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Well Drillers Near Canton, South Dakota

Canton area wells commonly penetrate Quaternary sands and gravels over glacial silts and varied tills, with underlying Cretaceous shales and local quartzites at depth. The most productive aquifers are found in the coarse sand and gravel sequences between ~20 and ~60 feet, with deeper blue/gray clays and shale below.

Showing contractors within 60 miles of Canton. 12 results found.

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A geological estimate for the Canton area.

75 ft

Typical Well Depth

25 ft

Static Water Level

Rotary - Mud Circulation

Recommended Method

Detailed Summary

The typical Canton, SD region geologic profile (based on synthesis of logs from public supply, irrigation, and monitoring wells) begins with a thin topsoil or silt layer, followed by variable brown or light brown fine sand, silty sand, or clay (0–7 ft). Most wells then penetrate a thicker sequence of sand and gravel (usually with clean or brown/gray hues) from about 7 to 54 ft, which forms the main water-bearing aquifer for both residential and high-capacity supply. Below the main aquifer, blue-gray to greenish clay, clayey sand, and intermittent gravel layers extend typically to 250–300 ft. Deeper test or municipal wells show continued interbedded clays and sands to 350+ ft, below which Cretaceous bedrock (shale, quartzite) is reached around 390–400 ft or deeper. Slight local variations (occasional cemented sand, cherty gravel, or silt zones) exist but are not persistent enough to characterize the area. A typical residential water well penetrates 40–90 ft for reliable 5–15+ GPM yields, while high-capacity wells may go 180–250+ ft for greater draw.

Expected Geological Layers

Depth (Feet)Formation TypeDescriptionCharacteristics
0 – 2 ftTopsoil/SiltBrown or black silt, locally overlying sand or silty clay; loose to firm.Color: Brown/Tan/Black
Hardness: Soft
2 – 7 ftFine Sand/Fine to Medium SandFine to medium brown sand, minor silt or clay, occasionally with organic material.Color: Brown/Light Brown
Hardness: Loose
7 – 24 ftSand and GravelWater-bearing sand and gravel, often well-cleaned with coarse to fine fractions, occasional clay stringers.Color: Brown/Gray/Clean
Hardness: Unconsolidated
24 – 54 ftSand/Clay W/ Gravel LayersSand and clay with interbedded gravel; locally stratified, some greenish or blue-gray clay seams.Color: Light gray/brown/greenish
Hardness: Loose to firm
54 – 77 ftFine to Medium Sand, Sandy ClayTransition to tighter, finer sand with increasing clay content; sandy clay layers possible.Color: Gray/Greenish/Tan
Hardness: Firm
77 – 250 ftBlue/Gray Clay with Interbedded Clayey Sand & GravelThick blue-gray or greenish clay (glacial till) with local sand or gravel seams, increasingly consolidated with depth.Color: Blue-gray/green/tan
Hardness: Firm to stiff
250 – 375 ftDense Clay, Clayey Sand, Some GravelHard blue clay, scattered sand and gravel lenses, minor chalk or calcareous seams.Color: Blue/gray/white
Hardness: Very firm/stiff
375 – 398 ftHard/Quartzite/BedrockVery hard sand, occasionally with quartzite or siltstone; base of most water supply drilling.Color: Blue, gray, white
Hardness: Very hard