Research Data--KGS

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Kentucky Geological Survey Landslide Inventory [2024]

The KGS landslide inventory provides the locations of known landslides and areas susceptible to debris flows. Various types of landslides are represented including slides, flows, rockfalls, and creep. The data are available as ArcGIS geodatabase feature classes. Landslide locations and associated attributes are compiled from Kentucky Geological Survey research, published maps, state and local government agencies, the public, and media reports. A confidence ranking system assigns a value to each feature. A description of the feature classes is here: https://kgs.uky.edu/kgsmap/helpfiles/landslide_help.shtm

The inventory viewed in a GIS with geology, soils, slope or other terrain-based data can serve as ...Read More
Kentucky Surficial Geologic Map Compilation Database (Version 1)

The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS), a state-supported independent research center within the University of Kentucky, is committed to providing accurate and unbiased geologic information on natural resources, environmental issues, and natural hazards in Kentucky. While Kentucky boasts complete coverage by 1:24,000-scale geologic bedrock maps, surficial materials have been largely overlooked, except in regions with thick deposits obscuring the bedrock. Given the increasing trends in economic development and urbanization, detailed surficial geologic mapping has become crucial for supporting geotechnical planning, environmental management, and hazard assessment. In response, KGS has prioritized new, detailed surficial geologic mapping since 2004, specifically targeting areas anticipated ...Read More
Earth MRI Western Kentucky Fluorspar District 3D Geological Modeling

The Illinois–Kentucky Fluorspar District (IKFD) three-dimensional (3D) geological data model plays a critical role in the EarthMRI IKFD project, which aims to utilize the vast and detailed geologic maps and datasets that the Kentucky and Illinois state geological surveys possess to develop a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based 3D geological framework model for the district. The model serves as a framework in which to view the subsurface geological and geochemical data, and to better comprehend the structural and other geologic processes acting on the region as they relate to the locations of critical minerals. The development of the model will also ...Read More
Kentucky Karst Dye Trace Database

This dataset provides the geographical locations of karst groundwater basins, groundwater flowpaths, and dye injection/recovery points in Kentucky. Dye tracing is a common method used for understanding groundwater movement. Dye is poured (or injected) into a sinking stream, well, sinkhole, or body of water, where it is carried down-gradient by flowing water. The locations at which dye is recovered (typically at artesian springs) indicates a connection from injection to recovery site. This connection is refered to as a groundwater flowpath. Conducting multiple dye traces across an area allows for the interpretation of regional groundwater flow by assessing where flowpaths either ...Read More
DVGQ Joint Data

A compilation of digitally vectorized joint data from the U.S. Geological Survey geologic quadrangle maps. Joint data was collected by USGS and KGS geologists using a compass during geologic mapping of the 7.5-minute quadrangle. Field notes of mappers are not available, therefore the orientation of joints was determined by a script written by KGS personnel during the digitization process.
KGS Joint Data

Joint orientation measurements collected by KGS personnel at rock exposures from 2009 to 2023. New joint data was collected using a Brunton compass. This data set is a compilation of joints measured by Steve Martin. There are three worksheets related to data structure. The joint location and joint measurement worksheets show a 1-to-many relationship. The 1to1 worksheet shows a 1-to-1 relationship between joint locations and measurements.
New Surficial Geologic Mapping in Kentucky (2021-2022)

New surficial geologic mapping was performed in nine new 7.5-minute quadrangles in Hardin, Meade, Breckinridge, Grayson, Hart, and Larue Counties, Kentucky.

Quadrangles include Big Clifty, Big Spring (Hardin county only), Custer (Hardin County only), Flaherty, Madrid (Hardin county only), Millerstown, Summit, Tonieville (Hardin county only), and Upton.

Mapping data for each of the nine quadrangles is captured in a ZIP file that contains an ESRI geodatabase and associated FGDC-compliant metadata files (.xml).

The geodatabase is a relational geodatabase of spatial and non-spatial data that conforms to "GeMS (Geologic Map Schema)--a standard format for digital publication of geologic maps", available at ...Read More
Hydrology Data for Fern Cave, Alabama (2020-2022)

Dataset includes water level from four sites within Fern Cave in Jackson County Alabama. Additionally, it includes chemistry of water, sediments and cave-adapted isopods.
Landslide Soil Hydrology Data for Three Landslides in Kentucky

This data is from three landslides monitored in Kentucky between October 2015 and September 2020. The purpose was to capture and analyze subsurface hydrologic conditions within the landslides at different slope positions over time. The site descriptions, field methodology, data-acquisition techniques, and observations provide a general picture of soil moisture in hillslope soils. Data collected includes volumetric water content, soil water potential, bulk electrical conductivity, bulk dielectric permittivity, temperature. Water potential is the energy state of water in the soil, a determination of stress in the soil based on how water moves. Water potential can be described as the negative ...Read More
Deepest Observed Fresh Groundwater Contour Lines for the Cumberland Plateau of Eastern Kentucky

These contour lines detail the estimated depth of the base of fresh groundwater—i.e., deepest observed fresh water. These contours were created using the deepest domestic water well depths in each 11-digit HUC watershed of a 14-county study area in the Cumberland Plateau of eastern Kentucky.