News Release, Kansas Geological Survey, Dec. 16, 1996
The map depicts the age and type of rocks, sands, and soils at the surface of Stafford County, along with roads, towns, rivers, railroads, intermittent and permanent lakes, and other features, such as the Big Salt Marsh and Little Salt Marsh at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. The map was compiled by William Johnson of the KU Geography Department and Alan Arbogast, formerly a graduate student at KU and now at Michigan State University.
Because they show the materials likely to be encountered in a given location, geologic maps are useful in construction, in searching for water and mineral deposits, and in a variety of engineering and environmental uses.
Most of Stafford County is covered by soils, sands, and a wind-blown silt called loess. According to Johnson, dating by radiocarbon methods has shown that the loess was deposited during the last Ice Age, about 20,000 to 10,000 years ago. Most of the sand in the area blew out of the channel of the Arkansas, and sand dunes have been changing and moving since that time. The map shows areas covered by dunes and categorizes dunes according to the size and shape.
The map is drawn at a scale of 1:50,000, so that one inch on the map equals about 3/4 mile of actual distance. The full-color map measures about 40 inches by 40 inches.
The map is one in a series of new geologic maps being produced by the Survey.
Copies of the new map are available from the Kansas Geological Survey, 1930 Constant Ave., Lawrence, KS 66047 (or phone 785-864-3965). The cost is $15.00, plus $5.00 for handling. Kansas residents should add 6.9% sales tax.
story by Rex Buchanan, (785) 864-3965
Kansas Geological Survey, Publications and Public Affairs
URL="http://www.kgs.ku.edu/General/News/96_releases/stafford.html"