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Home , Borden Formation, Drakes Formation, Interstate 64, Lexington Limestone

Geology Along Interstate 64: Winchester to Ashland Daniel I. Carey, Martin C. Noger, Donald C. Haney, and Garland R. Dever Jr.

Sandstone in the Farmers Member of the Borden Formation is exposed at several locations along Interstate 64. This is the well-known freestone or building stone used in the construction of many schools and other buildings in the area. Consistent thickness of individual layers characterizes this stone. Shale partings facilitate quarrying.

Interstate 64

Kentucky Geological Survey James C. Cobb, State Geologist and Director Special Publication 12 University of , Lexington Series XII, 2011 2 Terrain Along Interstate 64 While travelling along Interstate 64 from Winchester to Ashland, you will see a variety of terrain. Where natural landforms (lay of the land) differ significantly from one area to another, this generally indicates that each landform is underlain by a different type of rock. These different areas are known as physiographic regions. The major physiographic regions crossed by this stretch of Interstate 64 are the Inner Bluegrass, Bluegrass Hills, Outer Bluegrass, Knobs, Cumberland Escarpment/Mississippian Plateau, and Eastern Kentucky Coal Field. Figure 1 shows all physiographic regions in Kentucky, as well as the location this stretch of Interstate 64. WARNING: Kentucky law prohibits vehicles from stopping on the shoulders of limited-access highways except in case of emergency --Title 603 KAR 5:025 Sec 4

90°W 89°W 88°W 87°W 86°W 85°W 84°W 83°W 82°W The Inner Bluegrass, extending to mile 99.3, is underlain by interbedded , dolomite, and shale. The landscape is 39°N 39°N characterized by gently rolling terrain, sinkholes, rich soils, and Inner Bluegrass Interstate 64 Bluegrass Hills Thoroughbred horse farms. Most of the rock exposures along Outer Bluegrass Knobs Interstate 64 are covered with vegetation until near Winchester. The Mississippian Plateau Bluegrass Hills, or Eden Shale Belt, lies between mile 99.3 and Eastern Kentucky Coal Field 106.7. The Clays Ferry Formation, with interbedded limestone and Western Kentucky Coal Field Jackson Purchase impervious and easily eroded shales, creates a hilly landscape. The 38°N 38°N rolling Outer Bluegrass begins at the eastern edge of the Bluegrass

Kentucky Riv er

Muldraughs Hil l

Esca rpme nt Hills and extends to mile 132.5.

Palis ades 015 30 60 Miles Around mile 132.5, the landscape changes from a gently rolling upland to a belt of cone-shaped hills. This is the boundary of the Knobs Region with the Outer Bluegrass. The Knobs is a narrow belt of ridges and conical hills left behind by the eroding Mississippian

Esca rpme nt 37°N Cumberland 37°N rocks. These hills are generally separated by broad, shale-floored Dripping valleys underlain by siltstone and silty shale. The rocks are primarily Spri ngs from the and Periods. Between mile 143.8 and 147.0, the landscape changes from the shale-floored valley of the Knobs Region to the narrow ridges 90°W 89°W 88°W 87°W 86°W 85°W 84°W 83°W 82°W capped by sandstone that characterize the Cumberland Escarpment/Mississippian Plateau. This region, in which limestone Figure 1. Physiographic regions in Kentucky and location of Interstate 64. from the Slade Formation is quarried for use as crushed stone for road construction and concrete aggregate, extends to mile 161.5.

From mile 161.5 east lie the hills of the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field—a region of irregular, narrow-crested ridges and deep valleys with very little bottom land. This is one of the most important coal-producing regions in the world. !36 Mile marker Stream U (up) # Observation point Geologic fault Roadlog and Strip Maps D (down) Geologic units are shown approximately 0.5 mile on either side of the . Figure 2 shows the 18 Photo location Concealed geologic fault symbols used on all the strip maps. The construction of these continuous strip maps was facilitated by the availability of detailed 1:24,000-scale (1 inch on the map equals 24,000 inches or 2,000 feet on the County line Lakes, ponds ground) geologic data in digital form for the entire state; the digital data were converted from geologic quadrangle maps published by the U.S. Geological Survey in a joint project with the Kentucky Railroad Mapped sinkholes Geological Survey from 1960 to 1978. Interstate 64’s area is covered by 17 of these maps. Figure 3 shows the 7.5-minute quadrangles Interstate 64 passes through. Abandoned railroad Artificial fill The roadlog covers the extent of Interstate 64 from Winchester, Ky., to the West border at the Big Sandy River. All descriptions of rock strata and geologic features are referenced to the highway Highway or road mile markers that are located at 1-mile intervals along the shoulder of the highway. Mile-marker numbers are the same on both sides of the highway. Some of the roadcuts identified during a survey in the Figure 2. Symbols used on the strip maps. 1990’s, particularly into shale, may now be revegetated. The descriptions were nonetheless retained in order to identify what now lies beneath the overgrowth. G56 Ashland 3 G57 Catlettsburg

I47 Owingsville G56 G57 I48 Colfax Carter Boyd I49 Farmers I50 Morehead H50 H51 H52 H53 H54 H55 H56 J44 Austerlitz J45 Sideview J46 Mount Sterling I47 I48 I49 I50 J47 Preston Rowan Bath H50 Cranston J44 J45 J46 J47 H51 Soldier H52 Olive Hill Montgomery H53 Grahn Clark H54 Grayson H55 Rush H56 Boltsfork Figure 3. Interstate 64 passes through these 7.5-minute quadrangles.

