

TORREYA 



Vol. 35 May-June, 1935 No. 3 



A study of a Pre-Kansan peat deposit 

 Etlar L. Nielsen 



Authentic early studies of American preglacial and inter- 

 glacial deposits, although not numerous, have been known for a 

 considerable time. In 1870 Orton (4) described an extensive bed 

 in southwestern Ohio. In 1878 McGee (3) reported the presence 

 of similar deposits in northeastern Iowa. The latter were re- 

 ferred to as the "forest bed" and they were later correlated 

 with Aftonian gumbotil. In the geological report of March 10, 

 1882, Winchell (5) cited buried deposits in southeastern Minne- 

 sota, particularly in Mower and Fillmore Counties. 



The considerable interest in postglacial peat manifested by 

 numerous studies in recent years has suggested the desirability 

 of focusing attention upon some of the much older deposits. 

 Accordingly, the stations cited by Winchell as occurring on the 

 farm of "Mr. Thomas Smith, S.E. \ Sec. 12, Windom twp.," 

 Mower County were revisited for detailed study. The first of 

 these, of the Aftonian or the first interglacial period, is located 

 in a pasture about one fourth mile south of the present Smith 

 dwellings. The peat was originally reported as exposed in the 

 banks of Rose Creek, but at present wash from the adjacent 

 fields under cultivation has cut down the bevel of the ledge and 

 this, together with the humus from the forest, has built up a 

 talus that now buries the seam of peat to a depth of about 6 feet. 

 Upon removal of part of this talus a fresh section was exposed 

 along what was evidently the former ledge. Nine samples were 

 taken at designated intervals. A diagrammatic representation 

 of the outcrop (Station 1) is shown in the following sketch. 



The samples for the study were taken from the shaft sunken 

 at A and will be referred to under the following designations: 

 1-1 from the surface; 1-2 at 1 foot; 1-3 at 3 feet below the sur- 



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