Geology and Water Resources of Oklahoma

              58TH CONGRESS, l HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. { DOCUMENT
3d Se88ion. f No. 465.
Water-Supply and Irrigation Paper No. 148 S . es { B, Descriptive Geology, 72
en 0, IJnderground Waters, 47
DEI' ARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
CHARLES D. WALCO'l'T, DIRECTOR
U.s. GOVERNMENT INfORMATION DtvlSION
OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT Of LI13RARIES
GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES
OF OI{LA.HOMA
BY
CHARLES NEWTON GOULD
WASHINGTON
GOVEI{'NME'NT PRINTING OFFIOE
1905
CONTENTS.
Page.
Introduction ________________ . _____________________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 11
Location and general description _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ 11
Sources of data ______________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 11
Topography _________ .. ____________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 12
General features __________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 12
Uplands _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 13
Wichita Mountain region _______________________________ . _ _ 15
Flint-Sandstone Hills region_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 16
Low Plains region _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 16
Gypsum Hills region_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 17
Hig~ Plains region _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 17
Dakota Sandstone region_ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _________________ . _ _ 18
Valleys _ _ _ _ ________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 18
Arkansas Valley _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 18
SaltForkValley_ _________________________________ _________ 19
Cimarron Valley _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 19
North Canadian Valley _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20
South Canadian Valley _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 20
Washita Valley _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 21
Red River Valley _______________________________ : _. _ _ 21
Conclusion ___________________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 22
Geology _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ 22
General statement _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ . 22
Relations of pre-Carboniferous rocks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 23
Igneous rocks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 25
Gabbro _. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 25
Granite-porphyry ______________________________________ ___ __ 25
Granite _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _______________________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 26
Sedimentary rocks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 26
Cambrian rocks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 26
Reagan sandstone ________ : ____________________ ~ _ _ _ _ __ _ 26
Cambro-Ordovician rocks ___________________________ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 27
k:buckle limestone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 27
Ordovician rocks_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 27
Viola limestone _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 27
Carboniferous rocks .. ___ ~ _________________________ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 28
Pennsylvanian series_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 28
General relations _ _ _ _. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ 28
Relation to the Permian_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 28
Description of Pennsylvanian rocks in Oklahoma _ _ 32
H, 'miny district.. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 32
Chandler district _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 33
3
4 CONTENTS.
Geology-Continued.
Sedimentary rocks-Continued.
Carboniferous rocks-Cont~nued.
Permian series ______ _
Permian rocks of Kansas_
General relations of Permian rocks in Oklahoma
Classification ___________ _
Enid formation ___ . _ _ _ _ ________ _
Blaine formation _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ferguson gypsum member _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Medicine Lodge gypsum member ___________ _
Shimer gypsum member _ : _________________ . _____ . __ _
Woodward formation ___ , ________________ .. _ _ __________ _
Dog Creek shale member ____________ . _______________ _
Whitehorse sandstone member ____________________ .. __
Day Creek dolomite member _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ________ _
Greer formation ______________________ . __
Chaney gypsum member ______________________ _
Kiser gypsum member _________________________ .
Haystack gypsum member __ . ___ . ___________________ _
Cedartop gypsum member __________________________ _
Collingsworth gypsum member _____________________ _
Mangum dolomite member. _ _ ____________________ _
Quartermaster formation _ _ _ _ _______________________ _
Red beds of uncertain relations __________________________ _
Lawton area ______________________ .. _________________ _
Laverne area. _____ . _________________________________ _
Conglomerate _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _______ _
Gypsum in the red beds _ . _________________ _
Paleontology of the red beds _________ _
Age of the red beds _ _ _ _ _ ___________ _
Cretaceous rocks___ _ .. _____________________ _
Comanche series (Lower Cretaceous) ________________ _
Upper Cretaceous_ _ _ _ _ -_ - ______________ .
Dakota sandstones ______ . _________________________ _
Tertiary rocks _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ . ___________________ _
Physical properties __________________________________ _
Origin _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______________ . ___________ _
Extent and thickness ________________ . ______________ .. _
Lava of Black Mesa __________________________________ . __ _
Quaternary rocks ___________ : __________________________ _
Sand hills ____ , _________________________________ . _______ _
Alluvium _ _ _ _ _ _. _______ . _______ . _____________________ _
Water supply _________ . - _______________________________________________ _
General conditions_. _________________ . ___________________________ .. __ _
Wichita Mountain region ___________________________________ _
Flint-Sandstone Hills region ____________ " ___________________ _
Low Plains region _ .. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______ _
Gypsum Hills region ________ . _ ~ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ________________ _
High Plainsregion __________________ . __________ . ____________ _
Dakota Sandstone region _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _________________ _
Page.
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CONTENTS.
Water supply-Continued.
Streams _
Arkansas River __________________________ _
Salt Fork River _________________________ _
Cimarron River ____________________________ _
North Canadian River _____________________ _
South Canadian River ______________________ _
Washita River ____________ _
Red River _ _ _ _ _ _ _________________________ _
Stream measurements _______ . _______ . __________ . ____ _
Springs_~ ________ . ______ _
Fresh-water springs ____ _
Wichita Mountain springs ______________ .. _______ _
Limestone springs _____ . _____ _
Sandstone springs_ _ _ _ _ _ _____ _
Red beds springs ______________________________________ _
Gypsum springs _______ . ___________________________________ _
Tertiary springs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Alluvial springs _____ .. _ _ ______________________ _
Salt springs and plains _ _ ___________________________________ _
Woods County plain _ __ _ __ _ _ _____ _ _ _______ _
Woodward County plains _ . ________________________________ _
Blaine County plain ________________________________________ _
Roger Mills County plain _ _ _________________ .. ___ _
Greer County plains _ _ _ ____________ _
Sulphur springs ____________________________________________ _
Granite sulphur spring ______________ . ______________________ _
Rainy Mountain sulphur spring __________________________ _
Apache sulphur spring _________________________________ . ___ _
Deep wells _____ . _ _ ___________________________________________ _
Ge:n'eral conditions _ _ _______________________________ _
Water wells _ __ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ ____________ _
Fort Reno well _____________________________________ _
Kingfisher well ... ___________________________________ _
Optima well ___________________________________ . ____ _
Childress, Tex., well .. ________________________________ _
Oil and gas wells ________ . _ _ _ _ _ ______________ _
Wells in the Osage Nation _ _ ____________ _
Cleveland welL _ _ _ _______________ _
Newkirk welL ______________________________________ _
Shawnee welL __________________________ , _______ _
Jet well _ _ _ _ . ____________________ _
Anthony, Kans., welL _______ . ______________________ _
Conclusion ______________________________________ _
Artesian water ______________________ . _________ _
Water conditions, by counties _____________ ~ _________________________ _
Osage Nation _____ .. _________________ . ___________________________ _
Kay County ____________________________________________________ _
Noble County _ _ _ _________ .. _____________________ _
Pawnee County____ ___ _______________ _ _ . _____________ _
Payne County _ _ _ ________________________ _
5
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6 CONTENTS.
Water supply-Continued.
Water conditions by counties-Continued. Page.
