Chalk Buttes Physiographic Region

Kansas plays host to a vast range in ages of rock exposed at the surface, from the Mississippian age rock exposed in the Ozark Plateau region; deposited 330-360 mya, to the loess and river valley deposits of the High Plains region which were only laid down about 10,000 years ago during the Pleistocene. Between these extremes reside ten other physiographic regions which contain a variety of geologic formations, mineral deposits, and fossil-rich strata. The geomorphologic processes that shaped the geology of Kansas are numerous and diverse. The whole state is underlain by Pennsylvanian rock, but it is only exposed in the Osage Cuestas. This is overlain by Permian rock exposed in the Flint Hills, then Cretaceous which is visible in the Smoky Hills, Blue Hills, and Chalk Buttes regions. Over top of these layers were deposited Quaternary loess and river sediments in the west, glacial drift deposits in the northeast, and wind eroded and deposited sand in the central west.

The Chalk Buttes physiographic region is located in north central Kansas, and is characterized by chalky sediment as well as the buttes and badlands landforms formed by the erosion of this sediment. This region has in the past been included in the Smoky Hill formation due to similar physiographic characteristics, but is now characterized as its own region. Chalk Buttes shares with the Smoky Hills and Blue Hills regions similar bedrock, surficial geology, relief, drainage, vegetation, and landuse but differs from these in the nature of landforms present as well as the presence of vertebrate marine fossils (Aber). Two of the most famous fossils extracted from this region are a 50 foot plesiosaur and 35 foot mosasaur. The existence of fossils such as these contributed to the naming of Monument Rocks as a National Natural Landmark (GeoKansas).

The Niobrara formation is visible on the surface at various locations throughout western Kansas, but nowhere as dramatically as at the Castle Rock and Monument Rocks formation sites in Gove County.

The Niobrara chalk formation was originally formed on the floor of an inland sea by the accumulation of microscopic marine flora and fauna, tens of meters thick, which acted to help preserve larger creatures that died and settled to the bottom of the sea (Kansas, 33). The chalk and chalky shale beds average 600 feet in thickness (Kansas, 46). The unique topography present at these locations today were originally carved by the ancestral Smoky Hill River and perpetuated and enhanced by wind and water erosion over the last 5 million years.

The Chalk Buttes region has been in a perpetual state of change for millions of years, but dramatic changes are evident even over the last 60 years. As evidenced by photographs taken of the same locations at different times, the soft nature of the Niobrara chalk and chalky shale are extremely vulnerable to wind and water erosion. Add to these stresses that exerted upon the formations by tourism and the long term outlook for the famous Castle Rock and Monument Rocks formations appear as bleak as that of the once impressive Cobra Rock. (Charlton & Merriam 2003)

	Castle Rock formation, taken in 1941. photo by H.T.U. Smith. taken from Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. vol.106 Number 1-2 Spring 2003. Charlton & Merriam.Ever changing landscape: Recent topographic landmark erosion in Kansas. p.34 figure 6.

	Castle Rock formation, taken in 1997. Note the absense of the left tower top present in the 1941 photograph, as well as the top erosion of the shortest formation to the right. photo by Charlton. taken from Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. vol.106 Number 1-2 Spring 2003. Charlton & Merriam.Ever changing landscape: Recent topographic landmark erosion in Kansas. p.35 figure 7.

	Castle Rock formation, taken in 2001. Both tower tops are now gone in this photograph. photo by Charlton. taken from Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. vol.106 Number 1-2 Spring 2003. Charlton & Merriam.Ever changing landscape: Recent topographic landmark erosion in Kansas. p.35 figure 8.

	Cobra Rock formation, taken in 1993. photo by Charlton. taken from Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. vol.106 Number 1-2 Spring 2003. Charlton & Merriam.Ever changing landscape: Recent topographic landmark erosion in Kansas. p.36 figure 9.

	Cobra Rock formation, taken in 2001. the formation has toppled and almost entirely eroded away in a period of only 8 years. photo by Charlton. taken from Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science. vol.106 Number 1-2 Spring 2003. Charlton & Merriam.Ever changing landscape: Recent topographic landmark erosion in Kansas. p.36 figure 10.

The concept of Kite Aerial Photography (KAP) has been around since the 19th century. It was in fact the primary means of collecting aerial photography until the advent of powered flight in the early 20th century (Aber & Aber, 2002). The aerial photographs of this region was taken using a kite-mounted camera rig. The camera assembly was flown to approximately 150 meters using a camera-kite assembly discussed below.

	High oblique wide angle aerial photograph of the Monument Rocks image taken May 26, 2006 by J.S. Aber and used with permission.

	Low oblique narrow angle aerial photograph of the the same formation as above image taken May 26, 2006 by J.S. Aber and used with permission.

For the purposes of photographing Castle Rock and Monument Rocks, the camera used was a Canon S70. The camera is ideal for this because of its high 7-megapixel resolution, wide angle lens, and fast shutter speed (Aber & Aber, 2007). The camera is mounted in a remotely operated electronic assembly which consists of a titanium frame and electric motors capable of rotating the camera 360 degrees horizontally and 180 degrees vertically. The whole unit including camera weighs 28 ounces (Aber & Aber, 2007). The action of the assembly is controlled from the ground using an electronic remote control.