Agencies
Services
Land and Water Reserve Area
9
County
Saline
Location
The site is located slightly northwest of the old Village of Horseshoe and approximately 3 miles southwest of Equality. It is just north of Horseshoe Road by the west entrance to Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area and is roughly bounded on the east side by an access road.
Description
The Horseshoe Geological Area Land and Water Reserve is within the Horseshoe Geological Area Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI #0841) site. The reserve occurs along a major geomorphological feature called the Shawneetown Fault Zone, which is one of the greatest fault systems in the Midwest. The unique structural style of this fault zone is visible at the site. The exposed rocks are steeply tilted, highly fractured, and crushed from faulting and represent the oldest exposed rocks in this fault system, dating back to the upper Devonian period. The is an exemplary example of Illinois’ unique geological diversity.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Natural Division
Greater Shawnee Hills Section of the Shawnee Hills Natural Division (#13a)
Registered
September 1997
Size
1.6 acres
Access
The site is open to the public. There is a parking area situated at the entrance of the road, and another is adjacent to the main face of the geological feature. Educational signage is found by the exposure.
Topographic Quad
Rudement
For Further Information
Illinois Nature Preserves Commission
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
217-785-8686
DNR.INPC@illinois.gov