Geological Survey Professional Paper 17 Preliminary Report on the Geology and Water Resources of Nebraska West of the One Hundred and Third Meridian

Cover

Introduction

Topography

General features
High table
North Platte Valley
Lodgepole Valley
Niobrara Valley
White River Valley
Hat Creek Basin
Sand hills

Geology

General geology of Nebraska
     Alluvium
     Sand dunes
     Loess
     Drift
     Ogalalla formation
     Arikaree formation
     Gering formation
     Brule clay
     Chadron formation
     Laramie formation
     Pierre clay
     Niobrara and Benton formations
     Dakota sandstone
     Carboniferous formations

Geology of the region west of the one hundred and third meridian
     General relations
     Alluvial formations
     Sand dunes
     Ogalalla formation
     Arikaree formation
     Gering formation
     Brule clay
     Chadron formation
     Laramie formation
     Pierre clay
     Niobrara limestone
     Benton formation
     Dakota sandstone
     Volcanic ash

Underground waters

General conditions
Wafer horizons
Deep-seated waters

Springs

Streams

North Platte River
Pumpkinseed Creek
Lodgepole Creek
Snake Creek
Niobrara River
White River
Hat Creek Basin

Irrigation

North Platte Valley
Pumpkinseed Valley
Niobrara Valley
White River Basin
Lodgepole Valley
Hat Creek Basin
Windmill irrigation

Climate

Timber

List of elevations in Nebraska west of the one hundred and third meridian

Western Cheyenne County
Kimball County
Banner County
Scotts Bluff County
Sioux County
Dawes County
Boxbutte County

Index (omitted from the online edition)

PLATE

I. Contour map of Nebraska

II. Relief map of Nebraska

III. Scotts Bluff, from north side of North Platte River

IV. Courthouse and Jail rocks, from the south

V. Jail Rock, from the west

VI. Smokestack Rock, from the east

VII. A, Twin Sisters, Banner County, Nebr; B, Wind erosion in Gering formation, Banner County, Nebr

VIII. North face of Pine Ridge, looking northeast over Hat Creek Basin

IX. Preliminary geologic map of Nebraska

X. Cross section from the Rocky Mountains to Omaha, across Nebraska

XI. Geologic map of Nebraska west of the one hundred and third meridian

XII. Cross sections of Nebraska west of the one hundred and third meridian

XIII. Typical sand hills in western Cheyenne County, Nebr

XIV. A, Conglomerate at base of Ogalalla formation, 5 miles south-southeast of Redington, Cheyenne County, Nebr; B, Conglomerate in Arikaree formation, 3 miles due south of Larissa, Scotts Bluff County, Nebr

XV. Sections of exposures of Arikaree and Ogalalla formations, at and near Langs Point, Nebr

XVI. Smokestack Rock, looking east, near view

XVII. A, Butte of Arikaree formation, Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux County, Nebr.; B, Arikaree formation on Brule clay, southwest portion of Sioux County, Nebr

XVIII. A, Blowout with core, Arikaree formation, Sioux County, Nebr; B, Pipy concretions, Arikaree formation, Scotts Bluff County, Nebr

XIX. Dæmonelix beds in Arikaree formation, northern Sioux County, Nebr

XX. Gering formation with fault, near Rutland, Dawes County, Nebr

XXI. Cliffs of Arikaree formation, north face of Pine Ridge, Sioux County, Nebr

XXII. Arikaree formation, Gering formation, and Brule clay in Birdcage Gap, Cheyenne County, Nebr

XXIII. Cross sections showing relations of formations near Chimney Rock and Horseshoe Flat, Nebr

XXIV. Chimney Rock, Cheyenne County, Nebr

XXV. Gering formation lying unconformably on Brule clay, Cheyenne County, Nebr

XXVI. Sections of exposures, showing the relations of Gering and associated formations, Cheyenne County, Nebr

XXVII. Sections of exposures, showing the relations of Gering and associated formations from Chimney Rock to Castle Rock

XXVIII. Sections of exposures, showing the relations of Gering and associated formations south and southwest of Larissa, Nebr

XXIX. North face of Scotts Bluff

XXX. Badlands at the foot of Scotts Bluff, general view

XXXI. Badlands at the foot of Scotts Bluff, near view

XXXII. A, Castle Rock, Scotts Bluff County, Nebr., from the east; B, Lens of coarse material in Brule formation, 4 miles south of Gering, Nebr

XXXIII. Badlands of Brule formation west of Adelia, Sioux County, Nebr

XXXIV. "Toadstool Park" in badlands, northwest of Adelia, Sioux County, Nebr

XXXV. Titanotherium robustum

XXXVI. Typical fossils of Niobrara chalk and Greenhorn limestone

XXXVII. Map showing distribution of underground waters in Nebraska west of the one hundred and third meridian

XXXVIII. Contour map of the Upper Missouri region, showing factors bearing on prospects for deep underground waters

XXXIX. Map of Omaha, Nebr., showing area of artesian flow

XL. Irrigation map of the North Platte Valley in Nebraska west of the one hundred and third meridian

XLI. Irrigation map of the Niobrara River, White River, and Hat Creek regions in Nebraska, west of the one hundred and third meridian

XLII. Diagram of rainfall at localities in western Nebraska, 1884 to 1897

XLIII. Map showing distribution of timber in western Nebraska

FIG.

1. Columnar section of formations exposed in Wildcat Mountain and vicinity

2. Section 6 miles southwest of Gering, Nebr., showing relations of Arikaree and Brule formations

3. Section of Arikaree and Brule formations on the north side of the valley of North Platte River

4. Section 4 miles northwest of Dorrington, Nebr., showing position of conglomerate in Arikaree formation

5. Section 8 miles south-southeast of Gering Nebr., showing relations of conglomerate in Arikaree formation

6. Cross section from eastern end of Spoon Butte to Sturdivant ranch, looking east

7. Section of bluff in southwest corner of Sioux County, showing relations of supposed Gering formation

8. Details of unconformity between Brule clay and supposed Gering deposits in the valley of Lawrence Fork

9. Cross section of ridge 10 miles south of Gering Nebr., looking west

10. Section 8 miles due south of Gering, Nebr

11. Section of Gering and associated formations 6 miles south-southwest of Gering Nebr

12. Section of Gering and associated formations 7 miles south-southwest of Gering Nebr

13. Section of Gering and associated formations in Cedar Canyon, 8 miles southwest of Gering Nebr

14. Section of Gering and associated formations at the mouth of Cedar Canyon, 7 miles southwest of Gering, Nebr

15. Section at Signal Butte, Scotts Bluff County, Nebr

16. Section of Gering and associated formations 2 miles northeast of Dorrington, Nebr

17. Section in vicinity of Funnel Rock, 1 mile north of Ashford, Nebr

18. Section of north face of Scotts Bluff

19. Section from Round Top to Adelia station, Sioux County, Nebr

20. Section at Chadron, Nebr

21. Section from the Black Hills to Pine Ridge, in western Nebraska

22. Diagram of apparatus illustrating the declivity of head of liquids flowing from a reservoir

23. Section to illustrate some characteristic features of springs in western Nebraska

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
CHARLES D. WALCOTT, DIRECTOR

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