New Kansas Geological Survey publication explores geology of eastern Kansas
LAWRENCE — A new publication from the Kansas Geological Survey integrates data drawn from scientific observations and detailed oil and gas industry well logs to modernize understanding of the geology of eastern Kansas and create a framework to support identification and management of the state’s vital natural resources.
KGS Bulletin 265, "Outcrop-to-Subsurface Stratigraphic Correlations of the Upper Desmoinesian and Lower Missourian Stages (Pennsylvanian) in Eastern Kansas," addresses long-standing issues in Kansas stratigraphy, the science of naming, dating and classifying layers of rock.
“The long history of stratigraphic studies in Kansas has produced a vast body of literature, resulting in complexity and confusion in nomenclature and correlation,” said Stephan Oborny, lead author of KGS Bulletin 265 and KGS assistant scientist. “This is particularly evident in the Middle Pennsylvanian (Upper Carboniferous) strata of eastern Kansas, where the definition, usage and stratigraphic positioning of many units have changed over time.”
Understanding rock layers and their characteristics helps individuals and industry decide where to drill a water or oil well, where to find building stone and where to quarry the raw materials used to pave roads, among many other uses.
“Improved stratigraphic frameworks support the exploration and management of valuable natural resources, such as critical minerals, aggregates, coal, oil, gas, salt and groundwater,” Oborny said. “Additionally, enhancing regional rock unit correlations allows stratigraphers to more accurately reconstruct Earth’s geological history, including ancient sea-level fluctuations, past environmental conditions, tectonic activity and mass extinction events.”
Among the challenges today’s geologists face are the loss of key rock outcrops that scientists of the past used in interpreting the geology of the state and past studies that prioritized outcrop observations over subsurface data or vice versa, leading to incomplete or imprecise interpretations.
The new publication seeks to reconcile these historical and recent discrepancies by integrating new observations both above and below ground. Researchers revisited key outcrops where Pennsylvanian rock units were originally defined in eastern Kansas and examined oil and gas industry well log data to better understand rock layers in the subsurface. Based on what they learned from these activities, they constructed nine stratigraphic cross sections that trace rock units through the subsurface in 28 counties in eastern Kansas, two in western Missouri and one in northern Oklahoma.
“Whether applied in industry, environmental conservation or academic research, stratigraphy remains a fundamental discipline in earth sciences, providing essential insights into the past while helping to anticipate future geological changes,” Oborny said.
Bulletin 265 is available online. Printed copies are available in Lawrence through KGS Publications Sales, kgs-publications@ku.edu, 785-864-3965, 1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047-3724. In Wichita, copies are available from Kansas Geologic Sample Repository, kgsr@ku.edu, 316-943-2343, 4150 W. Monroe St, Wichita, KS 67209-2640. Supplemental files are available online only.
The KGS is a nonregulatory research and service division of the University of Kansas. KGS researchers study and provide information about the state’s geologic resources and hazards, including groundwater, oil and natural gas, critical materials and earthquakes.