The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1917-04-05
GEOLOGY OF SECTION
FROM NEAR cAmPToN. IN WOLFE
COUNTY.
To the Mouth of Troublesome Greek. In
Breath1tt County.
By p. \. Moore, State Geological Survey
And Reproduced From the Files Of
The Herald ofISS5.

guides Ia the identification of coal seams
near the Ohio river, seen to be entirely
waiting here, aud we have ia their places
these numerous, srratie. and enthusiastically
bands of impure limestone, which are Of
almost no value whatever Tor use in geo
logical Identification.
The absence of these limsstones. and the
frequency with which the ssndstOnes and
shales change character. render the con-
struction Of an aeeurste section. and he
Identification Of coal seams across any great
interval, a matter of considerable difieulty-
The absence OF limestone and fine shales,
as web as the character OF the prevailing
rock, which is a coarse mechanical sedi-
rpent TOR the most part, indicates the preva-
lence throughout this region. during its
deposion, OF shallow waters much disturbed
by currents, accompanied by frequent chan
ges of level. There was ne subsistence deep
enough or long enough continued to allow
the formation of pure limestones. nor were
the waters quiet and laal locked lagoons.
in which the 6ne mud sould settle undis
tur6ed, TO be afterwards eempaeted into
shals beds
1t is worthy Of uOtiee, that the sub-ear-
boniferous limestone, which in Ohio is thin
and frequently wanting altogether, thiekeDs
from the Ohio river TO the sonthwestwaFd,
while the limesiouss Of the coal measures.
several Of which are ionFd in Ohio disap-
pear soon after crossing into Kentucky.
SECTION.
Accompanying this report will be found
horizontal section showing the principal
features Of the geology, from the dividing
ridge west of Campton 20 the Kentucky
river, at the mouth OF Troublesome creek.
This section Is by no mea.ss complete. and
il is not offered as such pa the contrary
as already stated, it win probably be found
to need considerable CORRECTION when the
country comes 70 be examined n detsil;
and it is not az all impossible that, especial
IL in the southeastern end of the section.
some of the connections between the Goals
may be found 10 be incorrect. Il is beliey-
ed, however, that the greater portion of the
section is correct The measurements for
elevation were made with an aneroid bar
ometer, without any correction from a check
barometer, at time of the year when at
mospheric variations are sften sudden and
great, so that there IS a liability to error
from this cause. On the other hand, the
measurement for level were usually made
with the Kentucky river as base. the level
OF this beng known from aetual survey,
and the variations we're checked as often IS
possible by returning to the river The
measurements for distauee viii probably
need some correction, as they we're ACT OBJ
tanned from the NEST relisble sources, The
existing maps of this section being very
imperfect The seefion.is given as the best
and means al sol .,a.s sse i serves very ~
well to show the principal features Of the
geology Of this region.
II viii be seen that there Is a total thick
ness Of $50 feet Of strata above TIE top Of
the conglomerase included in the accompa
nying section. This, with the S25 feet OF
eonglomerate and sub-eonglOmerate beds,
makes total thickness Of 1913 feet of ear
boniferous rocks above the sub-esrbonifer.
Gus limestone. from the river at the mouth
of Troublesome creek to the edge OF the
coal measures.
COAL.
The Goals of this region are numerous
and of excellent quality, and, taken as
whole, viii bear comparison with those
found in any other portion Of the state in
quality or thickness They are all classed
as bituminous Goals; but they show all the
varieties OF this class, known as dry burn
ing, eaking and eannei Goals, the principal
Goals are OF the dry m tree burning variety,
while the eaking or fat Goals are compare.
lively rare. canael Goals are abundant and
ofexeellent quality; certain of them having
a reputation second 10 none in the state.
AS yet, This region is almost entirely un
developed. so that it IS difficult or impos.
sible, without the mos, detailed and careful
study, TO obtain complete section. show
ing the thickness and position Of all Of the
coal seams-a study which has, as vet, not
been given TO it. There are numerous mines
along the kentucky river, where coal has
been mined for shipment in boats down the
river, but none of them are extensive. and
the majority are now abandoned and have
fallen in
The practice is to open drift from which
few boat loads of cal are taken, when. as
soon as it is far enough underground 10
render it matter Of some labor to get the
coal to the mouth OF the dPTff. it is aban-
doned, aud another one opened. The So
called mines are. therefore, bur a series Of
shallow pits.
OF late years, owing to the low price OF
coal in the lower markets, eoal rsining has
not been as profitable as formerly, and but
litde is now mined in this segion, except Of
the liner grsdes of camel coal, which bring
a high price. aud can, therefore, yet be
mined aud transported at a prof.
The cause Of this staguation in the min
ing industry is the excessive cost Of trans
due entirely to the uncertainty
and danger Of the river ravigalior. Coal .
boats drawing ave feet Of water can ouly
be run during high water, phich can be
expected but for a very small part Of the
year. This. therefore. neeessitatse the sto-
rage Of large quantities Of coal, often for
months after il IS mined, waiting for q rise
IN the river sufficient to carry il Of. This
storsgs is Of great detriment to the coal a.
4 Is injared By exposure to the weather.
Ia addition TO the injary and loss BY expos
ire an extra cost IS involved through the
Css OF eapiisi lying id1e sor SO long a tine.
The beats used 10 carry the Goa. down
he river can neser be retur8ed, and thew