Lincoln County__ _ ____ ~_____ ____ ______ ____________ 114
Pottawatomie County _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 114
Cleveland County _ _ _ 115
Oklahoma County _ __ ____ ____ ______ ______ _____ __ ______ __ 116
Logan County _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 117
Canadian County _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ __ _ _ 117
Kingfisher County ______________ . _ _ __ __ _ _ __ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ 118
Garfield County __________________________________________ . _ _ _ 119
Grant County _______________________________________ .___________ 120
Woods County_ ________ ______________ ________ ____________ ____ ____ 121
Blaine County _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ 123
Caddo County, __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ _ 124
Comanche County _ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ _____________ ._ __ __ _ 125
Kiowa County _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ 126
Greer County _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ __ _ 126
Washita County __ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ 127
Custer County __ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ 128
Dewey County __ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ 128
Roger Mills County ______________________ c __ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ _ _ _ 129
Day County _________________________________________________ : _ 130
Woodward County __ .___ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ __ _ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ 130
Beaver County __________________________________ .• __ _ _ 131
Irrigation _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ __ 133
General statement _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ 133
Irrigation from rivers _________________________________ . __ __ _ _ _ _ __ 133
Irrigation from reservoirs ___ . __ __ __ ____ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ __ __ _ 135
Medicine Bluff site_ _ __ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ ___ __ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ __ 136
Lower narrows of Otter Creek __ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ 136
Quartz Mountain site ___ , __ __ __ __ ___ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______ ~ _ 137
Cimarron River site _ 138
Utilization of storm waters _ _ __ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ __ __ _ _ 138
Irrigation from springs _______________________________ .. _ 139
Irrigation from wells __ __ __ __ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ 140
Climate _ __ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 141
Water analyses _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ 142
Method _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ 142
Definition of terms_ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ __ _ __ _ _ 142
Comparison of red beds wells_ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ 143
Analyses ___________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 146
Well records __ , _________________________________________ ., _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 155
Index _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 175
ILLUSTRATrONS.
Page.
PLATE I. Preliminary geologic map and sections of Oklahoma ._____ ______ 12
II. A, Granite weathering on top of Quanah Mountain; B, Devils
Canyon Mountain. ____ . ______ ~~ ___ . ___ . _____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 14
III. A, Upland basins; B,GypsumbluffsonNorthForkofRedRiver. 16
IV. A, Dakota erosion near Kenton, Okla.; B, Erosion forms in Da-kota
Cretaceous _______ . __________________________ . ____ .. __ . _ _. 18
V. A, Prairie st:ream just beginning to cut; B, Pit holes along
prairie arroyo _____ . __ .. _ _ _ _. ______ . _. ___________ .. ________ . _ 20
VI. Map of the Wichita Mountains _________ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 24
VII. A. Typical red-beds erosion; B, Red-beds slope below massive
gypsum __ . _______________ ~ ________________ . _. _________ . ___ . _ 42
VIII. A. Gypsum concretions covering the slopes of !-,ed clay, Glass
Mountains; B, Selenite and satin spar in red clay ___________ . _ 44
IX. A, Cedar Hill, east of Watonga, Okla., showing Ferguson gypsum
on the slope and Medicine Lodge gypsum as a cap; B, Anhydrite
member of the Medicine Lodge gypsum ____ . ______________ . _. 48
X. A, Erosion forms in Caddo County buttes; B, Dakota sandstone
hills ______ . ______________ " . ________ . _______________________ . _ 56
XI. Entrance to gypsum cave near Weatherford, Okla _____________ . 62
XII. A, B, Cross-bedding in mortar beds ___ • _ _ _ __ __ _ _ ___ __ ____ __ _ _ _ 80
XIII. A, B, Mortar-bed topography ______ . __ ~ ___ .. _____ ._ _ _____ ____ 80
XIV. A, Tertiary pebbles in place; B, Mortar-bed structure_ __ _ ___ ___ _ 80
XV. High Plains windmills ___________ .. __ . ________ . _________ ., _ _ _ 88
XVI. Map showing drainage areas of streams crossing Oklahoma _ .. _. 90
XVII. A, Bluff of Dakota sandstone; B, Red beds-Dakota unconformity _ 92
XVIII. A, Dam site at Quartz Mountain; B, Scene along the upper
course of South Canadian River ____ . __ ... __ _ __ _ __ _ ___ __ _ _ _ 92'
XIX. A. B, Tertiary springs and contiguous topography _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 98
XX. A, B, Salt Plains on the Cimarron _______________ .. __ " __ . _ _ _ _ _ 100
XXI. A, Salt spring issuing from beneath gypsum ledge; B, Log and
earth dam on upper Cimarron River _________________________ . 102
XXII. Well sections _ _ _ _____ .. _____________ . ____ . ____ . _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 106
FIG. 1. Map of Oklahoma, showing physiographic features_ . ______ " __ "" __ ~ 14
2. Generalized section of the Oklahoma Permian red beds ___________ " 40
3. Section 2 miles west of Altona, Okla ___ .. __ . _ _ _ _ _ ____ . ____ " _ _ _ 45
4. Section near Watonga, in sec. 32, T. 16 N., R. 10 W _ ___ ______ ____ 46
5. Cedar Hill section, in SW. t sec. 18, T. 16 N., R. 10 W ____ .. ___ .__ 47
6. Hitchcock section, 4 miles south of Hitchcock, Okla., along Rock
Island Railroad _______ . __ ... _ . , __ . , . , __ ' .... __ . __ .... ___ . __ .. _ 48
7. Bitter Creek section, 6 miles southwest of Ferguson, Okla., on west
branch of Bitter Creek __ , _________ . __________ " __________ .. __ . _ _ 50
'j
8 ILLUSTRATIONS.
FIG. 8. The Rubey section, in South Canyon, head of Salt Creek. at the
Rubey Stucco-Plaster mill, Ferguson, Okla _ _ _ _ _ 51
9. Section of gypsumcave_______ ______ ____ ______ ____ _ _____________ 52
10. Roscoe section, 1 mile south and 1t miles west of Roscoe, Okla_ _ _ 53
11. Glass Mountain section, on northwest side of mountain _ 54
12. Granton section; gypsum-capped butte 1 mile east of Granton,
Okla _________________ . ________________________ . _ _ 55
13. Section of hill west of the mouth of Greaver Creek_ _ 56
14. Section on Main Creek one-half mile northeast of Bat Cave _ 58
15. Section on Sand Creek, 5 miles northwest of Quinlan, Okla_ 60
16. Section on butte at mouth of Doe Creek, Woodward County, Okla__ 61
17. Section at high bluff at southeast corner of the Salt Plain _ 62
18. Section of bluff 5 miles northwest of Weatherford, Okla. _ 63
19. Section of butte 5 miles southeast of Cloud Chief, Okla ________ . 64
20. Little Washita River section, taken west of Frisco Railroad crossing _ 65
21. Section of bluff at the Salt Plain, 5 miles south of Carter, Okla _ _ 66
22. Haystack section, 6 miles south of Delhi, Okla _ _ 67
23. Section at Salton, Greer County, Okla _ _ _ 68
24. Section at mouth of Hackberry Creek, Greer County, Okla____ ____ 69
25. Section 10 miles south of Mangum, Okla., in bluffs between Salt
Fork and Horse Branch ______ ~ _ _ _ _ 70
26. Section on Boggy Creek, 9 miles northeast of Eldorado, Okla _ 71
27. Tertiary structure, showing formation of mortar beds_ _ 80
28. Section of Black Mesa, 2 miles north of Kenton, Okla_ _ _ 82
29. Ideal section of Tertiary springs _ _ 99
30. Section at Cleo springs, Cleo, Okla _ _ _ _ _ _ 122
31. Map showing the arid, semiarid, and humid regions of the United
States _________________ . _ _ 141
32. Map showing the mean annual rainfall of the United States_ . _ 142
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INT>ERIOR,
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
RECLAMATION SERVICE,
Washington, D. C., August 1,9, 1904.
SIR: I transmit herewith a manuscript, with illustrations, by Prof.
C. N. Gould, on the" Geology and 'Vater Resources of Oklahoma,"
and recommend its publication in the series of water-supply papers.
The paper was prepared under the direction of Mr. N; H. Darton,
geologist in charge of the western section of the division of hydrology.
It throws light upon the water resources of this section, regarding
which but little has hitherto been known, and will be of considerable
value in the development of this portion of the country.
Very respectfully,
Hon. CHARLES D. WALCOTT,
F. H. NEWELL,
Chief Engineer.
Director United States Geological Survey.
9
GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOUROES OF
OKLAHOMA.
