282 KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTEliLY. 



shales. In this way the physical change is gradual, so that there is 

 no sharp division line in the general characteristics of the upper Coal 

 Measures and of the Permian formations. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SANDSTONE. 



The sandstones throughout the whole Coal Measures are exceed- 

 ingly variable and uncertain, the ease and frequency with which they 

 grade into the shales and back again into sandstones is noticeable on 

 every hand. As has been stated, this property is so marked that for 

 stratigraphical purposes they are practically useless. In only a few 

 places can any particular sandstone formation be traced in a north- 

 west and southeast direction exceeding ten miles. The most noted 

 of these exceptions is in the vicinity of Redfield and Farlington where 

 the great flagging-stone beds occur over so wide an area. The condi- 

 tions of these flags show that they were formed in marginal areas not 

 very far from shore. Again in the Thayer shales we have large 

 masses of sandstone which from their coarse structure must have been 

 deposited close to shore. The frequent coal seams within the Thayer 

 shales which are intimately associated with the sandstone show that 

 shallow water and other conditions favorable for plant growth ob- 

 tained at different times throughout the shale forming period. In the 

 Lane shales we have another instance of great sandstone deposits 

 having been produced. These are most marked in the vicinity of 

 Burlington and to the southwest. But here the topographic features 

 show conclusively that there was no persistency of sandstone deposits 

 over any considerable area. A sandstone hill here, a valley there, 

 and a hill again beyond can be accounted for, in the absence of any 

 other evidence, only on the assumption that the valleys mark loca- 

 tions where the sandstones had graded into arenaceous shales, or in 

 someway had assumed properties which made them yield more readily 

 to erosion. Above the Garnett limestone we have the Lawrence 

 shales, another great shale bed with many included sandstones in 

 places. These to a much greater extent than any studied below them 

 have ripple marks and rain-drop marks with wonderful frequency. 

 No sandstone bed has ever been examined by the writer which con- 

 tained more conclusive evidence of having been produced in shallow 

 water than these. Not a single instance is known in which a sand- 

 stone has any commercial value, for they are friable, argillaceous, 

 unevenly bedded, exceedingly variable in texture, and possess many 

 other properties which deprive them value as a building stone. 



Passing upwards from here, in the vicinity of the Osage City coals 

 we have another great shale bed with many sandstones interspersed 

 which bear an abundant evidence of being produced in shallow 



