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Alluvium (Qa)
Topography
The alluvium forms narrow flood plains and underlies terraces. At least
one well-developed terrace is present along the principal streams of
the region.
Hydrology
The alluvium yields more than 100 gal/min to most dug wells. Where sandy
material is present and saturated thickness great enough, the alluvium
may yield more than 500 gal/day to screened drilled wells. Water is
soft or moderately hard; may contain large amounts of iron at depth.
Breathitt Group (Pbu, Pbm, Pbl) (Princess Formation, Four Corners
Formation, Hyden
Formation, Pikeville Formation)
Topography
The topography is rugged, sandstones form narrow valleys and cliffs
or steep slopes on hillsides, and shales form wide valleys and moderate
or gentle slopes on hills. Tops of hills and ridges commonly are capped
by sandstone.
Hydrology
The Breathitt yields more than 500 gal/day to three-quarters of the
wells drilled in valley bottoms. Throughout this area yields are more
than 500 gal/day to almost half the wells on hillsides and smaller quantities
of water to wells on hilltops. Sandstones yield water to most wells.
Shales also yield water to many wells, and coal yields water to a few.
Near-vertical joints and openings along bedding plains yield most of
the water to wells. Waters are highly variable in chemical character.
The Breathitt may contain salty water at depths less than 100 feet below
the principal valley bottoms in north-western Leslie County.
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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