THE SUNBURY SHALE. OF OHIO 277 
On the western bank of the creek, at the first cliff below the 
one just described, is a concretionary sandstone, the layer about 
1 foot 8 inches in thickness, below which are grayish shales 
partly covered to the creek level. Above the concretionary 
sandstone are 7 feet 8 inches of shales, which are mainly argil- 
laceous but become arenaceous at the top. These shales are 
-succeeded by thin bedded sandstones, which are thicker above, 
showing at one place a conspicuous concretionary layer, and 
these sandstones are clearly in the Berea. When traced up the 
creek, however, the lower concretionary sandstone is apparently 
near the horizon regarded as the base of the Berea in the pre- 
ceding section, and it is therefore thought to correspond more 
nearly with the base of the formation than the higher thin 
bedded sandstones. If this be accepted, however, as the base of 
the Berea, then there is 7% feet of shale included in the lower 
part of the formation. In the short distance between these two 
cliffs a rapid change in lithologic character is indicated and the 
lower limit of the formation must therefore be regarded as a 
rather variable line. 
Somewhat below this bank is a bend in the creek, where a 
steep cliff with a conspicuous tree near its edge is shown on the 
same side of the creek. At this locality the upper part of the 
Bedford shale is finely shown, as well as the transition into the 
Berea grit. The section is as follows: 
should be retained as the name for the Indiana or Ohio formation, and both views 
have been pretty fully given in the JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY (see Vol. IX, April-May, 
pp. 215, 232-36, 267-72). Later the writer referred the matter to the committee on 
geologic names of the United States Geological Survey, which has been organized for 
the consideration of similar questions in geologic classification and nomenclature, 
and the following decision has been communicated by the director, Hon. Charles D. 
Walcott: “(1) That Bedford rock was used by Owen in 1862 in a Report of Geological 
Reconnaissance of Indiana, 1859-60, p. 137, but the usage is so indefinite as not to 
constitute a preémption of the term for stratigraphic purposes. (2) Bedford shale is 
a term first employed by Newberry in Of720 Geological Survey Report of Progress, 1869, 
p. 29, and this usage should stand. Furthermore, it is understood here that Mr. 
Cumings has recently proposed to drop the name of Bedford limestone of Indiana, 
and substitute for it Salem limestone.” 
