"jd NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Eskers are infrequent on this quadrangle, although a number 

 have been located in the Mt Marcy, Ausable, Saranac and St Regis 

 sheets. The writer has seen within the present limits no glacial 

 deposits as undoubted eskers, but Doctor Miller considers to be 

 such an east-west ridge some 200 yards long and 30 to 50 feet high, 

 observed by him, one-half of a mile directly east of the cross roads 

 at Keene. 



Kames are likewise uncommon. In the vicinity of the south- 

 western end of the Middle Kilns valley a number of irregular hills 

 are strongly suggestive of kame topography. 



Outwash Plains 

 Outwash plains can generally be distinguished from deltas and 

 glacial lake bottoms by ice blocks, kettle holes, and the lack of shore- 

 line features. Frequently, however, in the field such distinctions 

 are difficult, if not impossible, to make unless accompanied by other 

 positive evidence. Some of the sand plains in the quadrangle are 

 rather perplexing and their origin may be complicated, although 

 it is believed that the majority of them were formed in connection 

 with the glacial lakes described here. 



Extinct Glacial Lakes 

 Conditions Favorable for Glacial Lakes in the Region. A 



number of important factors were favorable for the formation 

 O'f several series of local glacial lakes in the east central Adiron- 

 dacks, and some of these bodies of water existed in the area cov- 

 ered by this bulletin. Among the conditions we note : ( i ) north- 

 ward-draining valleys, sloping toward and blocked by ice lobes ; 



(2) the complete isolation of such valleys by mountain ranges; and 



(3) the presence of a huge ice ring that completely surrounded 

 the highlands, impounding vast quantities of water. This area 

 was situated close to the northeast rim of the ring. The large 

 amount of available material for the formation of deltas, terraces 

 and beaches, makes recognition possible. The cause of the great 

 quantities of sand is discussed later on. 



A number of glacial lakes in the quadrangle have been noted 

 in the past by Taylor,^ although he did not attempt to separate and 

 correlate the different levels, and by Kemp who has noted- two or 



^ Taylor, F. B., Lake Adirondack, Amer. Geol., ig :392-g6. June 1897. 

 ' Kemp, J. F., Geology of the Lake Placid Region, New York State 

 Mus. Bui. 21, p. 60. 



