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Water resources of Hamilton County, southwestern Kansas
According to records of the National Weather Service (formerly the U.S. Weather Bureau) for a station near Syracuse, the average annual precipitation in Hamilton County is about 16 inches. Of this amount, 83 percent occurs during the growing season (March 15 to October 15). A part of the precipitation runs off as surface flow, part is evaporated, part is used by vegetation, and a small part percolates downward to recharge the ground-water reservoir. The average recharge from precipitation for Hamilton County is estimated to be 0.1 inch per year. Owing to the limited supply of water in most of the upland area of the county, dryland farming and grazing are the predominant land uses.
Water resources data for Kansas, water year 1973; Part 1, Surface water records
Surface-water records for the 1973 water year for Kansas, including records of streamflow or reservoir storage at gaging stations and partial-record stations, are given in this report. The locations of the stations are on figures 1 and 2. Records for a few pertinent gaging stations in bordering States also are included. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U. S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Kansas. The records were collected and computed by the Water Resources Division of the U. S. Geological Survey under the direction of C. W. Lane, district chief. Kansas district personnel who contributed significantly to the collection and preparation of data included in this report were: J. L. Ebling, C. 0. Geiger, K. D. Medina, C. 0. Peek, J. D. Craig, L. L. Jones, J. P. Marshall, W. J. Carswell, D. L. Lacock, G. G. Quy II, J. T. Religa, R. D. Thomas, S. V. Bond, S. T. Green, C. G. Sauer, L. M. Pope, F. D. Toepfer, A. F. Browning, M. L. Penny, M. Pabst, and L. R. Stringer. Through September 30, 1960, the records of discharge and stage of streams and canals and contents and stage of lakes or reservoirs were published in an annual series of U. S. Geological Survey water-supply papers entitled "Surface Water Supply of the United States." Beginning with the 1961 water year, surface-water records have been released by the Geological Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis. Distribution of these reports is limited; they are designed primarily for rapid release of data shortly after the end of the water year to meet local needs. The discharge and reservoir storage records for 1961-65 also have been published in a Geological Survey water-supply paper series entitled "Surface Water Supply of the United States 1961-65."
Water resources data for Kansas, water year 1973; Part 2, Water quality records
Water-resources data for the 1973 water year for Kansas include records of data for the chemical and physical characteristics of surface and ground water. Data on the quality of surface water (chemical, microbiological, temperature, and sediment) were collected from designated sampling sites at predetermined intervals such as once daily, weekly, monthly, or less frequently, and at some sites data were recorded on punched paper tape at 60-minute intervals. Records are given for 70 sampling stations of which 7 are partial-record stations, and for 51 miscellaneous sites. Miscellaneous temperatures of streamflow are given for 77 gaging stations, and records of chemical analyses are given for 224 ground-water sites. Locations of surface water-quality stations are shown in Figure 1, page 2. Records for pertinent water-quality stations in bordering States are also included. The records were collected by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey under the direction of C. W. Lane, district chief. These data represent that portion of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Kansas. Kansas District personnel who contributed significantly to the collection and preparation of data included in this report were: B. L. Day, L. R. Shelton, M. L. Penny, L. R. Stringer, and D. J. Dark (Kansas State Department of Health). The Geological Survey has published records of chemical quality, suspended sediment, and water temperatures since 1941 in annual series of water-supply papers entitled, "Quality of Surface Waters of the United States." Beginning with the 1964 water year, water-quality records also have been released by the Geological Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis. Distribution of these reports is limited; they are designed primarily for rapid release of data shortly after the end of the water year to meet local needs. These records will be published later in Geological Survey water-supply papers.
Application of statistical techniques to the estimation of ground-water withdrawals in northwestern Kansas
This study was made to determine the accuracy of using readily available data with certain statistical techniques to estimate ground-water withdrawals in western Kansas. The data used in the investigation were from a sample of wells chosen from the total inventoried irrigation wells in nine counties in northwestern Kansas; they can be considered as being typical of the data generally available in western Kansas. The hypothesis that each of three physical characteristics of the wells had the same distribution in the sample as in the total population was accepted at the 95 percent significance level. These characteristics (saturated thickness of the aquifer, depth to water below land surface, and reported well yield) were assumed to be related to the withdrawal of the wells, and the sample was considered to be representative of the total population in regard to ground-water withdrawals. Metered withdrawal values for the wells in the test area were not available, so derived withdrawals were obtained by using power-conversion coefficients to convert power records to pumpage. The power-conversion coefficient is the ratio of values obtained in short simultaneous measurements of power use and discharge for a well. Trend-surface and multiple-regression analyses were performed on the power-conversion coefficients themselves and on the pumpage per irrigated acre derived from the coefficients. The equations developed using the available data proved to be poor tools for estimating withdrawals. In the analyses, all the expected relationships appeared to be either very weak or non-existent. The expected relations may actually be weak; however, a more likely conclusion is drawn that the withdawal values, which have been derived using the power-conversion coefficients and the available data, do not reflect the true withdrawals.
