Studies of Pleistocene Gravel Lithologies in Northeastern Kansas

Abstract

This report describes the lithology of 29 gravel samples and relates the lithology to the origin of the gravels. The major geologic sources for gravel in northeastern Kansas are local sedimentary rocks, the Ogallala formation of western Kansas and western Nebraska, and local glacial drift. Pre-Nebraskan gravels consist entirely of local material derived from sedimentary rocks. Kansan gravels are dominantly limestone with mixed glacial erratics which were deposited along the ice front of the Kansan glacier. Post-Kansan gravels are dominated by arkosic material from the Ogallala formation.

Most gravel utilized commercially is either glacial outwash or Recent arkosic river gravel. Both types of gravel seem satisfactory for ordinary uses; however, the higher limestone content of the outwash makes it more desirable for concrete aggregate.