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Alluvium (Qa)
Topography
Forms terraces and floodplains along the Cumberland River and tributaries.
Hydrology
Most wells are inadequate for a domestic supply.
Breathitt Group (Pbl)
Topography
The Breathitt forms dissected ridges and caps ridges in eastern Clinton
County.
Hydrology
Wells in small upland areas generally are inadequate for a domestic
supply.
Lee Formation (Rockcastle Sandstone) (Plr)
Topography
The Lee forms dissected ridges and caps ridges in Clinton County.
Hydrology
Deep wells that penetrate fractures produce enough for a domestic supply
and sometimes yield as much as 5 gallons per minute. Generally, wells
in small upland areas are inadequate, with production levels less than
100 gallons per day. Sandstone is the principal aquifer, but shale yields
water to some wells and coal to a few. Joints and openings along bedding
planes, best developed in sandstones, supply most of the water to wells.
Waters are generally soft or moderately hard and contain noticeable
amounts of iron.
Paragon Formation (Mpk)
Topography
The Paragon forms a moderate slope beneath outcrops of massive sandstone
units of the Breathitt Group.
Hydrology
The Paragon yields little or no water to wells.
Bangor Limestone, Hartselle Formation, Kidder Limestone Member of
Monteagle Limestone (Mpk)
Topography
These rock bodies form steep hillsides or underlie broad, rolling karst
areas and dissected uplands in Clinton County.
Hydrology
These rocks yields more than 500 gallons per day from solution openings in lowland
areas bordering streams. Some wells produce more than 5 gallons per minute from
large solution openings. Near outcrop areas, particularly near major
escarpments, yields generally are inadequate during dry periods.
Ste. Genevieve Limestone Member of Monteagle Limestone (Mgl)
Topography
This limestone underlies rolling and dissected karst areas, and forms
steep bluffs along Lake Cumberland.
Hydrology
The limestone yields more than 50 gallons per minute to wells from large
solution openings in karst areas. Most wells penetrate solution openings,
but in areas high above perennial streams, these solution openings are
dry in late summer and fall, and many wells are inadequate. Wells that
do not intersect karst conduits generally are inadequate for domestic
use. Springs having low flows ranging from less than 10 gallons per
minute to more than 200 gallons per minute occur at or near stream level
or near the contact with the underlying St. Louis Limestone.
St. Louis Limestone (Mgl)
Topography
The St. Louis forms steep bluffs along Lake Cumberland, and underlies
rolling karst areas, but commonly has less relief than karst in areas
underlain by the Ste. Genevieve Limestone. The limestone is dissected
close to Lake Cumberland and tributaries. Resistant siltstone alternating
with nonresistant shale layers forms discontinuous minor benches on
hillsides.
Hydrology
The St. Louis yields more than 50 gallons per minute to wells from large
openings in karst areas. Most wells penetrate some solution openings,
but where openings are small or high above perennial streams, yields
are often inadequate for a domestic supply. Yields of wells close to
major streams are large where solution openings are penetrated, but
most wells are inadequate. A major spring horizon occurs near the top
of the formation in the karst areas. Many seepage springs occur throughout
the formation; low flows range from less than 10 gallons per minute
to more than 1,000 gallons per minute. The lower part of the formation
is composed of siltstone and argillaceous limestone. Yields from these
sedimentary rocks are low and generally not adequate for a domestic
supply.
Salem and Warsaw Formations (Msh)
Topography
These formations underlie gentle to dissected rolling uplands. They
form steep bluffs where the limestone overlies rocks of Osagean age
and along Lake Cumberland. In some areas, numerous small sinkholes occur
in the formations.
Hydrology
The Salem and Warsaw yield enough water for a domestic supply where
the formations are dominantly limestone and close to perennial stream
level. Yields are low where siltstone or argillaceous limestone is penetrated.
A minor spring horizon occurs at the contact of the limestone with the
underlying siltstone or argillaceous limestone. Another spring horizon
occurs near the contact of the Warsaw and Fort Payne. Low flows generally
are less than 5 gallons per minute.
Fort Payne Formation (Mbf), limestone bodies within Fort Payne
(ls)
Topography
These rocks underlie dissected rolling uplands. They form steep valley
sides in maturely dissected topography. Small valleys are steep and
V-shaped. Siltstone and chert form discontinuous ledges on hillsides.
Hydrology
Wells in lowland areas close to streams produce enough water for a domestic
supply and may produce more than 5 gallons per minute from solution
openings. Most wells obtain water from perched or semiperched water
bodies supported by discontinuous shale layers, and many are dry during
late summer and fall. Minor spring horizons occur throughout the formation.
Flows are as much as 30 gallons per minute, but most go dry in late
summer or fall. Where shale layers are conspicuous or when the formation
consists predominantly of siltstone, most wells are inadequate for domestic
use (less than 100 gallons per day). Where chert layers are thick and
extensive in area, yields of more than 5 gallons per minute may be obtained.
Chattanooga Shale (MDnb)
Topography
The Chattanooga Shale forms steep slopes near the base of the Cumberland
Escarpment and knobs. It underlies small round hills (knobs) near the
base of the escarpment.
Hydrology
The shale yields little or no water to wells. Seepage springs are present
at numerous horizons, but most go dry during late summer and fall.
Cumberland Formation, Leipers Limestone, Catheys Formation (Ocl)
Topography
These rocks form moderate to steep slopes and bluffs near the Cumberland
River. Limestone layers, interbedded with shales, form discontinuous
ledges along hillsides in some areas.
Hydrology
In lowland areas bordering large streams, these rocks yield enough water
for a domestic supply (more than 500 gallons per day). Elsewhere they
yield only little water to wells. They yield small quantities of water
to springs. Deep wells generally yield sulfurous water or brines.
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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