Oread Limestone

Oread Limestone
Stratigraphic range: [1]Kasimovian–Gzhelian (Virgilian stage)[2]
Natural History Museum, Dyche Hall, University of Kansas, built with Oread Limestone
TypeFormation
Location
RegionKansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Iowa
CountryUnited States

The Oread Limestone is a geologic unit of formation rank within the Shawnee Group throughout much of its extent. It is exposed in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Iowa. The type locality is Mount Oread within Lawrence, Kansas.[3] It preserves fossils of the Carboniferous period. Although it has significant shale members, its limestone members are resistant and form escarpments and ridges. Limestone from the unit is a historic building material in Kansas, particularly in the early buildings of the University of Kansas; standing examples include Spooner Hall and Dyche Hall.[4]

  1. ^ P. H. Heckel (2013). "Pennsylvanian stratigraphy of Northern Midcontinent Shelf and biostratigraphic correlation of cyclothems". Stratigraphy. 10 (1–2): 7, TEXT-FIGURE 4. Retrieved 2022-04-02.
  2. ^ "Geologic Unit: Lawrence". National Geologic Database. Geolex — Significant Publications. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved 2022-04-03.
  3. ^ "Geolex — Unit Summary: Oread". National Geologic Map Database. Retrieved 2018-02-24.
  4. ^ National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: University of Kansas Historic District (PDF), National Park Service, Local craftsmen quarried Oread limestone from the north slope of the ridge for the first generation of buildings.