Zircon fission-track ages of Pearlette family ash beds in Meade County, Kansas
Pearlette family volcanic ash beds at two faunally important late Cenozoic localities near Meade, Meade County, Kansas, are very similar in chemical and mineralogic composition, yet their zircon microphenocrysts have markedly different fission-track ages. Zircon microphenocrysts from type B Pearlette volcanic ash underlying sediments that contain the Borchers local fauna of Hibbard are various shades of pink and have a fission-track age of 1.9 ± 0.1 m.y. In contrast, zircon microphenocrysts from type O Pearlette volcanic ash overlying sediments that contain the Cudahy local fauna of Hibbard are colorless and have a fission-track age of 0.6 ± 0.1 m.y. These fission-track ages are in good agreement with K-Ar ages on the probable source material in Yellowstone National Park.
Zircon fission-track ages of Pearlette family ash beds in Meade County, Kansas
Pearlette family volcanic ash beds at two faunally important late Cenozoic localities near Meade, Meade County, Kansas, are very similar in chemical and mineralogic composition, yet their zircon microphenocrysts have markedly different fission-track ages. Zircon microphenocrysts from type B Pearlette volcanic ash underlying sediments that contain the Borchers local fauna of Hibbard are various shades of pink and have a fission-track age of 1.9 ± 0.1 m.y. In contrast, zircon microphenocrysts from type O Pearlette volcanic ash overlying sediments that contain the Cudahy local fauna of Hibbard are colorless and have a fission-track age of 0.6 ± 0.1 m.y. These fission-track ages are in good agreement with K-Ar ages on the probable source material in Yellowstone National Park.
Fluvial sediment characteristics of the Kansas River at Wamego, Kansas, 1957-70
Fluvial-sediment samples have been collected from the Kansas River at Wamego from 1957-70 by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the Kansas Water Resources Board. During this period. the stream-runoff pattern of the basin has been altered by constructions of Tuttle Creek and Milford Reservoirs. An analysis of data shows that the reduction of suspended sediment discharge has been significant as a result of reservoir storage. However. the particle-size distribution of fluvial sediment has not been appreciably altered.
Water resources data for Kansas, water year 1972; Part 1, Surface water records
Surface-water records for the 1972 water year for Kansas, including records of streamflow or reservoir storage at gaging stations and partial-record stations, are given in this report. The locations of the stations are on figures 1 and 2. Records for a few pertinent gaging stations in bordering States also are included. These data represent that part of the National Water Data System collected by the U. S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Kansas. The records were collected and computed by the Water Resources Division of the U. S. Geological Survey under the direction of C. W. Lane, district chief. Kansas district personnel who contributed significantly to the collection and preparation of data included in this report were: J. L. Ebling, C. 0. Geiger, K. D. Medina, L. E. Stuliken, C. 0. Peek, J. D. Craig, L. L. Jones, A. T. Klamm, J. P. Marshall, C. W. Kennedy, W. J. Carswell, D. L. Lacock, G. G. Quy II, J. T. Religa, R. D. Thomas, S. V. Bond, S. T. Green, C. G. Sauer, A. B. Evans, A. F. Browning, M. J. Goetz, M. L. Penny, and M. Pabst. Through September 30, 1960, the records of discharge and stage of streams and canals and contents and stage of lakes or reservoirs were published in an annual series of U. S. Geological Survey water-supply papers entitled "Surface Water Supply of the United States." Beginning with the 1961 water year, surface-water records have been released by the Geological Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis. Distribution of these reports is limited; they are designed primarily for rapid release of data shortly after the end of the water year to meet local needs. The discharge and reservoir storage records for 1961-65 also have been published in a Geological Survey water-supply paper series entitled "Surface Water Supply of the United States 1961-65."
Water resources data for Kansas, water year 1972; Part 2, Water quality records
Water-resources data for the 1972 water year for Kansas include records of data for the chemical and physical characteristics of surface and ground water. Data on the quality of surface water (chemical, microbiological, temperature, and sediment) were collected from designated sampling sites at predetermined intervals such as once daily, weekly, monthly, or less frequently, and at some sites data were recorded on punched paper tape at 60-minute intervals. Records are given for 72 sampling stations of which 10 are partial-record stations, and 34 are miscellaneous sites. Records of chemical analyses are given for 581 ground-water sites. Locations of surface water-quality stations are shown in Figure 1, page 2. Records for pertinent water-quality stations in bordering States are also included. The records were collected by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey under the direction of C. W. Lane, district chief. These data represent that portion of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Kansas. The Geological Survey has published records of chemical quality, suspended sediment, and water temperatures since 1941 in annual series of water-supply papers entitled, "Quality of Surface Waters of the United States." Beginning with the 1964 water year, water-quality records also have been released by the Geological Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis. Distribution of these reports is limited; they are designed primarily for rapid release of data shortly after the end of the water year to meet local needs. These records will be published later in Geological Survey water-supply papers.
