Foreword

Introduction

Acknowledgments

Overview

Water Use

Topography of the County

Geology of the County

Groundwater Availability

Exploration for Groundwater

Karst

Water Quality

Maps and Data

Additional Reading

References Cited

Definitions of Geologic Terms

Rock Descriptions

In Meade County, water is obtained from consolidated sedimentary rocks of Mississippian age and from unconsolidated sediments of Quaternary age. Geologists call the oldest rocks found at the surface in Meade County the Salem Limestone. The most common rocks in Meade County are Mississippian limestones, deposited 350 million years ago in the bottom of a warm, shallow sea. Over the last million years, unconsolidated Quaternary sediments have been deposited along the larger streams and rivers.

Geologic Formations in the County
Unconsolidated deposits
Alluvium (Qa), glacial sediments (Qg)
Loess

Limestones
Ste. Genevieve Limestone (Mgl)
St. Louis Limestone (Mgl)
Salem Limestone (Msh)

Sandstones
Girkin Formation, Bethel Sandstone of the Mooretown Formation (Mms)

Interbedded limestones, sandstones, and shales
Buffalo Wallow Formation, Tar Springs Sandstone (Mcu)
Glen Dean Limestone, Hardinsburg Sandstone (Mcl)
Golconda Formation (Haney Limestone, Big Clifty Sandstone, Beech Creek Limestone Members) (Mcl)
Girkin Formation (Reelsville Limestone, Sample Sandstone, Beaver Bend, and Paoli Limestone) (Mcl)

For more information, see the definitions of geologic terms and rock descriptions, a geologic map of Meade 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"