.
3030.	Crinoid stem fragment; Productus spine.
3055.	Fusulina sp.
3060.	Fusulina sp.
3100.	Fusulina sp.
3115.	Fusulina; spine fragment.
3145.	Immature cephalopod; Cytherella sp.
3160.	Endothyra? sp.; Fusulinella n. sp.; Fusulina sp ; Aclisina 2 sp.; Bulimorpha? sp.; Meekospira sp.; Pleurotomaria? sp.; Holopea? sp.; Naticopsis sp.; Nucula sp.; Pteria sp.; Astartella? sp.; Bairdia 2 sp.; Glyptopleura healdi n. sp.; Amphissites symmetricus n. sp.; Sansabella? n. sp.; Paraparchites sp.
3170.	Meekospira sp.; Batostomella? sp.; Fusulinella sp.

A well known as Whiteside No. 1, drilled in the NW corner SW sec. 2, T. 24 S., R. 23 W., Hodgeman county, Kansas, has contributed some definite information regarding the age of and the faunas carried by certain formations in western Kansas. The cuttings were studied by P. V. Roundy, who has made the following determinations:

3640-3650.	Imperfect gastropod, probably Pleurotomaria sp. Productus spine. fragments. Echinoid spine fragment. Minute pelecypod, probably a Nucula. Cytherella n. sp. Hollina n. sp. Amphissites centronatus var. Amphisites n. sp.
3240.	Lingula sp. fragment.
3650-3665.	Fusulinella? sp. Hollina sp. Cytherella n. sp. Amphissites n. sp. Productus spines.
3743.	Bairdia, 2 species. Fusulina sp. Productus spines.
3750-3756.	Fusulina sp. Productus spines.
3822.	Ambocoelia sp.
3810.	Bairdia sp. Fusulinella sp. Fusulina sp.
3870.	Ostracod (new? genus).
3905.	Fusulina sp. (Very abundant.)
3935.	Fusulinella sp. (These look as if they were water-worked.)
3980.	Polygnathus n. sp.
3980-3990.	Bairdia of B. beedei var. Fragment Fusulina. (Certainly not water-worn.)
3993.	Fusulina sp. Composita? sp.
4000.	Endothyra sp. (This form, although distinct from the Mississippian E. baileyi, is much closer to it than to the Endothyras found by Mr. Roundy in the Pennsylvanian.) Composita? sp.

It will be noted that the evidence of Mississippian age is not conclusive, but there can be no question about the Pennsylvanian age of the strata to a depth of 3,993 feet. As the well was carried to 4,055 feet, and as there was abrupt change in the type of rock at 4,010 feet, it is quite possible that the lower 45 feet are Mississippian or even older rocks.

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Kansas Geological Survey, Geology
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