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Mineral Resources > Online Spatial Data > Geology > by state > South Dakota Geology

Geologic units in Jackson county, South Dakota

Terrace Deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 4 % of this area

Clay to boulder-size clasts deposited as pediments, paleochannels, and terrace fills of former flood plains. Thickness up to 75 ft (23m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Pierre Shale (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late) at surface, covers 27 % of this area

Blue-gray to dark-gray, fissile to blocky shale with persistent beds of bentonite, black organic shale, or light-brown chalky shale. Contains minor sandstone, conglomerate, and abundant carbonate and ferruginous concretions. Thickness 1,000-2,700 ft (305-823 m).

Lithology: shale; clay or mud; sandstone; conglomerate

Gravel Deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary ) at surface, covers 0.3 % of this area

Clay to boulder-size clasts primarily from igneous and metamorphic rocks of the central Black Hills. Also includes Phanerozoic lithic clasts and rare vertebrate fossils. Thickness up to 60 ft (18 m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Ogallala Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary Quaternary | Miocene Pliocene(?) Pleistocene-Early) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Includes: Ash Hollow Formation- White, tan, and gray, well-cemented, calcareous sandstone and silty limestone often referred to as "mortar beds". Thickness 90-250 ft 27-76 m) Valentine Formation- Gray, unconsolidated, fine- to coarse grained, fluvial siltstone, channel sandstone, and gravel derived from western sources. Thickness 175-225 ft (53-69 m). Fort Randall Formation- Pink and gray claystone with interbedded sandstone. Also includes green to gray orthoquartzite, bentonitic clay, and conglomerate. Thickness up to 130 ft (40 m).

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; claystone; limestone; gravel; clay or mud; conglomerate

Fox Hills Sandstone (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Bluish-green to green, white to dark-gray, yellow to tan, carbonaceous and iron-stained, cross-bedded, very fine- to coarse-grained, glaconitic sandstone and siltstone. Interbedded with gray and green to brown shale and silty shale. Thickness 25-400 ft (8-122 m).

Lithology: sandstone; siltstone; shale

Eolian Deposits (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

(loess and sand dune) Silt to medium-grained sand. Deposited as sand sheets and barchan, linear, and dome-like dunes and as veneer on uplands. Thickness up to 300 ft (91m).

Lithology: silt; sand

Arikaree Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene Oligocene) at surface, covers 33 % of this area

Includes: Rosebud Formation (Miocene)- Pink siltstone with channel sandstone and concretions. Thickness up to 250 ft (76 m). Harrison Formation (Miocene)- Gray, silty sandstone and reworked volcanic ash with calcareous siltstone and marl. Thickness 180 ft (55 m). Turtle Butte Formation (Miocene)- Light-green to gray siltstone with sandstone channels containing claystone pebbles. Thickness 65 ft (20 m). Monroe Creek Formation (Oligocene)- Tan to grayish-tan, massive sandy siltstone and reworked volcanic ash. Thickness 100 ft (30 m). Sharps Formation (Oligocene)- Pink siltstone and claystone with concretionary layers, paleochannels, and beds of reworked volcanic ash. Thickness 360 ft (110 m).

Lithology: siltstone; sandstone; claystone; volcanic ash; limestone

Alluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 6 % 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

White River Group (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Tertiary | Eocene Oligocene) at surface, covers 22 % of this area

Includes: Brule Formation (Oligocene)- White, pink, light-green, and light-brown, massive to thin-bedded, bentonitic claystone, tuffaceous siltstone, and well-bedded, calcareous, tuffaceous quartz sandstone. Thickness up to 150 ft (46 m). Chadron Formation (Eocene)- Upper beds are gray, light-brown to maroon bentonite, claystone, siltstone tuffaceous fine-grained sandstone, and local, silicified carbonate lenses. Basal portion consists of poorly cemented, white, coarse-grained arkose and conglomerate. Thickness up to 160 ft (49 m). Chamberlain Pass Formation (Eocene)- Pale olive to pale red, mottled mudstone containing white, cross-bedded channel sandstone with basal conglomerate. Thickness up to 32 ft (10 m). Slim Buttes Formation (Eocene)- White, grayish- to yellowish-orange,pale-red to pink siltstone, clayey siltstone, bentonitic claystone,medium- to fine-grained sandstone, and conglomerate. Thickness up to 48 ft (15 m).

Lithology: claystone; siltstone; clay or mud; sandstone; mudstone; conglomerate

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

Landslide, slump, and collapsed material composed of chaotically mixed boulders and finer grained rock debris. Thickness up to 180 ft (55m).

Lithology: sand; gravel