CARBONIFEROUS SYSTEM. 199 



here composed of grayish, thin bedded limestone, inclined to 

 become fragmentary upon exposure, but shows very little of 

 oolitic structure. 



Going westward from here to a point near the headwaters 

 of Lizard creek, in the eastern part of Pocahontas county, 

 we find the most northerly and westerly exposures of the 

 Kinderhook formation yet known anywhere. The exposures 

 are somewhat inconspicuous and are found in a shallow 

 prairie valley. The rock is similar in character to that last 

 named but a little oolitic in its texture. The fossils it 

 contains here are very few, but they leave no doubt as to 

 the correctness of referring the strata to the Kinderhook 

 formation. Some other important exposures occur in the 

 eastern part of Franklin and the western part of Butler 

 counties, but those described are sufficient to give an idea 

 of the general characters of the formation. 



Economic Value. The economic value of this formation is 

 very considerable, particularly in the northern portion of the 

 region it occupies. The only material, however, of any 

 practical value is its stone, and this, although not usually 

 of fine quality, is of greater value there than elsewhere, 

 because stone of any kind is scarce in that part of the State, 

 while the southern portion of the region is in immediate 

 neighborhood with the Burlington limestone which there 

 furnishes better material. 



In Pocahontas and Humboldt counties the Kinderhook 

 beds, although so slightly exposed, are almost invaluable 

 because no other stone, except a few boulders, is found there, 

 and because it makes excellent lime, besides serving a good 

 purpose for ordinary masonry. 



At Iowa Falls, the lower division is very good for building 

 purposes as well as for lime. Many of its layers produce 

 excellent blocks for dressing into window and door caps 

 and sills and other important parts of good buildings. In 

 Marshall county, all the limestone to be obtained comes from 

 this formation, and the quarries near Le Grand are very 

 valuable. Many of the best layers there are so massive and 