By CUARLES NEWTON GOULD.
INTROBUCTION.
Location and general descr·iption.-Oklahoma IS situated in the
southern part of the Great Plains, its northern boundary being the
thirty-seventh parallel of north latitude. On the west the greater
part of the Territory is bounded by the one hundredth meridian, but
the northwest corner, Beaver County, 35 miles in width,extends west
of this meridian for a distance of 165 miles. The southern and east­ern
boundaries are irregular, and are sometimes rivers and sometimes
parallels or meridians. In places it extends south to the thirty-fourth
parallel and east to the ninety-sixth meridian.
,The ~rea of the Territory at the present time is 39,030 square miles,
about that of Ohio; the population is 365,000, and the assessed value,
of taxable property $85,000,000. Its resources are chiefly agricul­tural,
although minerals are known to exist in various localities. Oil
and gas are present in various parts of the Territory, but Oklahoma's
greatest mineral wealth consists of inexhaustible deposits of gypsum
and salt, which occur chiefly in the western part of the Territory.
Sources of data.-The work which forms the basis for this report
was carried on in the field and office during the years 1900-1903. In
1900 the writer was a member of a field party of the Oklahoma Geo­logical
Survey, and in 1901, in connection with Mr. Joseph A. Taff,
spent a month making a map of the 'Wichita Mountains. In 1902 he
had charge of the field parties of the Oklahoma Geological Survey,
which studied the gypsum deposits in the western part of the Terri­tory;
and in 1903 made a reconnaissance in western Oklahoma, south­western
Kansas, southeastern Colorado, northern New Mexico, and
the Panhandle of Texas to determine the water conditions along the
upper courses of South Canadian, North Canadian, and Cimarron
rivers.a In addition, many short trips have been made to various
a Gould, Chas. N., Reconnaissance in western Oklahoma aud adjacent areas: Second
Ann. Rept. Reclamation Service, 1904, pp. 423-·132.
11
.l~ GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAHOMA.
parts of the Territory. Since November, 1902, more than 14,000
blanks and requests for information regarding wells and springs have
been sent out and approximately 5,000 replies have been received.
The writer has been very ably assisted by several ad vanced students
in the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Pierce Larkin has had charge
of the subject of springs, Mr. Charles A. Long of deep wells, Mr.
Charles T. Kirk of rivers. All of these gentlemen and Mr. Chester
A. Reeds, who has also assisted in the office the past year, were mem­bers
of the field party during the season of 1903. Mr. Kirk and Mr.
Reeds have drawn the greater part of the maps and figures. Seven
of the plates are from photographs made by Dr. A. H. Van Vleet, of
the Oklahoma Geological Survey.
The water analysis has been made under the direction of Dr.
Edwin DeBarr, professor of chemistry in the University of Okla­homa,
largely by his assistants, Mr: R. S. Sherwin and Mr. E. E.
Gridley, students in the university; and by Professors Fields and
Holter, of the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College. The
gypsums and clays were analyzed by Mr. Sherwin, while the water
analyses were compiled by Mr. Gridley.
TOPOGRAPHY.
GENERAL FEATURES.
The topographic features of Oklahoma are due to the fact that it
is part of a region which was formerly a plain which was worn
down nearly to sea level, then elevated, and again eroded. The sur­face
slopes eastward at an average rate of about 8 feet to the mile.
The highest point in the Territory, approximately 4,500 feet, is on
Black Mesa, a lava-covered table-land which extends from Colorado
into the extreme northwestern corner of Beaver County.· The lowest
elevation, about 700 feet, is in the southeastern corner of Osage
Nation, where Arkansas River flows from Oklahoma into Indian
Territory. Cross sections made at various points in Oklahoma are
shown in PI. I.
In general, the rocks of eastern Oklahoma, Kansas, and the Indian
Territory dip to the west or southwest, while the country slopes to
the east. In most localities the dip is from 10 to 20 feet to the mile.
If the surface were level, an outcropping ledge would be 10 to 20
feet below the surface 1 mile to the west of its place of outcrop. .l.>e­cause
of this fact the highest rock on a north- or south-facing escarp­ment
is found lower and lower in the valley to the west, until it finally
disappears under the bed of a stream, and still farther west may be
penetrated in a well many feet underground. In the meantime other
US. GEOLOGICAL SU RVEY
31
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PRELIMINARY
GEOLOGIC MAP AND SECTIONS
OF
O KL~i\HOMA TERRITORY
BY C. N C-rOULD.
Preparecl1HLd.er the direction Qf N.H.Darton
Basalt Base compiled from U S.G.S.maps, railroad le-vels, special surveys, and -varim:1S SOUI'ces.
1904
Pliocene
Dakota sarulsto:oe
Co:manl'lLe series
(gilljzlg plar-e toHorrisoli
in. 1len:t.on area)
~~ Red beds of un.certain.
relati.on _ ...........
~: S ~ QuartermastPI
""". formation. ~~ ~
[~~~] Greer formation
I~
~ ~ ·Woodward.formation
Blame formation
·! .Enid formation
~MariOIl and 'WeJli.nglon.
fOrmatiOns
C1.Rse for:matiOJl
Chandler formati.on.
C8Jllbrian ana
Orctovician
Igneo n..8 rO('£:5
C. Spring-s from igneo'os rockB
+ Springs from jirn.estollp.
• 1!-.rtiu:y' spr ings
w
E
w
Black
A M ~8a
Scale
~======3W========2~O~====~3iO========4EO======~5CO======~60 Iniles
C.ontOll.l: interval 100 feet.
.£)flI:Ull1 1.8 rnea:n 8&.:1, Zeve.l .
AOliZOll.tal scal.e of sectlons
Yerti.cal seale of :::; ections
~ .......-. ~_. =80"E0",O,=,,=,,,,,,,~'2. 0.0 0 fee1
HI Pla ins
o Gyp sum. SpTUl.!fS Lo .... Pliilln s
(9 Red beds spr.ings
I
L.... 0ea~~d'---------------------------------------- --- . --~'-~- ~~~~~~~:iii~~ii~liii~ ----.-
10ZO 10'"
WATER - SUPPLY PA PER NO.148. Pl .. 1
------------------------~~~~==~~~~31 '
D
~m-.---- 36'
~_F-~~~j----____ 1'35'
99 ' 98' .. 91'
4. NDREW B GRA H AM CO. lITHOGAAPHE:RS. WASHINGTON. O C
UPLANDS. 13
ledges outcrop and in turn dip into the valley, disappear beneath the
stream bed, and are succeeded by others still higher.
This peculiar combination of slope of surface and dip of rock,·
together with the erosion of the exposed ledges, gives the marked
" stair-step" structure to so much of the Great Plains. vVestward
the hills rise constantly higher and higher. Such conspiclloUS forms
of relief as the Flint Hills, the Dakota Sandstone Hills, or the
Gypsum Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma are simply somewhat exag­gerated
examples of this phenomenon. These hills are more con­spicuous
because local conditions 01 sedimentation or erosion have
made them higher than the surrounding region, but there are scores
of less-marked escarpments ..
The forms of relief of Oklahoma are the result of two factors:
First, certain broad structural zones striking in a general northeast­southwest
direction, and, second, the alternation of high divides and
shallow valleys resulting from stream erosion. Six streams of
considerable size cross these structural zones, approximately at right
angles, and produce a sort of checkerboard of upland and valley,
flat prairie and broken country, which extends north into Kansas
and south into Texas. This arrangement, however, can be distin­guished
in its broader outlines only by one who is thorollghly famil­iar
with the topography of the entire region. The only exception
to this general topographic plan is the vVichita Mountain region,
where a dome-shaped mass of igneous and lower Paleozoic rocks has
been thrust up from below, afterwards surrounded by sedimentary
rocks and still later extensively eroded, so that the range appears to be
a series of buried mountains with their tops sticking above a vast
plain.
