Pennington County Research Articles

Loomisite, Ba[Be2P2O8]⋅H2O, the first natural example with the zeolite ABW-type framework, from Keystone, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA

AbstractA new beryllophosphate mineral species, loomisite (IMA2022-003), ideally Ba[Be2P2O8]⋅H2O, was found from the Big Chief mine near Keystone, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA. It occurs as divergent sprays of very thin bladed crystals with a tapered termination. Individual crystals are found up to 0.80 × 0.06 × 0.03 mm. Associated minerals include dondoellite, earlshannonite, mitridatite, rockbridgeite, jahnsite-(CaMnFe) and quartz. No twinning or parting is observed macroscopically. Loomisite is murky white in transmitted light, transparent with white streak and silky to vitreous lustre. It is brittle and has a Mohs hardness of 3½–4, with perfect cleavage on {100} and {$\bar{1}$10}. The measured and calculated densities are 3.46(5) and 3.512 g/cm3, respectively. Optically, loomisite is biaxial (+), with α = 1.579(5), β = 1.591(5), γ = 1.606(5) (white light), 2V (meas.) = 82(2)° and 2V (calc.) = 85°. It is non-pleochroic under polarised light, with a very weak (r > v) dispersion. The mineral is insoluble in water or hydrochloric acid. An electron microprobe analysis, along with the BeO content measured with an ICP-MS, yields an empirical formula (based on 9 O apfu) (Ba0.96Ca0.06)Σ1.02[(Be1.96Fe0.06)Σ2.02P1.99O8]⋅H2O, which can be simplified to (Ba,Ca)[(Be,Fe)2P2O8]⋅H2O.Loomisite is monoclinic, with space group Pn and unit-cell parameters a = 7.6292(18), b = 9.429(2), c = 4.7621(11) Å, β = 91.272(5)°, V= 342.47(14) Å3 and Z = 2. Its crystal structure is characterised by a framework of corner-sharing PO4 and BeO4 tetrahedra. The framework can be considered as built from the stacking of sheets consisting of 4- and 8-membered rings (4.82 nets) along [001] or hexagonal layers (63 nets) along [010]. The extra-framework Ba2+ and H2O are situated in the channels formed by the 8-membered rings. Topologically, loomisite represents the first natural example with the zeolite ABW-type framework, which is adopted by over 100 synthetic compounds with different chemical compositions.

Ammonite Fossil from the Hopewell Mound Group: Source and Significance

AbstractAmong the thousands of artifacts recovered in 1891–1892 from Mound 25 of the Middle Woodland Hopewell Mound Group in Ross County, Ohio, is a Cretaceous scaphitid ammonite fossil. We have identified the ammonite as Hoploscaphites brevis, a well-known and well-studied index fossil used to subdivide the Upper Cretaceous deposits of the western interior of North America into biostratigraphic zones. The North American extent of this species is limited to parts of the Northern Great Plains, with the probable source of the Hopewell Mound Group specimen being the Sage Creek area in Pennington County, South Dakota. This probable source area for the fossil is consistent with that proposed by Charles Willoughby in the late 1800s. Both ethnological information and archaeological data, including from sites contemporaneous with Mound 25, indicate that ammonite fossils were highly prized among the people of the Northern Great Plains for curing the sick and bringing success in hunting, war, and other endeavors. Conversely, both ethnological information and archaeological data from Eastern Woodland cultures indicate ammonite fossils did not have the same allure among Eastern Woodland people. This and other information suggest that the Hopewell Mound Group ammonite fossil was indirectly procured through interaction with people living in the area where it originated.

