172 THE COASTAL PLAIX EOEaIATIOXS OE CECIL COUNTY 



Section of the Wicomico Formation at Turkey Point. 



Feet Inches 



Sandy clay 10 



Coarse gravel layer, with boulder bed at base 15 



Gravel and clay pebbles, containing black bands 3 



Arkosic sand and coarse gravel -4 



Brownish clay sand 1 



Coarse arkosic sand and clay pebbles, containing black bands 



and spots 18 



White clay 1 



Quartz pebbles , . 3 



Coarse cross-bedded, arkosic, reddish-brown sand 15 



Variegated clay 3 



Patapsco 



The surface of the Wicomico formation slopes gently toward the 

 Atlantic Ocean. It is not at all certain, however, that this represents 

 a differential tilting of the formation, but more likely should be re- 

 garded as the natural attitude of the surface when it was deposited, 

 aud represents a gradual falling away of the sea-bottom from the 

 shore toward deeper water. Xo fossils have as yet been discovered in 

 this formation in Cecil county. 



The TaTbot Formation. 



This formation is named from its typical development in Talbot 

 county, Maryland. In Cecil county it consists of a series of clays, 

 loams, sands and gravels which are built up as a terrace, extending 

 from tide to a height of 30 or 10 feet. It is developed as a narrow 

 fringe, seldom exceeding a quarter to half a mile in width, extending 

 around the entire border of Cecil county and well up the estuaries. 

 Being the youngest formation of the Columbia, group it has suffered 

 least from erosion, and although streams have opened up their courses 

 across it, still it is seldom absent. 



With the exception of a general uplift the attitude of the Talbot 

 formation seems to be essentially the same as when deposited. ~No 

 tilting has been detected. The gentle slope of the surface toward 

 Chesapeake Bay is regarded as the natural attitude of the formation 

 which it assumed during deposition as it sloped gently from shore 

 to deeper water. 



