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Alluvium (Qa)
Topography
The alluvium underlies floodplains and terraces of all streams.
Hydrology
The alluvium yields practically no water to wells in small valleys where
it is thin and finegrained. Water is hard or very hard and may contain
objectionable amounts of iron.
Tuscaloosa Formation (Kt)
Topography
The Tuscaloosa underlies dissected ridges.
Hydrology
Most drilled wells in the gravel of the Tuscaloosa Formation are adequate
for a bailer (more than 100 gallons per day). Tripolitic clay is present locally
and wells penetrating it are inadequate (less than 100 gallons per day).
Tradewater Formation (Pt)
Topography
The Tradewater underlies dissected uplands and ridgetops. Resistant
sandstone beds form cliffs.
Hydrology
The Tradewater generally yields only small quantities of water to wells,
but may yield enough water for a modern domestic supply to wells penetrating
a sufficient thickness of sandstone. Water is fresh near outcrops areas
but becomes increasingly mineralized with depth.
Caseyville Formation (Pca)
Topography
The Caseyville underlies dissected and rolling uplands. Thick sandstone
beds form cliffs and a
major escarpment.
Hydrology
The Caseyville will yield enough water for a modern domestic supply
to most wells penetrating sandstone. Yields of 100 gallons per minute have been
obtained from wells penetrating thick sections of sandstone. At depth,
the water becomes salty or may have a high sodium bicarbonate content.
Water is hard to very hard and low in dissolved solids. Wells in small
upland areas generally are inadequate.
Chesterian Formations (Kinkaid Limestone, Degonia Sandstone, Clore
Limestone, Palestine
Sandstone, Menard Limestone, Waltersburg Sandstone, Vienna Limestone,
Tar Springs
Sandstone, Glen Dean Limestone, Golconda Formation, Cypress Sandstone,
Paint Creek
Shale, Bethel Sandstone) (Mcu,Mcl).
Hydrology
Water from Mississippian rocks underlying younger rocks contain salt
in objectionable amounts, if any water is found. Most drilled wells
that obtain water from fault zones are adequate for a domestic supply.
Yields are as much as 100 gallons per minute. Flows of as much as 20 gallons per minute are
obtained from fractures along fault zones and adjacent beds. Most flowing
wells are in sandstone. Water is usually obtained from the hanging walls
or gouge zones of faults. Most shallow wells in broad uplands are dug
and usually yield more than 100 gallons per day, but yields are not dependable
in dry years. Most drilled wells produce enough water for residential
use. Minor spring horizons occur near the base of the sandstone on discontinuous
shale beds. Very few of the springs are adequate for a domestic supply,
and many go dry in late fall or winter. Limestone formations yield small
to adequate supplies from solution openings. In lowland areas bordering
streams, some wells furnish enough for a domestic supply. Most wells
in upland areas are inadequate for a domestic supply. On uplands, deep
wells that penetrate solution openings in limestone may produce more
than 5 gallons per minute, but most deep wells on uplands are inadequate for a
domestic supply. Close to outcrop areas, particularly near major escarpments,
yields from perched water bodies generally are inadequate during dry
periods. Springs occur at the base of
many limestone formations where they crop out on escarpments and hillsides.
Adjacent to large upland areas, springs yield as much as 100 gallons per minute
and low flows are more than 5 gallons per minute from some springs.
Kinkaid Limestone, Degonia Sandstone, Clore Limestone (Mcu)
Topography
These formations underlie gently rolling uplands having some sinkholes
and fairly steep slopes.
Palestine Sandstone (Mcu)
Topography
The Palestine forms minor bench on hillsides, and underlies gently rolling
uplands.
Menard Limestone, Waltersburg Sandstone, Vienna Limestone (Mcu)
Topography
These rocks underly flat uplands and form gentle slopes on hillsides.
Tar Springs Sandstone (Mcu)
Topography
The Tar Springs underlies gently rolling uplands and forms a minor bench
on hillsides.
Glen Dean Limestone (Mcl)
Topography
The Glen Dean underlies gently rolling uplands, and forms a gradual
slope above Hardinsburg bench.
Hardinsburg Sandstone (Mcl)
Topography
The Hardinsburg forms a minor escarpment, modified in many places by
faults. It underlies broad rolling uplands.
Golconda Formation (Haney Limestone, Big Clifty Sandstone, Beech
Creek Limestone
Members) (Mcl)
Topography
The Golconda underlies gently rolling uplands, and forms steep slopes
below the minor Hardinsburg sandstone escarpment.
Paint Creek Shale (Mcl)
Topography
The Paint Creek forms moderate to rolling slopes below the Cypress sandstone
escarpment; modified by faults in fluorspar district.
Bethel Sandstone (Mcl)
Topography
The Bethel forms lowest major escarpment from the fluorspar district.
The escarpment is broken by faults. The Bethel underlies broad rolling
uplands.
Renault Limestone (Mcl)
Topography
The Renault forms a moderate slope under Bethel Sandstone escarpment
except where modified by faults or a higher sandstone escarpment.
Hydrology
The limestone yields little or no water to wells. Small springs with
low flows of about 5 gallons per minute occur near the top of the formation.
Ste. Genevieve (Mgl)
Topography
The Ste. Genevieve underlies rolling karst uplands. It forms moderate
slopes under the Bethel Sandstone escarpment except where modified by
faults. The Ste. Genevieve is exposed across large fault blocks in parts
of the fluorspar district.
Hydrology
The limestone yields more than 50 gallons per minute to wells from large solution
openings in karst areas. Most wells penetrate solution openings, but
in areas high above perennial streams, these solution openings are dry
in late summer and fall, and many wells are inadequate. Springs having
low flows ranging from less than 10 gallons per minute to about 1,500 gallons per minute occur
at or near stream level. Smaller springs discharge from perched water
bodies in upland area, but many go dry during late summer and fall.
St.Louis Limestone (Mgl)
Topography
The St. Louis underlies dissected uplands and ridges. It forms rolling
karst uplands in faulted parts of the fluorspar area of Caldwell County.
Hydrology
Low flows of numerous springs that discharge from near the top of the
formation and near stream level range from less than 10 gallons per minute to about
1,500 gallons per minute. Maximum flows range from less than 100 gallons per minute to more
than 100,000 gallons per minute. Most springs are situated near minor rivers. In
karst areas, drilled wells generally produce enough water for domestic
use. Some produce more than 50 gallons per minute from large solution openings.
Most wells high above perennial streams are adequate. In nonkarst areas,
yields generally are lower than in karst. The number of solution openings
is fewer and their size smaller. Many wells are insufficient for domestic
use. Most springs are small and many go dry during late summer and fall.
Most wells high above perennial streams are inadequate.
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hydrologic
Atlas Series, published cooperatively with the Kentucky Geological
Survey, provides hydrologic information for the entire state.
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