Establishing a Stratigraphic Framework for the Upper Green River Biological Preserve,
Hart County, Kentucky
Robert D. Moore and Michael T. May
Western Kentucky University’s Upper Green River Biological Preserve (UGRBP)
consisting of over 1,000 acres straddling the Green River upstream from Mammoth Cave
National Park is being used by various academic departments as a research and teaching
facility and a detailed stratigraphic framework is currently being established.
Stratigraphic work will benefit those using the preserve for myriad studies such as
ecological, geophysical testing and drilling, analysis of surface and subsurface sediments,
water quality and others.
Due to the incising of the Green River in the vicinity of the UGRBP, an extensively thick
stratigraphic section has been exposed (approaching 400 feet) and can be studied in
detail. The deepest formation exposed is the St. Louis Limestone which crops out along
the river. Upslope from the river and ascending stratigraphically are exposures of Ste
Genevieve Limestone, Girkin Limestone, Big Clifty Sandstone (of the Golconda Group),
Haney Limestone, and the Hardinsburg Sandstone. Measured outcrop sections with
associated weathering profiles were studied in the area for each formation and were
correlated with adjacent subsurface well logs. This ongoing work will result in an
enhanced geological understanding for UGRBP visitors and future work may tie this
stratigraphy to that of Mammoth Cave National Park.