The computer-derived contours and color ramp on this map show the depth to the top of the New Albany Shale (Mississippian and Devonian) in Bartholomew County. The shaded relief on the map shows the modern topography. The New Albany is an organic-rich shale that has been studied and explored extensively because it is a potential source of hydrocarbon fuels. Hydrocarbons are not easily extracted from the New Albany, however, because, like other oil shales, the New Albany is composed of fine-grained rock that does not allow the hydrocarbons to flow freely to a conventional well. Various methods for extracting hydrocarbons from organic-rich shales have been considered, and depth (overburden) of the potential resource is often a limiting factor in determining the technical feasibility of an extraction technique. Ex situ extraction methods require surface mining the organic-rich rock and, thus, are limited to areas where overburden in thin. On the other hand, in situ extraction methods favor deposits that lie at greater depths. This map is intended to aid planners and explorationists in assessing the technical potential of extracting hydrocarbons from the New Albany Shale in Bartholomew County.