|
Alluvium (Qa)
Topography
The alluvium underlies floodplains and terraces of the larger streams.
Hydrology
The alluvium yields practically no water to wells in small valleys,
where it is thin and fine grained.
Caseyville Formation (Pca)
Topography
The Caseyville underlies dissected and rolling uplands. Thick sandstone
beds in the Caseyville form cliffs and a major escarpment.
Hydrology
The Caseyville will yield enough water for a modern domestic supply
to most wells in lowland areas bordering streams, and locally in broad
upland areas. Wells in small upland areas generally are inadequate (less
than 100 gallons per day).
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)
Hydrology
In the northern half of the county, these rocks yield small amounts
to wells and springs in outcrop areas. Water from Mississippian rocks
underlying younger rocks contains salt in objectionable amounts, if
any water is found.
In the southern edge of the county, 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 rocks underlie gently rolling uplands having some sinkholes.
They form moderate to steep slopes.
Palestine Sandstone (Mcu)
Topography
The sandstone forms a minor bench on hillsides and underlies gently
rolling uplands.
Menard Limestone, Waltersburg Sandstone, Vienna Limestone (Mcu)
Topography
These rocks underlie flat uplands and form gentle slopes on hillsides.
Tar Springs Sandstone (Mcu)
Topography
The Tar Springs underlies gently rolling uplands. It forms a minor
bench on hillsides.
Glen Dean Limestone (Mcl)
Topography
The Glen Dean underlies gently rolling uplands. It forms a gradual
slope above the Hardinsburg bench.
Hardinsburg Sandstone (Mcl)
Topography
The Hardinsburg forms a minor escarpment, modified in many places
by faults. It also underlies broad rolling uplands.
Golconda Formation (Haney Limestone, Big Clifty Sandstone, Beech
Creek Limestone Members) (Mcl)
Topography
The Golconda underlies gently rolling uplands. It forms a steep slope
below the minor Hardinsburg Sandstone escarpment.
Cypress Sandstone (Mcl)
Topography
The Cypress forms a major escarpment. Eastward from Christian County
the escarpment wedges out against the overlying Big Clifty Sandstone.
It underlies broad flat uplands.
Paint Creek Limestone (Mcl)
Topography
The Paint Creek forms moderate to rolling slopes below the Cypress
Sandstone escarpment.
Bethel Sandstone (Mcl)
Topography
The Bethel forms the lowest major escarpment and underlies broad rolling
uplands.
Renault Limestone (Mcl)
Topography
The Renault forms a moderate slope under the Bethel Sandstone escarpment,
except where modified by faults or a higher sandstone escarpment.
Hydrology
The Renault 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 Limestone (Mgl)
Topography
The Ste. Genevieve underlies rolling karst uplands. It forms moderate
slopes under the Bethel Sandstone escarpment, except where modified
by faults.
Hydrology
The Ste. Genevieve 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 areas, but many go dry
during late summer and fall.
St. Louis and Salem Limestone (Mgl)
Topography
These limestones underlie dissected uplands and ridges. They underlie
the rolling karst uplands of Todd 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 areas; 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.
Previous--Next--Back
to "Groundwater Resources in Kentucky"
|