Surficial Geology of Morris County, Kansas
Kansas Geological Survey Map M-125
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Morris County, Kansas
Morris County is in the Flint Hills physiographic region, an area of rolling prairie uplands and wooded stream valleys. The name Flint Hills comes from the flint (chert) in some of the limestone units that is left on the surface as the limestones weather. Mudrocks weather faster than limestones, and this differential erosion results in the prominent limestone-capped hills that characterize the county.
Morris County general geology
The surficial sedimentary rocks— alternating beds of limestone, cherty limestone, and varicolored mudrocks— are Permian in age except for a small area of Carboniferous rocks in the extreme southeast corner of the county.
Morris County topography
Topographic relief in Morris County is 406 ft (123 m). The lowest point (1,159 ft, 353 m, dark blue) is in the Neosho River floodplain where the river exits the southeast corner of the county, and the highest point (1,565 ft, 477 m, brown) is in the south-central part of the county near the southern boundary.
Morris County hydrology
The headwaters of the Neosho River, the only major river in the county, are located in Morris County. The Neosho River and its tributaries flow southeast to drain much of the county. Other major streams include Clarks Creek, which flows north to drain the northwest part of the county, and Diamond Creek, which flows south to drain the southwest portion.
Morris County structural geology
The dip of the Permian strata in Morris County is generally to the west except in the area of the Nemaha uplift, Kansas' most notable tectonic feature where steep easterly dip is evident, and locally, where strike and dip directions can vary significantly.
Morris County geomorphology
Unconsolidated Quaternary deposits include Holocene alluvium and terrace valley fill associated with present-day drainages and mixed colluvial and alluvial deposits along the margins of the floodplains of major streams. Thick Pleistocene deposits of mixed alluvial and eolian (loess) sediments found in the uplands are prevalent in the northeast and southwest parts of the county.
Morris County resources
The abundance of limestone is important because of its use as an aggregate for concrete and road material, riprap, agricultural lime, and building stone. The limestones most commonly used for aggregate are the non-cherty part of the Threemile Limestone Member, the Funston Limestone, the Fort Riley Limestone Member, and the Cresswell Limestone Member. The Cottonwood, Threemile, and Fort Riley are the main sources of building stone in the county.
Stratigraphic column
Guided tour of formations
Each formation is represented below by a numbered point. Every point location has two or three images that characterize the formation: photograph (unavailable for five formations), legend, and stratigraphic column segment. Cycle through the images by clicking the arrow.
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1
Alluvium and terrace valley fill
Undifferentiated alluvium and terrace valley fill of the Neosho River, Clarks Creek, Diamond Creek, and their tributaries. Alluvial deposits along smaller streams range up to 20 ft (6.1 m) in thickness. Terrace thicknesses range from a few feet along smaller streams to more than 50 ft (15.2 m) in the Neosho River valley.
2
Colluvium and alluvial deposits
Extensive deposits of mixed colluvial aprons and alluvial fans along the margins of the floodplain of the Neosho River. These deposits are mostly Holocene in age although portions may be late Pleistocene.
3
Alluvial and eolian deposits (uplands)
Mixed alluvial and eolian (loess) deposits occurring on the uplands. Loess is windblown silt- and clay-sized particles associated with glacial activity. These accumulations are generally located in the southwestern part of the county and near White City and Dwight, where they reach a thickness of up to 50 ft (15.2 m).
4
Wellington Formation
The lower part of the Wellington Formation crops out in southwest Morris County. The Hollenberg Limestone Member of the Wellington Formation occurs at or near the top of the Wellington exposure.
5
Nolans Limestone
The Nolans Limestone is composed of the Krider Limestone, Paddock Shale, and Herington Limestone. Bivalves are common in the Krider Limestone member as pictured above. The Nolans Limestone averages about 25 ft (7.6 m) in thickness.
6
Odell Shale
The Odell Shale is composed of silty, calcareous, nonfossiliferous mudrocks. The Odell averages about 20 ft (6.1 m) in thickness.
7
Winfield Limestone
The Winfield Limestone crops out in the western third of the county. The Winfield Limestone is composed of the Stovall Limestone, Grant Shale, and Cresswell Limestone Members. The Winfield Limestone is about 23 ft (7 m) thick and forms a prominent hillside bench.
8
Doyle Shale
The Doyle Shale is made up of the Holmesville Shale, Towanda Limestone, and Gage Shale Members. The Towanda averages about 11 ft (3.4 m) in thickness and forms a prominent bench. Total thickness of the Doyle Shale is about 60 to 70 ft (18.3 m to 21.3 m).
9
Barneston Limestone
The Barneston Limestone is composed of the Florence Limestone, Oketo Shale, and Fort Riley Limestone Members. The Fort Riley Limestone Member is slightly chalky limestone that averages 35 to 40 ft (10.7 to 12.2 m) in thickness. The “Fort Riley rimrock,” is one of the most conspicuous limestones in Morris County and is an excellent marker bed. The Barneston Limestone averages 70 ft (21.3 m) in thickness.
