372, E, Haworth — Deformation of Strata in Kansas. 



(b.) Geologic evidences of deformation. 



The general geology of this part of the state is now pretty 

 well understood. Excepting a small area in the southeast the 

 whole surface is covered with the Tertiary sands and clays. 

 In the northern part of the area these rest directly on the 

 Benton limestone and shales, which gradually thin out and 

 entirely disappear in the northern part of Meade county. 

 Below the Benton lies the Dakota, which also thins southward 

 and disappears near the middle of the county. As these for- 

 mations are usually entirely covered by the Tertiary, we know 

 of their presence only by well records, therefore their exact 

 southern limits cannot well be stated. South of this the Ter- 

 tiary rests directly on the " Red-Beds," as is abundantly shown 

 by many exposures in the vicinity of Englewood and along 

 Crooked Creek, and by well records on the plains east of 

 Crooked Creek. 



Along the northern side of Crooked Creek, in township 29 

 south, ranges 27 and 28 west, the Benton is occasionally 

 exposed along the arroyas, area marked B on map, and is often 

 reached in well drilling. The same condition obtains to the 

 east and northeast of Minneola. Each of the wells, numbers 

 1, 2 and 3 on map, reached the Benton, and 2 and 3 passed 

 through it into the Dakota. At Mr. Hall's place, well number 

 4, three miles east of Wilburn, two wells were started at his 

 house, each of which struck the Dakota at 60 feet, the Benton 

 not reaching this far south. About 200 yards to the west of 

 these, two other wells were drilled to a depth of over 90 feet 

 without reaching the Dakota. Here the surface slopes gently 

 to the west, and the Dakota is known to have a general rise to 

 the west of about ten feet to the mile, so the Dakota should 

 have been reached at about 55 feet. We therefore have the 

 fault line located somewhere between these two groups of 

 wells, all of which are in the southwest quarter, section 32, 

 township 29 south, 25 west. About a half mile north of the 

 C. R. I. & P. railroad and a little southeast of the Hall wells, 

 another well — number 5 — reached the Dakota. To the west 

 of these wells, in the vicinity of Wilburn and Fowler, many 

 wells are deep enough to have reached the Dakota did it exist 

 in an undisturbed position where it should be, as best we can 

 judge from its exposures farther northeast, and in the localities 

 just given, where it is reached by the wells. Farther west 

 both Benton and Dakota were reached by a well at Santa Fe, 

 and the Dakota comes to the surface near the western line of 

 the state. 



The artesian valley is interesting in this connection. Many 

 wells have been carried to a depth of 200 feet or more without 



