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

Geologic units in McPherson county, South Dakota

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

Heterogeneous clay to gravel of glaciofluvial orgin. Thickness up to 60 ft (18m)

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Pierre Shale (Phanerozoic | Mesozoic | Cretaceous-Late) at surface, covers 0.1 % 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

Outwash, Valley Train (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers 2 % 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 26 % 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

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

Heterogeneous sand and gravel of glaciofluvial orgin. Typically forms elevated, level terrain. Thickness up to 90 ft (27m).

Lithology: sand; gravel

Till, End Moraine (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers 16 % 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, Stagnation Moraine (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers 45 % 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

Till, Minor 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 including minor, washboard, or recessional moraines. Composite thicknessof all Upper Wisconsin till may be up to 300 ft (91 m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Lacustrine Sediments, Ice-walled (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Glaciolacustrine clay and silt with minor sand and gravel. Forms elevated level terrain. Thickness up to 60 ft (18m).

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Glacial Sediment- Collapsed/Draped Transition Sediments (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Unbedded, unsorted mixture of clay, silt, sand, and pebbles, and a few cobbles and boulders; as thick as 30 meters (100 feet)

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel

Outwash, Collapsed (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene [Upper Wisconsin]) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Heterogeneous sand and gravel of glaciofluvial orgin. Deposited as outwash sediments that collapsed due to melting of buried ice. Thickness up to 90 ft (27m).

Lithology: sand; gravel

Alluvium (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.7 % 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

Glacial Sediment- Collapsed Glacial Sediment (Phanerozoic | Cenozoic | Quaternary | Pleistocene Holocene) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Unbedded, unsorted mixture of clay, silt, sand, and pebbles, and a few cobbles and boulders; as thick as 30 meters (100 feet)

Lithology: clay or mud; silt; sand; gravel