xt779c6rz65x https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt779c6rz65x/data/mets.xml Kentucky. State Geologist. 1891 books b97-21-37319250 English E.P. Johnson, Public Printer and Binder, : Frankfort, Ky. : Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Geology Kentucky. Coal Kentucky.Sullivan, Geo. M. (George M.) Report on the geology of parts of Jackson and Rockcastle Counties, with map / by Geo. M. Sullivan. text Report on the geology of parts of Jackson and Rockcastle Counties, with map / by Geo. M. Sullivan. 1891 2002 true xt779c6rz65x section xt779c6rz65x

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF KENTUCKY

JOHN R. PROCTER, DIacrroR

1EEOIYT

-ON T1E1-

GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF JACKSON AND

ROCKCASTLE COUNTIES,

WITH MAP.

BY GEO. M. SULLIVAN.

PRINTED FOR THE SURVEY UV E. POLK JOHNSON, FUBLIC PRINTER AND BINDER, PRANKFORT, KY.

This page in the original text is blank.

INTRODUCTORY LETTER.

HoN. J. R. PROCTrER,
Director Kentuccky Geological Survey:
SIR: The accompanying report on the Jackson county region,
prepared by Assistant G. M. Sullivan, in accordance with your
instructions, may be regarded as a continuation of that part of
the report on Whitley and Pulaski which relates to the con-
glomerate measures or the Rockcastle Group of these counties.
To extend the.work in this belt to Menefee county, on which
a report has already been published, will add a report on parts
of Lee, Estill, Wolfe and Powell, for which the map is yet
wanting.
The map prepared for this report by J. B. Hoeing is drawn
from the notes of Mr. Sullivan.
Very respectf ally,
A. R. CRANDALL.

Prof. A. R. Crandall:
DEAR SIR: I herewith submit to you a preliminary report on
those parts of Jackson and Rockcastle counties visited by me
during the summer of 1889. As there have been but few open-
ings made in the coals of this region, and as those that have
been made are necessarily distant from each other, the data
obtained falls somewhat short of complete exhibit of the value
of the beds; but will, in a more general way, serve to indicate
their place and character.
Very respectfully,
GEO. M. SULL[VANq.
LExiNGTON, Ky., July 1, 1891.

This page in the original text is blank.

JACKSON COUNTY.

The region covered by this report consists of parts of Jackson
and of Rockcastle counties. The sections of Jackson visited lie
on Horselick creek and its branches, Indian creek and branches,
and on South and War Forks of Station Camp. Jackson county,
which was formed out of portions of Madison, Estill, Owsley,
Clay, Laurel and Rockeastle counties in 1858, and named in
honor of General Andrew Jackson, lies on the western border
of the coal field of Eastern Kentucky. It is situated between
Madison and Estill counties on the north, and Laurel on the
south, Lee and Owsley on the east, and Rockcastle on the west.
The county line on ibe north, beginning near Cox's store,
runs a northeastward course to the line of Estill, crossing the
branches of Red Lick, and not fkillowing any main divide; on
the east it follows the dividing ridge between War Fork of Sta-
tion Camp and Sturgeon to the head of War Fork, then the
dividing ridge between the waters of Middle Fork of Rock-
castle river and Sturgeon; on the south it meanders with South
Fork of Rockcastle river, on the west, with Horselick to Wolf-
pen branch; then follows the spur between Wolfpen and Trace
branches to the old State road, following this to the beginning
of northern line.
Jackson county has an approximate aiea of about 470 square
miles or 300,800 acres. The population in 1880 was 6,678, and
by the census of 1890) 8,261, showing ani increase of about 23
per cent. In the drainage of this couit y, two great systems
are represented, the Cumberland and the Kentucky rivers. The
Rockcastle and its tributaris, representing the Cumberland sys-
tem, drain all of the county but the northeast quarter, which
is drained by the South and War Forks of Station Camp, a
part of the Kentucky river system.

