Nodaway County, Missouri - Chapter 4: Geology of Nodaway County, 1882

Chapter 4: Geology of Nodaway County

Quaternary. - The alluvial deposits are quite extensive along the streams, and do not materially differ from similar formations in other counties of this part of Missouri. The "bluff" formation overlies the surface of the hills, but is probably not so thick as in Atchison County.

Drift. - The "bowlder" formation is not so generally diffused, nor are there such deep deposits found, as in some counties further east, nor are the bowlders large. At Lanning's Mill, in the northern part of township sixty-three, range thirty-three, are found rounded bowlders of granite, quartzite and limestone. A few pebbles are found near Graham, in the southwestern portion of the county. In township sixty-six, on points of the hills west of Nodaway River, the soil is sandy, and many rounded pebbles are found strewn around, mostly consisting of granite, quartzite, etc.

Upper Carboniferous or Coal-measures. - The rock-strata seen in this county, embrace a vertical thickness of about 230 feet of the upper members of the Upper Coal measures, and are included between Nos. 224 and 174 of the General Section of the Upper Coal measures.

Although some parts of the county are well supplied with rock, in others no outcrops appear. On the Nodaway River and its tributaries, it is occasionally found as far up as Quitman. From this place to City Bluffs, no outcrops appear on the eastern side of the river, and it is over six miles further to the next outcrop. Passing east of the Nodaway River, through townships sixty-five and sixty-six, no outcrops are seen until we reach Honey Creek and the Platte River, in the eastern part of the county. Limestone is occasionally found in the Platte River bluffs. from section thirteen, township sixty-four, range thirty-four, to section sixteen, township sixty-five, range thirty-three ; with this exception we find no other exposures in township sixty-four, east of the Nodaway River water shed. On the Platte River and Long Branch, in townships sixty-two and sixty-three, there are very few rock exposures. In the same townships, on the White Cloud, and the One-Hundred-and-Two Rivers, rock, including both sandstone and limestone, is more abundant.

The rocks along the Nodaway River and its tributaries occupy the highest geological position of any seen in the county ; the highest in the series are the shales, with included iron carbonate concretions exposed at City Bluffs, referred to in Numbers 224 to 221, inclusive.

The formations seen on the Platte River may include the lowest rocks exposed in this county. At Lanning's Mill, on the north line of section one, township sixty-five, range thirty-four, there is a low bluff of gray, blue and drab limestone, referrable to Number 186, of the General Section of Upper Coal Measures. Its contained fossils include Myalina subquadrata, Athyvis subtilita and Sp. cameratus.

On the Platte River, in the southwest coVner of section sixteen, township sixty-five, range thirty-three, there is exposed nine feet of irregularly-bedded bluff limestone, containing some blue chert, the lower beds somewhat brownish. This also, is probably equivalent to Number 186. Beds of limestone and sandstone are exposed on Honey Creek, near and at Mrs. Martin's, in section twenty-five, township sixty-four, range thirty-four, whose geological position is probably between Numbers 179 and 186. A quarter of a mile below Mrs. Martin's, several feet of sandstone is e\posed, in layers of five to seven inches, and is said to be a good rock for grind stones.

No. 1 - 12 feet slope of river terrace ; outcrop of shelly limestone at the lower part, containing Scliloodus, Fusulina and a cast of Bcllerophon.

4 - 5 feet of shelly, gray limestone, containing remains of Bellerophon, cast of Bellcrassus, remains of Nautilus, Naticopsis Altonensis, Athyris subtilita, Prod. Nebrascensis. The remains of the fossils seem generally to be replaced by calcite crystalized. I also observed Myalina and Aviculopecten; and Fusulina cylindrica was very abundant. West of this, on Long Branch, I observed an outcrop of limestone in two layers, the upper, six inches, the lower, five inches, separated by six inches of olive shales. The principal observed fossils were Sperifer cameratus, Sp. li neat us, a small Productus, Prod, Roger si, Athyris subtilita, Chonetes, Pi una peraeuta, Murchisonia, Naticopsis. A spring issues from the base of this rock. I refer these beds to No. 186 of General Section.

On the east side of the One Hundred and Two River, and about four miles south of Bridgevvatcr, I observed a coarse, hard and tough, brown, ferruginous and somewhat oolitic limestone, containing but few fossils, but among them I observed Meekella and Myalina Swaljovi.

This limestone I refer to No. 182 of General Section, and it is probably the equivalent of the rock used in the abutments of the bridge at Barnard. The latter was quarried on west side of the One Hundred and Two River, about two miles northwest. A mile and a half north, we find beds exposed, belonging to Nos. 184 and 186. No 186 is eight feet thick and burned into lime. Below it, there is two feet of brown shales, then mostly three feet of olive shales, resting on ash-gray limestone, No. 184.

