Cortland Eble's research is primarily in the fields of Carboniferous palynology and coal petrography. Most of hisresearch is centered in two areas.

1. Using palynology as a biostratigraphic tool. Coal palynology is instrumental in helping to identify individual coal beds, or groups of coal beds. It is also of value in helping to correlate coal beds and zones not only across Kentucky, but also to identify age-equivalent strata in other coal basins all over the world. He also works in Late Mississippian sediments to help in correlation efforts.

2. Using palynology and petrography to help understand the ecology and formation mechanisms of the ancient mires that later became coal beds. For example, a detailed study of the Fire Clay coal bed, which is split by a tonstein parting, showed the lower bench to be quite disparate in composition from the upper bench. The lower bench formed as a laterally discontinuous, planar (essentially flat in cross section) mire that was rheotrophic (kept wet, in part, by surficial moisture). It also was inhabited by a very heterogeneous flora (lycopods, ferns, calamites and cordaites). In contrast, the upper bench was a laterally continuous, domed mire (convex in cross section) that was ombrotrophic (fed entirely by rain water). The upper bench flora was more restricted, consisting mainly of lycopods and ferns.

Eble, C.F., 1996. Lower and lower Middle Pennsylvanian coal palynofloras, southwestern Virginia, in Hower, J.C. and Eble, C.F. (editors), Geology and Petrology of Appalachian Coals. International Journal of Coal Geology, 31(1-4): 67-114.

Eble, C.F., 1996. Paleoecology of Pennsylvanian Coal Beds in the Appalachian Basin, in Jansonius, J. and McGregor, D.C. (editors), Palynology: Principles and Applications. American Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists Foundation, volume 3, chapter 29 -- Vegetational History: 1143-1156.

Eble, C.F., Hower, J.C., and Andrews, W.M., Jr.,1999. Compositional variations in the Fire Clay coal bed of eastern Kentucky: geochemistry, petrography, palynology and paleoecology. Kentucky Geological Survey Report of Investigations 14, Series XI, 18p.

Eble, C.F. and Greb, S.F., 1997. Channel-fill coal beds along the western margin of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. International Journal of Coal Geology, 33: 183-207.

Eble, C.F., Greb, S.F., Williams, D.A. and Hower, J.C., 1999. Observations on the palynology, petrography and geochemistry of the Western Kentucky No. 4 coal bed. International Journal of Coal Geology, 39(1–3): 121-140.