10
Matfield Shale
The Matfield Shale has three Members: the Wymore Shale, Kinney Limestone, and Blue Springs Shale. The total thickness of the Matfield Shale ranges from 65 to 70 ft (19.8 to 21.3 m).
11
Wreford Limestone
This formation is composed of the Threemile Limestone, Havensville Shale, and Schroyer Limestone Members. The thickness of the Wreford Limestone varies from 30 to 50 ft (9.1 to 15.2 m), but it is usually about 37 ft (11.3 m) thick.
12
Speiser Shale
The Speiser Shale is a varicolored argillaceous to silty, mostly calcareous mudrock. Brachiopods (Derbyia sp., Composita sp., and productids), bryozoans, fish, and other vertebrate remains are common in this upper limestone and mudrock. The Speiser is about 15 ft (4.6 m) thick. (Mapped with the Funston Limestone as one unit.)
13
Funston Limestone
The Funston Limestone is generally two limestones separated by 2 to 5 ft (0.6 to 1.5 m) of mudrock. The Funston is fossiliferous and typically is about 12 ft (3.7 m) thick. It may form a slight bench on hillsides. (Mapped with the Speiser Shale as one unit.)
14
Blue Rapids Shale
The Blue Rapids Shale is a varicolored, argillaceous, silty mudrock and varies from 15 to 25 ft (4.6 to 7.6 m) thick. (Mapped with the Crouse Limestone as one unit.)
15
Crouse Limestone
The Crouse Limestone is most easily recognized by the platy character of the upper limestone. Overall, the tan to light-gray Crouse Limestone is consistently about 12 ft (3.7 m) thick. Crouse exposures are limited to the southeast corner of the county except for a small area along Diamond Creek near the southern border. (Mapped with the Blue Rapids Shale as one unit.)
16
Easly Creek Shale
This gray, somewhat dense, massive limestone and the mudrock above it were considered part of the Crouse Limestone in earlier publications. The Easly Creek Shale ranges from 20 to 30 ft (6.1 to 9.1 m) thick.
17
Bader Limestone
The Bader Limestone has three Members: the Eiss Limestone, Hooser Shale, and Middleburg Limestone. Fossils are common in the limestones. Exposures of the Bader Limestone are restricted to the southeast corner of the county, where the total thickness is 15 to 25 ft (4.6 to 7.6 m).
18
Stearns Shale
The Stearns Shale is a silty, calcareous, gray-green mudrock. The thickness of the Stearns ranges from 8 to 35 ft (2.4 to 10.7 m) in Morris County.
19
Beattie Limestone
This formation consists of the Cottonwood Limestone, Florena Shale, and Morrill Limestone. The Cottonwood forms a prominent outcrop and its consistent thickness, abundant fusulinids, and chert nodules make it a good marker bed. The Florena Shale has abundant fossils; the brachiopod Neochonetes granulifera is very common and aids in identifying this member. The Beattie Limestone only occurs in the southeast corner of the county. Total thickness is about 22 ft (6.7 m).
20
Eskridge Shale
The Eskridge Shale is an argillaceous, calcareous, varicolored mudrock. The Eskridge is about 25 ft (7.6 m) thick in Morris County.
21
Grenola Limestone
The five Members of the Grenola Limestone, in ascending order, are the Sallyards, Legion, Burr, Salem Point, and Neva. The total thickness of the Grenola Limestone in Morris County is 35 to 40 ft (10.7 to 12.2 m).
22
Roca Shale
The Roca Shale is a varicolored (tan-gray, tan-brown, gray-green, green, red, and purple), thin-bedded, argillaceous, calcareous mudrock. The Roca is about 23 ft (7 m) thick.
23
Red Eagle Limestone
The three Members of the Red Eagle Limestone, in ascending order, are the Glenrock Limestone, Bennett Shale, and Howe Limestone. Small fusulinids are characteristic of the Glenrock Limestone. Fossils are abundant in the upper part the Bennett Shale. The Red Eagle is exposed in one small area in the extreme southeast corner of the county.
24
Johnson Shale
Only the upper 6 ft (1.8 m) of the Johnson Shale is exposed in Morris County, where it is a silty, calcareous, tan-gray mudrock.
Geologic transect and cross section
Transect line A--A' used to set location of the Morris County cross section (shown below).
Morris County cross section illustrating a vertical section of the subsurface rock along line A - A'. The Nemaha uplift crosses the county diagonally from the northeastern part of the county to the south-central portion. Evidence of this subsurface feature is expressed at the surface as monoclines, faults, sinkholes, and areas of unusual and steep dip. The Nemaha uplift is a 300-million-year-old buried mountain range that extends roughly from Omaha to Oklahoma City.
Map download
Sawin R. S., and West, R. R., 2016, Surficial geology of Morris County, Kansas: Kansas Geological Survey, Map M-125, scale 1:50,000
Paper copies of the complete map (with stratigraphic column and legend info) are available from the Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047 (or phone 785-864-3965) and at 4150 W. Monroe St., Wichita, KS 67209-2640 (phone 316-943-2343). The cost is $20.00 plus handling and sales tax.
