214 CAPE COD GEOLOGY 



Celastrophyllum grandifolium Newb? (Plate XXXIII, fig. 8.) 

 Eucalyptus nervosa Newb. (Plate XXXV, fig. 16.) 

 Eucalyptus Geinitzi Heer. (Plate XXXV, figs, 1-8; 10-12.) 

 Tricalycites papyraceus Newb. (Plate V, figs. 8-12.) 

 Widdringtonites subtilis Heer. (Plate IV, figs. 2-5.) 

 Cyparissidium gracile Heer? (Plate III, fig. 11.) 



This flora includes ferns (Gleichenia) , coniferous trees (Protophyllocladus, 

 Dammara, Widdringtonites, Cyparissidum) , fig-trees (Ficus), the magnolia, a 

 laurel (Laurus), probably two species of eucalyptus, a shrub related to the bitter- 

 sweet (Celastrophyllum) , and plant remains of doubtful affinities (Try caly cites). 

 This flora indicates a mild, temperate climate, more like that of the Carolinas 

 today than the present climate of southern New England. These plant remains 

 are not marine, but were laid down on a coastal plain like that now seen farther 

 south. This plain extended along the southern coast of New England, reaching 

 for an unknown distance out toward the edge of the present continental shelf 

 and spreading inland over the ancient crystalline rocks of the present mainland. 

 Meandering streams charged with the products of the weathering of the crystal- 

 line and other hard rocks of the interior, already much worn down by erosion, 

 slowly built up a vast plain along a smaller Atlantic basin than that of the 

 present day. Soon after these plant-bearing beds were deposited the land sank 

 beneath the sea or the sea rose upon the land and marine beds were laid down, 

 but these beds have not been found on Block Island. 



Tertiary Material in Pleistocene Glacial Drift 



Deposits of the Tertiary system, comprising the Eocene, Oligocene, Miocene 

 (known on Gay Head), and Pliocene series (found at Gay Head and on Long 

 Island) have not been found on Block Island. Tertiary deposits are to be sought 

 along the line of contact between the upper surface of the Cretaceous beds and 

 the base of the Pleistocene or glacial deposits. This line at Clay Head clearly 

 marks an unconformity between the Pleistocene and the Cretaceous. 



MIOCENE BOULDER 



The existence of Miocene deposits on Block Island prior to the glacial 

 epoch is indicated by a fossiliferous boulder found by W. 0. Crosby on the 

 beach near Clay Head, though possibly this boulder may have been brought 

 to the beach by some boat. 1 



'Shimer, H. W., Fossiliferous Miocene boulders from Block Island, R. I., Am. Jour. Sci., 41, pp. 

 255-256, 1916. 



