272 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



the complicated character of the geology necessitates a careful 

 survey of the whole ground. The work has been greatly hampered 

 also by the very imperfect character of the maps available, the 

 new maps as yet barely reaching the region under consideration. 

 The healthful and invigorating climate and the abundance of 

 pure water are great compensations in their way. 



The problems presented for solution are of the most difficult 

 sort. The interpretation of the present topography, the working 

 out of the complex history of the region during Glacial times 

 and the deciphering of the complicated structure and history 

 of the older rocks of the region are all matters requiring long 

 and patient labor and the undivided attention of the worker. The 

 writer's attention has been centered mainly on the latter problems, 

 hence such work as has been done on the others has been inci- 

 dental, a,nd the fragmentary character of the results obtained 

 is fully appreciated. Prof. J. B. Woodworth is now occupied 

 with these matters, and, when his work is extended over the 

 immediate region, great and important additions to our knowledge 

 are sure to follow. 



The summary of the geologic history of the region with which 

 the report opens is for the convenience of the reader. The de- 

 tailed evidence on which that summary is based will follow later 

 and must be taken for granted till presented. 



SUMMARY OF GEOLOGIC HISTORY 



The rocks now exposed at the surface in the Adirondack region 

 proper, are among the most ancient rocks known anywhere on 

 the earth's surface, so that their record carries us far back, back 

 to the remoter times of the geologic history of the earth. This 

 early record is exceedingly difficult to decipher because of the 

 great age of the rocks, because of the fact that they have been 

 vastly modified in character by repeated action of great com- 

 pressive forces, and because the rocks now at the surface were, 

 at an early stage in the history of the region, deeply buried under 

 several thousand feet of other rocks which have since been worn 

 away. It was while thus deeply buried that the major part of 



