GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY OF THE SCHOHARIE VALLEY ■ 81 



kill, on the west at Blenheim, and the Keyserskill on the east, 

 at Breakabeen, are hardly more than mere torrents. 



The contrast of the broad open valleys between the mountain 

 chains above described and the narrow and deep cut of the 

 Schoharie creek when passing through the plateau region is a 

 feature to be noted. 



This drainage which sends the waters of the Catskills all the 

 way around to the Mohawk to come back by the Hudson after 

 a course of 175 miles, to within 10 miles of their starting point, 

 is certainly remarkable, and betokens a very peculiar physical 

 structure. This is made more striking by the fact that on both 

 sides of these highlands the waters of the valleys of the Catskill 

 and Esopus creeks flow, as we might have expected, from the 

 western plateaus directly to the Hudson river. These three 

 streams which are so near each other, flow in opposite directions, 

 and it seems as if this plateau of the Catskills had been lifted 

 up on its eastern part to a higher level from which its waters 

 were sent in the opposite direction.^ 



The present discussion of the geology of the Schoharie region 

 is taken up in the order of the development of the region. The 

 earlier chapters deal with the stratigraphy, the character, mode 

 of deposition and fossil contents of each of the strata found in the 

 district. For purposes of comparison brief references to other 

 localities in the Helderbergs are frequently made. Chapters 

 5, 6 and 7 summarize the geology and paleontology of the region, 

 the first two giving all the important local sections and the last 

 lists of the fossils. The development of the surface features 

 since Paleozoic time next claim attention and finally the relation 

 of the region to man is discussed. 



In the prosecution of this study I have been greatly aided by 

 many friends. The state geologist and paleontologist, Prof. 

 John M. Clarke, generously gave me a free hand in the develop- 

 ment of the subject and provided means for the ample illustra- 

 tions. Acknowledgments are also due to many Schoharie friends 

 for numerous courtesies, specially to Prof. Solomon Sias, Mr E. H. 

 Heck, Mr Claude Mayham and I)r Charles Lintner, 



The following summary of papers dealing with the Schoharie 

 region aims to take account of those only in which the geology of 

 the region has received extended attention. 



^Am. Jour. Sci., ser. 3. 19:442-43. 



