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<p>Vegetation cover, low-relief topography, and sparse bedrock exposure in western Kentucky hinder accurate delineation of stratigraphic boundaries within mixed siliciclastic–carbonate successions, limiting conventional field-based geologic mapping. To address this challenge, we present a new 1:10,000-scale geologic map of the McDaniels Quadrangle that integrates 1.5&#xa0;m LiDAR-derived topography, Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery, river-profile analysis (χ and <i>k</i><sub>sn</sub>), targeted field validation, thin-section petrography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This integrated workflow is innovative in linking remote sensing, geomorphic metrics, and petrographic ground-truthing to refine the mapping of Upper Paleozoic sedimentary units along the structurally complex margin of the Rough Creek Graben. LiDAR-derived multi-azimuth hillshades and river-profile metrics delineate benches, knickpoints, and lineaments that correspond to lithologic boundaries and facies transitions, whereas Sentinel-2 band ratios and principal component analysis enhance discrimination between carbonate-rich and siliciclastic units. Mapped lineaments are predominantly &lt; 1&#xa0;km long and trend NE–SW, consistent with regional structures and supported by joint measurements. River-profile analysis reveals concave longitudinal profiles, abundant knickpoints, and elevated <i>k</i><sub>sn</sub> corridors in the central–northeastern area. Many knickpoints coincide, within mapping tolerance, with mapped lineaments, indicating localized structural modulation of bedrock incision. Basin-scale χ values (&lt; 50) show weak spatial coherence with mapped faults, suggesting that lithology exerts first-order control on regional relief while structure acts locally. Petrographic and SEM analysis further document carbonate-rich matrices in Reelsville and Haney Limestones and ferruginous, quartz-rich textures in the Big Clifty Sandstone. The resulting map refines stratigraphic boundaries and clarifies the interactions among depositional facies, diagenesis, and surface processes in a vegetated, low-exposure setting. More broadly, this study provides a transferable, high-resolution workflow for geologic mapping and hazard-relevant terrain assessment in covered sedimentary landscapes.</p>

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Integrated LiDAR, Sentinel-2, and petrographic analysis for mapping paleozoic strata: Insights from the McDaniels Quadrangle, Kentucky

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月27日

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  • Nahid D. Gani,
  • Madeline Brosky,
  • Mason Wade,
  • M. Royhan Gani,
  • Niroj Shrestha

摘要

Vegetation cover, low-relief topography, and sparse bedrock exposure in western Kentucky hinder accurate delineation of stratigraphic boundaries within mixed siliciclastic–carbonate successions, limiting conventional field-based geologic mapping. To address this challenge, we present a new 1:10,000-scale geologic map of the McDaniels Quadrangle that integrates 1.5 m LiDAR-derived topography, Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery, river-profile analysis (χ and ksn), targeted field validation, thin-section petrography, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). This integrated workflow is innovative in linking remote sensing, geomorphic metrics, and petrographic ground-truthing to refine the mapping of Upper Paleozoic sedimentary units along the structurally complex margin of the Rough Creek Graben. LiDAR-derived multi-azimuth hillshades and river-profile metrics delineate benches, knickpoints, and lineaments that correspond to lithologic boundaries and facies transitions, whereas Sentinel-2 band ratios and principal component analysis enhance discrimination between carbonate-rich and siliciclastic units. Mapped lineaments are predominantly < 1 km long and trend NE–SW, consistent with regional structures and supported by joint measurements. River-profile analysis reveals concave longitudinal profiles, abundant knickpoints, and elevated ksn corridors in the central–northeastern area. Many knickpoints coincide, within mapping tolerance, with mapped lineaments, indicating localized structural modulation of bedrock incision. Basin-scale χ values (< 50) show weak spatial coherence with mapped faults, suggesting that lithology exerts first-order control on regional relief while structure acts locally. Petrographic and SEM analysis further document carbonate-rich matrices in Reelsville and Haney Limestones and ferruginous, quartz-rich textures in the Big Clifty Sandstone. The resulting map refines stratigraphic boundaries and clarifies the interactions among depositional facies, diagenesis, and surface processes in a vegetated, low-exposure setting. More broadly, this study provides a transferable, high-resolution workflow for geologic mapping and hazard-relevant terrain assessment in covered sedimentary landscapes.