Stratigraphy A stratigraphic column (Fig. 4) is a generalized graphic representation of the rock layers present at the earth’s surface. Figure 4 shows the rock units exposed along Interstate 64 from Winchester eastward, and indicates the units’ geologic ages. To make it easier to study and describe these stratigraphic units, geologists have subdivided them into groups, formations, members, and beds. A group is a major stratigraphic unit containing two or more formations. A formation is a unit of rock that has characteristic and distinctive rock types and layering that are mappable. A member is a subdivision of a formation that is distinguishable from adjacent parts of the formation. A bed is a rock unit lower in rank than a member, which has a distinctive lithology (for example, a coal bed). The abbreviations used on geologic maps to designate specific roc k units are indicated in parentheses after the unit name in Figure 4.

References Anderson, W.H., 1994, Rocks and minerals of Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 11, Special Publication 20, 82 p.

Ashcraft, M.C., 2002, Spatial database of the Boltsfork and Burnaugh quadrangles, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-316. Adapted from Spencer, F.D., 1964, Geology of the Boltsfork and Burnaugh quadrangles, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Ge ologic Quadrangle Map GQ-316, scale 1:24,000.

Carey, D.I., 2007a, Generalized geologic map for land-use planning, Bath County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 150, scale 1:48,000. Carey, D.I., 2007b, Generalized geologic map for land-use planning, Montgomery County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 149, scale 1:48,000. Carey, D.I., 2011, Kentucky Landscapes Through Geologic Time: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 200, 1sheet. Carey, D.I., Dever, G.R., Jr., and Flanders, C., 2007, Generalized geologic map for land-use planning, Rowan County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 154, scale 1:63,360. Carey, D.I., and Hounshell, T.D., 2008, Kentucky terrain: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 187, scale 1:750 ,000. Carey, D.I., Hounshell, T.D., and Kiefer, J.D., 2008, Geologic hazards in Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 185, scale 1:750,000.

Carey, D. I., Noger, M.C., Haney, D.C., 2011, Geology Along the Martha Layne Collins : Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Special Publication 11, 10 p. Carey, D. I., Noger, M.C., Haney, D.C., and Greb, S.F., 2012, Geology Along the Wendell H. Ford Western Kentucky Parkway: Kentucky Geolo gical Survey, ser. 12, Special Publication 13, 16 p. Carey, D.I., and Witt, E., 2006, Generalized geologic map for land-use planning, Clark County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 148, scale 1:48,000. 4

Chesnut, D.R., Jr., 1993, Geologic highway cross sections: Interstate Highway 64, Farmers to Catlettsburg, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 11, Map and Chart 4, 1 sheet. Curl, D.C., Wente, K.J., and Petersen, C., 2005, Spatial database of the Mount Sterling quadrangle, Montgomery County, Kentuck y: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1335. Adapted from Weir, G.W., 1976, Geologic map of the Mount Sterling quadrangle, Montgomery County, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1335, scale 1:24,000.

Dever, G.R., Jr., 1980, Stratigraphic relationships in the lower and middle Newman Limestone (Mississippian), east-central and northeastern Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 11, Thesis 1, 49 p. Duncan, R.S., 2001, Spatial database of the Sideview quadrangle, east-central Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ- 1356. Adapted from Blade, L.V., 1976, Geologic map of the Sideview quadrangle, east-central Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1356, scale 1:24,000. Duncan, R.S., and Petersen, C., 2005, Spatial database of the Morehead quadrangle, Rowan County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1022. Adapted from Hoge, H.P., and Chaplin, J.R., 1972, Geologic map of the Morehead quadrangle, Rowan County, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1022, scale 1:24,000. Ettensohn, F.R., ed., 1992, Changing interpretations of Kentucky geology—Layer-cake, facies, flexure, and eustacy (guidebook, 1992 annual meeting of the Geological Society of America): Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Report 5, 184 p. Ettensohn, F.R., Rice, C.L., Dever, G.R., Jr., and Chesnut, D.R., 1984, Slade and Paragon Formations—New stratigraphic nomenclature for Mississippian rocks along the Cumberland Escarpment in Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1605-B, 37 p. McDowell, R.C., 1983, Stratigraphy of the Silurian outcrop belt on the east side of the Cincinnati Arch in Kentucky, with revisions in the nomenclature: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1151-F, 27 p. McGrain, P., and Noger, M.C., 1982, Economic geology of Rowan County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 11, County Report 2, 34 p. Murphy, M.L., 2005a, Spatial database of the Grahn quadrangle, Carter County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1262. Adapted from Englund, K.J., 1976, Geologic map of the Grahn quadrangle, Carter County, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ- 1262, scale 1:24,000. Murphy, M.L., 2005b, Spatial database of the Preston quadrangle, Bath and Montgomery Counties, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1334. Adapted from Weir, G.W., and McDowell, R.C., 1976, Geologic map of the Preston quadrangle, Bath and Montgomery Counties, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1334, scale 1:24,000. Murphy, M.L., 2005c, Spatial database of the Soldier quadrangle, northeastern Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ1233. Adapted from Philley, J.C., Hylbert, D.K., and Hoge, H.P., 1975, Geologic map of the Soldier quadrangle, northeastern Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1233, scale 1:24,000. Murphy, M.L., and Petersen, C., 2005a, Spatial database of the Cranston quadrangle, northeastern Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1212. Adapted from Philley, J.C., Hylbert, D.K., and Hoge, H.P., 1975, Geologic map of the Cranston quadrangle, northeastern Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1212, scale 1:24,000.

