Abstract
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 k sn ), 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 k sn 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.