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

Geologic units in Lincoln county, Montana

[Additional scientific data in this geographic area]

Piegan group (Proterozoic | Mesoproterozoic) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Piegan group: most of the Piegan group is subdivided into formations that are in part equivalent to each other. Where correlations are relatively doubtful the group designation is retained. Carbonate-bearing rocks predominate in the group, but the proportions and character of the impurities in these rocks and the relations to non-carbonate-bearing rocks vary from place to place.

Lithology: carbonate; meta-argillite; quartzite

Wallace formation (Proterozoic | Mesoproterozoic) at surface, covers 23 % of this area

Wallace formation: A heterogeneous unit that includes dark-gray argillite, arenaceous and argillaceous limestone, in part dolomitic, and gray limy quartzite, with shale and sandstone in large areas. The argillaceous and sandy or quartzitic rocks are commonly slightly calcareous. The dominantly carbonate-rich rocks contain "molar tooth" or segregation structures. Commonly characterized by thin laminae. Locally red rocks near the top may represent a transition into the Missoula group.

Lithology: meta-argillite; carbonate; quartzite

Missoula group (Proterozoic | Mesoproterozoic) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Missoula group: chiefly red, maroon, or purple argillite; sandy or quartzitic argillite, and generally impure quartzite and limestone. The larger limestone masses are similar to the Siyeh limestone of the Piegan group. The Missoula group includes numerous named formations, most of which cannot be traced with confidence far from their type localities. Among these are the Marsh shale in the Helena region, the Striped Peak and Libby formations in northwestern Montana, five near Missoula, and others in and south of Glacier National Park.

Lithology: quartzite; meta-argillite; carbonate; meta-conglomerate

Idaho batholith and associated masses (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic Cenozoic | Cretaceous-Late Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.8 % of this area

Idaho batholith and associated masses: faintly gneissic quartz monzonite, granodiorite, and similar rocks. The extreme eastern part of the Idaho batholith extends into Ravalli County, Mont. This and nearby masses of similar rocks are shown as associated with the Idaho batholith and designated Ki. Future studies may show that some granitoid masses further east are also allied to the Idaho batholith or that a few of the masses now grouped with that batholith are younger. Precise dating is impossible at present.

Lithology: granitoid

Glacial debris; Late Pleistocene glacial till, outwash, and alluvium of continental glaciers; northern Idaho (Late Pleistocene ) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Pleistocene till, moraines and similar unsorted glacial debris.

Lithology: till; outwash; alluvium

Glacial lake deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Glacial lake deposits: mainly silt; believed to have been deposited in lakes formed behind temporary dams of ice or morainal deposits

Lithology: glaciolacustrine

Gabbro, diorite, quartz diorite, aplite; Late to Middle Proterozoic sills injected into sedimentary strata of the Belt Basin; northern Belt province (Late to Middle Proterozoic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Younger Precambrian dioritic and amphibolitic sills of northern Idaho; basaltic or mafic; as gabbro.

Lithology: gabbro; diorite; quartz diorite; aplite

Glacial drift (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Glacial drift: morainal and outwash plain deposits of mountain glaciers; mainly ill-sorted and poorly rounded boulders, cobbles, pebbles, and sand; may include alluvium in places

Lithology: glacial drift; alluvium

Tertiary sedimentary rocks, undifferentiated (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.2 % of this area

Tertiary sedimentary rocks, undifferentiated: clastic deposits in western Montana, mostly in valleys, and in most places not divided into formations; mostly poorly consolidated gravel, sand, silt, and clay; includes some tuffaceous material and locally lenses of lignite and bentonite; a little hot spring tufa; and in areas not yet mapped in detail, lava may be included. These rocks were in part laid down in lakes but a large part was formed in streams and alluvial fans. These rocks are Tertiary in age and as now mapped may even include some beds of Cretaceous age. Some late Tertiary terrace deposits may be included.

Lithology: medium-grained mixed clastic; coarse-grained mixed clastic; lava flow; ash-flow tuff; tuff; coal; bentonite; carbonate

Argillite, siltite, and quartzite; Middle Proterozoic Ravalli Group; northern Belt Province (Middle Proterozoic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Intermediate Precambrian sediments, multicolored siltite and argillite overlying quartzite and siltite of northern Idaho.

Lithology: meta-argillite; siltstone; quartzite

Ravalli group (Proterozoic | Mesoproterozoic) at surface, covers 31 % of this area

Ravalli group: a diverse assemblage with numerous subdivisions, only a few of which have been recognized over large enough areas to be distinguished here. Near Idaho the rocks are light colored and siliceous, ranging from pure white quartzite to siliceous shale, mostly in subdued tones of gray, green, purple, and red. Near Missoula the rocks are dark-gray quartzite and quartzitic argillite. In and near Glacier National Park the Grinnell, Appekunny, and Altyn formations are distinguished.

Lithology: meta-argillite; quartzite

Siltite, argillite, and quartzite; Middle Proterozoic Prichard Formation; northern Belt province (Middle Proterozoic) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Intermediate Precambrian sediments, gray interlaminated siltite and argillite with minor quartzite of northern Idaho.

Lithology: siltstone; meta-argillite; quartzite

Alluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 14 % of this area

Alluvium: mainly valley fill consisting of silt, sand, and gravel; includes some terrace deposits and glacial drift of Pleistocene age in some areas; locally includes hot spring tufa. The older part of the alluvium, where present, is probably of Pliocene age.

Lithology: alluvium; glacial drift; carbonate

Prichard formation (Proterozoic | Mesoproterozoic) at surface, covers 12 % of this area

Prichard formation: dark-gray, generally argillaceous rocks, locally sandy or quartzitic; locally metamorphosed to schist.

Lithology: meta-argillite; quartzite; carbonate; chert