Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Kentucky Terrain, Daniel I. Carey, Terry D. Hounshell

Map and Chart--KGS

The terrain of Kentucky has been shaped by geologic forces and the underlying rocks.Tectonic forces lifted, bent, and buckled the rocks–originally formed from sediments on shallow sea floors or swampy lowlands. Weathering and erosion shaved the hills and dissected the plains, exposing at the surface a cross section of rocks 250 to 500 million years old. The sands, gravels, silts, and clays of the Jackson Purchase Region are younger, remnants of a time when the sea lapped at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

The landforms in Kentucky are the result of the differential weathering of interbedded sandstones, …

Structure And Isopach Maps Of The Mississippian "Big Lime" (Newman Limestone/Slade Formation), Eastern Kentucky, David C. Harris, Thomas N. Sparks

Map and Chart--KGS

The maps included in this publication were made using stratigraphic data collected by us from almost 8,000 wells as part of a regional stratigraphic study of the Mississippian Slade Formation in eastern Kentucky. The data extend from the Mississippian outcrop belt along the northwestern edge of the map area to the state borders on the northeast. The southeastern border of the map area is marked by the Pine Mountain Fault.

Formation tops data for these wells were collected from geophysical (electric) logs and drillers' logs, and are available in electronic format from the Kentucky Geological Survey (Harris and Sparks, 1997). …

Total Thickness Of The Amburgy Coal In Eastern Kentucky, Michael G. Shultz, Jeffery A. Esterle, Ernest E. Thacker

Map and Chart--KGS

This map showing the regional characteristics of the Amburgy coal bed was prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coal Assessment program, which compiles regional maps and databases that provide a comprehensive assessment of the most important coal beds in the nation. The Amburgy coal zone is composed of a number of distinct coal beds that merge in some areas to form mineable coal bodies. For the purpose of this assessment, the zone has been divided into two beds; the Lower Amburgy (A) and Upper Ambury (B). The lower bed is of greatest economic significance and is the …

Mining Geology Of The Fire Clay Coal, Stephen F. Greb

Map and Chart--KGS

The Fire Clay (Hazard No. 4) coal is one of the leading producers in the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field, with more than 20 million short tons of annual production and 230 million short tons mined between 1976 and 1992, according to Kentucky Department of Mines and Minerals data. Regional thickness and resources of the coal are calculated in Greb and others (1999c) and Thacker and others (2000a, b).

Stratigraphically, the coal occurs in the middle part of the Hyden Formation of the Breathitt Group (Fig. 1), which was previously part of the Breathitt Formation (Chesnut, 1992). The coal occurs between …

Coal Resources Of The Fire Clay Coal Zone In Eastern Kentucky, Ernest E. Thacker, Gerald A. Weisenfluh, Jeffery A. Esterle, Stephen F. Greb, John K. Hiett

Map and Chart--KGS

This chart is one of a series that shows the regional characteristics of the Fire Clay coal zone. The maps and charts were prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coal Assessment Program, which compiles regional maps and databases that provide a comprehensive assessment of the most important coal beds in the nation. Within this coal zone, the Fire Clay coal is the most economically important bed and is one of the leading producers in the state of Kentucky. The Fire Clay coal contains a flint-clay parting that is believed to be of volcanic origin. The widespread occurrence …

Total Coal Thickness Of The Upper Elkhorn No. 3a Coal (Lower Bed) In Eastern Kentucky, Jeffery A. Esterle, Ernest E. Thacker, Gerald A. Weisenfluh

Map and Chart--KGS

This map is one of a series that shows the regional characteristics of the Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal zone. The maps were prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coal Assessment Program, which compiles regional maps and databases that provide a comprehensive assessment of the most important coal beds in the nation. The Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal zone has been one of the leading producers in the state of Kentucky and, in some areas, contains very high-quality coal. The zone is composed of a number of distinct coal beds that merge in some areas to form …

Coal Resources Of The Upper Elkhorn No. 3b Coal (Upper Bed) In Eastern Kentucky, Jeffery A. Esterle, Ernest E. Thacker, Gerald A. Weisenfluh, John K. Hiett