Murphy, M.L., and Petersen, C., 2005b, Spatial database of the Farmers quadrangle, east-central Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1236. Adapted from McDowell, R.C., 1975, Geologic map of the Farmers quadrangle, east-central Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1236, scale 1:24,000.

Nelson, H.L., Jr., and Curl, D.C., 2002, Spatial database of the Rush quadrangle, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-408. Adapted from Carlson, J.E., 1965, Geology of the Rush quadrangle, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-408, scale 1:24,000.

Nelson, H.L., Jr., and Petersen, C., 2005a, Spatial database of the Colfax quadrangle, east-central Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitially Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1332. Adapted from McDowell, R.C., 1976, Geologic map of the Colfax quadrangle, east-central Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1332, scale 1:24,000. 5

Nelson, H.L., Jr., and Petersen, C., 2005b, Spatial database of the Olive Hill quadrangle, northeastern Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geolo gic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1270. Adapted from Englund, K.J., and Windolf, J.F., Jr., 1975, Geologic map of the Olive Hill quadrangle , northeastern Kentucky: U.S. Geological Sur- vey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1270, scale 1:24,000.

Nelson, H.L., Jr., and Petersen, C., 2005c, Spatial database of the Owingsville quadrangle, Bath and Montgomery Counties, Ken tucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1242. Adapted from Weir, G.W., 1975, Geologic map of the Owingsville quadrangle, Bath and Montgomery Counties, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1242, scale 1:24,000.

Plauché, S.T., 2002, Spatial database of the Grayson quadrangle, Carter County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12 , Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-640. Adapted from Whittington, C.L., and Ferm, J.C., 1967, Geologic map of the Grayson quadrangle, Carter County, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quad- rangle Map GQ-640, scale 1:24,000.

Smath, R.A., Davidson, B., and Carey, D.I., 2006, Generalized geologic map for land-use planning, Boyd County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 138, scale 1:48,000.

Smith, P.C., 2002, Spatial database of the Ashland quadrangle, Kentucky-Ohio, and Catlettsburg quadrangle in Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-196. Adapted from Dobrovolny, E., Sharps, J.A., and Ferm, J.C., 1963, Geology of the Ashland quadrangle, Kentucky -Ohio, and Catlettsburg quadrangle in Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-196, scale 1:24,000.

Weisenfluh, G.A., and Carey, D.I., 2006, Generalized geologic map for land-use planning, Carter County, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Map and Chart 132, scale 1:63,360.

