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Alluvium and Glacial Outwash Sediments (Qa)
Topography
These sediments form terraces and floodplains along the Ohio River and
tributaries. Valley train deposits in terraces occur along the Ohio
River.
Hydrology
These deposits 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 alluvial deposits and bedrock over much
of the area near the
Ohio River.
Hydrology
Loess yields practically no water to wells.
Terrace gravel deposits (Qtf)
Topography
These deposits occur on hilltops and hillsides between elevations of
about 420 and 600 feet.
Hydrology
These deposits generally yield little water to wells.
Mauzy Formation (Pm)
Topography
The Mauzy is found only in a very localized area within a fault block
in the southeastern part of the county.
Hydrology
The Mauzy is not likely to yield usable amounts for any purpose.
McLeansboro Group (Mattoon, Bond, Patoka, and Shelburn Formations),
formerly the Sturgis Formation (Ps)
Topography
The McLeansboro Group forms dissected uplands and ridgetops.
Hydrology
The McLeansboro Group yields practically no water, except to wells penetrating
sandstone. Water near the outcrop area is hard, but is increasingly
soft downdip. Sodium bicarbonate content increases downdip. Iron may
be present in objectionable amounts.
Carbondale Formation (Pc)
Topography
The Carbondale forms dissected uplands and ridgetops. Resistant sandstone
beds in the
Carbondale form cliffs.
Hydrology
The Carbondale yields enough water for a modern domestic supply to wells
penetrating sandstone, but practically no water to wells penetrating
shale. Water is hard or very hard in the outcrop area and is increasingly
mineralized downdip.
Tradewater Formation (Pt)
Topography
The Tradewater underlies dissected uplands and ridgetops. Resistant
sandstone beds in the
Tradewater 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 practically no water from limestone
and shale. Water is hard to very hard and low in dissolved solids content
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 in the Caseyville form cliffs.
Hydrology
Yields of 60 gallons per minute have been obtained from thick sandstone beds in
the Caseyville. The
formations 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.
Generalized areas of underground mining have been compiled for several
important coal beds as part of the U.S. Geological Survey's National
Coal Assessment Program. Using these data, a map was created showing
mined-out
areas of selected beds in 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. Atlases for
Daviess County are: HA-28;
HA-129; and
HA-110.
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