122 SUPERFICIAL GEOLOGY OF DUNDAS VALLEY. 



The pebbles contained in the gravel composing these beaches, 

 (Burlington Beach and Burlington Heights) are mostly from the 

 rocks of the Hudson River formation, granites and other crystalline 

 rocks and the Niagara limestones. 



Although Burlington Beach and Burlington Heights are usually 

 denominated beaches, the evidence they offer can hardly warrant 

 them being properly so called. Beaches, strictly speaking, are the 

 margins of the land, and an examination of these two will show that 

 they can hardly ever have been in that position. They might, more 

 properly, be considered as banks, ridges or shoals, derived from the 

 debris of the old shores of the lake, when the water level was at 

 least 1 20 feet higher than at present. 



The position, composition and shape of Burlington Beach, 

 points out conclusively that it never was a beach, but since its forma- 

 tion has continued to be what it is at present a low sand bar.* 



Of Burlington Heights, the disposition of the materials compos- 

 ing it, answers the question of its origin. Different parts of the 

 heights dip in different directions. It has already been shown that 

 in Beasley's and to the south-east, the beds dip in a western direction 

 or away from the lake, while at the canal the dip is to the east or 

 towards the lake, some of the beds also having a slight inclination 

 towards the old mouth of the canal. 



Had the Heights been a beach, with the terrace closing up 

 behind, I do not see how the beds could have been given this west- 

 ern slope. After studying this phenomenon, only two very likely 

 causes can be offered for the formation. These are, first, that Bur- 

 lington Heights are the remains of a morraine of the last glacial 

 period, afterwards stratified by the action of the lake. This I do not 

 think tenable, as a morraine, even although of a second period and 

 derived in a great measure Irom the relics of the first, could hardly 

 escape having some large angular blocks ; but here the stones are 

 small, rounded and water- worn, and corresponding specimens can be 

 found in patches in different parts of of the valley. 



The second cause for the formation of the Heights, appears to 

 be much more reasonable and in accordance with the observed 

 facts. 



At the time when the lake stood 120 feet or so higher than at 



*See paper by Mr. P. S. Vanwagner for further information concerning Burlington Beach. 