Solving a Perplexing Scenic and Sage Creek Basin Drainage History Problem, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA

The escarpment-surrounded Sage Creek and Scenic Basins open in southeast directions toward the northeast and east oriented White River valley while their floors drain in a northwest direction to the northeast oriented Cheyenne River. Located in the South Dakota Badlands region the Sage Creek and Scenic Basins present an intriguing drainage history problem where key puzzle pieces also include the White and Cheyenne River valleys. The puzzle solution requires massive amounts of southeast oriented water to first erode as deep headcuts the east oriented White River valley segment and the two southeast-oriented Sage Creek and Scenic Basins prior to Cheyenne River valley headward erosion. The northeast oriented White River valley segment upstream from the east oriented White River valley segment (and from the Sage Creek and Scenic Basin location) next eroded headward across southeast oriented flow and was initiated by southeast oriented water flowing from the Scenic Basin that turned in a northeast direction to reach the east oriented White River downstream valley segment. Erosion of the Sage Creek and Scenic Basin headcuts abruptly ended when headward erosion of the northeast oriented Cheyenne River valley beheaded southeast oriented flow routes leading to the then actively eroding Sage Creek and Scenic Basin heacuts. Cheyenne River valley headward erosion in a southwest direction next captured massive southeast oriented flow then still moving to the newly eroded northeast oriented White River valley segment. Northwest oriented drainage developed on the Sage Creek and Scenic Basin floors when a flood surge or temporary dam caused water to fill the White River valley and to spill in a northwest direction across low points on the then abandoned Sage Creek and Scenic Basin headcut rims. This spillage eroded narrow northwest oriented valleys and drained water filling the two basins to the Cheyenne River valley while most of the ponded water drained in an east direction down the White River valley. The White River valley, Sage Creek and Scenic Basins, and the Cheyenne River valley were eroded by enormous quantities of southeast oriented water that also deeply eroded the entire South Dakota Badlands region.

Scaphites of the “Nodosus Group” from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) of the Western Interior of North America

Scaphitid ammonites (scaphites) are common in the Upper Cretaceous Pierre Shale and Bearpaw Shale of the Western Interior of North America. We redescribe Hoploscaphites nodosus (Owen, 1852) and H. brevis (Meek, 1876) from the Baculites compressus–B. cuneatus zones of the upper Campanian. The types of both of these species were collected in the mid-19th century in what was then called Nebraska Territory, and included parts of present-day South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. Based on our present knowledge of the distribution of these species, the type material was probably collected from the B. compressus–B. cuneatus zones in the Pierre Shale at Sage Creek, a tributary of the Cheyenne River, Pennington County, South Dakota.Traditionally, the more robust, more coarsely ornamented scaphites (comprising the “nodosus group”) from the Pierre Shale and Bearpaw Shale were assigned to Jeletzkytes Riccardi, 1983, and the more slender, more finely ornamented scaphites were assigned to Hoploscaphites Nowak, 1911. However, our large collections of these scaphites from the Baculites compressus–B. cuneatus zones reveal a complete intergradation between the two morphological extremes, and for many specimens, the choice of genus is arbitrary. In addition, our studies of other biostratigraphic zones in the Pierre Shale and Bearpaw Shale reveal that cooccurring species of these two “genera” share more in common with each other than they do with congeneric species from other horizons. Furthermore, contrary to earlier assumptions, Jeletkytes is not endemic to the Western Interior Basin of North America and occurs, for example, in the U.S. Atlantic Coastal Plain and Europe. We thus provisionally treat Jeletzkytes as a junior subjective synonym of Hoploscaphites. This expanded definition of Hoploscaphites is consistent with present-day concepts of other scaphitid genera such as Discoscaphites Meek, 1876, and Trachyscaphites Cobban and Scott, 1964.In Hoploscaphites nodosus and H. brevis, the juvenile shell is planispirally coiled with a small umbilicus. The whorl section is initially depressed and becomes more compressed through ontogeny. The angle of the body chamber in juveniles is approximately two-thirds of a whorl. At the approach of maturity, the shell uncoils, forming a relatively long shaft and recurved hook. The ratio of whorl width to whorl height reaches a minimum value at midshaft. The apertural margin at maturity is constricted and terminates in a flared lip. Commonly, the last two or three septa, corresponding to the formation of the hook, are more closely spaced (approximated). These features indicate that the rate of growth decreased and eventually stopped at maturity (“morphogenetic countdown” associated with determinate growth). Both species of scaphites occur as dimorphs, which are referred to as macroconchs (presumably females) and microconchs (presumably males). In samples of specimens of the same species within a single concretion, macroconchs are approximately 20% larger than microconchs. In addition to size, dimorphs are distinguished by differences in shape, including the presence or absence of an umbilical bulge, the size of the umbilical diameter, the outline of the umbilical shoulder relative to that of the venter in side view, and the relative change in whorl height in passing from the mature phragmocone to the shaft of the body chamber.The holotype of Hoploscaphites nodosus, by monotypy, is UC 6381, the original of Scaphites nodosus Owen (1852: 581, pl. 8, fig. 4). Adults exhibit a range of variation in size, degree of compression, and coarseness of ornament. The exposed phragmocone occupies most of the coiled portion of the shell, and is approximately two-thirds of a whorl in angular length. Adults are large (LMAX averages 91.8 mm in macroconchs and 78.0 mm in microconchs) and ellipsoidal in side view, with a strongly recurved hook (apertural angle averages 73° in macroconchs). The ratio of whorl width to whorl heigh