6 REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF

GEOLOGY.
The geological series of Jackson includes the Waverly shales
and sandstones, the St. Louis limestone, the Chester shale and
limestone, the Conglomerate formation with its coal-bearing
shales, and a hundred feet or more of the coal measures above
the Conglomerate. The Waverly shows in outcrop only on the
South and War Forks of Station Camp and some of their
branches. Near mouth of South Fork, at Drip Rock P. 0.,
it has thickness of 125 to 150 feet, but goes below drainage
about fifteen miles above this place. On War Fork, the Waverly
goes below drainage about three miles above the mouth. The
St. Louis limestone crops out along the streams in the northern,
northeastern and central portions of the county. In the north-
ern part of the county 100 to 125 feet of it is exposed; but
dipping south-southeast, it goes below drainage on Horselick
creek, about nine and one half miles from mouth, near mouth of
Raccoon creek. In the northeastern part it is exposed from the
source to the mouth of South Fork of Station Camp, a distance
of about twenty-five miles. At Drip Rock P O., its total thick-
ness is 225 to 250 feet. This limestone formation extends up the
War Fork about sih miles betore mains below drainage. In the
central part, its greatest exposed thickness, W0 to 75 feet, is on
Indian creek, about five mli'es belcw McKee. It extends down
Indian creek to its mouth; then down the Middle Fork about
two miles before going below drainage. This group also crops
out on Outen and Birchlick branches of Indian creek. It ex-
tends up Birchlick four miles before going below drainage. The
St, Louis group in this region is cavernous; there being many
eaves, some of them of considerable extent. The creeks in many
places, where their beds have been cut in this rock, have un-
derground channels, the 3urfa(e channel being dry except at
times of high wvter. 'his is thc ease on the upper waters of
South Fork and the lower of WVi9 Fork of Station Camp, and
on parts of Horselick. The uppel 25 to 50 feet of this group, as
noted in this region, generally conmains many flint concretions,
which would make it useless for economic purposes. The re-
mainder is a hard and close-grained whitish limestone, some of
the strata breaking with conchoidal fracture. This, in all prob-

JACKSON AND ROCKCASTLE CCUNTIES.

-ability, would make an excellent quality of lime. No sample
of this stone was taken for analysis. The Chester group, as
showing in outcrop, consists of 15 to 30 feet of reddish brown
and greenish shales, with bands of argillaceous limestone inter-
mixed. This group occurs on South Fork of Station Camp near
top of Big Hill, where it is rich in Pentremites and other fossil
remains, It is exposed on Dry Fork of Horselick, near Gooch-
land P. O., at McKee, which is at the top of it, and at the
France's place, on old State road, where there is 10 to 24) feet
of shaly sandstone between it and the St. Louis group.
The Conglomerate sandstone is found throughout this entire
region, with the exception of the southwest corner. At McKee
it has a thickness of about 300 feet. This group consists, for
the most part, of thick sandstone ledges, alternating with beds
of shale, in which the coals of this region are found.
These sandstone ledges are principally a hard, coarse-grained
rock, the " Hailstone Grit" or true Conglomerate occurring only
locally. In the southwest corner, on Pond and Moore's creeks,
the coal measure shales above the Conglomerate are found cap-
ping the low hills; but no work has been done in this section, as
yet, to ascertain the areal extent of this group, or to develop
the coals of this part of the upper series.
At " High Rock," a point on Horselick creek, about ten miles
from the mouth, there is a feature in the relation of the Con-
glomerate to the St. Louis formation not noted elsewhere in this
region. Here, in the St. Louis limestone, a channel has been
eroded to a depth of 50 to 60 feet, which has been refilled by
true Conglomerate. The width of this channel has not been
accurately determined, its course not being shown; but it is
apparently 100 to 150 yards wide. No intervening shales are
here found, and the first coal seam is above the cliff. The St.
Louis group is exposed along the creek below unbroken.

