RRPORT ON FIELD WORK IN GEOLOGV. 169 



and crossing to the west of the Verdigris river. To the northeast it 

 probably passes out of the state, but it has not been traced that far. 

 On the whole it constitutes one of the most extensive and most 

 important limestone systems in the state. No other one that will 

 at all compare with it is known above the Galena limestone excepting 

 the lola limestone, and it is doubtful whether this is any heavier. 



The quality of the Erie limestone is varied. Where it is weathered 

 it seems quite porous, due to the unequal degree of solubilify of the 

 rock. In protected places it is firm and compact, and would make 

 an excellent building stone. At one place in a railroad cut between 

 Shaw and Erie the rock assumes a wonderfully brecciated texture. The 

 extent of such a texture was not determined, but it must be quite 

 limited, for nowhere else was it observed. 



Above the Erie limestone there is another system of shales and 

 sandstones which in places reach a thickness of nearly 150 feet, but 

 which along the Neosho ri\er section possibly does not exceed loo 

 feet. It reaches its maximum thickness in the \ icinity of Thayer, 

 where it is estimated to be 150 feet thick. It extends from below 

 Osage Mission to above Chanute, which town may well give it a 

 name, so that it may be called the Chaiiiitc slialcs. Here, as else- 

 where, sandstone appears and disappears with great readiness. 

 Around Thayer the sandstone occurs in heavy beds, some of which 

 produce excellent building material. 



Below the sandstone at Thayer a seam of coal is found of sufficient 

 thickness and quality to justify its being worked extensively enough 

 to furnish fuel to Thayer and the surrounding country. 



About the Chanute shales lies the heavy system of limestone in 

 which the lola quarries are situated, the so-called lola marble. For 

 this reason it may be called the Tola limestone. Its soihiier uiuust 

 appearance along the Neosho river is on the hills about Chanute. 

 where it occurs at the very summit, being worn to a thin stratum by 

 erosion. It thickens rapidly to the north until at lola it is 30 or 40 

 feet thick. Laterally the lola limestone h is a great extent, having 

 been traced by Mr. Piatt to beyond the Verdigris river to the south- 

 west, and almost to the state line on the northeast. The character 

 of the rock is remarkable, particularly regarding the unusualh thick 

 layers it produces, in this respect surpassing anything else known in 

 the slate. On this account rock of any dimension can be obtained 

 from it, as is practically demonstrated at the I(jla (juarries. 



Above the lola limestone lies a bed of hard, sandy, brittle shale, 

 which has a thickness of apparently 75 feet, although immediately in 

 lola it may not be cpiite so hea\\'. Above this another limestone 

 svstem begins, and is first seen below lola in a stratum of four or five 