The topography of Oklahoma will be discussed with regard to the
features due to the structural zones and with reference to valley
erosion. On the contour map (PI. I) the general configuration of
the Territory is shown. Contour lines are lines of equal elevation
above a certain datum, and the uniform altitudinal space between
adjacent contour lines is called the contour interval. On this map
the datum is sea level and the contour interval is 100 feet. If a per·
son should follow one of these contour lines he would go neither
uphill nor downhill, but on a level. If an area is gently sloping, the
lines are far apart; if it is a steep slope, they are crowded together;
and if the slope is actually perpendicular the lines will touch. They
encircle the hills and recede into the re!,)ntrant angles of valleys, indi­cating
both the shape and elevation of the relief forms.
UPLANDS.
vVith the exception of the vVichita Mountains, there are compara­tively
few conspicuous relief forms in Oklahoma. In the Osage
14 GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAHOMA.
Nation, in t?e northeastern part of the Territory, and the counnes
bordering Arkansas River the smaller streams have cut canyons
into the hard limestone and sandstone, and throughout the central
and southwestern part of the Territory are ranges of gypsum. hills
that rise steeply above the level plain to the east 200 or 300 feet.
In the extreme northwestern corner of Beaver County Cimarron
River has cut a canyon of considerable size through Cretaceous rocks.
With the exceptions just mentioned, the surface is usually one of
low relief. In the central and western part of the Territory there are
areas, sometimes thousands of square miles in extent, of practically
level plain occupied by prosperous farms, with growing villages and
cities.
Following a general classification only, without attempting to out­line
definite physiographic areas, because they all grade insensibly,
PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS
IN OKLAHOMA
By C. N. Gould
1904-
&a"
50
LEGEND
_ Wichita Mountain region
~ Flint-sandstone hill region
_ Low plains region
~ Gypsum bi11s region
ffilIIillIIlIll High plains region
_ Dakota sandstone bills. region
l<'IG. l.-Map of Oklahoma, showing physiographic features.
Oklahoma may be divided into the following topographic regions:
(1) Wichita Mountain region; (2) Flint-Sandstone Hills region;
(3) Low Plains region; (4) Gypsum Hills region; ( 5) High Plains
region, and (6) the Dakota Sandstone "region. These regions are
shown in fig. 1. It is possible that the third and fourth of these divi­sions
correspond, at least in part, to Professor Hill's Arapahoe and
Canadian belts.a Doctor Adams has proposed b a classification for
Kansas physiographic divisions, according to which the northern part
of Oklahoma is included under Osage Prairie, Flint Hills Uplands,
Great Bend Prairie, Oklahoma Prairie, Red Hills Upland, and High
Plains. It has not been found practicable to follow the classification
a Hill, R. T., Geography and geology of the Black and Grand prairies, Texas: Twenty·
first Ann. Rept. U. S. Geo!. Survey, pt. 7, 1901, p. 93.
b Adams, G. 1., Physiographic divisions of Kansas: Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., vol. 18.
1903, p. 109,
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 148 PL. If
A. GRANITE WEATHERING ON TOP OF QUANAH MOUNTAIN.
ii. DEVILS CANYON MOUNTAIN.
UPLANDS. 15
of either Hill or Adams, and for this reason new terms are used. It
is, however, not the intention of the writer to propose these names as
any but convenient working terms for purpose of discussi~m.
WICHITA MOUNTAIN REOION.a
The 'Vichita Mountains constitute the westernmost of three domes
or uplifts, each of which forms a separate group of mountains. Of
these the easternmost, to which the term" Ouachitas " has sometimes
been applied, lies in southwestern Arkansas and the southern part of
the Choctaw Nation. In the Chickasaw Nation occur the Arbuckle
Mountains and in southwestern Oklahoma the 'Vichita Mountains.
Some authorities, however, notably Hill, use the term "Ouachita
Mountains" to apply to the entire series of uplifts and designate the
easternmost of these as the Massern ranges.b
The Wichita Mountains differ from all others in the Territory in
that they are composed of igneous rocks, chiefly granite and porphyry.
They have been eroded, for the most part, into peaks which vary in
height from a few hundred to perhaps 1,200 feet. The main range
extends west from near Fort Sill for a distance of about 30 miles, has
an average width of 12 miles, and includes among others such peaks
as Mount Scott, Mount Sheridan, Mount Baker, Haystack Mountain,
Signal Mountain, Saddle Mountain, and Quanah Mountain (PI. II,
A). West of this main range to beyond the North Fork of Red River
. are scattered a number of smaller ranges and peaks, such as Raggedy
Mountains, Mount Tepee, Devils Canyon Mountain (PI. II, B),
Quartz Mountain, and Headquarters Mountain. From a distance
these granite peaks present the regular sawctoothed appearance no­ticed
along the Front Range of the Rockies or in the Sierra N evadas,
with the difference that the ·Wichita topography is more subdued.
On the north and east for a distance of 30 miles or more is a par­allel
range of hills composed chiefly of hard massive limestone, and
on the east and south are small rounded knobs of similar limestone.
These limestone areas are remnants of a series of Paleozoic rocks
which once extended as a dome over the igneous rocks, but which have
been deeply eroded since the dome was uplifted.
On all sides and between these ranges of granite and limestone the
rocks are composed of "red beds" shale and sandstone, with local
deposits of conglomerate. In other words, at the time the red beds
were being deposited the vVichitas were probably islands in the sea.
The numerous creeks which head in these mountains flow either south
into Red River or north into the ·Washita.
a For detailed discussion of the Wichitas see Tall', J os!,ph A., Prof. Paper U, S. GeoI.
Survey No. 31, 1904. 'l'he writer, as a member of Mr. TaO"s party in 1901, assisted In
preparing a geologic map of these mountains.
• Op. cit., p. 37.
UPLANDS. 15
of either Hill or Adams, and for this reason new terms are used. It
is, however, not the intention of the writer to propose these names as
any but convenient working terms for purpose of discussi?n.
WICHITA MOUNTAIN REGION.a
The Wichita Mountains constitute the westernmost of three domes
or uplifts, each of which forms a separate group of mountains. Of
these the easternmost, to which the term" Ouachitas " has sometimes
been applied, lies in southwestern Arkansas and the southern part of
the Choctaw Nation. In the Chickasaw Nation occur the Arbuckle
Mountains and in southwestern Oklah6ma the vVichita Mountains.
Some authorities, however, notably Hill, use the term" Ouachita
Mountains" to apply to the entire series of uplifts and designate the
easternmost of these as the Massern ranges. b
The 'Wichita Mountains differ from all others in the Territory in
that they are composed of igneous rocks, chiefly granite and porphyry.
They have been eroded, for the most part, into peaks which vary in
height from a few hundred to perhaps 1,200 feet. The main range
extends west from near Fort Sill for a distance of about 30 miles, has
an average width of 12 miles, and includes among others such peaks
as Mount Scott, Mount Sheridan, Mount Baker, Haystack Mountain,
Signal Mountain, Saddle Mountain, and Quanah Mountain (PI. II,
A). 'Vest of this main range to beyond the North Fork of Red River
are scattered a number of smaller ranges and peaks, such as Raggedy
Mountains, Mount Tepee, Devils Canyon Mountain (PI. II, B),
Quartz Mountain, and Headquarters Mountain. From a distance
these granite peaks present the regular saw~toothed appearance no­ticed
along the Front Range of the Rockies or in the Sierra N evadas,
with the difference that the Wichita topography is more subdued.
On the north and east for a distance of 30 miles or more is a par­allel
range of hills composed chiefly of hard massive limestone, and
on the east and south are small rounded knobs of similar limestone.
These limestone areas are remnants of a series of Paleozoic rocks
which once extended as a dome over the igneous rocks, but which have
been deeply eroded since the dome was uplifted.