COALS.
The lowest coal in this region is the bed known as the cannel
coal bed. It is found at a distance varying from I to 30 feet
above the St. Louis limestone. This seam has been opened in
a number of places, and proves, from these openings, to be a

REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF

bed of 7ariable thickness. It has been opened at Jack Jones's,
on Big Clover branch of Horselick, 15 feet above the St. Louis
limestone, and shows, for thickness, 13 inches of cannel coal
on top of 8 to 12 inches of common coal. On Horselick, at
High Rock, this bed crops out in the branch, on T J. Bal-
lard's land, 25 feet above the limestone. It was so badly cov-
ered here that it could not be measured, but thickness was
reported, as remembered by Mr. Ballard, to be 18 inches of can-
nel coal on top of 12 to 18 inches stone-coal. On Horselick,
near mouth of Raccoon, this seam rests immediately on the
Chester group, and shows only 6 inches of cannel coal over
12 inches of common coal.
About one quarter of a mile above last, on Horselick, there
is a coal opened 15 feet above the limestone, which shows thick-
ness as in following section. This bed occupies the horizon of
the cannel coal at this point.
A sample cut near outcrop gave the following results on
analysis:
Sandstone
Shale 3"
Moisture..... . .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 3.60
Volatile combustible matter .33.20
Coal 36" Carbon in coke .56.80
Ash .......................6.40
Sulphur.............. 0.494

Jack Garpenter Coal
Nor" Lick Cr.
An opening on Phillips' branch of Horselick, 30 feet above
the limestone, shows a thickness of 22 inches.
At Ballard's opening, on the land of the W. H. White heirs.
on Dry Fork of Horselick, this bed has a thickness of 45 inches
as in cut below. This opening has been worked on a small
scale, and the output hauled to Richmond, Madison county,
Kentucky, where it commanded a good price. But as the dis-
tance from market is great and the roads bad, it has been
abandoned as unprofitable. It was worked on the old plan
of stripping and prying up the coal. This is an excellent can-

JACKSON AND ROCKCASTLE COUNTIES.

nel coal, as will be seen by analysis and comparison with
other well known cannel coals:

Shale
Coal 4' ,
Bit. Sh. I
Sandstone C'

Cnnnel Coal 33

Coal 3"
Bit. Clay
a Cannel Coal
k Horse Lick.

Moisture..... . 1.80 1.00 1.30 2.10
Vol. combust. matter 42.40 61.60 47.00 43.10
Carbon in coke. . 46.60 40.40 44.40 43.36
Ash. .. . .. 9.20 7.00 7.80 11.44
Sulphur... .. . 0 .645 0.739 1.574 4.609

If, on further investigation, the area should prove to be ex-
tensive, this bed would be of marked economic value to this
region. On Indian creek, this bed has not been opened in sec.
tion visited. The stain of a coal shows 15 to 20 feet above the
limestone, on Outen branch of Indian creek, which may be
referred to this horizon.
On Birchlick branch of Indian creek, in the road near school-
house, there is a stain 10 feet above the limestone, which may
also be referred to this horizon. But neither of the last two
stains indicate cannel coal. On Bill's branch of Indian creek,
near McKee. 15 to 20 feet above the Chester group, there is
a coal 8 to 12 inches thick. On War Fork of Station, at the
mouth of Turkey Foot branch, this coal has been partly opened
on Neil Isaac's land. Here it is 35 feet above the St. Louis
limestone, and shows the following thickness on outcrop: 6 to 9
inches of cannel slate above 21 inches of soft coal. On Turkey
Foot branch near last, and also on Mr. Isaac's land, there is an
outcrop of this same bed, which, from general appearance, is
much better than the opening at the mouth of the branch. The
outcrop was so badly covered that the whole face could not
be measured, which Mr. Isaac's reports, as he remembers it,
to have been about 36 inches of soft coal.
At Sharp's store, near head of South Fork of Station Camp,
there are several openings in a coal at the horizon of the cannel
coal bed. None of these show a workable thickness. One

REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF

opening, made by Mr. Sharp, has an entry driven in about 100
feet; but the coal is thin, there being only 2 inches of cannel
coal over 8 to 10 inches of soft coal, with thin clay parting be-
tween. There is a peculiarity of the under-clay of this open-
ing not seen elsewhere; zinc and lead sulphides with Barite
are (lisseninated through it, but not in any available quan-
tity.
tit. = The next seam of any importance is the
one 45 to 60 feet above the St. Louis lime-
Black Shale stone. Openings at this horizon have been
made at a number of places, and show a
thickness varying from 12 to 52 inches.
Coal 7" On Dry Fork of Horse lick, 50 feet above
Ilit.Clay Sh. I the limestone, there is a coal which shows a
thickness of 12 inches. At Geo. Privit's, on
l Coal234 Garden Hollow branch of Big Clover creek,
50 to 60 feet above the limestone, there is a
Clay bed of coal opened in two places, one having
uarden Hollow Coal. a thickness as in the accompanying section.
On Big Clover creek, at Mace Jones's, this bed has been
opened 45 feet above the limestone, and shows thickness as in
the following section. This opening is known
as the iMace Jones bank, and was made by Mr.
McGuire, of Goochland P. 0.
Sample was taken from the weathered out-
Coal 27" crop, which gave the following results on analy-
sis:
Clay 934" Moisture.3.20
Volatile combustible matter. ............32.10
Carbon in coke .......... .. ...... . 51.70
coal 25" Ash. .......................13.00
Sulphur. 0.480
The percentage of ash will probably be some-
Mace one's Coal what reduced when the opening is driven to firm
Big Clover Cr. coal. On Gravel Lick, near Thos. Alcorn's store,
about 60 feet above the limestone, there is an opening which
shows a thickness of 23 inches. At top of Big Hill this bed
has been opened in a number of places and worked to some
extent. Hlere it is 45 feet above the St. Louis limestone, and
has thickness of 36 inches.

JACKSON AND ROCKCASTLE COUNTIES.

A sample from Cox's opening, top of Big Hill, gave the fol-
lowing results on analysis:
Moisture......... . ..................... 2.66
Volatile combustible matter ..................... 33.68
Carbon in coke.......... . 56.16
Ash.......... 7.60
Sulphur.......... 0.824
At Judge Martin's on Horselick, a coal was formerly opened
35 feet above the St. Louis group, but is now fallen in and cov-
ered. The thickness was reported 30 to 36 inches. On Outen
and Birchlick branches of Indian creek, openings have been
made in a coal at the horizon of the second bed. On Outen, it
has the following bed section: 24 inches cannel slate, 2 inches
shale, and 10 inches splint coal. Here it is 40 feet above the
limestone.
On Mayapple branch of Birchlick, it is 30 feet above the
limestone, and has thickness of 30 inches, the roof being cannel
slate. Further up Birchlick, on Hurst branch, at same eleva-
tion as last above the limestone, it shows a thickness of 23
inches only.
At an elevation of 75 to 95 feet above the St. Louis group, is
the next bed of economic importance. The principal opening
of this seam is in the vicinity of McKee. The opening which
has been worked here principally, is situated on Bill's branch of
Indian creek, about 1 mile above McKee, and 95 feet above the
Chester group. It is known here as the
Sandstone Dickson and Harrison bank. At the head
of the main entry, which is driven in 75
to 100 feet, the thickness is 36 inches. An
Shale opening in same bed across valley from last
has thickness of 31 inches only.
A sample taken from head of entry gave
oal 36U the following results on analysis:
Moisture. .................3.40
Volaitire combustible matter. . . . 36.60
Carbon in coke. . 57.70
ClyAsh. ....................6.30
Dickson HarrsonCoaI Sulphur.... .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. 1.648
McKee.

REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF

At Jake Gabbard's, two miles below McKee, on Indian creek,
near the mouth of Outen creek, this bed has been opened 90
feet above the limestone. At outcrop it has
thickness as shown in following section. The
sample cut from the badly weathered outcrop
gave the following results on analysis:

Coal 39.5' Moisture..... .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . 4.60
Volatile combustible matter ......... . . 27.30
Carbon in coke.. .... ...... . 58.10
Ash. ..................... 10.00
';Clay Sulphur
Jake Gabbard's Coal
Indian Cr. 'Me percentage of ash w1, in all probability,
be somewhat reduced when opening is driven to firm coal.
Near head of Turkey Foot branch of War Fork, on Capt.
Wilson's land, there is a coal opened at this horizon. Here it
is 75 feet above the St. Louis limestone, and
shale has a thickness of 41 inches, as in the fol-
lowing section.
A sample taken from hard coal near out-
crop gave the following results on analysis:
Moisture ...................4.40
Oa 41 to Volatile combustible matter .36.60
Carbon in coke ..66 .......5.90
Ash .....................3.10
Sulphur. 1.09
Saly SandstOne On Big Clover creek, 95 feet above the
Capt. Wilsonl'" t4rial
Turkey Foot. limestone and 50 above the Mace Jones
coal, this bed crops out under a sandstone ledge. It has not
been opened here, and shows only 12 to 18 inches in outcrop.
An opening on Sugar Camp branch of Horselick, 75 feet above
the limestone, has a thickness of 17 inches.
At Judge Martin's the stain of this coal outcrops 85 feet
above the limestone. This bed, so far as noted, occurs under
the second heavy sandstone ledge of this region.
At an elevation of 120 to 160 feet above the St. Louis group,
a bed of coal has been noted in several places. It varies from
27 t,) 30 inches in thickness. On Dry Fork of Horselick, near

JACKSON AND BOCKOASTLE COUNTIES.

Si. Carpenter's, it is 27 inches thick. Here it is 160 feet above
the limestone. Near last, on Spicelick branch, this seam. is
opened 160 feet above the limestone, and has a thickness of 27
inches. This coal has been opened by Shelton Brock on Rock
lick branch of Big Clover creek, 150 feet
ly Sandstone above the limestone, and shows a thickness
of 30 inches soft coal, as in the following
section.
coa 3Q/4" A sample from outcrop gave the follow-
Coal 30H ing result on analysis:
Moisture. ..................1 .70
Volatile combustible matter .85 10
dClay Carbon in coke.6........ 8.66
Brks COB1 A sh........ .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. 4.64
Brocks Coal Ah46
Rock Lick Br.sulphur.... .. . .. .. .. .. .. . . 0 824
An opening on Pigeon Roost branch, one mile above McKee,
has a thickness of 28 inches. Here it is 125 feet above the
Chester group. This opening has been worked to some extent
for local use around McKee, the entry being driven in about 50
feet. At John Marcum's, on Mash branch, near head of Birch-
lick, this coal is opened 150 feet above the limestone, and has a
thickness of 29 inches.
Under the third heavy sandstone ledge, and at a height of 185
to 200 feet above the St. Louis group, the next coal of economi-
cal importance is found. All of the openings in this bed visited
were on the waters of Horselick. On Joes branch of Raccoon
creek, Mr. T. J. Ballard has opened this bed about 200 feet
u Shalynaudtoabove the limestone. Here it is 36 inches
,y Xalndtone thick, as in the section below.
An outcrop sample gave the following
Coal 36" on analysis:
Moisture ...................1.70
Volatile combustible matter...... .. .. 37.660
Cly 1 Carbon in coke ............... . 49.10
Ash. . ..... 11.60
s Branch CoalSulphur... . .. .. .. .. .. . ..... 2.307
Rlaccoon Cr.
-Near head of Stone Coal Lick, about one mile from last, this
bed crops out in the bed of the creek. It is same height above
the limestone, and has the same bed section as last. At the

REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF

head of Dry branch of Horselick, Mr. Ballard has opened this
bed; here it is 215 feet above the limestone, and has thickness
of 31 inches. See section.
An analysis of sample cut near outcrop gave
the following results on analysis:
Ca Moisture. ...................1. 80
Volatile combustible matter.42.40
Carbon in coke.... .. . . . .. . .. .. . 46.60
Ash. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. . . 9.20
Bit Shale Sulphur.................... . 0.645
Dry Branch Coal
Horse Lick. This seam is opened on Gravel Lick branch of
Big Clover. Here it is near the top of the mountain, and about
200 feet above the St. Louis limestone. The thickness is 36
inches, as in the following section.
SalySandstone A sample from whole face of outcrop on
analysis gave the following:
Moisture..... 8.20
Volatile combustible matter. ..... .. .. 32.80
coal 36' Carbon in coke. .65.80
Ash ......... ............8.20
Sulphur... .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. . 0.782
y These four openings of this bed are in the
Well's Rank main divide between Horselick creek and
Gravel Lick Cr. Middle Fork of Rockcastle river. On the
opposite side of Gravel Lick from the Wells' bank, and near
Sand Gap, this bed was formerly opened and worked, but
is now abandoned, and so badly covered that it could not be
examined.
On Phillips's branch of Horselick, about 200 feet above the
limestone, this coal is opened in two places, being 18 inches at
one and 21 at the other. The last coal noted in this regiom
is 250 feet above the St. Louis group. It is opened near T. J.
Ballard's, on the old State road, where it is 1 foot thick.
While some of the beds of this region have a large workable
area, it will be seen, by comparing the openings made in dif-
ferent localities, that they are not altogether regular; and that,
to some extent, they are local.
The position and general relation of these coals are shown in
the following general approximate vertical section.

JACKSON AND ROCKCASTLE COUNTIES.

IRON.

gig

225

LB5 to 200

LSO to 150

75to95O

50to65
45
30
15
0

GKNERAL
Jackson
Cc

Iron occurs in this section as
Donglomerate
Sandstone thin bands of Siderite ore, and, at
ihaly Sandstone some points, as Limonite kidney-
shaped concretione. These bands
Shale ,, and concretions are found in the
DOal 20 to shale beds principally. Nowhere,
conglom. s. S. so far as seen, are they of any great
coal 273'o 3e thickness, the bands being only a
few inches thick, and the few kid-
Covered Slope neys distributed vertically through
Coal 20 to 36 a considerable thickness of shale.
Coa 1" The ore bands were noted at
Coal S0 to :17 three horizons: The first, about
Coal l&'" 50 feet above the St. Louis lime-
CannelCoal stone; the second, about 100 to 110
33"
Chester Shales feet above the limestone; the third
and Limestone.
is 200 to 225 feet above the lime.
Sit.Loots stone. Near the mouth of Little
Limestone Clover creek of Hoiselick, pieces of
yellow ocherous clay occur in the
drift 40 to 50 feet above the lime-
stone, but no work has been done
SECTION. to ascertain the amount present.
O& taockean ece
'unties. On top of many of the spurs, pieces

of impure ore are found which has weathered out of the shales
and shaly sandstones that formerly capped the hills at these
points. Although present, sometimes in quantities, these drift
pieces are not, as is sometimes supposed, indicative of iron in
any great abundance.

TIMBER.
The timber of this region consists of both the hard and soft
varieties. Among the hard woods the following are found:
White Oak (Quercus alba).
Mountain Chestnut Oak or Tan-bark Oak (Q. Prinus, var.
monticola).
Red Oak (Q. rubra).
Black Oak (Q. tinctora).

15.

F
0
I.
I 4
i

REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF

Blackjack Oak (Q. nigra).
Pignut Hickory (Corya glabra).
Shellbark Hickory (C. sulcata).
Beech (Fagus ferruginea).
Sugar Maple (Acer sacharinum).
Black Birch (Betula lenta).
Iron WVood (Ostrya Virginica).
Locust (Robinia pseudacacia).
Among these, the White Oak and Chestnut Oak are the most
abundant.
The soft woods consist of the following:
Yellow Poplar or Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera).
Ohio Buckeye (Aesculus glabra).
Chestnut (Castanea pumilla).
Sourwood (Oxydendrum arboreum).
Sassafras (Sassafras officinale).
Yellow Pine (Pinus mitis).
Linden or Basswood (Tilia heterophylla).
Spruce Pine, Hemlock (Abies Canadensis).
The Chestnut is the most abundant of these. Much of the
Poplar has been cut, especially along the large streams.
Many smaller trees and shrubs are also found, among which
are the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Holly (Ilex
opaca), Redbud (Cercis Canadensis), Service Berry (Amel-
ancher Canadensis), Persimmon (Diospyros Virginiana), and
the Kalmias.
The Fox Grape (Vitis vulpina), and the Winter or Frost
Grape (V. Cordifolia), are found. The Service Berry and the
Persimmon are abundant.
The topography of this region is characterized by narrow,
and, in many places, cliff-bound valleys. The arable land is,
principally, on the slope or hill-side, as but few of the spurs
are of any great width. The ridge known as Big Hill, begin-
ning at the northern boundary of the county and extending
in a S. S. E. course to its southern limit, a distance of eighteen
miles, is, at many points, sufficiently broad for small farms.
The soil is a sandy loam of average productiveness after the
vegetable mould of the forest becomes exhausted. The adapta-
tion to fruit-growing is shown by orchards bearing abundantly

JACKSON AND ROCKCASTLE COUNTIES.

without special care. In the valleys and on the slopes, where
the limestone is in part the source of the soil, are found the
best pasture lands. The Blue Grass appears to take root and
grow well on this formation.
References to former reports relating to Jackson county are
as follows:
Topography and General Geology, "Owen's Reports," vol.
IV, report of Joseph Lesley, pages 479-81.
Soils and Coal, same vol., chemical report of Dr. Robert
Peter, pages 186-9.

ROCKCASTLE.

Rockcastle county was formed in 1810, from parts of Lin-
coln, Pulaski, Madison and Knox counties. It was named for
the Rockeastle river, which borders it on the southeast. The
eastern and southern parts of this county lie on the western
border of the Eastern Kentucky coal field. It is situated be-
tween Garrard and Madison on the north, Laurel and Pulas-
ki on the south, Jackson on the east, Pulaski and Lincoln on
the west.
By the census of 1880, the population was 9,670; by census
of 1890, 9,841. An approximate area is 375 to 400 square miles
or 256,000 acres. The section visited lies between the Jackson
county line on the east and the Kentucky Central Railroad on
the west, and is drained by tributaries of the Rockeastle river.
Roundstone creek, which rises at the northern limit of the
county, and its branches (Crooked creek, Brush creek, Clear
creek, &c.), drain all of this region except the southern part,
this being drained by Gauly and White Oak creeks and their
branches.
GEOLOGY.
The geological series noted in this section are the Waverly
shales and sandstones, the St. Louis limestone and the Con-
glomerate formation with its coal-bearing shales. The series,
here, correspond for the most part, with the series noted in
GCOL. SUR.-2

REPORT ON THE GEOLOGY OF PARTS OF

Jackson. The Waverly group crops out on Roundstone, near
Mullin's or Withers' Station, Kentucky Central Railroad, and
extends up stream to its source at Boone's Gap, where most
of the hills consist of this formation. At Muellersville, on
the Kentucky Central Railroad, there is a fine building stone
found in this group, which is worked for use in Cincinnati and
other points.
The St. Louis limestone outcrops along Roundstone and its
branches, none being found on White Oak creek of Horselick,
or on Gauly creek of Rockeastle river in the southern part of
the region. There is an outcrop in the Rockcastle river two miles
above Livingston, but this is due to the fault which occurs here.
On Brush creek this series is 200 feet thick, and on Crooked
creek, below W. D. McGuire's coal opening, it is 210 feet. The
character of the group in this region is the same as in Jackson.
The Conglomerate formation, in the northern and central por-
tions of this region, tops the limestone hills, and varies from 45
to 100 feet in thickness. In the southern part, the entire moun-
tain above drainage consists of this formation, it being 150 to
250 feet thick. Much of the Conglomerate, in this region, con-
sists of the "lHailstone Grit," the ledges of sandstone being
very thick and the quartz pebbles large.

COALS.
The coals are interglomerate like those of Jackson county,
with which they correspond for the most part.
The cannel or the lowest bed has not been developed in this
region so far as seen. On Brush creek, one mile from Brush
Creek station, Kentucky Central Railroad, a coal has been
7 mBit. Shale opened about 60 feet above the St. Louis
De Coalagroup, and shows a thickness as in section.
Coal 26 This opening is immediately above a thick
hailstone grit ledge, and at the horizon of the
second coal of importance in the Jackson
l2 series. The grit ledge is similar to the one
Brnvsh Cr.
BeCoa which is found at Livingston, over which there
is also a coal.
On Crooked creek a coal has been opened by W. D. McGuire,
75 feet above the limestone series and 285 feet above the bed of

JACKSON AND ROCKCASTLE COUNTIES.

the creek. The entry has been driven in about 100 feet, and
shows a thickness of 36 inches as in the following section.
A sample, cut 25 feet from mouth of entry, gave the follow-
ing results on analysis:
Moisture... .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . 3.80
fShale Volatile combustible matter. 31.00
Carbon in coke. . 66.20
Ash ............ 900
Coal sq.; Sulphur ......................0.412

On Brush creek, this seam has been opened
l hale 1 by