GEOLOGY OF THE BLUE MOUNTAIN QUADRANGLE 5^ 



Karnes and eskers. Karnes, generally in groups, were some- 

 times observed, but the dense vegetation and lack of proper ex- 

 posures have often prevented the definite recognition of this type of 

 glacial deposit. A group of low kamelike hills spreads across the 

 valley at the eastern end of Blue Mountain lake and forms the dam 

 which holds up the water of the lake. Most of the area between 

 South pond and Mud pond appears to be of kame or kame-morainic 

 origin. Along the road between Long Lake village and Deerland 

 (Grove) there are many good exposures of kame deposits, this 

 being a fine example of an extensively developed kame-moraine 

 along the eastern side of the valley. Along the northern border of 

 the quadrangle for several miles eastward from Long lake kames or 

 kame-moraines are well developed. 



A very typical esker about a mile long, 20 to 30 feet high, with 

 winding course and just wide enough for the main road at its top, 

 lies in Thirty-four marsh from i to 2 miles east-southeast of Blue 

 Mountain Lake village. It consists of stratified sands and gravels. 

 This esker looks much like an artificial embankment built through 

 a portion of the swamp, very little grading having been necessary to 

 convert it into a highway. About one-half of a mile southeast of 

 the outlet of South pond, the main road follows another, though 

 smaller and less typical, esker. These long, low ridges of stratified 

 glacial materials were no doubt deposited in streams either at the 

 bottom of the ice or in channels within the ice during the waning 

 of the great ice sheet. 



Moraines. Ground morainic material (till) is very widespread, 

 particularly over the lower lands. As usual in the Adirondacks, 

 it is very sandy or gravelly with numerous small to large embedded 

 boulders. Typical boulder clay was nowhere noted. Ground 

 morainic material is abundantly present in the vicinity of Indian 

 Lake village, and in the Cedar river valley from the village west- 

 ward for several miles. Good exposures may also be seen along 

 the new state road for 8 or 9 miles eastward from Long Lake 

 village, and along the road between i and 3 miles north of Blue 

 Mountain Lake village. Perhaps the most extensive morainic 

 deposits occupy much of the area from i to 5 miles east of Long 

 Lake village and thence northward to the border of the quadrangle. 

 Nothing like a distinct boulder moraine across the quadrangle or 

 any portion of it was recognized. 