The last named limestone (No. 184) contains minute calcite specks, thoroughly diffused, and would doubtless appear very well if polished. A quarter of a mile north, on the One Hundred and Two River, limestone No. 186 is seen, 11^ feet thick, at 20 feet above the stream.

5 - 5 feet 8 inches thick-bedded, soft and hard sandstone, outer beds course brown, sometimes traversed by minute veins of calcite ; some interior beds are indurated, bluish-gray and calcereous.

16 - 3 feet of dull, ash-blue limestone, with shaly parting, containing ArcJueocidaris, Spirifier cameratus and Prod. Nebrascensis\ No. 199.

At Quitman, we find limestone corresponding to No. 1 of the above section in the bed of the stream ; the overlying rocks are the following : Section 84.

No. 1 - Slope of bluff clays. 2 - 22 inches blue spathic limestone, containing Bellerophon (large sp.,) B. Kansasensis, remains of a Plenrotomaria, and a very small gasteropod 1-16 of an inch long, with six whorls. 3 - 2\ feet sandy shales.

4 - 2 feet ash-blue limestone, containing Terebratula bovidcns, Syntrilasm hemiplicata, Productus, Prattenianus, Naticopis Skumardi ; No. 218.

14 - 2 feet blue, compact limestone, containing Avieulopinna Americana, a large Piscina, a Lingula, Cordaites and remains of other plants, and a fish tooth. At City Bluffs, formerly known as Halsey's Ferry, on the Nodaway River, a shaft has been sunk forty feet deep, reaching the coal of the Quitman section at 24 feet below water. Opposite the milldam are seen the highest rocks in the county. The section of them is the following :

No. 1 - A few feet of a porous, ferruginous limestone, closely resembling the bluff limestone, over the coal near Rulo and the mouth of the Big Nemaha, in Nebraska, No. 224.

No. 2 - 76 feet shales, containing beds of carbonate of iron near the upper part, a bed of septaria at forty feet from bottom, and a calcareoferruginous bed just below, containing Prod Prattcnianus, Nos. 221,. 222 and 223.

The rocks gradually rise from this, northward, and at Allen's coal bank, near the northwest corner of Township 66, .Range 36, we find the coal corresponding to No. 215 of Gen. Sec, about the water line in the Nodaway River. Less than a quarter of a mile the deep blue limestone, No. 212 of Gen. Sec, is in the bed of the stream, indicating a rise in that distance of twenty feet.

At Braddy's Mill, in Iowa, about a mile and a half further north, we find green shales corresponding to No. 203 of Gen. Sec, at the edge of water, indicating a rise of thirty-seven feet in one and a half miles, without reckoning the descent of the stream in that distance. This rise must continue some distance, for the coal above named is mined at Clarinda, twelve miles north.

Section 88 was obtained at Dog Creek, on the land of John Lund, in the northwest of the northwest section 62, township 63, range 35, as follows :

4 - 23 inches shales, upper half a dark olive, and calcareous ; bituminous below ; contains Spirifer (Martinia) planoconvexus and Cordaites.

5 - 10 inches blue limestone ; containing Hemipronites. The interior of the fossils is crystallized calcite. Corresponds to No. 206. 6 - 4 feet somewhat sandy, olive and blue shales. 7 - 2 feet shales and nodular limestone. 8 - 7 inches suboolitic, coarse gray limestone, No. 201. 9 - 6 inches nodular, calcareous shales, No. 200.

14 - 9 inches irregular bed of blueish-gray limestone, contains calcite veins and specks, and zinc-blende. Hemipronites crassus is also contained.

Most of the rocks of the above section are exposed on Peter Collins' land, west of Bridgewater. The thin coal-seam is also seen, but I do not consider it of any economic value.

This seam is represented by bituminous shales, near Oregon, Holt County. In the quarries on Collins' land, No. 210 was observed, containing Fusulina cylindrica, Crinoid stems, and Zeacrinus mucrospinus. In No. 212, I observed Cetenacanthus (sp.,) Lingula and Rhynchonella Osagensis.

In No. 209, I observed sp. cameratus, Chonetes, Smithii, sp. Kentuckensis, Prod. Prattenianus, Retzia, punctulifera, Crinoids, Rhonbopora, lepidodendroides, ALUs Swallovi.

On Elkhorn Creek, southeast of Graham, we find about 10 feet of limestone, No. 186 cropping out near the water. It is of grayish color, the upper part brown-tinged ; below is dark shaly, and reposing on blue clay shales. On the Nodaway River, west, are outcrops of limestone, No. 197, and its correlated beds.

