Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | At Kanopolis Reservoir campground, Karna B. and Susan P., members of the expedition, examine the maps. A recent amber find was reported at this site, but it turned out to be beer bottle glass partially melted by a camp fire! | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | We begin with a general overview of the Smoky Hills physiographic province in central Kansas. Looking away from the lake, we see Cretaceous sandstone formations on the north side of Kanopolis Reservoir. | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | Slowly turning west, we spy a tributary valley to the Smoky Hill River. | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | Looking down to avoid stepping on a rattlesnake, we enjoy lichens and carvings on the sandstone. |
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | Swinging on around and now facing south, we spot the Smokey Hill River draining into Kanopolis Reservoir. | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | The view may be idyllic, but we discover this is the wrong side of the lake! Our township and range location is on the south side of the original river. We trek back to the vehicle for a welcome drink of water and blast from the air conditioner. |
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | Upon closer examination of our records and maps, we drive around the lake and walk some distance across a pasture to find ourselves at the alleged amber collection site. | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | If we read the account correctly, the amber was collected right here! Alas, we are perched at what would have been a high in the topography, and the amber was taken at the base of this 50-60 foot high cliff at river's edge. It would be a deep first step in our search for amber, a sacrifice we are unwilling to make this day. |
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | Hum, so far no luck... We change our plan and decide to follow up on an amber find at a nearby quarry. Shale is being mined and we had obtained permission to examine the site for amber. | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | A rare sedimentary structure is observed...cone-in-cone shale, but no amber here. |
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | This black shale is interesting but no amber is expected to be found in this uniform sedimentary rock. We are following up on a story of fist-sized chunks of amber collected and discarded by workers nearly every week in this quarry! | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | An employee became frustrated with our inability to find this amber and drove us to the portion of the quarry where amber was abundant. This rich collecting site is high on the hill directly in front of us. How could we be so blind? The amber turned out to be colorless selenite, a very pretty mineral but nothing like amber! Foiled again... |
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | So far our search has been unsuccessful and therefore a disappointment. The day is not a total loss though, because it is instructive to know where amber is not found! | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | Although our mission was not accomplished, we tour the processing operation to learn the value of this shale. Susan P. and an plant employee are pictured here. |
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | The shale is hauled across the road to this plant. First, it is placed in hot furnaces to bake. | 
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | When the water is driven off the shale expands and resembles a volcanic scoria. What is scoria often used for you might ask...landscape rock for gardens! Hence, you know the fate of some beautiful dark Kansas shale. It may go for gardens or be sold as aggregate for roads or to be mixed into other substances. |
Photo by S. W. Aber,
August 7, 2001 | Check out this landscape! With nothing in the image for scale it would be difficult to believe we are still in Kansas!! |
