Lithograph City Formation

Geologic formation in Iowa and Minnesota, United States.

Lithograph City Formation
Stratigraphic range: Devonian
Type	Formation
Unit of	Cedar Valley Group
Location
Country	United States
Extent	Iowa and Minnesota

The Lithograph City Formation is a geologic formation in Iowa, part of the Cedar Valley Group. It preserves fossils dating back to the Devonian period. The formation is composed of dolomite and limestone, with many fossils and vugs in the lower part, while the upper part contains few fossils.^[1]^[2]

The formation is named after exposures in the former company town of Lithograph City, where quarries were opened to exploit the high-quality lithographic limestone found in parts of this formation.^[3]

References

^ Bill J. Bunker, Brian J. Witzke and Jed Day, Upper Cedar Valley Stratigraphy North Central Iowa Lithograph City Formation, Guidebook 44, Geological Society of Iowa, Apr. 27, 1986.
^ Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database. "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^ A. B. Hoen, Discussion of the Requisite Qualities of Lithographic Limestone, with Report on Tests of the Lithographic Stone of Mitchell County, Iowa, Iowa Geological Survey Annual Report, 1902, Des Moines, 1903; pages 339-352.

Chronostratigraphy of Minnesota

Q	Glacial and post-glacial unconsolidated deposits

Upper	Coleraine Formation Windrow Formation unnamed Upper? Cretaceous formations, western and southeastern Minnesota

Upper

Frasnian	Lithograph City Formation (in part)

Middle

Givetian	Coralville Formation Lithograph City Formation (in part) Little Cedar Formation Pinicon Ridge Formation
Eifelian	Spillville Formation

Upper

Winnipeg Formation (subsurface only)

Middle

Darriwilian	St. Peter Sandstone (in part)

Lower

Tremadocian	Oneota Dolomite (Prairie du Chien Group) Shakopee Formation (Prairie du Chien Group)

Furongian	Davis Formation Jordan Sandstone Lone Rock Formation (Tunnel City Group, former Franconia Formation) Mazomanie Formation (Tunnel City Group, former Franconia Formation) St. Lawrence Formation Wonewoc Sandstone (Galesville Sandstone in part, all Ironton Sandstone)
Series 3	Bonneterre Formation Eau Claire Formation Mt. Simon Sandstone Wonewoc Sandstone (Galesville Sandstone in part)

pЄ

♇

Y	Fond du Lac Formation Hinckley Sandstone North Shore Volcanic Group Puckwunge Conglomerate Solor Church Formation (subsurface only)
X	Biwabik Formation Gunflint Formation Kakabeka Formation Mahnoman Formation Pokegama Formation Rabbit Lake Formation Rove Formation Sioux Quartzite Thomson Formation Trommald Formation Virginia Formation