Formations along and near the Nodaway River. - In townships 62 and 63, we find strata included from Nos. 182 to 210. On Mr. Bagby's land, near the center of section 15, township 63, range 37, rocks included in section 81 are the following:

3 - 1 foot of even-bedded blue limestone ; contains Hemipronites crassus and Productus Nebrascensis, Prod. Prattenianus, Polypora (sp.) The interior of the Producti is replaced by calcite crystals, No. 206.

7 - Limestone in creek, having a vitreous appearance. Three miles northwest of this, on the Nodaway River, at the OKI Mill site, in section five, township sixty-three, range thirty-seven, these beds are well exposed, with other correlated strata. A descriptive section is as follows : Section 82.

No. I - 2 feet deep blue, compact limestone, in even 6 to 10 inch layers, containing Lingula, Prothyn's elegans, Edmondia Nebrascensis, Discina, Aviculopinna Americana, No. 212.

2 - 6 inches deep ash blue limestone ; contains Athyn's subtilita, Prod. Nebrascensis, Prod. Prattenianus, Edmondia Nebrascensis, Aviculopecten, Macrocheilus, Orthoceras cribosum, the pygidium of a Phillipsia, Crinoideas, Rhombopora Lepidodendroides, Fistulipora nodulifira, Synocladia biscrialis and Polypora Submarginata, No. 211.

4 - 10 inches blue limestone full of remains of fossils, including Hemipronites crassus and Rhombopora. The Brachiopoda are generally replaced by calcite, No. 209.

5 - 1 foot of blue calcareous shales, full of fossils, including Athyris subtilita, Prod, splendens, Prod Nebrascensis and Orthis carbonaria,

10 - 10 inches deep blue limestone ; abounds in fossils, including Bellerophon, Hemipronites and Edmondia. The interior of fossils is replaced by calcite, No. 206.

We perceive that the upper beds of this section correspond to the upper beds of section at Milton, Nodaway River, twenty miles south, and also correspond to the base of section at Quitman.

Nodaway Coal

The only coal within working distance from the surface is that corresponding to No. 215 of the General Section. It is found on Nodaway River at Allen's, within two miles of the Iowa line, on Mill Creek, and southward to Quitman, near Quitman, on Sand Creek, Florida Creek, and Elkhorn. In thickness it varies from nine to sixteen inches, and is of rather inferior quality, containing a large per cent of ash. In 1872 the coal at Allen's was hidden by fallen debris and drifted material from the stream. Our section, taken in i860, shows the following :

4 - 41 feet dull, lead-colored limestone, possessing a rough fracture ; in two beds, the upper containing a thin, spathic scam, with crystalline fibres perpendicular to stratum ; the lower, weathering brown, is pyritiferous, and does not make good lime ; contains Eutolinum aviculatum and Enmicrotis, Chonetes , and Athyris, No. 218.

Brick of good quality is made from the overlying shales, Nos. 2 and 3 of the section. The lower layers are the best. The clay is dug out, allowed to slake, and mixed, one -third of it, with sand and clay. The vein reached in the shaft at City Bluffs was reported to be 16 inches thick. On Samuel Bowman's land, in section 31, township 65, range 37, the coal is 14 to 18 inches thick, cropping out in the branch.

The coal mine of James C. Smith is located on the northwest of the southwest quarter section 9, township 64, range 37, a half mile south of Quitman. It is reached by a horizontal entry into the hill. We find here exposed :

Spirifer planoconrexus occurs in the overlying blue shales. The coal is bright, black and tolerably hard, the top and middle harder than the bottom. It is joined with intervening calcite-plates, and contains some iron pyrites. An analysis by Mr. Regis Chaurenet, chemist, for the surgery, gives :

The section of Burdick's coal bank, one mile below the mouth of Lund Creek, as observed by Mr. C. J. Norwood, is as follows: Section 86. No. 1 - 20 feet slope.

5 - 16 inches hard, ash-blue limestone, containing Entolium ariculatum, Edmondia Nebrascensis, Athyris Subtilita, spirifer planoconrexus, Prod, splendens, Bellerophon Kansasensis, crinoid stems, Hemipronitas crassus, Ariculopecten occidentalis, Pinna peracuta, Edmondia reflexa, Lingula, Prod. Prattenianus, Nautilus - Polypora submarginata, (No. 218.)

2 - 14 inches ash gray limestone, somewhat splintery, abounding in fossils, many similar to some of those found at Burdick's and also containing Naticopsis Altonensis, Spirifer cameratus, Syntrilasma hermiplicata and Euomphalus rugosus.