Yang, X.Y., 2001, Spatial database of the Austerlitz quadrangle, Clark and Bourbon Counties, Kentucky: Kentucky Geological Survey, ser. 12, Digitally Vectorized Geologic Quadrangle Data DVGQ-1245. Adapted from Outerbridge, W.F., 1975, Geologic map of the Austerlitz quadrangle, Clark and Bourbon Counties, Kentucky: U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Quadrangle Map GQ-1245, scale 1:24,000. Geologic Time Scale Unit Description Geologic Time Scale Unit Description 6 silt, clay, sand, Nada Member, Borden interbedded vari-colored Present Alluvium (Qal) and gravel Formation (Mbna) shale and limestone 340 million Cowbell Member, siltstone Terrace deposits (QTt) gravel, sand, silt, clay years ago Borden Formation (Mbc) and shale High-level fluvial Nancy Member, greenish-gray gravel, sand, silt, clay 2 million deposits (QTf) Borden Formation (Mbn) shale Quaternary years ago Farmers Member, interbedded sand- Borden Formation (Mbf) stone and shale , Berea black, carbonaceous shale, shale, siltstone, sand- Sandstone, and Bedford and upper part, Cone- sandstone, greenish--gray shale stone, minor coal Shale, undivided (MDsb) maugh Formation (Pmc) Mississippian black, carbon- siltstone, sandstone, lime- Sunbury Shale (Msu) 300 million Conemaugh Formation (Pc) aceous shale years ago stone reddish-green shale greenish-gray (MDbd) Princess Formation (Ppr) shale sandstone, shale, Princess No. 7 coal (P7) black, carbon- siltstone, coal 360 million (MDna) Princess No. 6 coal (P6) aceous shale years ago black, carbon- Princess No. 5 coal (P5) (Do) aceous shale Middle part, Breathitt shale, siltstone, sand- Group (Pbm) stone, minor coal Devonian Boyle Dolomite (Db) cherty dolomite sandstone, shale, Four Corners Formation (Pfc) of Crab siltstone, coal 410 million green shale years ago Orchard Group (Se) Hyden Formation (Ph) sandstone, shale, Alger Shale (Sa) green and red shale Fire Clay coal (fc) siltstone, coal Silurian Drowning Creek cherty dolomite, contains glau- Pikeville Formation (Ppk) shale, siltstone, sand- Formation (Sd) conite; large stems near top Little Caney coal (lc) stone, minor coal Preachersville and Rowland Members, Bruin coal (bu) (Odpr) greenish-gray shale Preachersville Member, shaly dolomite Grayson Sandstone Bed, 440 million sandstone Drakes Formation (Odp) Pikeville Formation (Pgr) Pennsylvanian years ago interbedded Bull Fork Formation (Ob) Pikeville and Grundy Forma- shale, siltstone, sand- limestone and shale tion, undifferentiated (Ppg) stone, minor coal Sunset Member, Bull sandstone, siltstone, micrograined limestone Grundy Formation (Pg) Fork Formation (Obs) shale, minor coal Upper Ashlock Unnamed sandstone bed in limestone and shale sandstone Formation (Oau) Grundy Formation (Pgs) Grant Lake Member, nodular-bedded Unnamed sandstone bed in sandstone Ashlock Formation (Oagl) limestone and shale lower part, Breathitt Group (Pbls) Upper member, Grant Lake Limestone (Oglu) nodular-bedded Corbin Sandstone Member, sandstone Grant Lake Limestone (Ogl) limestone and shale Grundy Formation (Plc) Tate Member, Ashlock greenish-gray, silty interbedded limestone Paragon Formation (Mp) Formation (Oat) limestone and shale 325 million and shale years ago Calloway Creek Limestone (Occ) Paragon and Slade Forma- interbedded limestone interbedded limestone and Upper part, Calloway Creek Limestone (Occu) tions, undifferentiated (Mpsl) and shale cherty limestone shale, limestone dominant Lower part, Calloway Creek Limestone (Occl) Carter Caves Sandstone (Mc) sandstone calcareous siltstone; cherty Garrard Siltstone (Og) Slade Formation (Msla) contains flow rolls limestone Kope and Clays Ferry interbedded shale and limestone orange, weathering Formation (Okc) Renfro Member, Slade dolomite Formation, and Nada Member, interbedded vari-colored Clays Ferry Formation (Ocf) interbedded limestone and shale Borden Formation (Mbrn) Mississippian shale and limestone Upper part, Lexington nodular-bedded Upper part, Borden interbedded limestone, 480 million Limestone (Olu) limestone and shale Formation (Mbu) siltstone, shale Tanglewood Limestone years ago clastic limestone, Member No. 4, Lexington commonly cross-bedded Limestone (Olt4)

Figure 4. Generalized stratigraphic column. Nearly 300 million years of the geologic record are absent in Kentucky, either from nondeposition or erosion, including the Tertiary, , , , , and part of the Pennsylvanian. Geology Along Interstate 64: Winchester to Ashland: Hillsides on the 7 shaly limestone Mile 93.8–107.7 units stripped of trees quickly begin a downhill slide under the forces of water and gravity and the actions of livestock.

Mile 106.7, 106.9, 107.3: Interbedded limestone and shale (limestone dominant) of the Calloway Creek Limestone (Occ). # # 2 # !# #!107 Mile 98.3, 99.6, 101.3, 102.0: Clays Ferry Formation Montgomery # County Occ (Ocf): interbedded limestone and shale. Contains Clark distinctive (Sowerbyella) in the lower part. County !106 RQ713

!105 Mile 102.6: Contact between nodular-bedded limestone 1 and shale of the upper part of the (!4 # 104 (Olu) and clastic, commonly crossbedded limestone of Okc ! the Tanglewood Limestone Member No. 4 of the Mile 95.5: Upper part of the Lexington Limestone (Olu). Mile 106.7: Eastward change in landscape Lexington Limestone (Olt4). from steep ridges and rounded hills to a !103 Og gently rolling upland. This change marks the Olt4 boundary between the Bluegrass Hills (Eden Mile 99.3: Eastward change in landscape # Shale Belt) and the Outer Bluegrass. from a gently rolling upland to steeper ridges and rounded hills. This change Mile 97.3: Contact between marks the boundary between the Inner #!102 Clays Ferry Formation (Ocf) Bluegrass and the Bluegrass Hills Creek and upper part of the (Eden Shale Belt). Creek Lexington Limestone (Olu) # 60 !101 Stoner £ Stoner ¤ (!3# Occ

