284 F. Leverett — Correlation of Moraines 



Some years ago Mr. Gilbert discovered that several of the 

 raised beaches of Lake Erie do not completely encircle that 

 body of water but terminate in a successive series from higher 

 to lower in passing eastward from northern Ohio to south- 

 western New York. The results of his study are unpublished, 

 but through his kindness I have been supplied with the princi- 

 pal data. In explanation of the termination of these beaches. 

 Mr. Gilbert has entertained the theory that they represent 

 successive positions of the ice-front in its northeastward retreat 

 across the Lake Erie basin, but has held that the complete veri- 

 fication of this theory depends upon the occurrence of mo- 

 raines which are demonstrable correlatives of the beaches. 

 Such moraines have now been discovered and traced into con- 

 nection with the eastern ends of the three beaches which 

 terminate in Ohio. The glacial phenomena in the vicinity of 

 the termini of the lower beaches (in southwestern New York) 

 have not yet received attention. 



The characteristics and limitations of the several stages of 

 the lake whose presence is known by these raised beaches, are 

 but partially determined, my investigations being confined to 

 its south shore. The data already obtained are, however, be- 

 lieved to be adequate to show that the higher beaches are of 

 the same age as certain moraines, and to warrant the conclu- 

 sion that the higher stages of the lake occurred as a result of 

 the occupancy of the eastern portion of the basin by the 

 retreating ice-sheet. 



The facts I wish to present are naturally grouped under 

 three heads : (I) The Yan Wert or upper beach and its cor- 

 relative moraine the Blanchard ridge : (II) The Leipsic or 

 second beach and its correlative moraine : (III) The Belmore 

 or third beach and it's correlative moraine. The names here 

 adopted are those suggested by Prof. N. H. Winchell.* 



1. The Van Wert or Upper Beach and its Correlative Moraine. 



(a) The Van Wert or Upper Beach. — The distribution of 

 this beach in Ohio and Indiana is well shown in maps published 

 many years ago by Mr. Gilbert, f 



From Mr. Gilbert's description in the Geology of Ohio, (pp. 

 549-550) we take the following account of this beach and the 

 outlet of the lake. 



"The Maumee valley is well adapted to the display of these 

 beaches since on its easy slopes they are so broadly separated 

 that they can be traced without confusion, and in its soft drift 



* Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci , 1872, pp. 171-179. Geol. of Ohio, vol. ii, p. 56. 

 fThis Journal, May, 1871, p. 341. ' Geol. of Ohio, vol. i, 1873, p. 540. 



