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Alluvium (Qa)
Topography
The alluvium forms terraces and floodplains along the Ohio River and
tributaries. Valley-train deposits in terraces occur along the Ohio
River.
Hydrology
The alluvium may yield several hundred gallons per minute to drilled
wells in the Ohio River Valley, and as much as 5,000 gallons per minute
to compound horizontal wells. Nearly all wells furnish more than 500
gallons per day. Alluvium in stream valleys tributary to the Ohio River
is fine-grained and thin, and most wells do not yield enough for domestic
use. Water is hard to very hard and may contain objectionable amounts
of iron.
Loess
Topography
Loess forms a thin mantle over much of the area near the Ohio River
across alluvial deposits and bedrock.
Hydrology
Loess yields practically no water to wells.
Tradewater Formation (Pt)
Topography
The Tradewater underlies dissected uplands and ridgetops. Resistant
sandstone beds form cliffs.
Hydrology
The Tradewater generally yields only small quantities of water to wells.
It may yield enough water for a modern domestic supply to wells penetrating
a sufficient thickness of sandstone, but yields practically no water
from limestone and shale. Water is hard to very hard, and low in dissolved
solids near the outcrop area, and becomes increasingly mineralized but
softer downdip to the west. Water from the lower part of the formation
generally contains objectionable amounts of iron.
Caseyville Formation (Pca)
Topography
The Caseyville underlies dissected uplands and ridgetops. Resistant
sandstone and conglomerate beds form cliffs.
Hydrology
Yields of 60 gallons per minute have been obtained from thick sandstone beds. The
Caseyville will yield enough water for a modern domestic supply to most
wells penetrating sandstone. At depth, the water becomes salty or may
have a high sodium bicarbonate content. Electric logs indicate that
moderately mineralized water may be obtained locally from this formation
at depths of 1,200 feet.
Buffalo Wallow Formation, Tar Springs Sandstone (Mcu)
Topography
These rocks form gently rolling uplands and fairly steep slopes adjacent
to stream valleys. Sandstone lenses, some massive, form small benches.
Hydrology
These rocks yield little or no water.
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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