Mississippian Stratigraphy in Southeastern Iowa

All formational units of the Kinderhook, Osage and Meramec Series are represented in Iowa. No rock units of the Chester Series are present in the state. The Mississippian sequence of rocks is dominated by cherty marine carbonates, but thin fossiliferous shale units occur in the Osage and Meramec. Sandstone and sandy carbonate are dominant within the Meramec in the north-west portion of southeast Iowa and occur locally within the basal Osage. Siltstone occurs within the lower portion of Kinderhook strata. The maximum thickness of the Mississippian System across south-central Iowa represents the main axis of Mississippian deposition