Common Rocks and Minerals of the Kansas Ozark Plateau
(Primary source of Information: Ozark Plateau Rocks and Minerals, Kansas Geological Survey GeoFacts website)
The rocks most closely associated with the Kansas Ozark Plateau are limestone, chert, galena, sphalerite and calcite.
Rock/ Mineral |
Composition |
Common Names |
Details |
Calcite |
Calcium carbonate |
Main component of limestone. One of the most common minerals in the
state of
Kansas. (see image) |
|
Chert |
Sedimentary rock composed
of
microscopic crystals
of quartz |
Flint |
Common in limestone as nodules or in continuous beds. It breaks with a
shell-like
fracture and edges of broken pieces are sharp.
(see image) |
Dolomite |
Calcium magnesium carbonate |
Can be massive as dolomite rock, and cleavage masses. Found in many locations in North America but areas where well-formed crystals may be obtained are not abundant. (see image) |
|
Galena |
Lead sulfide (PbS) |
Principal mineral of lead ore. It is heavy and was once mined in the
Ozark Plateau
area of Kansas. (see image) |
|
Limestone |
Sedimentary rock composed mostly of calcite |
It is formed in marine environments from
remains of
animals or plants, or by chemical deposition. (see image) |
|
Sphalerite |
Zinc sulfide (ZnS) |
Zinc blende, |
Most important mineral of zinc ore. Some sphalerite is found as massive deposits
varying from coarse to fine-grained. It was one of the primary
ores mined
in the Ozark Plateau. (see image) |
And not as well-known, but interesting to look at: |
|||
Smithsonite |
Zinc carbonate |
Turkey fat |
A secondary mineral associated with galena. (see image) |
| Secondary sources of information: National Audobon Society Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals, p. 436, 437, 442; Baxter Heritage Center; and Galena Mining and Historical Museum. | |||
| Return to Assessment of Ozark Plateau | |||