Cabin Cr !100 Mile 94.3, 95.0: Upper #(!2 Winchester # Little part of the Lexington exit !99 Limestone (Olu) Qal ¤£60 # !98 Ocf Hoods Cr RQ627 # Og # Mile 98.3, 99.6, 101.3, 102.0: 97# 4 ! Clays Ferry Formation (Ocf) # Mountain Parkway !94 Mile 104.0, 104.2: Calloway Creek Limestone (Occ) !96 # over Garrard Siltstone (Og). #(!1 UV1958 !#95 Olu UV1958 Mile 97.1–97.5: Interstate crosses faulted area; folded and dipping Geologic Map Index rock layers Okc

Olu The greater shale content in the Kope and Clays Ferry J44 Austerlitz 3 J45 Sideview Formation (Okc) creates the more rugged terrain of the J46 Mount Sterling Mile 100.8: Kope and Clays Ferry Formation (Okc) over the Bluegrass Hills Region that lies between mile 99 and 107. upper part of the Lexington Limestone (Olu). 8 Geology Along Interstate 64: Winchester to Ashland: Mile 107.7–121.1

Mile 119.5: Drowning Mile 118.8: Greenish-gray Creek Formation (Sd) shale and shaly dolomite over the Preachersville of the Preachersville and Rowland Members Member of the Drakes of the Drakes Formation Formation (Odp) and (Odpr) interbedded limestone and shale of the Bull Mile 119.3: Mile 121.0 Fork Formation (Ob) Drowning Creek Preachersville Formation (Sd) Member of the 5 Drakes Forma- Mile 108.0: Lower part of the Calloway Creek tion (Odp) Qal 7 Limestone (Occl). Obs Odp !# Mile 117.1: Fault in the Bull Fork Formation (Ob). Db Slate Oglu #121 (!9 # ! !119# #(!10 # !120 Mile 113.9, 114.5, 117.8: Contact between Mile 118.5: Bull Fork # Creek # micrograined limestone of the upper Ashlock Formation (Ob) Ob RQ36 (!#8 Formation (Oau) and nodular-bedded limestone and shale of the Grant Lake Limestone Member Mile 115.7, 116.4: Preachersville and Rowland Members of the Sa of the Ashlock Formation (Oagl). The Grant Lake !118 Mile 120.3: Bull

Creek Alluvium (Qal), Drakes Formation (Odpr) Ob # contains stromatoporoids and distinctive # Fork Formation silt, clay, sand, 6 brachiopod Platystrophia ponderosa. South Fork MDna (Ob) 7 Slate and gravel Salt Well117!(! Cr Mile 110.2, 111.0, 111.8: Greenish-gray silty # Mile 116.7, 117.4: Preachersville Mile 112.5, 113.7: Grant # limestone and shale of the Tate Member of !116 Member of Drakes Formation (Odp) Lake Member of the Ashlock Salt Well Br # # over Bull Fork Formation (Ob) the Ashlock Formation (Oat) over interbedded Formation (Oagl) Odpr limestone and shale (limestone dominant) of !115 Sd the upper part of the Calloway Creek Lime- ¤£60 # Mile 115.9: Cherty dolomite (containing glauconite) Creek Bath of the Drowning Creek Formation (Sd) over Preachers- stone (Occu). 114 #! County ville Member of the Drakes Formation (Odp) Oagl # !113 Stepstone Montgomery Oat # County # !112 Oau Occu 111#!(!6 UV1331 Ocf ¤£460 Creek # UV1991 #!110 Occl

Hinkston Sa (!5 # #!109 # #!108 #! 686RQ # Sd Somerset Creek 713 RQ Mile 108.0, 108.7, 109.0, 110.0: Interbedded lime- Odpr stone and shale (lime- 9 stone dominant) of the lower part of the Calloway Mile 119.1, 120.8: Contact between, in Creek Limestone (Occl) descending order, greenish-gray (grassed) Alger Shale (Sa), gray fossiliferous dolomite interbedded with greenish-gray Geologic Map Index 8 clay shale in the Drowning Creek Forma- I47 Owingsville tion (Sd), and greenish-gray shale of the J46 Mount Sterling 10 Mile 118.5: Sunset Member of the Bull Fork J47 Preston Formation (Obs) over the upper member of Preachersville Member of the Drakes Mile 119.4: Devonian Boyle Dolomite (Db), the Grant Lake Limestone (Oglu). Formation (Odp). 400 million years old. Geology Along Interstate 64: Winchester to Ashland: 9 Mile 121.1–134.9

15 Mile 133.3, 134.1: Greenish-gray shale 13 Msu of the Nancy Member of the Borden Mbf Mile 130.3: Devonian black, carbonaceous Ohio Formation (Mbn). Bull The Devonian Ohio Shale (Do) is

