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Kentucky Geological Survey Map and Chart Kentucky Geological Survey
2000
Generalized Geologic Bedrock Conditions as Related to Solid-Generalized Geologic Bedrock Conditions as Related to Solid-
Waste Landfills in Kentucky Waste Landfills in Kentucky
Martin C. Noger University of Kentucky
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Repository Citation Repository Citation Noger, Martin C., "Generalized Geologic Bedrock Conditions as Related to Solid-Waste Landfills in Kentucky" (2000). Kentucky Geological Survey Map and Chart. 21. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/kgs_mc/21
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Calhoun
MUHLENBERG
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89°
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37°
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39°
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Eddyville
LYON
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East
N
McCRACKEN
RIVER
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Parkway
Mayfield
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Fork
Paducah
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Cumberland
Clarks
CALLOWAY
LIVINGSTON
Fork
Calvert City
MARSHALL
Smithland
Tennessee River
Benton
Murray
I
S
River
River
Western
Dixon
HENDERSON
HOPKINS
Kentucky Lake
88°
TRIGG
Lake Barkley
Morganfield
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Princeton
Tradewater
Marion
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River
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Audubon
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Kentucky
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88°
Licking
Maysville
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POWELL
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Kentucky
Mt Sterling
JACKSON
265
JEFFERSON
GREEN
Parkway
LOUISVILLE
65
BRECKINRIDGE
Hardinsburg
Bowling
OHIO
Hawesville
HANCOCK
LOGAN
Russellville
87°
Owensboro
Lake Malone
Central City
Elkton
Greenville
TODD
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HartfordRough
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Morgantown
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Brownsville
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86°
MONROE
Cumberland
Cave City
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Glasgow
Munfordville
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Elizabethtown
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65
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Tompkinsville
Edmonton
E
Hodgenville
Shepherdsville
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LARUE
River
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BULLITTDI
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N
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264
Lawrenceburg
Herrington
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CUMBERLAND
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Blue
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Campbellsville
Greensburg
NELSON
Bardstown
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Burkesville
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Lebanon
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Springfield
85°
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Liberty
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Jamestown
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Albany
ANDERSON
Parkway
River
CASEY
Monticello
E
Harrodsburg
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Danville
Kentucky
Richmond
ROCKCASTLE
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GARRARD
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Lancaster
Somerset
Nicholasville
Stanford
JESSAMINE
River
LINCOLN
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Whitley City
McCREARY
80
Mt Vernon
75
84°
Mountain
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75
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WHITLEY
Laurel River
Williamsburg
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Berea
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75
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London
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Carrollton
Shelbyville
Bedford
71
HENRY
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CARROLL
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85°
Owenton
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Frankfort
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275
Cynthiana
HARRISON
FAYETTE
Williamstown
SCOTT
Georgetown
LEXINGTON
75
64
75
COVINGTON
KENTON71
75
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Newport
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Brooksville
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64
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MONTGOMERY
Carlisle
84°
I
Salyersville
Fork
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Frenchburg
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KNOX
Barbourville
Middlesboro
Daniel
Pineville
CLAY
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River
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Beattyville
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Booneville
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Middle
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82°
40 Miles
50 Kilometers
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39°
Unit 2: Sandstone
Unit 1: Limestone
Unit 3: Unconsolidated Deposits
Unit 6: Interbedded Shales and Limestones
Unit 5: Clay Shales
Unit 7: Interbedded Clay Shales and Sandstones
Unit 4: Fractured Shales
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Faults
Unit 10: Coals, Sandstones, and Shales
Unit 9: Interbedded Limestones, Sandstones, and Shales
Unit 8: Interbedded Limestones and Shales Definitions
Digital adaptation by Daniel I. Carey and Terry D. HounshellCompiled by Martin C. Noger
Limestone: Layered rock composed of grains of calcitecemented together; may contain fossils.
Sandstone: Layered rock composed of grains of sand cemented together.
Shale: Thin-layered rock composed mostly of clay minerals.
Soil: Loose materials occurring between the ground surface and underlying bedrock.
Joints: Widely spaced vertical cracks in the bedrock.
Faults: Fractures in the earth's crust along which displacement has occurred.
Leachate: Solution formed by water passing through a landfill.
This map is not intended to be used for selecting individual landfill sites.
Its purpose is to inform land-use planners, government officials, and the
public in a general way about geologic bedrock conditions throughout
the state that affect the selection of solid-waste disposal sites. More
detailed information concerning geologic bedrock conditions is provided
by 1:24,000-scale geologic quadrangle maps. These maps should be
consulted when considering the suitability of individual landfill sites.
