The Emporia Formation, also referred to as Emporia Limestone, is a Late-Carboniferous geologic formation in Kansas, extending into Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
This formation's members are, top to bottom, Elmont Limestone, named for Elmont, Kansas (Beede, 1898) Harveyville Shale, named for Harveyville, Kansas (Moore, 1936) Reading Limestone, named for Reading, Kansas (Moore, 1936)
While the Elmont Limestone member is generally less than 3 feet thick (1 meter), it can be as thick as 15 feet (5 meters) and as thin as 12 inches. As thin as that, it is particularly resistant and forms multiple waterfalls within a few miles along Deep Creek in southern Riley County, including Pillsbury Crossing.Note: The thickness given here is for the remnant ledge of the waterfall. As can be seen along the shores of the crossing, the upper beds of the Elmont Limestone described by Jewett have been washed away within the channel.Note: The boulders below the waterfall also include Tarkio Limestone. At Pillsbury Crossing, the Elmont Limestone is seen with parallel joints (pictured); and where not thickly covered with algae, the surface shows curious parallelogram patterns.
See also
List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Kansas Paleontology in Kansas
References