On all sides and between these ranges of granite and limestone the
rocks are composed of "red beds" shale and sandstone, with local
deposits of conglomerate. In other words, at the time the red beds
were being deposited the Wichitas were probably islands in the sea.
The numerous creeks which head in these mountains flow either south
into Red River or north into the ·Washita.
a For detailed discussion of the Wichitas see Tafl', .J oS!o'Ph A., Prof. Paper U. S. Geol.
Survey No. 31, 1904. 'l'he writer, as a member of Mr. Tafl"s party In 1901, assisted in
preparing a geologic map of these mountains.
• Op. cit., p. 37.
16 GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAHOMA.
FLINT-SANDSTONE HILLS REGION.
This region includes the Osage and Kaw reservations lying east of
Arkansas River, Kay, Noble, Pawnee, Payne, Lincoln, and Pottawat­omie
counties, and the eastern part of Logan, Oklahoma, and Cleve­land
countie~'l. It comprises in its northern part the southern exten­sion
of the Flint Hills, which stretch from Nebraska across Kansas
into Oklahoma. Near the Kansas-Oklahoma line the Flint Hills con­sist
mostly of limestone ledges containing large numbers of flint
concretions, interbedded with shales and sandstones, but in the Osage
Nation the limestones thin out and most of the ledges disappear
before Arkansas River is reached, a few only continuing as far as
Cimarron River. South of that stream the rocks are almost entirely
red shales and sandstones.
The par~ of Oklahoma north of the Arkansas is characterized by
typical limestone topography-rounded hills and knobs, steep shale
slopes with numerous rock terraces, and rather narrow valleys.
The principal streams are Bird, Hominy, Salt, Beaver, Turkey, and
Buck creeks. The rocks dip gently to the west and southwest, and
the stair-step arrangement of the strata, so characteristic of certain
parts of Kansas, is well exhibited. West and south of the Arkansas
the relief is not so pronounced, as the limestone ledges become thinner
and are replaced by sandstones and shales. Streams have cut valleys
into the sandstone ledges, and steep but low bluffs are conspicuous.
In the western part of the region the topography is characteristically
that of the red beds, with few forms of relief except low banks along
the streams.
LOW PLAINS REGION.
In the Low Plains region, which includes western Kay, Noble,
Logan, Oklahoma, -and Cleveland counties, eastern Canadian, Blaine,
and Woods counties, and the greater part of Kingfisher, Garfield,
and Grant counties, as well as the western part of the Chickasaw
Nation, the topography is rolling. Steep bluffs are rare, and high
knobs are practically unknown. Rivers of considerable size---:--Salt
Fork, Cimarron, North Canadian, and South Canadian-flow across
this region from northwest to southeast and have carved broad and
shallow valleys. The high divides are the remnants of the old high
table, and, because their slope to the east is so gentle as to be prac­tically
unnoticeable, a person may travel across the country for 20
miles along some lines without ascending or descending abruptly
20 feet from the general level. The south bluff of these rivers, for
the greater part of their course, is cut up by canyons, while the slope
north is generally unbroken and is covered with sand hills (p. 84).
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 148 PL. III
A. UPLAND BASINS.
B. GYPSU M BLU FFS ON NORTH FORK OF RED RIVER.
UPLANDS. 17
GYPSUM HILLS REGION.
The Gypsum Hills region includes parts or all of Woods, 'Wood­ward,
Blaine, Dewey, Day, Canadian, Caddo, Kiowa, Comanche,
Greer, Washita, Custer, and Hoger Mills counties, in each of which
there are exposures of gypsum. In this section the relief is more
marked than in the Low Plains region, owing chiefly to the unequal
erosion consequent upon the relatively hard ledges of gypsum which
outcrop in this part of the territory and to the hard sandstone and
dolomite which lie'above the gypsum. The relation between these
rocks will be explained under the heading " Geology" (pp. 4-4, 71).
The general strike of all the gypsum beds is north and south, the
most eastern exposure being just no'rth of EI Reno, the county seat
of Canadian Coun.ty, while to the southwest the gypsum ledges ex­tend,
through Greer County, into the Panhandle of Texas.
There are two prominent types of gypsum topography in Okla­homa-
the wall-canyon type and the round-mound type. The wall­canyon
type occurs chiefly in Blaine, vVoods, and vVoodward counties
along the range of gypsum hills des~gnated in this report the Blaine
Gypsum Hills, and again in southern Roger Mills and northern
Greer counties (PI. III, B). This type of topography is char­acterized
by steep bluffs of red clay capped by massive ledges of
gypsum. These bluffs rise steeply above the plain, and numerous
streams have cut deep and narrow canyons into them. The second.
type of gypsum topography is marked by low, white, rounded, gypsum
knolls standing out on the plain, or by gentle slopes of gypsum along
shallow streams. Such exposures are characteristic of parts of
Dewey, Custer, Washita, Caddo, and southern Greer counties.
HIGH PLAINS REGION.
This region includes the most elevated portions of the Territory,
and is typically developed in Beaver, vVoodward, and northern Day
counties, lying west of and at a higher level thali the line of gypsum
hills. Beaver County, an area 165 miles long and 35 miles wide, lies
entirely on the high, level plateau, sloping gradually from a height
of about 4,000 feet on the west to a little more than 2,000 on the east.
Into this plateau Cimarron and Beaver rivers have cut their channels,
usually shallow and broad, while numerous small tributary creeks
are now at work dissecting the level upland. Large areas remain,
however, which appear to be as level as a floor and on which the only
drainage is into playa lakes, or, as they are sometimes called in the
West," buffalo wallows" (PI. III, A).
IRR 148-05 M--2
18 GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAHOMA.
DAKOTA SANDSTONE REGION.
In the extreme western end of Beaver County, along the Cimarron
and the Currumpa w (a head tributary of the Beaver), is a small area
which contains topographic features unlike those found elsewhere in
Oklahoma~ for in this locality the streams have cut canyons into the.
Dakota sandstoIle. The Cimarron Canyon has. a length of 30 miles
or more in Oklahoma and of 60 miles in New Mexico. The hills, as
shown on PIs. IV, B, and X, Bare 200 to 500 feet high, and are usually
capped by heavy ledges of gray or brown sandstone, which have been
carved into fantastic shapes by numerous small creeks.
In the extreme northwestern part of Beaver County these sand­stone
rocks are covered with 100 feet or more of basaltic lava, forming
the eastern end of Black Mesa, a level table-land which extends into
Oklahoma from Colorado and New Mexico (fig. 28).
VALLEYS.
All the drainage of Oklahoma flows into Mississippi River, reach­ing
that stream by Arkansas and Red rivers. The Arkansas crosses
the northeast portion of Oklahoma, separating the Osage and Kaw
reservations from the remainder of the Territory. Red River forms
the extreme southwestern boundary of Oklahoma. The chief tribu­taries
of the Arkansas in Oklahoma and the Indian Territory are
Salt Fork, Cimarron, North Canadian, and South Canadian rivers,
the two latter streams joining before finally reaching the Arkansas
in the eastern part of the Territory. The 'Vashita and North Fork
of Red River flow into Red River.
The general direction of all these streams is southeasterly-that is,
practically at right angles to the strike of the rocks. With the
exception of the 'Washita, they are all typical streams of the plains,
each with a relatively broad and shallow valley, containing a broad,
sand-choked channel and, except in times of flood, carrying a rela­tively
small amount of water. The character of these valleys is
determined largely by the rocks across which they have been cut,
being comparatively narrow ·and deep in the Gypsum Hills or Flint
Hills regions and broad and shallow in the more level country in
central and western Oklahoma. These valleys will be discussed in
regular order beginning on the north. PI. XVI shows the drainage
areas of the various streams.
ARKANSAS VALLEY.