Shale (Do) lies unconformably above green shale Murphy one of Kentucky's valuable energy Swim Br 12 of the Silurian Estill Shale of the Crab Orchard resources. Large quantities of ! Group (Se). The missing Middle and Lower Devo- !134#(!15 # !# # Mile 126.2: Green and red Silurian Alger natural gas have been produced Fork (! nian and Upper Silurian units, which are present # Shale (Sa) is unstable on slopes unless from it in the subsurface of eastern #!133 Mbn in the subsurface in other parts of Kentucky, (!14# Branch protected by vegetation. Kentucky. Surface and near-surface represent an interval of about 30 million years. Bluebank Br# Mile 124.9–126.3: High-level fluvial deposits are a potential source of oil Se Do !132 MDbd deposits (QTf). Grass-covered slopes that can be obtained by distillating # RQ801 Mile 134.4: Interbedded underlain by unconsolidated sand and the kerogen in the shale. The Ohio sandstone and shale of gravel deposited in an abandoned high- Shale could also be a potential Alluvium (Qal): the Farmers Member of the silt, clay, sand, River # level ancient Licking River Valley are a source of uranium ore. !131 Borden Formation (Mbf) potential source of sand and gravel for High-level fluvial deposits (QTf): and gravel gravel, sand, silt, and clay aggregate. Mile 132.5: Change in landscape from a (!13 RQ211 # gently rolling upland on the west to a belt Mile 124.2: Drowning Creek Formation !130 of cone-shaped hills. This change marks (Sd) over Preachersville Member Knox Hill Br Mile 131.1–132.2: the boundary of the Knobs with the East- of the Drakes Formation (Odp) Creek Licking Ohio Shale (Do) ern Kentucky Coal Field. QTf 126 12 # 127 128 !(! ! # ! !129 Mile 123.5: Preachersville UV1269 UV1722 Member of the Drakes #!125 Indian Sa Ky. 801 provides access to Cave Run Lake, formed by a 2,700- Formation (Odp) foot-long, 148-foot-high dam completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1974. The lake provides flood control and recreation. # Bath Rowan !124Little Rose RunSd Mile 127.5: Green # County County # Alger Shale (Sa). ¤£60 Ob Mbf !123 Rose Run # Slate Creek Msu Qal (!11 Odpr !#122 Mile 123.8: Alger Shale Geologic Map Index (Sa) and Drowning Creek Formation (Sd) !# Mile 122.7: Contact # Db ! between Preachersville MDbd # Member of the Drakes I49 Farmers 36 RQ Formation (Odp) and I48 Colfax the Bull Fork Formation (Ob)

14

Mile 122.0–132.5: Wide valleys formed 11 Mile 132.5–132.9: Contact between interbedded from Silurian and Devonian shales sandstone and shale of the Farmers Member of Mile 122.2: Greenish-gray shale and shaly dolomite the Borden Formation (Mbf); black, carbonaceous of the Preachersville Member of the Drakes Forma- Sunbury Shale (Msu); and greenish-gray Bedford tion (Odp). Shale (MDbd). # # 10 UV1662 ! Geology Along Interstate 64: # Winchester to Ashland: Pg Msla (!22 ###151 Mile 134.9–151.6 Carter ! County Fork Rowan Fleming County !#150 Mile 147.9, 148.4: Mbrn Sandstone of the # Mile 144.1–145.4: Grundy Formation Pgs Cowbell Member (Pg) !149 18 of the Borden Msla Mpsl 19 !21 Mile 143.8–145.5: Siltstone and shale in the Formation (Mbc) Mbc #( Mile 146.0–146.4, 147.5: Cherty limestone of the Cowbell Member of the Borden Formation Mile 149.5–150.0: RQ799 !148 Slade Formation (Msla), orange-weathering dolo- (Mbc). # # Contact between Grundy #147 Formation (Pg) and mite of the Renfro Member of the Slade Forma- 19 ! (!20# 146!#(! Renfro Member of the tion and interbedded varicolored shale and Slade Formation and Mile 143.8: Cowbell (!18 # limestone of the Nada Member of the Borden !145 Mbrn Nada Member of the Formation (Mbrn). Member (Mbc) over Borden Formation (Mbrn). Nancy Member (Mbn), # !144# Mbu Mp # Haney Branch both of the Borden RQ377 Mile 147.0, 147.6: Formation Grundy Formation (Pg) Mile 143.8–147.0: Easterly change in landscape from a shale-floored valley to narrow ridges underlain !143 by sandstone marks the boundary of the Cumberland Mile 142.3: Nancy # Escarpment and the Eastern Kentucky Coal Field Member (Mbn) over Farmers # Member (Mbf), # both of the Bor- Mile 142.5– den Formation !142 142.8, 143.5: Nancy Member # of the Borden Formation (Mbn) 20 16 Mile 135.4: Greenish gray shale of the Nancy !141 Mile 147.0, 147.6: Mississippian Slade Forma- tion (Msla). White limestone caps other lime- Member of the Borden Formation (Mbn) has 21 potential for use in manufacturing drain and Mbf North# Fork Triplett Creek Mile 139.3, 140.1, stone units. 140.6, 141.7: Nancy Mile 148.6: Shaly sandstone in the Grundy structural tiles; may contain ironstone concre- Member of the Borden Formation (Pg). tions. # Formation (Mbn) !140 Mile 137.3, 138.5, 138.8: # Farmers Member 377RQ of the Borden !139 Formation (Mbf) # Geologic Map Index Mile 135.0, 135.5: Shale of the Nancy # Pg Member of the Borden MDsb (!17 Formation (Mbn) 138 Msu ! MDbd Pence H50 Cranston Mbrn

