Geology of Badlands National Park: A preliminary report
Open-File Report
2003-35
By: Philip W. Stoffer
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Abstract
Badlands National Park is host to perhaps the most scenic geology and landscape features in the Western Interior region of the United States. Ongoing erosion that forms the "badlands" exposes ancient sedimentary strata of Late Cretaceous through Oligocene age. Quaternary erosional and depositional processes are responsible for most of the modern landscape features in the park and surrounding region. This report provides a basic overview of the park geology The discussions presented within include both well-established concepts and theories and new, preliminary data and interpretations. Much emphasis is placed on presenting information about the oldest and least studied rocks in the park (particularly the Late Cretaceous and earliest Tertiary deposits that underlie the White River beds throughout the park region). Rock formations and selected fossils they contain are described. Faults, folds, unconformities, and other geologic structures in the North Unit of the park are illustrated, including features associated with the Sage Creek anticline and fault system.
Suggested Citation
Stoffer, P.W., 2003, Geology of Badlands National Park: A preliminary report: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2003-35, 63 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr0335.
ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Geology of Badlands National Park: A preliminary report |
| Series title | Open-File Report |
| Series number | 2003-35 |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr0335 |
| Year Published | 2003 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston, VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center |
| Description | 63 p. |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| Other Geospatial | Badlands National Park |
| Additional Online Files (Y/N) | N |