HEPATIC MINERALS OF WHITE-TAILED AND MULE DEER IN THE SOUTHERN BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA

Because there is a paucity of information on the mineral requirements of free-ranging deer, data are needed from clinically healthy deer to provide a basis for the diagnosis of mineral deficiencies. To our knowledge, no reports are available on baseline hepatic mineral concentrations from sympatric white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) using different habitats in the Northern Great Plains. We assessed variation in hepatic minerals of female white-tailed deer (n = 42) and mule deer (n = 41). Deer were collected in February and August 2002 and 2003 from study areas in Custer and Pennington Counties, South Dakota, in and adjacent to a wildfire burn. Hepatic samples were tested for levels (parts per million; ppm) of aluminum (Al), antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), barium (Ba), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), calcium (Ca), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), lead (Pb), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), mercury (Hg), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), selenium (Se), sodium (Na), sulfur (S), thalium (Tl), and zinc (Zn). We predicted that variability in element concentrations would occur between burned and unburned habitat due to changes in plant communities and thereby forage availability. We determined that Zn, Cu, and Ba values differed (P <or= 0.05) between habitats. Because of the nutritional demands of gestation and lactation, we hypothesized that elemental concentrations would vary depending on reproductive status; Cd, Cu, Ca, P, Mn, Mo, Na, and Zn values differed (P <or= 0.05) by reproductive status. We also hypothesized that, due to variation in feeding strategies and morphology between deer species, hepatic elemental concentrations would reflect dietary differences; Ca, Cu, K, Co, Mo, Se, and Zn differed (P <or= 0.05) between species. Further research is needed to determine causes of variation in hepatic mineral levels due to habitat, reproductive status, and species.

GASTROINTESTINAL MORPHOLOGY OF FEMALE WHITE-TAILED AND MULE DEER: EFFECTS OF FIRE, REPRODUCTION, AND FEEDING TYPE

We assessed variation in length, width, density, and surface enlargement factor of papillae; rumen and intestinal digesta weight; intestinal length; and intestinal tissue weight of reproductive and nonreproductive female whitetailed (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (O. hemionus) using similar burned and unburned habitat. Deer were collected from study areas in Custer and Pennington counties, South Dakota, in and adjacent to a wildfire burn. Length of papillae and enlargement factor of papillae surface of white-tailed deer and mule deer were greater in burned than unburned habitat, and dry weight of rumen digesta of white-tailed deer was greater in unburned than burned habitat. Papillae surface enlargement factor, papillae length and width, and dry weight of rumen and intestinal digesta were greater for lactating than nonlactating white-tailed deer. Papillae density, intestinal digesta dry weight, and intestinal length were greater in mule deer than white-tailed deer. The mosaic pattern of the burned habitat was beneficial at the mucosal level for white-tailed and mule deer within 3 years postfire. Enhanced papillae morphology of lactating compared with nonlactating and pregnant deer was attributed to high nutritional demands associated with reproductive status. Papillae density may be more important in mule deer because of feeding strategy (concentrate selector‐intermediate feeder) compared to white-tailed deer (concentrate selector), whereas greater rumen digesta dry weight and intestinal length may be directly associated with size.

