Geologic units in Valley county, Montana

Additional scientific data in this geographic area

Bearpaw Formation (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 54 % of this area

Dark gray shale with several zones of calcareous concretions, a basal zone of ferruginous concretions, and numerous thin bentonite beds. Marine. Thickness as much as 300 m (984 ft).

Gravel (Tertiary) at surface, covers 12 % of this area

Variable deposits that range from pebble to boulder size and include sand, silt, and clay. Dominantly alluvial terrace, abandoned channel and floodplain, remnant alluvial fan, and local glacial outwash.

Alluvium (Quaternary) at surface, covers 9 % of this area

Gravel, sand, silt, and clay deposits of stream and river channels, and floodplains.

Judith River Formation (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 8 % of this area

Light brown to light gray, fine- to coarse-grained sandstone with interbeds of gray to black carbonaceous shale, silty shale, and thin coal. Local Parkman Sandstone Member (lower part of formation):yellowish gray to brownish gray and olive green, fine- to medium-grained, cross-bedded sandstone interbedded with yellowish gray, silty shale. Estuarine, brackish, and nearshore marine. Thickness as much as 305 m (1000 ft).

Hell Creek Formation (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Light gray, bentonitic claystone that alternates with gray to brown sandstone interbedded with carbonaceous shale. Laterally equivalent to Lance Formation. Fluvial and flood plain. Thickness as much as 335 m (1,100 ft).

Fox Hills Formation (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 5 % of this area

Yellowish orange to gray, fine- to medium-grained, non-calcareous sandstone in upper part, and interbedded sandstone, siltstone, and black shale with calcareous concretion zone in lower part. Marginal marine. Thickness 30–45 m (98–148 ft).

Lebo Member of Fort Union Formation (Tertiary) at surface, covers 3 % of this area

Dark gray carbonaceous shale, bentonitic claystone, sandstone, and coal. Alluvial plain. Thickness as much as 185 m (607 ft).

Claggett Formation (Cretaceous) at surface, covers 2 % of this area

Dark gray to gray shale that weathers brown, with thin, gray sandstone laminae and beds in upper or middle part and calcareous concretions in lower part. Marine. Thickness as much as 170 m (558 ft).

Tullock Member of Fort Union Formation (Tertiary) at surface, covers 1 % of this area

Yellow sandstone interbedded with subordinate grayish brown and black shale and thin beds of coal. Alluvial plain. Thickness as much as 180 m (590 ft).

Tongue River Member of Fort Union Formation (Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.7 % of this area

Yellowish orange sandstone, sandy and silty carbonaceous shale, and coal. Alluvial plain. Thickness as much as 300 m (984 ft).

Gravel (Quaternary) at surface, covers 0.5 % of this area

Variable deposits that range from pebble to boulder size and include sand, silt, and clay. Dominantly alluvial terrace, abandoned channel and floodplain, remnant alluvial fan, and local glacial outwash.

Paleosol (Quaternary and Tertiary) at surface, covers 0.4 % of this area

Light gray to very pale orangish gray calcrete and calcareous silt with scattered small pebbles near the base. Northeastern Montana.

Hell Creek and Fox Hills Formations (Cretaceous) at surface, covers < 0.1 % of this area

Hell Creek Formation (Khc): Light gray, bentonitic claystone that alternates with gray to brown sandstone interbedded with carbonaceous shale. Laterally equivalent to Lance Formation. Fluvial and flood plain. Thickness as much as 335 m (1,100 ft). Fox Hills Formation (Kfh): Yellowish orange to gray, fine- to medium-grained, non-calcareous sandstone in upper part, and interbedded sandstone, siltstone, and black shale with calcareous concretion zone in lower part. Marginal marine. Thickness 30–45 m (98–148 ft).