On William Smith's land, in the northwest quarter of section three, township sixty-three, range thirty-seven, the coal is about six inches in thickness, and is separated by four feet of shales from the limestone above.

9 - 4 feet deep blue, compact limestone in even flags ; contains Prod. Nebrascensis, Prinna peracuta, Edmondia Nebrascensis, Prothgris elegans, Pleurophorus, Prod. Prattenianus and a small Myalina.

Coal crops out at several places in this neighborhood, in thickness varying from nine to twelve inches. On the land of the Maryville Coal Company, in the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section twenty-five, township sixty-four, range thirty-seven, it is six inches thick, the lower part intersected by a seam of pyrite.

By comparing the above sections we find the coal to be much thicker in the northern part of the county, and thinning as we go south. This is further verified by observations on the Missouri River bluffs, near Forest City, Holt County, where it is only from two to four inches thick. When we say that this and the coal of Andrew and Buchanan Counties are the only seams in the upper coal series of Missouri thick enough to work in a total thickness of over 1,000 feet, we may well term the upper series " Barren Measures." On the waters of Elkhorn Creek, in the northwest part of township sixty-three, range thirty-seven, we find beds of limestone, whose position is over the coal, indicating its presence beneath. But nowhere east of the divide, between the waters of the Nodaway River and those of the One Hundred and Two River, are there any accessible beds of coal in this county worthy of notice. To reach good coal, shafts would have to be extended a long distance into the rocks below. From a careful summation of measurements, I find that from the Nodaway coal (215) the depth is about 395 feet, to the one foot seam of Buchanan and Andrew Counties, occurring in No. 134, or, 1,160 feet to the Holden coal, also of one foot thickness, or, 1,233 teet to the Lexington coal. With these facts before us, it would be expensive work to sink a shaft in search of coal. A shaft sunk from the top of the limestone, in the river at Brdgewater, would only lessen the depth about seventy feet. I mention this, because it is the easiest limestone to recognize in the central and eastern portions of the country.

There are several coal mines in the county, that are being successfully and profitably worked. The best are perhaps in Atchison Township, located near Quitman, and are a source of income to the town, large quantities of coal being shipped. There are seven mines of coal being worked at the present time. The names of the persons or firms mining coal are as follows: David Kimball, Chas. Leonard, Emmerson & Brigman, Brigman Bros., Manorgan Bros., Ellsworth & Wells and Neely Bros. There are thirty miners at work who take out daily 700 or 800 bushels of coal. During the winter season, when the demand for coal increases, the number of miners is increased. Some shaft and others slope to the coal and then drift. The veins are from fourteen to eighteen - nches in thickness, and the quality of the coal is quite good. The deeper veins, which could probably be found anywhere in this county by boring, will doubtless produce a better quality, as the rule generally is the deeper the vein the thicker and better the coal, ceteris paribus.

There are excellent stone quarries at Quitman which yield a very fine quality of blue limestone. The stone is used for flagging in the town and building, and serves the purpose well.

Burlington Mineral Springs

These springs have for years been tested as to their medical properties. The following analysis has been recently made by Merrill & Wright, of St. Louis :

This analysis shows the springs to possess rare virtues. A more complete and perfect combination of the most essential minerals, with less waste matter, cannot be found. The water is very pure and as clear as crystal.

The springs are located on Mineral Branch, a small tributary of the Nodaway River, one mile southwest of the city of Burlington Junction, Nodaway County, Missouri. Near the spring are beautiful groves for public purposes, or tenting grounds. A picturesque little lake, covering nine acres, fed by springlets, abounding with fish, and its banks lined with shady nooks, all combine to make this a pleasant resort. Public drives will be opened around the lake and through the groves, and not a more beautiful spot could be found in the Missouri Valley. The lake is now supplied with boats for the accommodation of the public.

A good bath house with all the improved fixtures, and containing ample accommodations has been erected at the spring. It is under tlie care of Dr. James Evans, an able and experienced physician, who controls the bathing and gives medical advice. Those attending the springs can have the benefit of his professional counsel.

Mineral Well

This well is located in the town of Burlington Junction, and is owned by Mr. J. T. Anderson. The peculiarity of this water is its pureness, and yet it is claimed that it has all the essential minerals. It is very much like the Eureka Springs, holding about the same amouru of mineral substance, and in nearly the same proportions. The analysis of the Eureka Springs give 5-§5 grains to the gallon. Bath houses have been constructed.

From an analysis made by Wright & Merrill, of St. Louis, July 27, 1881, it was determined that one gallon of 231 cubic inches contains the following ingredients :