They are available for the entire state and may be obtained from the
Kentucky Geological Survey. An
is available free upon request from the Kentucky Geological Survey.
For information on obtaining copiesof this map and other KentuckyGeological Survey maps andpublications call:
Publication Sales(859) 257-3896
View the KGS World Wide Web site
at www.uky.edu/KGS/
Areas of interbedded limestones and shales present severe, moderate, or
slight limitations for use as landfills, depending on the relative amounts of
limestone compared to shale. Areas that contain limestone layers 6
inches or more thick, which are horizontally continuous for 36 or more
inches and contain less than 35 percent shale, are generally severely
limited for landfills. Conversely, areas that have limestone layers that are
2 inches or less in thickness and are horizontally discontinuous (less than
6 inches long) present slight limitations for use as landfills. Areas with
conditions between these two categories present moderate limitations.
This unit consists of a vertical sequence of alternating limestones,
sandstones, and shales. Areas underlain by limestones and sandstones
present severe limitations, and areas underlain by shales that are 30 feet
or more thick present slight limitations for use as landfills.
This unit consists of a vertical sequence of coals, sandstones, and shales
that is generally horizontally discontinuous. Areas underlain by coals and
sandstones present severe limitations for use as landfills. Areas underlain
by shales that are 30 feet or more thick present slight limitations.
Faults are fractures in the earth's crust along which displacement has
occurred. In Kentucky, fault displacement is generally vertical. Faults can
serve as avenues for the movement of fluids; therefore, faulted areas
should be avoided for landfill use.
GENERALIZED GEOLOGIC BEDROCK CONDITIONS AS RELATED TO
SOLID-WASTE LANDFILLS IN KENTUCKY
Areas of limestone generally present severe limitations for use as
landfills. These rocks are generally very hard, requiring blasting or
heavy equipment for excavation, and the depth of soil coverage is
highly variable. In addition, limestones are soluble in water, and
sinkholes and solution cavities are common in areas of gently sloping
topography underlain by these rocks. Ground water flowing through
fractures and solution openings is easily contaminated by leachate from
landfills, and this ground water eventually emerges as springs or
discharges into lakes or rivers. In some areas of Kentucky underlain
by limestones, soils more than 30 feet thick have been reported.
Depending on the type of soil, thickness, topographic position, and
drainage conditions, some limestone areas could provide adequate
geologic conditions for landfill use.
Areas of sandstone present severe limitations for use as landfills. These
rocks are generally very hard, requiring blasting or heavy equipment for
excavation. Sandstones tend to form thin soils and steep slopes. Ground
water flowing through openings between sand grains and along fractures
(widely spaced cracks) could be easily contaminated by leachate from
landfills. West of Kentucky Lake, the deposits include unconsolidated and
commonly porous sands.
Areas of unconsolidated deposits present severe limitations for use as
landfills. These deposits consist of non-cemented clay, sand, and gravel
and are found primarily in stream valleys. West of Lake Cumberland,
these deposits occur both in stream valleys and upland areas. They are
easily eroded during rainstorms. West of Lake Barkley, these deposits
include loess (a fine-grained material deposited by wind) that possibly
could be used as cover material for landfills.
Areas of fractured shale present moderate limitations for use as landfills.
Fresh exposures of fractured shale are hard and require heavy machinery
for excavation. These shales contain joints that transport water into the
ground, which could possibly lead to contamination by leachate.
Areas of clay shale are only slightly limited for use as landfills. These
shales are easily excavated and restrict ground-water movement. The
high clay content can produce land slippage and workability
problems.
Areas where bedrock is composed of 80 percent or more shale and 20
percent or less limestone are slightly limited for use as landfills. Limestone
layers are usually 2 inches or less thick. These rocks are easily excavated
and generally restrict ground-water movement. Oversteepened banks and
artificial cuts are subject to slippage.
This unit consists of a series of interbedded clay shales and sandstones.
Areas underlain by 30 feet or more of clay shale present slight limitations,
and areas underlain by sandstones present severe limitations for use as
landfills.
KENTUCKY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
James C. Cobb, State Geologist and Director
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, LEXINGTON
MAP AND CHART SERIES 21Series XII, 2000
Bedrock: Solid rock underlying soils and unconsolidatedmaterials.
Index to Geologic Maps for Kentucky
© 1990, 2000, by the University of Kentucky,
Kentucky Geological Survey
Geologic information used in the compilation of this map was obtained from 1:24,000-scale geologic quadrangle maps produced as a result of the cooperative geologic mapping program between the Kentucky Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey.
scale approximately 1:560,000
https://doi.org/10.13023/kgs.mc21.12