GLACIAL GEOLOGY OF THE SARATOGA QUADRANGLE II 



quadrangle, Kayaderosseras creek, rising on the slopes of the 

 Adirondack mass to the west, turns southward at the divide form- 

 ing the drainage axis of the basin to the south, while Sturdevant 

 creek, rising in the vicinity of the divide and flowing northward, 

 forms the extension of the axis to the north. Both these streams 

 traverse, for the most part, broad and flat sandy tracts which, as is 

 shown below, are aggradation plains developed in late glacial times. 



In addition to the topographic regions thus far described, there 

 is to be noted the hilly uplands area of the southeastern portion of 

 the quadrangle. This area is underlaid by stratified rocks and, as 

 determined by the slope of the underlying rock surfaces, would 

 probably be found to belong to the Paleozoic erosion basin referred 

 to above. But on account of heavy glacial deposits which extend 

 from near Greenfield southeasterly across the sheet, the area in 

 question, in respect to its surface topography, becomes differentiated 

 from the basin just described. Its drainage is into Kayaderosseras 

 creek where that stream in its course from near Middle Grove to 

 Ballston Spa has cut into the thick mantle of Pleistocene deposits, 

 in many places to bedrock and in the vicinity of Ballston Spa into 

 the underlying shale rock, forming a gorge. 



The further course of the Kayaderosseras may here be noted. 

 At Ballston Spa it emerges from the rock gorge and pursues a 

 meandering course, bordered by broad flats, across the lower sand 

 plain region. It receives as a tributary Coesa creek (not named 

 on the topographic sheet) which drains the greater portion of the 

 sand plain area to the north as well as the southern slopes of the 

 highlands north of Saratoga Springs and the hilly region south of 

 Greenfield. The Kayaderosseras empties into Saratoga lake, which 

 has as its outlet Fish creek which discharges into the Hudson river 

 near Schuylerville. 



DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE ICE 



The direction of movement of the continental glacier across the 

 area is well indicated both by the glacial striae and by the long axes 

 of the numerous drumlins. Striae are commonly present on the 

 surfaces of the limestone formations that form the bedrock im- 

 mediately north of Saratoga Springs and westward across the 

 quadrangle. They were observed in the following localities : 



i One-half mile north of Kings Station, on limestone, near 

 schoolhouse, i6° west of south. Other striae were observed in this 

 locality with a direction averaging about 48 west of south. 



