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 Simpson 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 Simpson County the Fort Payne Formation. The most common rocks in Simpson County are Mississippian limestones, which were deposited 350 million years age 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)

Limestones
STE. GENEVIEVE LIMESTONE (Mgl)
ST. LOUIS LIMESTONE (Mgl)
SALEM and WARSAW FORMATIONS (Msh)
FORT PAYNE FORMATION (Mbf)

Interbedded limestones, sandstones, and shales
GLEN DEAN LIMESTONE, HARDINSBURG SANDSTONE (Mcl)
GOLCONDA FORMATION (Haney Limestone, Big Clifty Sandstone, Beech Creek Limestone, Members) (Mcl)
GIRKIN FORMATION (Paint Creek Limestone, Bethel Sandstone, and Renault Limestone) (Mcl)

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.

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