So you can actually mine the coral deposits? Are any hard enough to be the kind that they are decrying a loss in the Jewelry industry? The colors that can be polished up?
SD as in South Dakota, Yes? Guess the Indians got the coral from somewhere other than the South Pacific. Sounds like you have some interesting resources. Enjoy!
Regards,
Bonehead.
Yes, South Dakota.
Naw; not the pretty stuff. :(
Just the common, grey stuff.
We had to drill through about 700’ (as well as other strata)or so of it, to get down to the aquifer.
Some has fossil poyps; some has a few fossil shells/shell casts; but most is just undifferentiated bottom-ooze type limestone. All of it is a PIA, when trying to drive posts, dig, rototill, plow, or bulldoze. LOL
This whole area was a shallow sea more than once.
4-5 miles NE of us is Wind Cave N.P.
Just over 4 miles ESE, some of the limestone disolved, and the surface caved in, forming a sinkhole about 15-20,000 years ago. That filled with warm water from the hot springs, making a good winter watering hole, but it also trapped more than 100 mammoths over the centuries, both wooly & Columbian. They’ve also found a short nosed bear, camels, and several predators & scavengers, as well as other critters. http://www.mammothsite.com/