About the KGS Geologic Map Service

This internet map service provides geologic maps and related information compiled by the Kentucky Geological Survey. You can create a custom layout for your map using the Map Layers tab and save that map for later viewing with a bookmark function. Additional themes that relate to geology, land use, environmental protection and economic development can be overlain on the geologic base. Also, descriptions of rock units, their behaviors and economic uses can be obtained using the site's search tools. An overview of each function is given below.

Detailed (1:24,000-scale) geologic maps can be viewed for all areas of the state. Only areas highlighted by orange rectangles on the index map have lithologic and economic descriptions, cross sections, and diagrams available for explanation. Remaining areas are being added as time permits.

---

• View a list of digital GQ datasets that can be purchased from KGS
• Download Scanned GQ maps: http://www.uky.edu/KGS/gis/gqmaps/index.html
• USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program: http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/
• USGS National Geologic Map Database: http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/

---

Map Data. This service uses two geologic base maps; the 1:500,000-scale geologic map of Kentucky at scales smaller than 1:100,000, and 1:24,000-scale geological quadrangle data at larger scales.

Tool bar. The tool bar contains standard tools for zoom and pan control of the map. In addition there are several custom tools:

• The tool is a query tool that returns information about features on the map at a point. Clicking on a geologic unit provides lithologic descriptions and, in some cases, economic, geotechnical, hydrologic, or other descriptions. Clicking on an overlay feature (e.g., oil well or quarry outline) provides summary information about the feature with links to additional data.
• The returns the same information as the point id tool, but for a rectangular search area drawn by the user.
• The will return photos taken at locations on the map which are designated by the symbol. For this tool to function and to view the photo icons on the map, the "Photo Locations" must be turned on as a map layer.
• The tool is a measuring tool which returns the distance in feet and miles between two points clicked on the map. This tool will also return the azimuth direction from the first to second point.
• The tool is a click tool that returns the coordinate and descriptive location for a point on the map.
• The tool is a query tool which allows the user to search for and highlight visible map features. You cannot search for point overlay features with this tool (use the tabular data searches, which link to the map interface for this functionality). To erase the highlights of queried features, click the button on the tool bar.
• The print tool creates a formatted print page for the map window.

Map Scale. Use this control to set the map to an exact scale. Common scales are provided in the pull down, or you can enter a custom scale.

Map Size. Changes the pixel dimensions of the map window. Setting this to full page results in a print page that fills 8.5 x 11 inch paper.

Zoom to a Location. The button opens a tool which allows the user to search by and zoom to a geographic area in Kentucky. The types of geographic areas which a user can search by include county name, coordinate location, stream or road name, etc...

KY MAPS. The button opens a table of links to other internet map services or databases in Kentucky. Selecting a service from the table will open it in another window, zoomed to the same extent of the geologic map.

Map Legend. This tab provides explanations for the map layout. Menu items can be collapsed by clicking the "hide" link. The geologic unit explanation includes all rock units for the geological quadrangles in the user's view. A custom map unit legend can be created that limits the symbols to visible units only. This "exact" legend may take up to a minute to generate.

Map Layers. This tab provides controls for changing the layout of the map. Standard map designs are located at the top. Clicking any of the active links automatically reformats the map to that design. To add or subtract other map layers, click the "customize" button, and check or uncheck any of the items. Layers that are dimmed out are not visible at the present map scale, but can still be included in the layout. Once all the desired layers are selected, click "update map", or zoom, pan, or rescale the map, and the new layout will become active.

Bookmark. This button on the Map Layers tab saves an Internet Explorer (IE) favorites link so that you can return to the same map view. You can save the map layout and its coordinate extent to return to the same map you have created. Or you can save only the layer design, so that you can return to the service with a pre-designed layout in another area. If you are using an IE browser, click the button for the type of bookmark desired. In other browsers, the buttons will not appear. Right click the link for the option desired, then select save to bookmark.

Geologic Information. There are two ways to get information about geologic units or other features on the map. The identity tool , described above, is used to gather information about specific features. It works by clicking on the map and the results are sent to a pop-up window. The identity tool only returns descriptions from the 1:24,000-scale GQ's. Be aware that the sensitivity of the tool is scale-dependant. Clicking at small scales may return descriptions for multiple map units or features.
The Geologic Information tab provides comprehensive searches for all information that pertains to the map extent. Because of the larger amount of information that is accessed, the searches are provided from individual links. The results are grouped by type of source and then by the individual source title. The source title is a link to the KGS online list of publications, where many publications can be viewed. For lithology descriptions, a portion of the graphic stratigraphic column is provided for context, and the full stratigraphic column is accessed from a link.