Map and Chart--KGS

Abstract

Middle Carboniferous strata on the western margin of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field crop out along a north-northeast-trending belt sometimes referred to as the western belt of outcrop of the central Appalachian Basin. This belt also coincides with the Daniel Boone National Forest. These rocks are important because they contain coal, oil, and groundwater, and helped create the ruggedly beautiful canyons, rapids, falls, and arches in the national forest and nearby state parks. This report describes the general stratigraphy of these Carboniferous rocks, and is designed to assist stratigraphers, coal geologists, forest managers, science educators, and geology students.

Two cross sections were constructed using two different types of information. Information for the western cross section (A-A') came from outcrop descriptions (measured sections) and geologic maps, and was supplemented with sparse subsurface data (borehole descriptions and drillers' logs and geophysical logs from oil and gas wells). The eastern cross section (B-B') was designed to make the best use of subsurface data such as the numerous records from oil and gas wells that penetrated the middle Carboniferous rocks at depth; few outcrop data were available for the eastern section. Sea level was the datum for both cross sections.

Because of the rugged topography and the forest cover, much of the study area is difficult to access. Cross sections of some important outcrops in state parks and other scenic areas are shown in insets. The locations of these outcrops are shown on the cross sections and on the location map.

Publication Date

2002

Series

Series XII

Report Number

Map and Chart 29

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/kgs.mc29.12

Notes

© 2002 by Kentucky Geological Survey, University of Kentucky

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