Sandstones of the Douglas and Pedee Groups in Northeastern Kansas

Abstract

Sandstones of the Douglas and Pedee Groups (Upper Pennsylvanian) in northeastern Kansas occupy definite channel-like trends, which are interpreted as being ancient river valleys. Isolith maps of sandstones above and below the Haskell Limestone show major features of this drainage pattern and indicate that little or no sandstone is present in much of the area. The deepest channel (i.e., trend of thickest sandstone) above the Haskell Limestone trends in an irregular westerly direction across Wabaunsee, Osage, and Franklin counties, and main sandstone deposition below the Haskell Limestone was in a deep channel extending southwestward through Douglas, Franklin, Osage, Coffey, Lyon, and Greenwood counties. Sandstone as much as 160 feet thick was found in each of these stratigraphic units.

A few samples of Ireland and Tonganoxie Sandstone, the most important units in the sequence, were analyzed, and all samples were found to have similar physical characteristics. Fine to very fine sand is predominant in both sandstones, but the Ireland contains a larger percentage of silt. Subangular to angular quartz grains make up 90 to 95 percent of the volume of all samples, the remainder being composed of muscovite, some tourmaline, and rare chlorite grains. Permeability is uniformly low, although both of these sandstones are important aquifers in northeastern Kansas.

Results of this study should aid in locating new sources of ground water and possibly in developing underground storage reservoirs for surface water.