3i8 Fossils ill the Saint Peter 



I frequently came across bowlders of Trenton limestone, such 

 as is quarried for building stone in Minneapolis and St. Paul. 



Associated with the Devonian (white) and the Silurian (yel- 

 low and blue) limestones is also rarely a fine white sandstone, 

 which is sometimes mixed with patches of yellow limestone, and 

 sometimes contains faint fossil marks. Among the specimens 

 from Morris, Minn., there was one of this sandstone which con- 

 tains a clear cast of one valve of a brachiopod. This is still at 

 the University of Minnesota. 



In conclusion : it seems probable that fossils occur quite 

 generally in the drift of Minnesota. But just to what extent, is 

 to be determined. I found over a dozen species in less than that 

 many hours all told. And if the fossils are not so numerous as I 

 think they are, yet this conspicuous white Hmestone could easily 

 be traced wherever it exists now, and perhaps to where it rested 

 formerly. 



February 3, 1891. 



FOSSILS IN THE ST. PETER SANDSTONE. F. W. SardesOU. 



Last fall, during the Thanksgiving vacation at the State Uni- 

 versity, I happened to raise the question, why fossils had never 

 been found in the Saint Peter sandstone, in and around Minne- 

 apolis? Professor Hall was of the opinion that such fossils 

 could be found ; and he also suggested the place where they were 

 most likely to occur. 



According to his advice, the next day was spent in looking 

 through some recent cuts along the C. B. & N. R. R., about five 

 miles below Saint Paul. And I brought back to the University, 

 what was considered undoubtedly fossils. Another search dur- 

 ing the holidays added other evidence. The following is a list of 

 what has been found : 

 Gastropods: — 1. Maclurea {?) two casts. 



2. Murchisonia gracilis Hall, two moulds. 



3. •' .^ tr/crir/nata.^ Hall, two moulds (imperfect.) 

 Lamellibrauchs 4. Cypricardites rectirostris Hall, three. 



5. " {?) ? three halves. 



6. " (?) one half. 



7. Modiolopsis? (?) four half casts. 



There are others but whether they are worm burrows, crinoid 

 stems of bryozoa, or all three, is hard to determine. 



