8 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



/ 



Geological Explorations in Kansas Territory. 

 BY F. B. MEEK and F. V. HAYDEN. 



As it is merely our purpose, on the present occasion, to give rather briefly, 

 the results of some geological examinations made by us last summer in eastern 

 Kansas, it will perhaps scarcely be expected that we should here enter into a 

 historical review of the valuable labors of other explorers in that region. 

 Hence we proceed at once to present such facts as came under our observa- 

 tion, and the conclusions they seem to warrant. 



The route pursued by us while making these investigations, was first from 

 Leavenworth city on the Missouri, accross the country to Indianola, near the 

 mouth of Soldier creek, on the Kansas ; thence up the north side of Kansas and 

 and Smoky Hill rivers, to the mouth of Solomon's fork. Here we crossed the 

 Smoky Hill, and followed it up on the south side to a point near the ninety- 

 eighth degree of west longitude ; from which point we struck across the country 

 in a south east direction to the Santa Fe road, which we followed north east- 

 ward to the head of Cottonwood creek. Leaving the road here, we went down 

 the Cottonwood valley some thirty miles, when we turned across the country 

 nearly due northward to Council Grove. From the latter place we followed 

 the Santa Fe road back southwestward about twenty-four miles to a watering 

 place known as " Lost Spring ;" here we again left the road and struck across 

 the country in a northwest direction to Smoky Hill river, at a point nearly op- 

 posite the mouth of Solomon's fork. We then traveled down the south side of 

 Smoky Hill and Kansas rivers to Lawrence, where we crossed the Kansas and 

 proceeded in a northeast direction back to Leavenworth city. 



The first outcrop of rocks examined by us during the expedition is at a point 

 just below the steamboat landing at Leavenworth city. At this place and for 

 some distance above on the river, the formation is well known to belong to the 

 upper, but not the highest portions, of the great western coal measures. 



The section here near the Leavenworth landing, presents the following beds, 

 in descending order : 



Feet. 



1. Bluish gray clay, exposing a thickness of about 3 



2. Hard gray layer of Fusulina limestone l 



3. Yellow laminated clay 7 



4. Hard gray argillaceous limestone with Fasulina 1 



5. Gray fine grained argillaceous sandstone with fucoidal markings, 

 sometimes contains seams of limestone lto3 



6. Gray, green and blue, rather indurated clay, with sometimes near 

 the base many compact concretions limestone 2 



7. Hard light yellowish gray limestone, usually of bluish tinge far in 

 beyond the effects of weathering. Contains Spirifer cameratus, S. Ken- 

 tuckensis, S. lineatus, Spirigera subtilita, Orthisina 3Iissouriensis, Productus 

 splendens ? P. semireticulatus ? P. puslulosus and Fusulina cylindrica, together 

 with colums of Crinoids, and spines and plates of Archceocidaris ; also jaws 

 teeth of Xystracanthus arcuatus 15 



8. Dark shale, passing up into gray less distinctly laminated clay 5 



9. Hard dark bluish impure limestone, containing Fusulina cylindrica, 

 Spirigera subtilita, Productus Rogersi, P. Prattenianus, Area carbonaria? 

 an undetermined Monotis, Attorisma 9 Leavenworthensis, A. subcuneala, Mgalina 

 subquadrata, Leptodomus granosus, and a large Belerophon lg-2 



10. Gray, more or less laminated clay, becoming darker near the upper 

 part, rising above the river 11 



Attached to the surfaces of bed No. 9 there is usually from one to two inches 

 of soft dark argillo-calcareous matter containing great numbers of Orthisina 

 crassa, with the undetermined species of Pecten, Mytilus, Sckizodus, Pleuroto- 

 maria, &c. 



All this section above No. 1 appears to vary considerably, at different places 



[Jan. 



