| Geology of the County | ||
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In Henderson County, water is obtained from consolidated Pennsylvanian age sedimentary rocks and from unconsolidated sediments of the Quaternary age. Geologists call the oldest rocks found at the surface in Henderson County the Carbondale Formation. Pennsylvanian sediments were deposited 320 million years ago. The warm climate of the Pennsylvanian grew extensive forests and great coastal swamps at the edges of water bodies. Marine waters advanced and receded many times, which produced many layers of sandstone, shale, and coal. Vegetation of all sorts fell into the water and was buried under blankets of sediments, which over long geologic time were compressed into coal. The non-vegetative sediments such as sand, clay and silt were compressed into sandstone and shale. Over the last one million years unconsolidated Quaternary sediments have been deposited along the larger streams and rivers. Geologic Formations in the County Coals, sandstones, and shales For more information, see the definitions of geologic terms and rock descriptions, a geologic map of the county, a summary of the geology of Kentucky, and a discussion of fossils and prehistoric life in Kentucky. Previous--Next--Back to "Groundwater Resources in Kentucky"
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