A baiting system for delivery of an oral plague vaccine to black-tailed prairie dogs.

Laboratory and field studies were conducted between July and October 1999 to identify bait preference, biomarker efficacy, and bait acceptance rates for delivering an oral plague vaccine to black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus). Twenty juvenile captive prairie dogs were offered alfalfa baits containing either alfalfa, alfalfa and 5% molasses, or alfalfa, 5% molasses and 4% salt. Based on the results of these trials we selected a bait containing alfalfa, 7% molasses, and 1% salt for field trials to determine bait acceptance rates by free-ranging animals. The biomarkers DuPont Blue dye, iophenoxic acid, and tetracycline hydrochloride were orally administered to captive prairie dogs to determine their efficacy. Only tetracycline proved effective as a biomarker. Two field trials were conducted at separate prairie dog colonies located at the Buffalo Gap National Grassland (Pennington County, South Dakota, USA). In Trial 1, three baits containing tetracycline were distributed around each active burrow entrance and an additional bait was placed inside the burrow (1,276 baits total). In Trial 2, baits were distributed at the same density per burrow as Trial 1, but along transects spaced 10 m apart (1,744 baits total). Trapping began 3 days after bait distribution, and 30 prairie dogs then were captured at each site to determine the percentage of animals marked. In Trial 1, 67% of the prairie dogs captured had tetracycline deposits indicative of bait consumption. In Trial 2, 83% of the prairie dogs had ingested a bait. Approximately 15% of the animals in both trials ate more than one bait. Fleas (Opisocrostis hirsutus) were found on 64 of 70 (91%) of the prairie dogs captured during this study.

Flea Beetle Control in Canola, 1989

Abstract On 8 May, a cooperative trial with Sigco Research was established in Pennington county near St. Hilaire, MN. Plot size were six 38.1 cm rows, 6.10 m in length, planted with a cone type 6-row planter. The trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design, replicated 4 times. All granular treatments were applied with the seed. All foliar treatments were broadcast applied in 30.4 liter/ha material at 2.8 kg/cm2 pressure using a hand held C02 sprayer. Two foliar applications were made at late pre bloom and early post bloom. Data on stand density, vigor, and lodging were collected. Plant heights were recorded pre bloom. Plots were threshed, moisture and plot yield recorded, and final yields adjusted for moisture.

The Ferns of the Black Hills

This paper was written for the purpose of a quick reference to the types of ferns found in the Black Hills of South Dakota and as an aid to the identification of the ferns of the area covered. The paper was compiled from information gathered while working in the Black Hills during the past two summers and this past winter. Each fern, there are 20 in all, was described from the author's collected specimens which are now on deposit in the University of Kansas herbarium. Drawings have been made of each fern. Introduction Geography. The Black Hills are a group of mountains in southwestern South Dakota covering an area of about 5,000 sq. miles. They occupy Lawrence, Pennington, and Custer counties plus a portion of Fall River County. Their general elevation is around 3,000 ft., but Harney Peak, the highest point in the Black Hills and in South Dakota, has an elevation of 7,240 ft. Geology. The Black Hills are an upraised, domal formation. Sedimentary layers once extended over the central and higher portions but today are eroded away, leaving the more resistant crystalline rocks, including granite and schist. These harder rocks form the higher elevations. Around the outer edges of the Black Hills are layers of sedimentry rocks, including limestone, shale, and sandstone. Many valleys, ravines, and gullies have been formed in this area from erosion because of the soft rocks that are found in lower elevations. Descriptions. The descriptions of each species contains the characteristics that set the species off from its close relatives in the Black Hills. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, Vol. 72, No. 1, 1969. Published June 11, 1969.

Log of Wildcat Well in Pennington County, South Dakota: GEOLOGICAL NOTES

Log of Wildcat Well in Pennington County, South Dakota: GEOLOGICAL NOTES