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New Western Kentucky Geologic Map Released by KGS
Lexington, KY. (October 26, 2007) - A newly-published geologic map of parts of western Kentucky includes useful information for community planners, mineral industries and others interested in the geologic resources of this region.
The 30 x 66 inch paper map (created at a 1:100,000 scale) and the digital data used to create it are both published by the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) at the University of Kentucky. They are the result of detailed assembly of digitized 7.5-minute geologic quadrangle maps of the area, known as Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle (DVGQ) maps.
Entitled Geologic map of Part of the Paducah and Cape Girardeau 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangles, Western Kentucky, it is compiled and authored by KGS geologists Steve Martin, Warren Anderson and Thomas Sparks. It is the 14th of a series of such maps being developed and published by KGS.
Kentucky is geologically mapped at a scale of 1:24,000, by a total of 707 of the 7.5-minute geologic quadrangle maps. KGS staff converted the original paper versions of these large scale maps to digital vector format several years ago, and twenty seven of the digital versions of these maps were compiled to create the new Paducah-region map at a 1:100,000 scale. The new map retains the accuracy and detail in the original maps.
“This map is unique in that it covers two distinct geological provinces known as the Mississippi Embayment and the Illinois Basin. The Kentucky portion of the Mississippi Embayment is typically called the Jackson Purchase Region, while the Kentucky portion of the Illinois Basin is also known as the Western Kentucky Fluorspar District,” says Martin, the lead author of the map. “The historically-significant fluorspar-mining region of the state is shown as well as active limestone quarries, with the locations of a number of mines and quarries marked on the map. Deposits of other economic materials such as gravel, sand, and clay are located in the Jackson Purchase Region and are noted on the map and accompanying text”.
The map includes portions of seven Kentucky counties and the cities of Paducah, LaCenter, Calvert City, Marion, and others. Community planners will find plenty of valuable information on the map on topics from water resources to seismic hazards.
The digital vector files used to create this map are available from KGS on CD-ROM for $10 per individual DVGQ and can be used in geographic information systems (GIS) and other computer software. The digital data sets allow GIS users to combine the geologic map data with other data for multiple purposes, including geologic hazard mitigation and assessment of energy and mineral resources. The digital data sets can also be used to create custom maps; they are ideal for land-use development and planning.
To view this publication on-line, go to the KGS Publications & Map catalog at http://kgs.uky.edu/kgsweb/findpubsmain.asp. Enter this publication’s number, 14182, in the box next to “Enter Publication or Catalog Number”, and to the right of this box select "exact publication id" from the pull down menu. Clicking on the “Search” button opens a new page with a link to the map.
Paper copies of the map are available from the KGS Public Information Center on the UK campus for $10 each plus shipping and may be ordered by calling (859) 257-3896 or toll free at (877) 778-7827.
