QUATERNARY DEPOSITS. 
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Oriskany falls, being readily recognized from local differences in the rock prevailing at all its 
points of outcrop. The same rock was also found, but in small blocks, near Skaneateles 
village, with characters resembling those of its outcrop to the north of that village. 
The limestones of the Helderberg division are far more abundantly distributed south, owing 
to its greater thickness. They may be seen from one end of the district to the other. A few 
points only will be noticed. In the creek to the east of Cherry-Valley, at a considerable ele¬ 
vation above the valley, and therefore far above the outcrop of their parent’s bed, are many 
large blocks, having fallen from above. They are numerous over the south part of Herkimer 
and Oneida, but more so in Madison county, in the towns of Eaton and Madison. In the last 
named town are many lime-kilns, which are supplied by transported blocks. A place was 
visited, where a large block was buried, except a projecting point, and was supposed to be in 
place, or in other words, was a limestone ledge. They are also in abundance along the waters 
of Limestone creek in Onondaga county. Numerous points along the line south of the range 
of that division show the distribution of the limestone blocks, and the field enclosures are often 
made of them. Among the kinds the corniferous limestone is very prominent, being easily 
recognized by its nodules of flint and its fossils. 
The Tully limestone, in large angular masses, has been found as far south as about twelve 
miles from its present outcrop; being about the same distance that the blocks of Oriskany 
sandstone, at the south of West-Hamilton, are from where the rock exists in place at the falls. 
The most numerous blocks discovered of the Tully limestone were on the west side of the 
district, near Cayuga inlet. The largest specimen was found on Six-mile creek, on the farm 
of Mr. Hollister. It was so large a mass, that, being partially buried, it was considered to 
be in its original position. At both of these localities, the transported blocks are burnt for lime. 
The highest point noticed where the same rock appear as a boulder, is near the little mill on 
the road to Dryden, about two miles from Ithaca. 
From the boulders being generally seen resting upon the surface, they have the appearance 
of having been but recently transported; and thus favor the opinion so strongly advocated, 
that whilst the portion of the continent of which they form a part was submerged, they were 
deposited from icebergs. The following facts show that there is fallacy in those appearances ; 
and though ice may have been the instrument of their carriage in the first instance, it probably 
was of more local origin than marine icebergs. All over the district, boulders are rare in the 
broad valleys, being always more numerous upon the hills, their sides, and the foot of the hills ; 
appearing to have fallen, or otherwise removed, from the place where they were first let down 
or deposited. This fact shows that their transportation took place before the valleys obtained 
their present surface, or their diffusion would be more general; or else those deposited in the 
valleys have been carried up to a higher level, a fact yet to be ascertained. 
One of the causes of the transportation of boulders or blocks of rock, is the sudden breaking 
of lake barriers, or other large bodies of water ; these, in New-Hampshire and in the Alps, 
have been known to effect the carriage of large rocks for miles of distance. Another, and the 
more general and tranquil agent, is ice, either in the form of bergs, being parts of glaciers, 
or of the thinner product of lakes and rivers. 
