Joint 53rd South-Central/53rd North-Central/71st Rocky Mtn Section Meeting - 2019

Paper No. 28-3
Presentation Time: 2:15 PM

KARST RECONNAISSANCE OF CENTRAL BARBER COUNTY, KANSAS


SUMRALL, Jonathan B., Department of Geosciences, Fort Hays State University, 600 Park St., Hays, KS 67601 and GAUVEY, K.L., Department of Geosciences, Fort Hays State University, Hays, KS 67601

Karst features in central Barber County of Kansas are poorly understood and documented. This study represents a preliminary assessment of the exploration on two private ranches in Barber County. The two properties of study represent ~11,000 acres and have been partially explored by members of the Kansas Speleological Society; however, this study documents ~20 caves and sinkholes that have previously not been visited. This reconnaissance has led to a stratigraphic model for karst formation in the region, but future work will need to expand the role of topography, vegetation, and stratigraphy in aiding the discovery of new features. Cave mapping and exploration has been the bulk of the work, and this study also presents the various cave morphologies observed and the challenges of cave exploration in this area.