135 ~ | : [26]- 
THE GEOLOGICAL SKETCH, 
Which I have drawn, does not make any pretensions to a geological 
map, which even a more able geologist than 1 am could not give in the 
short time and haste, in which I travelled through that country, but it 
may elucidate and concentrate at least what little information I have ac- 
quired in relation to that object. To make it more intelligible, I will add 
yet a short summary of the various geological observations,spread over 
the whole extent of the journal. 
Independence, near the western frontier of the State of Missouri, is 
situated in the great Missouri coal basin, which occupies more than one- 
third of that State. 
The first rock in situ which I saw in the prairie, after leaving Inde- 
pendence, was on Rock creek, (about 79 miles from Independence.) It 
was a yellow-brownish compact limestone, with encrinites, and similar 
fossiis of the carboniferous limestone, as found in Missouri. ; 
On Pleasant Valley creek (125 miles) the bluffs are formed by two differ- 
ent limestones: the one is white and compact ; the other grayish, soft, and 
argillaceous. The first contained some indistinct fossils, but in too im- 
perfect a state to determine what formation they indicate. _ 
In, Council grove (143 mules) a horizontal, grayish, argillaceous lime- 
stone prevails, without fossils. 
ving Cottonwood. creek (185 miles,) irregular heaps of bog-ore are 
seen in the prairie, and a ferruginous sandstone 0! yellow, brown, and 
blue color,extends from here to Pawnee fork, (a distance of about 00 
miles. ; : 
The bluffs of the Little Arkansas consisted of a spotted, yellow, cal- 
careous sandstone, and isolated pieces of ferruginous sandstone. 
Between Camp Osage (the first camp near the Arkansas river) and 
ferruginous sandstone. | Most likely a large coal-field lying beneath here 
Pawnee rock (between Walnut creek and Ash creek) consists of the same 
ferruginous sandstone, changed by fire, On Pawnee fork (292 miles) I 
saw the last of it; the ferrvginous sandstone there was more compact, an 
ep red. 
On a branch of Big Coon creek (332 miles) found the bluffs to con- 
sist of common standstone below, and a white, ne-grained marl above it. 
This marl resembles very much some from the cretaceous formation of 
the Upper Missouri; but finding no fossils, I could not ascertain it. 
Two miles beyond that place (341 from Independence.) I had the first 
chance to examine the bluffs on the yaa : . was * Es acter 
i ith a few ssils, that were er t, 
glomerated limestone, with ea eae age elien pn 
have, therefore, 
About 20 miles higher up on the Arkansas, I saw, upon a secon eae 
nation, but a-coarse conglomerate of sand and limestone. At the u 
fording place (373 miles,) where I left the Arkansas for the Cimarron, no 
rocks were in situ. : : 
a 
