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Alluvium (Qa)
Topography
Alluvium forms narrow floodplains and underlies terraces. At least one
well-developed terrace is present along the principal streams of the
region.
Hydrology
The alluvium yields more than 100 gallons per minute to most dug wells.
Where sandy material is present and saturated thickness is great enough,
may yield more than 500 gallons per day to screened drilled wells. Water
is soft or moderately hard; it may contain large amounts of iron at
depth.
Breathitt Group (Pbm, Pbl) (Princess Formation, Four Corners Formation,
Hyden Formation, Pikeville Formation)
Topography
The topography of the Breathitt is rugged sandstones that form narrow
valleys and cliffs or steep slopes on hillsides and shales that form
wide valleys and moderate or gentle slopes on hills. The tops of hills
and ridges commonly are capped by sandstone.
Hydrology
The Breathitt yields more than 500 gallons per day to three-quarters
of the wells drilled in valley bottoms. Throughout this area the Breathitt
yields more than 500 gallons per day to almost half the wells on hillsides,
and smaller quantities of water to wells on hilltops. Sandstones yield
water to most wells. Shales also yield water to many wells, and coal
yields water to a few. Near-vertical joints and openings along bedding
plains yield most of the water to wells. Waters are highly variable
in chemical character. The Breathitt may contain salty water at depths
less than 100 feet below the principal valley bottoms in most of the
county.
The U.S. Geological Survey's Hydrologic
Atlas Series, published cooperatively with the Kentucky Geological
Survey, provides hydrologic information for the entire state.
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