H51 Soldier #Branch Do Triplett Creek !137 I49 Farmers 22 I50 Morehead 17 !136 Mile 151.0: Contact between Grundy Formation !# # #!135 (!16 # RQ32 Mbn Mile 138.8: Interbedded sandstone and shale (Pg) and the Renfro Member of the Slade Alluvium (Qal); North ForkQal of the Farmers Member of the Borden Forma- Formation and Nada Member of the Borden silt, clay, sand, Formation (Mbrn). artificial fill and gravel tion (Mbf) is quarried as building stone. Geology Along Interstate 64: Winchester to 11 Ashland: Mile 151.6–165.3

Msla

26 Mbc 24 25 Mile 158.8: Limestone of the Mississippian Slade Formation (Msla). Mile 153.3: Sandstone over shale in the Mile 157.4: Limestone and shale of the Slade Formation Mile 163.5–164.0: Mile 164.2: Siltstone Pennsylvanian Grundy Formation (Pg). Mile 162.4, Pikeville Formation and shale of the Pike- (Msla) over siltstone and shale of the Cowbell Member of ville Formation (Ppk) the Borden Formation (Mbc). 163.3, 163.4: (Ppk) containing Little Mile 155.3: Contact between Little Caney Caney coal bed (lc), over Grayson Sand- the Nada Member of the coal bed (lc) and Hyden Formation stone Bed of the RQ2 Pikeville Formation (Pgr) Mile 154.6, 155.0: Borden Formation (Mbna), Slade Mile 156.5–160.9: Slade Carter County (Ph) containing Fire Formation (Msla), and Paragon ¤£60 Pikeville (Ppk) and Formation (Msla) Mpsl Clay coal bed (fc) Pgr Grundy (Pg) Formation (Mp) Pbls Formations # !157 #! #156 Mc 165 # ! (!25 Tygarts Cr ! Mile 153.0: Contact between (!28 Ph Davis Fork #!161 # 162 # Pennsylvanian Grundy For- ! # # #164 # # !158 # ## ! mation (Pg) and Mississippian #!163# #!155 (!26 !159 !160 Dixie Fork Nada Member of the Borden Ppk Trough Camp Creek Msla Pfc Formation (Mbna) # (!27 ¤£60

SmithRun Mile 164.5: Fire Clay 1704 1025 Mile 162.9, 163.1: Pg !154 UV UV 162.2: Bruin coal bed (fc) of the # Ppg Mp Hyden Formation (Ph) # Mile 156.0: Contact between coal bed (bu) Hyden Formation (Ph) 24 contains the Fire Clay (! Slade Formation (Msla) and contains sandstone #!153 Mbna coal bed (fc), which is Mbc #(!23 Nada (Mbna) and Cowbell channels !152 (Mbc) Members of the Borden mined commercially # Formation. Renfro Member Reeves Branch of the Borden is missing here. 1662 UV Mbrn Mile 153.8:Contact ###! Pgs between the Grundy Mbc Formation (Pg) and Slade Formation (Msla)

27 28 Mile 161.5: Limestone of the Slade Formation (Msla) is quarried for use as crushed stone for Mile 162.1: Shale layer in the Pennsylvanian Hyden road construction and concrete aggregate. Formation (Ph). Photo from the U.S. Department of Agriculture– Farm Services Administration, National Imagery Carter Caves State Resort Program (2004). 23 Park, a popular attraction in the steep Mississippian Mile 152.3, 153.5: Dark-gray shale with sandstone lenses Geologic Map Index limestone valleys of tribu- in the Pennsylvanian Grundy Formation (Pg). H51 Soldier taries of Tygarts Creek, is H52 Olive Hill accessed from exit 161. H53 Grahn Geology Along Interstate 64: Winchester 12 to Ashland: Mile 165.3–178.6

