Ixviii GEOLOGICAL AXD PALEONTOLOGICAL RELATIONS 



Cliffs, an almost unbroken exposure for more than 35 miles. Southern 

 Maryand is, therefore, the type locality for the Miocene beds of the 

 Middle Atlantic slope. 



Vh-ginia 



In Virginia, as in Delaware, the underlying formations have been so 

 concealed by the late gravel and sand deposits that they are seldom 

 exposed except along river courses. Sections of the Miocene beds, 

 however, are often met with along the main drainage lines, each of 

 the great rivers of Virginia having exposed portions of the Miocene 

 for study. The best of these sections occurs at the famous Xomini 

 Cliffs a few miles below Mathias Point on the Potomac. These cliffs, 

 although only two miles in extent, surpass the Calvert Cliffs in height, 

 and yield the most comprehensive Miocene section in Virginia. Along 

 the Eappahannock river the exposures are not so important but the 

 Miocene is cut through at intervals over a territory extending from 

 Cherry Point to Mosquito Point. 



On the Pamunkey river the ]\Iiocene is first met witli, overlying the 

 Eocene at Piping Tree. From here it may be traced down stream some 

 little distance before it finally disappears ):)eneath younger material. 

 Lower down on the York river the Miocene is met witli once more six 

 miles above Yorktown and again at the famous locality, Bellefield, where 

 it is packed with fossil remains of the most varied character, many of 

 them in a most perfect state of preservation. Yorktown affords another 

 fine exposure of Miocene fossils although they are not as abundant as 

 at Bellefield. 



On the James river the Miocene extends from Eichmond some dis- 

 tance down the stream but finally disappears beneath its surface as 

 the banks become occupied by younger material. The only other expo- 

 sures on this river of importance are found at Kings Mill in the vicinity 

 of "Williamsburg. At this place, the river has cut into a high bank 

 exposing a cliff crowded with finely preserved Miocene fossils. 



North Carolina 



In North Carolina the state of our knowledge regarding the Miocene 

 is very imperfect. It. is much obscured by a cover of younger material 