Arkansas River flows in a broad, sh"allow channel from the point
where it debouches from the mountains, in Colorado, to the Flint
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 148 Pl. IV
A DAKOTA EROSION NEAR KENTON, OKLA., SHOWING
CRO~S-BEDDING.
B. EROSION FORMS IN DAKOTA CRETACEOUS.
VALLEYS. 1~
Hills, at Arkansas City, Kans., a few miles north of the Oklahoma
line. From this point to the southeast corner of the Osage Nation
it flows in a tortuous channel among limestone hills. The distance
is about 83 miles direct, but as traversed by the river it is nearly
twice as great. This part of its course is characterized by broad
and sweeping oxbow bends, one, for instance, being 9 miles around,
while at the nearest point it is not more than 1~ miles across. The
valley between the bluffs, which are 150 to 300 feet high, is 1 to 5 miles
wide, being narrowest between the Osage country and Kay County.
SALT FORK VALLEY.
The valley of the Salt Fork of the Arkansas, which extends
through northern \Voods, central Grant, and southern Kay connties,
is broad and shallow and is for the most part bordered on the north
slope by sand hills and on the south side by canyons cut into steep
and uneven slopes. Near the point where this river enters \Voods
County from Kansas the valley is bordered by the Gypsum Hills,
particularly on the south side, while farther downstream it is 2 to 5
miles wide and the hills on either side reach an altitude of 50 to 100
feet above the level of the stream. The tributaries are Medicine
Lodge, Mule, Sand, Crooked, Deer, Osage, Buck, Chikaskia, and Bois
d'Arc creeks. In eastern Woods County the Salt Fork flows across
the northern edge of the Great Salt Plains, where the water acquires
saline character, whence the name Salt Forle
CIMARRON VALLEY.
Cimarron River rises among volcanic peaks in northern New
Mexico, flows east through a narrow canyon cut into Dakota sand­stone,
and enters Oklahoma 4 miles south of the Colorado line, near
the town of Kenton. From this point it flows nearly straight east
for more than 30 miles in a canyon cut in the sandstone plateau.
In this part of its course the valley averages 3 miles in width and the
rugged hills, which disappear near the point where the Cimarron
flows from Oklahoma into Colorado, are 300 to 400 feet high. From
this point to the place where the river cuts through the Gypsum
Hills it flows in a broad and shal~ow valley carved into the level
upland. After leaving Oklahoma the Cimarron flo"vs through south­eastern
Colorado and southwestern Kansas for nearly 100 miles.
It enters the Territory again about 15 miles west of the northeast
corner of Beaver County, but soon turns northward to pass into
Kansas. For the third time it enters Oklahoma, in the north-central
part of Woodward County, where it breaks through the Blaine
Gypsum Hills. Throughout its entire course in Woodward County,
· 20 GEOLOGY AND. WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAHOMA.
a distance of more than 40 miles, it flows in a canyon cut in the
Gypsum Hills. This canyon gradually widens to the east, and near
the western line of 'Woods County these hills recede from the river
and swing to the north. On the south side, however, they parallel the
river as far as the Glass Mountains in south-central vVoods County,
forming conspicuous gypsum-capped bluffs, then graUually recede
from the Cimarron and approach the South Canadian. East of the
Glass Mountains the Cimarron flows across a level country, and the
valley is broad and shallow, being only occasionally lined with bluffs,
as in the vicinity of Guthrie.
The drainage area of the Cimarron is broader than that of any
other Oklahoma stream, and it includes a considerable number of
tributary creeks, the chief of which are Buffalo, Eagle Chief, Salt,
Turkey, Kingfisher, Cottonwood, Skeleton, and Stillwater. Along
its eastern course the river flows into the southern extension of the
limestone hills, where the topography consequently is more uneven
and bluffs 100 or more feet high are not uncommon.
NORTH CANADIAN VALLEY.
North Canadian River is formed by the junction of Beaver and
Wolf creeks at Old Fort Supply, near the center of vVoodward County.
vVolf Creek rises in the high table-lands of the Panhandle of Texas
and flows northeast, in a rather narrow valley bordered by rounded
bluffs which rarely exceed 100 feet in height. Beaver Creek, which
has cut a valley averaging 3 mileS" in width and 200 feet ih depth
throughout its course, rises among volcanic peaks in northeastern
New Mexico and flows the entire length of Beaver County. The
principal tributaries, all on the south side, are Coldwater, Palo Duro,
Clear, and Kiowa creeks. These and other creeks are now dissecting
the high plateau, but on account of the arid climate and the firm
sod covering have, at the present time, scarcely more than commenced
their task (PI. V, A). North Canadian River formed by the union
of vVolf and Beaver . creeks, flows in a general southeasterly course
entirely across the Territory, and its valley is, on the average, 200
feet higher than the Cimarron. The hills on either side 'are usually
low, often not over 100 feet in height, and in many instances the
headwaters of streams flowing into the Cimarron approach within
less than 2 miles of the North Canadian. Sand hills oceur prac­hcally
all along the north slope, and the south bluff is often cut into
red-beds canyons.
SOUTH CANADIAN VALLEY.
With the exception of Arkansas River the South Canadian is the
only stream in Oklahoma which takes its rise in the Rocky Moun-
U. S. GEOLOGICAl_ SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER NO. 148 PL V
A. PRAIRIE STREAM JUST BEGINNING TO CUT.
li. PIT HOLES ALONG PRAIRIE ARROYO,
VALLEYS. 21
tains. In New Mexico and the Panhandle of Texas the drainage
area is large, but from the western boundary of Oklahoma to its
mouth in the eastern part of the Indian Territory it will not average
more than 20 miles in width. In Day and Dewey counties the river
swings in a series of broad oxbow bends, and flows in a canyon-like
valley about 200 feet deep and 1 to 5 miles wide. In eastern Dewey
and Custer counties it flows across the Gypsum Hills region. Below
the line of Gypsum Hills it flows in a general southeasterly direc­tion
in a valley which averages 4 miles in width and which is bor­dered
by bluffs on either side not exeeeding 150 feet in height. In
many places, however, the slopes n0rth. of the river are covered
with sand hills, but on the south side of the stream steep bluffs are
common. A few small tributaries, the chief of which are Deer,
Commission, and Boggy creeks, flow into the South Canadian in
Oklahoma.
WASHITA VALLEY.
As has been stated by Mr. 'Villis,a the Washita resembles an east­ern
more than a western river, having steep mud banks and heavy
timber along most of its course. In its upper part the riarrow val­ley
is eontinued between bluffs of red sandstone 100 to 300 feet
high. Where the valley cuts across the Gypsum Hills, in Custer
and Washita eounties, low, white gypsum bluffs are common. East­ward
from the southeastern corner of Washita County the river
flows through wide bottom lands in a valley 2 to 5 miles wide,
inclosed by hills 100 to 300 feet high. Taken throughout, the
'Vashita has more precipitous bluffs and a greater diversity of topog­raphy
than any other river in Oklahoma, and at the same time sand
hills are practically wanting. Quartermaster, Cavalry, Rainy Moun­tain,
Cobb, and Sugar creeks are the chief tributaries.
RED RIVER V ALLEY.
The mam branch of Red River fQrms the southern boundary of
Greer and Comanche counties. A number of streams tributary to
Red River rise either in Oklahoma or the Panhandle of Texas, the
most important of which are the Salt Fork, Elm Fork, North Fork,
Cache, and Beaver creeks. North Fork, Salt Fork, and Elm Fork
rise in the eastern part of the Panhandle of Texas, flow across the
region of Greer Gypsum Hills through canyons in the gypsum­eapped
red shale bluffs and then out upon the lower plains, where
they enter shallow valleys before finally reaching Red River. Cache
Creek, which rises in the Wiehita Mountains, and Beaver Creek, east
a Willis, Bailey, First Ann. Rept. Reclamation Service, U. S. Geol. Survey, 1903, p. 269.
