Cape May Formation — Locae Details. i6c 



CONSTITUTION. 



Comparison with the Pensauken. — Where the Cape May ter- 

 races rise up stream to- the Pensauken level, as is the case in some 

 places, it is difficult to distinguish the two formations on the 

 basis of topography; but if good sections are available, the 

 distinction between the two commonly is not difficult on the 

 basis of composition and texture. The material of the younger 

 formation is less compact and less coated with iron rust, and 

 betrays in various ways not easily designated its lesser age. 

 There is a marked absence of soft decomposed material, such as 

 is often present in the older gravel, but which would naturally 

 have been ground up in the reworking of the material in Cape 

 May time. The material of the terraces in the valleys is unlike 

 that of the coast in being much more mixed, much less well 

 assorted, and much less clean. It covers broader areas in the 

 larger valleys, and narrower areas in the smaller ones. 



Fossils. — Fossils are unknown in the Cape May deposits at 

 most points, but near Buckshutem, marine fossils are found up 

 to elevations of 10 feet or so above tide. The deposits here in 

 Delaware Bay are more clayey than at most places on the eastern 

 coast, and so are better adapted to the preservation of fossils. 



Local Details. 



TRENTON AND EASTWARD. 



Since the connection of the Cape May formation with the 

 glacial gravel at the north is by way of the Delaware Valley, 

 the details of the formation, so far as given here, will begin 

 with those near Trenton, where the considerable bodies of gravel 

 and sand of distinctly glacial origin reach their southern limit. 



Vicinity of Trenton. — At Trenton and just south of it, the 

 glacial gravels make or cover a considerable plain which has an 

 elevation of about 60 feet, being limited at the east by that con- 

 tour. The glacial-gravel plain extends half way to Bordentown, 

 but, on the New Jersey side of the river, ends abruptly west of 