Mile 177.6–178.8: 34 Princess Formation (Ppr); contains Mile 176.4: Sandstone, siltstone, shale, Princess minor fault Nos. 5 (P5) and 7 (P7) coal beds of the Princess Formation (Ppr). RQ67 Mile 174.8, 175.0, 175.8: Princess Formation (Ppr) with Princess No. 5 coal bed (P5) 32 Cr Cane !178# Wilson (!35 # # (!# Mile 174.8: Princess Formation (Ppr). Sandstone, siltstone, !177 ! 30 shale, and coal. Red seepage of iron oxide at thin coal # # 176 !34 # !Creek ( seams. # 33 RQ207 Mile 172.8: Middle part of Breathitt Group (! Pc (Pbm). Sandstone, siltstone, shale, and coal. Little !175 Sandy 31 #(!32 Carter County 174 (! River # ! Mile 176.5–177.2: Princess Geologic Map Index 1910 Pbm Ppr Formation (Ppr) with Princess Miles 165.6–166.0: In ascending UV Nos. 5 (P5) and 7 (P7) coal beds order, Grundy Formation (Pg), 1959 Beckwith Branch Grayson Sandstone Bed of Pikeville UV 173 30 #! Formation (Pgr), Bruin coal bed (bu) (! H53 Grahn 172 and Little Caney coal bed (lc) of UV1947 ! 207 Pikeville Formation, Fire Clay coal H54 Grayson !170 Qal #!171 bed (fc) of Hyden Formation (Ph). H55 Rush Pg Ph Mile 173.0, 173.8: Stan Br Middle part of Breathitt 1 Mpsl # RQ Group (Pbm) !169 Ph ¨¦§64 Smith Br Ppk Mile 171.0: Grundy ¤£60 # !168 Formation (Pg) #!166 35 ! # (!29 !167 Barrett Creek # Mile 177: Reclaimed surface mine in the # Pfc Princess Formation (Ppr); the Princess No. 5 coal (P5) was mined. Photo from the Mile 168.4, 169.2: Grundy Formation (Pg) with Little Caney U.S. Department of Agriculture–Farm coal bed (lc) (also called Tom Services Administration, National Aerial Cooper coal bed) Imagery Program (2004). 31 Mile 174.4: Middle part of Breathitt Group (Pbm). Shale, largely carbonaceous, dark gray to black, with ironstone concretions.

29 33 Mile 166.0: Pikeville Formation (Ppk). Sandstone, The wide alluvium (Qal) of the Little Sandy River provides level land for commu- Mile 174.8: Princess Formation (Ppr) with shale, and coal. nities, agriculture, and industry. Princess No. 5 coal bed (P5). Geology Along Interstate 64: Winchester 13 to Ashland: Mile 178.6–191.5

39 Mile 187.6: Sandstone above thick shale bed in the Conemaugh Formation (Pc). Mile 187.3–187.5: Mile 189.4, 190.0, 190.3: Terrace deposits Sandstone and shale Princess Formation (Ppr): (QTt): sand, silt, 38 in the Conemaugh silty shale above shaly and gravel Mile 186.3: Conemaugh Formation (Pc): sandstone, siltstone, Formation (Pc) sandstone 538RQ limestone. ¤£23 Big Sandy River 37 Chadwick Creek

Mile 181.1: Princess Formation (Ppr) with Princess Nos. 5 # 189 Mile 183.5–185.3: # ! # (P5), 6 (P6), and 7 (P7) coal beds. Princess Formation #190 191 (!40 188 ! # ! (Ppr) with Princess #! Mile 180.3, 180.9: Princess Alluvium (Qal): silt, clay, No. 7 coal bed (P7) #(!39 # Pmc RQ3 sand, and gravel (mined commercially) Music Br 187 Formation (Ppr) with UV3291 # ! RQ67 Princess No. 5 coal bed (P5) (!38 ¤£60 Qal !186 Pc Mile 188.8: Contact between

# Run # ! # greenish-gray and red shale # Williams Cr 185 (!36 182 ! RQ3 # # ! Big Run in the Conemaugh Formation 179 181 (!37 ! #!# 183 Little Sandy (Pc) and sandstone in the 180 # ! !184 !# # Princess Formation (Ppr) RQ180 CATLETTSBURG Ppr Ellington E. Fk RQ966 The Big Sandy and Ohio Carter Mile 185.6–186.7: Princess (Ppr) Rivers provide water, Mile 181.8: Princess Mile 178.8–180.0: Princess County and Conemaugh (Pc) Formations transportation, and level Formation (Ppr) with Princess Boyd Formation (Ppr) with land for industry. The No. 7 coal bed (P7) County Princess No. 7 coal bed (P7) river town of Catlettsburg, at the confluence of the two rivers, was subject to flooding on a regular basis—estimated at every 18 months prior to 1937. Geologic Map Index During that year, a major BIG SANDY flood convinced the town ¤£23 G56 Ashland that a floodwall and levee G57 Catlettsburg system was necessary to RIVER H55 Rush 64 H56 Bolts Fork/ protect the town. Aerial ¨¦§ Burnaugh photos by the U.S. Depart- ment of Agriculture–Farm Services Administration, 36 National Agricultural Imagery Program (2006). Mile 178.7: Princess Formation (Ppr): sandstone, siltstone, shale, 40 with Princess No. 7 coal bed (P7).