Water resources data for Kansas, water year 1971: Part 1. Surface water records
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Water resources data for Kansas, water year 1971; Part 2, Water quality records
Water-resources data for the 1971 water year for Kansas include records of data for the chemical and physical characteristics of surface and ground water. Data on the quality of surface water (chemical, microbiological, temperature, and sediment) were collected from designated sampling sites at predetermined intervals such as once daily, weekly, monthly, or less frequently. Records are given for 66 sampling stations of which 9 are partial-record stations, and 52 are miscellaneous sites. Records of chemical analyses are given for 46 ground-water sites. Locations of surface water-quality stations are shown in Figure 1, page 2. Records for pertinent water-quality stations in bordering States are also included. The records were collected by the Water Resources Division of the U.S. Geological Survey under the direction of C. W. Lane, district chief. These data represent that portion of the National Water Data System collected by the U.S. Geological Survey and cooperating State and Federal agencies in Kansas. The Geological Survey has published records of chemical quality, suspended sediment, and water temperatures since 1941 in annual series of water-supply papers entitled, "Quality of Surface Waters of the United States." Beginning with the 1964 water year, water-quality records also have been released by the Geological Survey in annual reports on a State-boundary basis. Distribution of these reports is limited; they are designed primarily for rapid release of data shortly after the end of the water year to meet local needs. These records will be published later in Geological Survey water-supply papers.
Age of emplacement of Riley County, Kansas, kimberlites and a possible minimum age for the Dakota Sandstone
Field evidence suggests that the kimberlites of Riley County, Kansas, were emplaced into Lower Permian rocks in post-Dakota Sandstone time. The Dakota Sandstone in Kansas is thought to be earliest Late Cretaceous in age; thus the maximum age of emplacement of the kimberlites is approximately 100 ± 20 m.y. K-Ar dates on chloritized biotite and phlogopites from the kimberlites range from 112 ± 6 m.y. to 380 ± 40 m.y.; the dates earlier than 100 m.y. (6 of 7 samples) are attributed to either the xenocrystalline nature of the chlorites and/or excess Ar and low temperature of intrusion. Fission track dates from two apatites from granite xenoliths are 115 ± 12 m.y. and 123 ± 12 m.y.; these dates reflect cooling at about 120 m.y. ago, which may place a maximum age of emplacement on the kimberlites.
Metamorphism of Precambrian granitic xenoliths in a mica peridotite at Rose Dome, Woodson County, Kansas: Part 2, petrologic and mineralogic studies
Field, drill-core, petrographic, and mineralogic studies show that the Precambrian granitic rocks exposed on Rose Dome, Woodson County, Kansas, were emplaced as inclusions of basement rock in a mica peridotite magma that intruded the Pennsylvanian section of Rose Dome during Late Cretaceous time. High temperatures of the alkaline ultramafic magma (probably greater than 800° C) led to metamorphism of the granitic inclusions and the formation of high sanidine and high albite from original microcline and albite. Contact metamorphic effects on country rock include the development of buchite-like sanidine-magnesian biotite hornfels from Weston Shale (Pennsylvanian) that was intruded by the mica peridotite. The high temperatures of the peridotite magma also led to partial melting of the granitic rocks; a quartzofeldspathic matrix shows volcanic textures and binds mineral and rock fragments together to produce the varied range of textures and structures of the granitic xenoliths. Partial melting of the granitic rocks accounts for those features that led earlier workers to conclude that the “granite” on Rose Dome had intruded the Pennsylvanian section. Those features included xenoliths of hornfels enclosed by granitic material and apparently intrusive relationships between the granitic rocks and metamorphosed shale. The lack of concordance in the Rb-Sr ages of the granitic rocks (Part 1) may stem partly from melting of the “granite” and exchange of ions with the mica peridotite magma, from the “sampling” of different levels of granitic crust by the upwelling peridotite magma, or from weathering.
Computer-produced tables, maps, and diagrams as tools in the interpretation of brine data from southeastern Kansas (U.S.A.)
The applicability of computer-oriented techniques to assist in the interpretation of brine data is demonstrated by the use of six programs on data from two example areas. These programs include a data tabling routine; routines for producing Stiff, Piper, and Ropes diagrams; programs for calculating ionic ratios; and programs for plotting maps of chemical data. The examples illustrate: (1) the range in water quality and contamination of potable water by brines in Stafford, Pratt, and Barber Counties, and (2) the change in water quality in the Arbuckle Group from southeast to south-central Kansas.