22 GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAHOMA.
of these mountains, flow south across the red beds plain in broad and
shallow valleys.
CONCLUSION.
All of the larger rivers of Oklahoma rise west of the Gypsum Hills
region and flow first in broad valleys. In the Gypsum Hills they
have cut comparatively deep and narrow canyons, and east of this
range of hills the valleys begin to widen again. These streams, with
the exception of the vVashita, are flanked along the north slope with
rows of sand hills, usually 2 to 10 miles in width, while the south bank
is almost invariably cut with canyons carved in the red sandstones
and shales which make up the greater part of the country rock. In
other words, the south bank is a red-shale canyon slope, and the north
bank a sand-hill slope.
GEOLOGY.
GENERAL STATE!IENT.
The geology of Oklahoma presents certain phases of more than
usual interest to the student of stratigraphy. As the conditions of
the water supply depend almost wholly upon the character and posi­tion
of the rocks, it is necessary to outline the geology of the Territory
before giving a detailed description of the water supply.
Numerous features of the geology of various parts of Oklahoma
are as yet but imperfectly understood, and many of the statements
made in this article therefore are offered only tentatively. It is prob­able
that further investigation may cause decided changes in present
views of the geology of certain parts of the Territory, especially as to
the line of separation between the Pennsylvanian and Permian series
of the Carboniferous rocks in the northeastern part of the Territory,
the location of certain sand-hill areas, and the lines of outcrops of
gypsum deposits in some of the western counties. Certain facts, how­ever,
are fairly well established, and it is these, rather than the ones
not yet understood, that will be given prominence in the following
pages.
The principal formation in the Territory is a widespread deposit
of red clay, shale, and sandstone, a large part of which has been
dassed as Permian in age, and is known as the" red beds." To the
east it is un'derlain by Pennsylvanian rocks and to the west covered
by sands and clays of Tertiary and Quaternary ages., In the north­eastern
part of the Territory are extensive areas of Pennsylvanian
rocks, and in the vVichita Mountains rocks of lower Paleozoic age
appear. The known outcrops of geologic formations in Oklahoma
are indicated on the map (PI. I), and the following table sets forth
their order and age:
(JE0L0GtC FORMATION.
{Alluvium.
Quaternary - - - - - - - - - - - - Sand hills.
Tertiary ____ .. _ _ ___ Lava of Black Mesa.
Cretaceous ________ _ {Dakota.
- - - - - Comanche. IQuartermaster ..
Greer.
Carboniferous _ _ Blaine. jPermian _ Woodward.
Enid.
Pennsylvanian.
Ordovician_ _ _ _ _Viola limestone.
Cambro-Ordovician ______ Arbuckle limestone.
Cambrian ________________ Reagan sandstone. jGranite.
Early Cambrian or older - Granite-porphry.
Gabbro.
RET~TIONS OF THE PRE-CARBONIFEROUS ROCKS.
23
The oldest rocks in Oklahoma are in the Wichita Mountains, m
the southwestern part of the Territory. These mountains are com­posed
chiefly of three classes of igneous rocks, gabbro, granite, and
granite-porphyry; and three sedimentary formations of lower Pale­ozoic
age, the Reagan sandstone, Arbuckle limestone, and Viola
limestone. Granite greatly predominates, composing probably nine­tenths
of all the rocks of the range. In order that the reader may
understand the relations of these various rocks to each other and the
surrounding" red beds," a short description of the vVichita Moun­tains
is given. The map (PI. VI) further illustrates the structure of
the mountains.
In the vVichita Mountains the rocks do not differ materially from
similar formations in the Arbuckle Mountains farther east, and for
that reason it appears to be desirable to give the formations the
names already· us-ed for similar rocks in the Arbuckle region. As
these rocks have been named and described by Mr. Joseph A. Taff,a
to whose publication the reader is referred, only a brief mention will
be made of them in this conection.
The extreme length of the vVichita Mountains, from the Carlton
mounds on Medicine Bluff Creek neal' Fort Sill to the last granite
hill that disappears under the high prairie 5 miles west of Head·
quarters Mountain, at Granite, is 65 miles, while the extreme width
from Rainy Mountain to the southwestern granite butte on North
Fork of Red River, 6 miles southeast of Navajoe, is 30 miles. The
'Vichita Mountains are not a continuous range throughout this area,
a Tafl', Joseph A., Preliminary report on the geology of the Arbuckle and Wichita
mountains in Indian Territory and Oklahoma: Prof. Paper No. 31, U. S. Geeo!. Survey,
1904, pp. 50-81.
24 GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAH6MA.
as they consist chiefly of scattered ranges, peaks, and short chains,
the bases of which are buried beneath the surrounding and interven­ing
plains.
The vVichita Mountains may be divided into the following three
general groups: (1) The main range; (2) scattered groups and peaks
in the western part of the area, and (3) a row of hills which are
composed chiefly of limestone and which parallel the main range on
the north and east.
The main range of the vVichita Mountains, the width of which
averages 10 miles, extends northwest from the vicinity of Fort Sill
for about 30 miles to the vicinity of Saddle Mountain and Mount
Baker, just east of the headwaters of East Otter Creek. This part,
of the range is practically continuous throughout and is composed
chiefly of rugged peaks of granite, the highest of which, Mounts
Scott and Sheridan, each rise about 1,200 feet above the plain. There
are two main northwest-southeast ranges, separated by a distinct
intermontane valley, 1 to 4 miles wide, extending nearly the entire
length of the ranges. The streams draining this valley flow east
and south and escape to the plain through gaps in the mountains.
}:;ast of this main range are a number of outlying peaks and short
ranges, some of which attain an altitude of 800 feet or more above
the surrounding plain. .
West of the main range of the Wichitas, which is divided into
two general ridges, are scattered groups, peaks, and low ridges
extending a few miles beyond Granite, Greer County, a distance of
JO miles from Mount Baker. The term "Raggedy Mountains" is
applied to a group of scattered, roughly outlined ridges and peaks
lying along the heads of various branches of Otter Creek. Long
110m Mountain is near the head of Middle Otter Creek; Dome
Mountain, Tepee Mountain, Elk Mountain, and others lie near Elk
Creek; Devils Canyon Mountain, shown in PI. II, lJ, is 6 miles long
and lies in a bend of the North Fork of Red River; N avajoe, Quartz,
and Headquarters mountains are in Greer County west of the North
Fork of Red River, which winds in and out among the granite peaks.
Parallel to the vVichitas on the northeast from a point 7 miles
north of Fort Sill to Rainy Mountain, a distance of 30 miles to the
northwest, is a group of limestone hills, which, like the main range
of the Wichitas, consist of irregular low mountains and scattered
knobs. The longest range, 16 miles in length, will average 2 miles
in width. Near the head of Blue Creek Canyon the range of lime­stone
hills divides into two parts-one part running approximately
N. 70° VV. and the other N. 40° W. Both ranges finally end toward
the northwest in a series of scattered peaks and knobs. These lime­stone
hills, like the granite mountains, are but the tops of buried
U. S.GEOLOG ICAL SURVEY
R . 21 W.
35 r---+--,~--~--~---+--
z
r---+----r~=T--~~---,r---4_--~~~----~~+_~~~~
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~ r---1----+----r---1-~-+-----'~~4+·-t~~~~~~N_~~--~~c-4_ ~--J~----.~+ -~
r:
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r:
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.N
~
GEOLOGIC 1YLAP
OF THE
-wICHITA ~rOUNTAIN REGION
BY
~ro SEPH A. IAFF .AND C. N. G01JLD
LEGEND
1\ PERMIAN
CARBONlf[ROUS L--J·~Beas"
~~gl7:;f:.a'1!l;-A~,at~~rtj~q; 1r!f?:J~J)
ORDOVICIAN
CAMBRIAN
PRE-CAMBRI"N
(DViOla limp-stone
(l>IHi.hllm.scone)
D kr'buckle limes'tone
{
(bluish and~llowi8h h'meatone and dolomite)
t!?icac !!g~fflsAaMtnodnes,gtroencne a'ays, ~~andaton~al1d oontltom~'ttte)
~ Gabbro G-.J (lJla<:X- '0 grqy fl<'ooro)
..,- 'Dip OfTOck.s
Scale
R. 2 1 W. R . 2 0 W.
'-----
w.
