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Mineral Resources > Online Spatial Data > Geology > by state > Minnesota Geology

Geologic units in Lincoln county, Minnesota

Alluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Clay to boulder-size clasts with locally abundant organic material. Thickness up to 75 ft (23m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Sioux Quartzite (Early Proterozoic) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Sioux Quartzite - Red quartzite of fluvial to possibly marginally marine origin. Includes quartz-pebble conglomerate, claystone (catlinite, also called pipestone), a basal (rhyolite) pebble conglomerate in Pipestone County, and a basal (granite, quartz, chert, iron-formation) conglomerate in Nicollet County on the Minnesota River

Lithology: quartzite; conglomerate; claystone

Cretaceous rocks, undivided (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 95 % of this area

Cretaceous rocks, undivided - Dakota, Graneros, Greenhorn, Carlie, Niobara, and Pierre formations and their nonmarine equivalents in northwestern, southwestern, and southeastern Minnesota

Lithology: shale; sandstone; limestone

Outwash, Undifferentiated (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Heterogeneous sand and gravel, with minor clay and silt. Deposits of glaciofluvial orgin including outwash plains, kame terraces, and other undifferentiated deposits. Thickness up to 30 ft (9m).

Lithology: sand; gravel; clay or mud; silt

Till, End Moraine (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Heterogeneous, clay with silt to boulder-size clasts of glacial orgin. A geomorphic feature that is characterized by elevated linear ridges with hummocky terrain locally at former ice sheet margins. Composite thicknessof all Upper Wisconsin till may be up to 300 ft (91 m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Till, Moraine (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers 0.1 % of this area

Heterogeneous, clay with silt to boulder-size clasts of glacial orgin. Exhibits a distinctive weathered, dissected surface.Typically overlain by up to 10 ft (3m) of loess. Thickness up to 150 ft (46 m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Till, Stagnation Moraine (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Heterogeneous, clay with silt to boulder-size clasts of glacial orgin. A geomorphic feature that is characterized by hummocky terrain with abundant sloughs resulting from stagnation of ice sheets. Composite thickness of all Upper Wisconsin till may be up to 300 ft (91 m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Migmatitic gneiss, amphibolite, and granite (Middle to Early Archean) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Migmatitic gneiss, amphibolite, and granite - Montevideo and Morton Gneisses (3600-3000 m.y.) in the Minnesota River Valley, southwestern Minnesota; McGrath Gneiss (2750 m.y.) east of Mille Lacs Lake; components of Hillman Migmatite southwest of Mille Lacs Lake; and Sartell Gneiss in Stearns County. Inferred to include various younger rocks, including granitoid intrusions in the Hillman Migmatite and pillowed basalt in poorly exposed areas of southwestern Minnesota.

Lithology: gneiss; amphibolite; granite; basalt

Outwash, Valley Train (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Heterogeneous silt to gravel. Confined to valleys of glaciofluvial orgin. Thickness up to 60 ft (18m).

Lithology: silt; sand; gravel

Till, Ground Moraine (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Heterogeneous, clay with silt to boulder-size clasts of glacial orgin. A geomorphic feature that is characterized by smooth, rolling terrain. Composite thickness of all Upper Wisconsin till may be up to 300 ft (91 m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel