Interactive Map Services
Explore Kentucky's geology through our collection of interactive web mapping applications featuring geologic maps, water resources, coal data, oil and gas wells, and more.
Geospatial Data Library
Download non-KGS GIS data, shapefiles, and geodatabases for use in your own mapping applications and analysis. The KGS Geologic Map Service (find below) and the KGS Publications Catalog (menu above) are currently the best sources for finding downloadable KGS GIS data.
Connect to Desktop GIS
Learn how to connect our map services directly to ArcGIS Pro, ArcMap, QGIS, and other desktop GIS applications.
Kentucky Geologic Map Service
The KGS Geologic Map Service provides interactive access to geologic map data compiled by the Kentucky Geological Survey. The application features 1:24,000-scale geologic map layers digitized from 707 published USGS quadrangle maps, including geologic units, contacts, faults, structural contours, and beds that can be symbolized by stratigraphic unit, lithology, karst potential, or geologic age. The service also includes 1:500,000-scale geologic units from the 1988 Geologic Map of Kentucky. Additional data layers include oil and gas wells, water wells, coal data, the KGS landslide inventory, sinkholes, core samples, and various index maps. An interactive legend allows users to highlight specific units, and the click-map ID tool provides unit descriptions and links to published sources. The responsive application works on both desktop and mobile devices and supports all modern browsers.
Geologic Story Maps
The Kentucky Geological Survey is developing geologically-oriented ESRI story maps about Kentucky. Location-based tours can be accessed via the interactive maps and are listed with other topics in the gallery.
Petroleum Geology Map - Kentucky Geologic Map Service
This map layout on the Kentucky Geologic Map Service shows the locations of oil and gas wells on a topographic base map. Each well is symbolized according to its completion characteristics, and can be queried for its record and permit number, surface elevation, and depth. The record number is a link to online documents, including electric logs for the wells. Wells are labeled with permit numbers, but because not all wells have a permit number, the label can be changed to the KGS record number using the tool in the lower right hand corner of the map.
Kentucky Coordinate Conversion Tools
This tool converts a valid KY location to commonly used projections used in Kentucky including Kentucky Single Zone and Kentucky Carter Coordinates. There is also a link to a multiple coordinate conversion tool through an uploaded text file.
Geologically Based Indoor Radon Potential
KGS and UK College of Nursing BREATHE program scientists combined more than 70,000 home radon test kit results with Kentucky’s digital geologic map coverage to produce the most detailed statewide indoor radon potential map in the country.
Landslide Information Map - Kentucky Geologic Map Service
This map is a layout of the KGS Geologic Map Information Service which activates layers that display the locations of known landslides and areas susceptible to landslides in a geologic and geomorphic context. The purpose of the map is to provide an overall view of landslide hazards across the state. Locations come from Kentucky Geological Survey research, published maps, state and local government agencies, the public, and media reports, thus making attributes and spatial accuracy highly variable.
Kentucky Mineral Resources Information
This web map service provides scanned document information and location data pertaining to Kentucky's ore mineral resources and their associated commodities; fluorite (fluorspar), galena (lead), sphalerite (zinc), barite, iron, nitrates, and phosphates. Many of these mineral deposits were once mined in the state, and remaining reserves of fluorite and zinc still exist in some areas. This map and data service will provide future miners important information about previous mining activities. Other minerals, such as titanium, uranium, and rare earth elements in igneous intrusions, may have potential for mining and available data is included.
Natural Arches of Kentucky and Kentucky Arch Trail
An interactive adaptation of the Kentucky Geological Survey pamphlet "Natural Arches of Kentucky." Also includes an interactive map of the Kentucky Arch Trail. Explore Kentucky's remarkable natural stone arches through this interactive story map. Learn about the geology, locations, and formation of these unique sandstone features found throughout the state.
KGS Rock Core and Sample Holdings
This map service displays the rock core and well sample holdings at the KGS Earth Analysis Research Library (EARL). Click on the map for holdings information and links to detailed reports where available.
The Kentucky Seismic and Strong-Motion Network
This map service displays locations of sensors in the statewide earthquake monitoring network which provides real-time seismic data and hazard assessment to enhance public safety and emergency preparedness.
Water Well and Spring Location Map
This is a focused, small format water well and spring map for Kentucky which displays wells and springs data for the zoomed-in area. Click on a well or spring to view information and a link to the detailed report. Note that the data displayed on this map service is the same data displayed on the Kentucky Geologic Map Service.
Kentucky Aquifer Designation Project
This is a compilation map which shows 1) Kentucky Permitted Water Supply (PWS) Wells and Springs; 2) Hydrologic Atlas (HA) maps, Ohio River corridor, Kentucky; 3) Fresh-Saline Water Interface Contours (H.T. Hopkins, USGS, 1966); 4) Quaternary Alluvium of Kentucky. This map application and the compiled data are products of a project conducted during 2018-19 by the Kentucky Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet Division of Water (KDOW), supported through a grant from the USGS Water Availability and Use Science Program.
Class I and Class II Wells in Kentucky
Interactive map displaying Class I and II waste-disposal, brine-injection, and enhanced-recovery wells in Kentucky. Also displays oil and gas fields, geologic faults.
Coal Information Map - Kentucky Geologic Map Service
This map layout on the Kentucky Geologic Map Service is designed to provide easy access to coal related information. The map display features the traces of mapped coal beds in the eastern and western coal field. Beds are labeled with the seam abbreviation that was used on the original GQ map. Non-coal beds (mainly clay and limestone) are also shown, because they are often related to coal bed horizons. This map layout also displays coal thickness measurements and coal boreholes from the KGS database.
Kentucky Coal Resource Information
This website contains data and maps pertaining to 17 of Kentucky’s most productive coal beds. In 2014, remaining coal resources greater than 28 inches thick were estimated for these beds by subtracting mined areas from previously established estimates of original coal resources. Significant resources less than 28 inches thick remain in these beds, but are generally not economically recoverable, and therefore are not tabulated in remaining resource tables. However, the extent of these thinner resources are shown on the original resource maps for each coal bed. Also, other coal beds of lesser magnitude occur in the state but could not be included in this study due to time constraints. As such, the data presented here are minimum estimates of remaining coal.
Kentucky Groundwater Quality Map Service
This map service allows users to build a thematic map of Kentucky or a selected area within the state from a selection of 545 groundwater quality analytes in 15 categories. Most of these data were contributed by the Kentucky Division of Water Groundwater Section of the Watershed Management Branch (DOW) and date back to the 1930's. Results are not guaranteed and should only be used as a starting point for water quality analysis in Kentucky.
High Points of Kentucky
Explore the high points of Kentucky! This map displays the highest point for each county in Kentucky and the nearest road and bicycle/pedestrian path (within 1.5 miles) to the high points.
Karst Basins and Dye Traces - Kentucky Geologic Map Service
This map layout on the Kentucky Geologic Map Service provides the geographical locations of karst groundwater basins, groundwater flowpaths, and dye injection/recovery points in Kentucky. Dye traces were conducted by the KGS and associated researchers. The map layout also displays springs. Click on the features for more information about each.
Kentucky Karst Potential - Kentucky Geologic Map Service
The karst potential map shows the tendency for geologic units to develop or have karst features such as sinkholes, springs, caves, or other solution features. The classification is based on lithology. The lithologic characteristics used are percentage of CaCO3 in the carbonate portion of the unit, grain size, bedding thickness, and insoluble components. Insoluble components may occur as a mineral grains within the limestone lithology or as interbeds of noncarbonate rock. These criteria were evaluated for all rock units and combined rock units that appear on the map, and resulted in about 50 distinct rankings. These rankings were reduced to three to five simplified classes by analysis of their frequency of distribution and the scale of the map data.
Limestone and Dolomite Resources of Kentucky
This Limestone and Dolomite Resources of Kentucky web map is a compilation of information about the occurrence and character of quarried carbonate stone resources in the state. It is the culmination of over 65 years of field examination, sampling and analysis by KGS geologists of rock units available for economic development. The sites shown on this map represent quarries, mines, outcrops, and cores that expose carbonate units of interest. Many of the sites were visited by geologists to characterize the stratigraphy of the rock and to take samples for a variety of tests. Other sites show evidence of historical mining, but were not sampled or described.
The Kentucky Microbiome Map
The Kentucky Microbiome Map is an interactive, continuously updated platform designed to visualize the distribution and diversity of microorganisms across the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Each mapped point represents a location reported in the peer-reviewed literature where microorganisms were sampled from soil, water, geologic substrates, or clinical settings. Environmental studies include only non-host-associated, non-clinical microorganisms sampled from natural environments. Clinical studies are mapped separately to highlight locations where investigations into host-associated or human health-related microbes have occurred.
Permitted Oil and Gas Wells
This service displays a map and histogram of all standard O&G wells drilled in the state by their permitted date. All wells on display were permitted between January 2010 and today and have either already been drilled or are planning to be drilled within a year of their permit date.
Water Wells and Springs Map - Kentucky Geologic Map Service
This is a map layout on the Kentucky Geologic Map Service displaying wells and springs. Click on a well or spring to view more information and for a link to the detailed report. Note that the water well and spring data displayed in this map service is the same data displayed in the Water Well and Spring Location Map.
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