3 2 1
R. I4.W.
WATER - SUPPLY PAPER NO. 148 PL.YI
R. 13 W. R. 12 W. R . II W.
SECTION ACROSS THE EASTERN PART OF THE WIOllTA MOUNTAINS
.Approximate -vertical scale
o '))00 JQOOO feet
R. 12 W. R . II W.
B
:4
en
Z
IGNEOUS ROCKS. 25
ranges. The rock comprising the plain around and between the
mountains is much younger than the rocks of the mountains-that is,
it was deposited at a much later period in the earth's history.
IGNEOUS ROCKS.a
GABBRO.
Of the three chief varieties of igneous rocks in the Wichitas the
gabbro is probably the oldest. This rock is hard, black, and
crystalline, and sometimes is known to the miners as black granite.
It frequently has a greenish tint, or again it may be grayish in color,
and often weathers into rough, lumpy surfaces. It is in places cut by
dikes, composed of diabase, granite, aplite, etc.
As shown on the map (PI. VI) gabbro outcrops in three separate
localities in the 'Wichita Mountains, two of which are in the main
range and the other one west of it. In the main range the most
extensive exposure, which covers an area about 2 miles wide and 12
miles long, lies along the north slope of the mountains on both sides
of Medicine Bluff Creek, and extends northwest and southeast, par­alleling
the range from the east end of Mount Scott to the east slope
of Saddle Mountain. The second gabbro exposure, about 6 miles
long and 1 mile wide, is in the central part of the intermontane.
valley along the heads of West Cache and Quanah creeks. The
gabbro in both these localities does not, as a rule, present conspicuous
relief, but weathers into gentle slopes with occasional low ridges and
buttes. The third locality in which gabbro is found is in the central
part of the Raggedy Mountains, west of the main range. This range
is 15 miles long and extends westward from near Mount Baker to a
point within 3 miles of North Fork of Red River. Some of the
peaks rise to the height of 400 feet above the plain. The average
width of the range is something like 3 miles, and across it flow the
various branches of Otter Creek. In the western part of the range
are numerous dikes and intrusions of other igneous rocks, chiefly
granite and quartz.
GRANITE-PORPHYRY.
Granite-porphyry occurs in the eastern part of the main range and
in several localities among the limestone hills. This is a hard, mas­:;:
ive rock usually with a grayish groundmass in which are embedded
numerous large crystals, usually reddish 01' pinkish, giving a charac­teristic
reddish-gray tint to the rock. The localities in which por­phyry
occurs are as follows:
In the Fort Sill Military Reservation and between the fort and
a For classification of the igneons rocks of the Wichita Monntains see Tall', Joseph A.,
op. cit., pp. GD-GT.
26 GEOLOGY AND WATER RESOURCES OF OKLAHOMA.
Mount Scott the greater part of the rock is granite-porphyry. Sig­nal
Mountain, the Carlton mounds, Medicine Bluff, and a number of
unnamed peaks are composed of this rock. This porphyry weathers
in small blocks and angular fragments, and the surface of the hills
composed of this rock are usually grass covered and easily distin­guished
from granite hills in which the rock weathers out in large
bowlders and which are covered with trees. In the western part of
this exposure the porphyry passes gradually into red granite, so that
in many places it is virtually impossible to tell where one rock stops
and the other begins.
Near the central part of the main ridge of limestone hills, 6 to 8
miles north of Mount Scott, along Blue Creek Canyon, is a second
exposure of porphyry covering an area of about 8 square miles.
The rock in this region does not differ materially in character from
that on the Fort Sill Reservation. On the west the porphyry is cut
off from the limestone by a fault and on the east, where it is exposed
along the flanks of a limestone ridge, it lies unconformably below the
sedimentary rocks. .
The third area of porphyritic rocks is in the extreme northern part
of the Wichita Mountain region, at the northern extension of the
limestone hills. In this vicinity are twelve or more scattered peaks
of porphyry. In two instances this porphyry lies unconformabJy
below the Reagan sandstone, a formation of Cambrian age.
GRANITE.
vVith the exception or the gabbro and granite porphyry just dis­cussed
and a relatively few dikes, the igneous rocks of the vVichitas
consist of granite, which varies in color from red to gray with light
red greatly predominating. It is cut by several series of joint planes
and weathers into massive bowlders (PI. II, A, B).
The high peaks of the main range, such as Mounts Scott, Sheridan,
and Baker, and Saddle Mountain, and others, as well as all the scat­tered
peaks and ranges west of the main range, except the gabbro
range previously discussed, are composed of granite. Navajoe,
Tepee, Devils Canyon, Little Bow, Quartz, Headquarters, and other
pe!lks and chains in this western group are all granite mountains.
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS.a
CAMBRIAN ROCKS.
REAGAN SANDSTONE.
_ The Reagan sandstone, the oldest sedimentary rock in Oklahoma,
m its typical development is composed of coarse-grained, angular
----------- ------ -------------
a For a more complete description see Taft', ,Joseph A., op. cit., pp. 67-77.
ARBUCKLE AND VIOLA LIMESTONES. 27
particles derived from the disintegration of porphyry rocks. There
are local ledges of conglomerate interstratified with shaly members,
but coarse sandstone makes up the greater part of these rocks. The
age of this formation, as indicated by trilobite!" and other fossils, is
Middle Cambrian.
The Reagan formation is exposed on the granite-porphyry, and it
is conformably overlain by the Arbuckle limestone at two localities;
first, in the limestone hills east of Blue Creek Canyon, and second,
along the side of some limestone peaks in the extreme northern part
of the mountains. At Blue Creek Canyon the Reagan is exposed
for a distance of nearly 4 miles, while farther north the line of out­crop
is not more than 2 miles long. In both localities the exposure
is but a few hundred fect wide.
CAMBRO-ORDOVICIAN ROCKS.
ARBUCKLE LIMESTONE.
Conformably above the Reagan sandstone is a limestone formation
which makes up the greater part of the northern division of the
VVichita Mountains. This limestone is hard, compact, and massive,
and is at nearly all places much folded and faulted, so that its beds
rarely lie level, but have been broken and tilted to various angles,
usually steep. The thickness of this formation in the ~Wichita
Mountains is unknown, but in the Arbuckle Mountains it was esti­mated
by Mr. Taff to be 4,000 to 6,000 feet, and there is no reason
for supposing that it is less in the vVichitas. In the Arbuckle
Mountains the lower 700 feet of this limestone contains fossils of
Upper Cambrian age, while from the upper beds Ordovician forms
were obtained.
The hills composed chiefly of this limestone extend practically
uninterrupted northeast from near Fort Sill for ao miles or more.
From the region of Blue Creek Canyon there are two rang~s, both of
which finally die out and disappear ben.,e ath the plains.
ORDOVICIAN ROCKS.
VIOLA LIMESTONE.
Three small outlying limestone knobs in the vicinity of Rainy
Mountain Mission consist of Viola limestone, an Ordovician forma­tion,
which in the Arbuckle Mountains occurs approximately 2,000
feet ,higher in the section than the Arbuckle limestone. In' the
vVichita Mountain region little lithologic distinction can be made
between the limestone comprising these knobs and the limestone
which ma~res up the main range of hills just described. Mr. E. O.