Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Abstract.
Throughout most of east-central United States, subsurface and surface Upper Ordovician Trenton
equivalents of the Lexington Limestone are tabular, “layer-cake” units of about 60 m in thickness.
However, in the Inner Bluegrass region of north-central Kentucky, the exposed Lexington
Limestone includes nearly 40 m of younger carbonates and interbedded shales on top of Trenton
equivalents. These additional carbonates and shales comprise the upper Lexington Limestone and
are interpreted to represent a structurally controlled carbonate buildup of complex facies. The
organization of this complex facies mosaic is still not understood, and hence, this data-synthesis
EDMAP project is proposed in order to develop a three-dimensional geoframework for the upper
part of the Lexington Limestone in central Kentucky. Our principle question is: Can three-
dimensional mapping be used to characterize complex geologic surfaces like those in the upper
Lexington Limestone of central Kentucky, and in so doing, confirm the presence of structural
control on the distribution of upper Lexington Limestone members? The project will include the
collection of location and elevation data for key stratigraphic horizons from local exposures, cores,
well logs, geologic quadrangle maps, and student theses, followed by the use of ESRI Arc Pro and
Arc Online to manage and interpolate this data to visualize subsurface geologic contacts, faults,
and other geologic data on three-dimensional geologic maps. This EDMAP project will
complement ongoing 3D geoframework projects at the Kentucky Geological Survey, and the
results will be available for inclusion with regional or national compilations through the KGS
geoframework database. The expected three-dimensional maps of the upper Lexington Limestone
will not only provide an educational opportunity and contribute to an ongoing KGS statewide
geoframework project, but will also have major geotechnical implications for understanding the
distribution of karst, groundwater, and agriculturally productive soils in the Bluegrass Region of
central Kentucky.
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 8/8/22 → 8/7/23 |
Funding
- US Geological Survey: $19,700.00
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.