GEOLOGIC FRAMEWORK FOR THE COAL-BEARING ROCKS OF THE CENTRAL
APPALACHIAN BASIN: A BASIS FOR A UNIFIED STRATIGRAPHIC NOMENCLATURE
CHESNUT, D. R., Jr., Kentucky Geological Survey, 228 M.M.R. Bldg.,
Lexington, KY 40506-0107, chesnut@kgs.mm.uky.edu.

A series of detailed cross sections across the Central Appalachian
Basin was constructed in order to examine the stratigraphic and
structural framework of the coal-bearing rocks in the basin. The
cross sections were based on oil and gas logs, measured sections, and
bore hole information from Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and West
Virginia. In addition to the cross sections, geologic mapping, coal-
resource studies, extensive new highway exposures, and the occurrence
of tonstein beds (of volcanic-ash origin) indicate that many of the
stratigraphic units of the coal basin are laterally extensive across
the basin, albeit highly variable in places. Major-marine strata
("zones") and large quartzose sand lenses form the basis for a
nomenclatural scheme for the Central Appalachian Basin. This scheme
has been formalized for Kentucky.
	Controlling mechanisms for deposition of key stratigraphic strata
used in the new framework appear to be basin-wide or more extensive in
scale. A coherent and practical lithostratigraphic nomenclature based
on basin-scale units needs to be developed and adopted for the whole
basin.
	Perhaps now is the time for a Central Appalachian Basin Consortium
to be formed to coordinate basin-scale research, to develop a
nomenclature for practical lithostratigraphic, chronologic, and
biostratigraphic units, and examine basin-scale mineral resources.
The successful Illinois Basin Consortium, composed of the Indiana,
Illinois, Kentucky, and U.S. Geological Surveys, can be used as a
model for the proposed consortium.