Map and Chart--KGS

This chart is one of a series that shows the regional characteristics of the Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal zone. The maps and charts were prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coal Assessment Program, which compiles regional maps and databases that provide a comprehensive assessment of the most important coal beds in the nation. The Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal zone has been one of the leading producers in the state of Kentucky and, in some areas, is of very high quality. Bed stratigraphy within the Upper Elkhorn No. 3 zone and thickness of the No. 3A …

Quality Characteristics Of The Lower Elkhorn Coal Bed In Eastern Kentucky, Cortland F. Eble

Map and Chart--KGS

Thickness and quality data from the Kentucky Coal Resources Information System (KCRIS) are summarized in this chart for the Lower Elkhorn coal bed (and equivalents). Parameter averages and ranges of values are presented in the two tables, and average values are displayed graphically by county.

Total Coal Thickness Of The Fire Clay And Fire Clay Rider Coals In Eastern Kentucky, Ernest E. Thacker, Gerald A. Weisenfluh, Stephen F. Greb, Jeffery A. Esterle

Map and Chart--KGS

This map is one of a series that shows the regional characteristics of the Fire Clay coal zone. The maps were prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coal Assessment Program, which compiles regional maps and databases that provide a comprehensive assessment of the most important coal beds in the nation. Within the zone, the Fire Clay coal is the most economically important bed and is one of the leading producers in the state of Kentucky. It is known for a persistent flint-clay parting that is believed to be of volcanic origin. This map represents the total coal …

Coal Resources Of The Upper Elkhorn No. 3a Coal (Lower Bed) In Eastern Kentucky, Jeffery A. Esterle, Ernest E. Thacker, Gerald A. Weisenfluh, John K. Hiett

Map and Chart--KGS

This map is one of a series that shows the regional characteristics of the Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal zone. The maps were prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coal Assessment Program, which compiles regional maps and databases that provide a comprehensive assessment of the most important coal beds in the nation. The Upper Elkhorn No. 3 coal zone has been one of the leading producers in the state of Kentucky and, in some areas, is of very high quality. Bed stratigraphy within the Upper Elkhorn No. 3 zone and coal thickness of the No. 3A coal …

Regional Subsurface Geologic Cross Sections Of The Mississippian System, Appalachian Basin, Eastern Kentucky, David C. Harris, Thomas N. Sparks

Map and Chart--KGS

This series of 14 regional cross sections illustrates subsurface stratigraphic correlations of Mississippian (upper Carboniferous) rocks in the Appalachian Basin of eastern Kentucky. These cross sections were constructed as part of a regional stratigraphic study of the Mississippian "Big Lime," a major oil- and gas-producing formation. The series illustrates 10 dip-oriented and 4 strike-oriented lines, extending from the Slade Formation outcrop belt on the northwest, to the state borders on the east and south. Stratigraphic and structural versions are shown for each section to better illustrate thickness and structural variations. These cross sections served as the regional framework during collection …

Total Coal Thickness Of The Lower Elkhorn Coal In Eastern Kentucky, Ernest E. Thacker, Gerald A. Weisenfluh, William M. Andrews Jr.

Map and Chart--KGS

This map is one of a series that shows the regional characteristics of the Lower Elkhorn coal. The maps were prepared as part of the U.S. Geological Surveys National Coal Assessment Program, which compiles regional maps and databases that provide a comprehensive assessment of the most important coal beds in the nation. The Lower Elkhorn coal is one of the leading producers in the state of Kentucky and has, in some areas, a reputation as an excellent metallurgical-grade coal. It is known locally as the Pond Creek, Imboden, Path Fork, Blue Gem, Straight Creek, Bruin, or Vires coal bed. This …

Preliminary Map Of The Structure Of The Precambrian Surface In Eastern Kentucky, James A. Drahovzal, Martin C. Noger

Map and Chart--KGS

This preliminary interpretation of the Precambrian unconformity surface in eastern Kentucky is based on data available to the Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) as of November 1994. In early 1995, additional data became available to the KGS. Subsequent work using the new data should result in a more complete interpretation of the area within the next several years.

The map illustrates the Rome Trough and associated structures of the Precambrian surface, and as such contributes to an understanding of the regional geology, geologic evolution, distribution of energy and mineral resources, and potential geologic hazards. While it cannot be considered a prospecting …