NEW KED SANDSTONE, AND TERTIARY. 
317 
CHAPTER XT. 
NEW RED SANDSTONE, AND TERTIARY. 
Of the formations (enumerated in the tabular view, pages 17 to 19) which succeed the 
Carboniferous system, there is nothing in the Fourth District which belongs to the period of 
the New Red Sandstone. The only known development of this rock in the State is in the 
southeastern part, within the limits of the First District. 
The Tertiary formation is principally embraced within the First and Second Districts, 
though the clays and sands extending along the valley of Lake Ontario are nowise distinguish¬ 
able in their lithological aspect from those which contain organic remains in the valleys of 
St. Lawrence and Champlain. From a comparison of these deposits, there is no difference 
which would justify a reference to different epochs ; and it seems indeed quite probable that 
thev are of the same age, and the products of a period subsequent to the gravel by which they 
are in many places underlaid, though in others the clay rests upon the rocky strata, which 
apparently remained uncovered after the deposition of the gravel. But if the presence of 
organic remains is to be the test in distinguishing the Tertiary from other superficial deposits, 
then all the blue and yellow clays, succeeded by yellow sands, in the Fourth District, must 
be referred to the subsequent period of drift. 
During the summer of 18:16, I examined the fossiliferous deposits on the Salmon river, a 
few miles from the St. Lawrence, and found them resting upon the Calciferous sandrock, which 
bears evidence of what is termed diluvial or glacio-aqueous action in the numerous striae and 
grooves upon its surface. The lower deposit of shells, principally Sanguinolaria, rests upon a 
fine gravel. Dr. Emmons has shown the same fact •with regard to this formation on Lake 
Champlain. Thus it appears that in reference to the lower formations, those of Ontario, 
St. Lawrence and Champlain valleys hold the same relative position ; but since the former 
contain no shells, they will be described in this report among the superficial deposits, without 
reference to the Tertiary period. 
I have remarked, that no organic remains have been found in these clays or sands on Lake 
Ontario. I am not unaware, however, that fragments of wood, freshwater shells, etc. are said 
to be discovered ; but in all cases which have come under my own observation, these are of 
subsequent periods, either covered by a slide of the older materials, or enclosed in a superficial 
deposit. Although more time might have been given to these formations, yet those of more 
immediate interest have absorbed the principal share of my attention. 
