- Smoky Hills
The Smoky Hills are hills in the north central section of
Kansas , USA. The hills contain many interesting rock formations and bluffs. The bluffs formed because of the draining of rivers into an ancient sea that once covered the area.ub-regions
The region is divided into three regions, based on the underlying rock outcroppings: The
Dakota Formation (sandstone ), the GreenhornLimestone and theNiobrara Chalk .cite web
url=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/smoky/smoky.html
title=GeoKansas--Smoky Hills--Intro:
publisher=kgs.ku.edu
accessdate=2008-10-04
last=Brosius
first=Liz]The Dakota Formation forms the eastern region. This area includes the Smoky Hill buttes, which are capped by sandstone and provide a sharp contrast with the surrounding plains. One of the most notable buttes is
Coronado Heights in Saline County.cite web
url=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/smoky/smoky.html
title=GeoKansas--Smoky Hills--Intro:
publisher=kgs.ku.edu
accessdate=2008-10-04
last=Brosius
first=Liz] There areconcretions at Rock Cityin Ottawa County andMushroom Rock State Park in Ellsworth County. These are cemented bycalcium carbonate .cite web
url=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/smoky/rocks.html
title=GeoKansas--Smoky Hills--Rocks and Minerals:
publisher=kgs.ku.edu
accessdate=2008-10-04
last=Brosius
first=Liz]The Greenhorn Limestone region in the central region is made up of thin (usually less than 6 inches), chalky limestones beds alternating with thicker beds of grayish
shale . This area is known as post rock country due to the practice of early settlers using limestone for buildings and fenceposts since trees were scarce.cite web
url=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/smoky/smoky.html
title=GeoKansas--Smoky Hills--Intro:
publisher=kgs.ku.edu
accessdate=2008-10-04
last=Brosius
first=Liz]The
chalk beds of the Niobrara Chalk are exposed in bluffs of the western Solomon, Saline, andSmoky Hill River s and in an irregular belt in the west. This area includes such Kansas landmarks as Castle Rock and Monument Rocks in Gove County, and is also known for fossils of swimming reptiles such asplesiosaur s andmosasaur s.cite web
url=http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Extension/smoky/smoky.html
title=GeoKansas--Smoky Hills--Intro:
publisher=kgs.ku.edu
accessdate=2008-10-04
last=Brosius
first=Liz]References
External links
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