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GEOLOGY OF THE FIRST DISTRICT. 
CHAPTER III. 
TERTFARY DEPOSITS. 
At the time of the tabular arrangement of the order of the different formations (see page 2 
of this volume), I had not investigated and embodied all the facts affording evidence on the 
proper place in the geological series, for the Long island formations, and it was mentioned 
that the order of arrangement would be, 
1. Quaternary system; 
2. Tertiary system; 
3. Trappean system; 
4. - Red sandstone system, etc. 
The Quaternary system, and its divisions, have been considered. The next in order is the 
Tertiary; but from the facts that will be adduced, it will be shown that we have no data for 
describing with certainty any tertiary formations in the First Geological District, although 
they may exist on Long, Staten and other islands. The equivalency of most of the strata of 
Long island, below the drift epoch, to the marl deposits, and particularly to the subjacent 
sands, clays, etc. of New-Jersey, is considered as established beyond all reasonable doubt, 
by the identity of some of the strata and their contents, notwithstanding some striking varia¬ 
tions in the mineral composition of some of them. 
I shall therefore propose a modification of the arrangement of the subject as laid down on 
page 2 of this volume, and that the third general division shall embrace, first, the Long 
island strata of sand, clay, etc. that are exposed below the drift; secondly, the trappean 
rocks ; and thirdly, the red sandstone, thus : 
r 1. Long-island division. 
Upper Secondary System. < 2. Trappean division. 
(. 3. Red Sandstone division. 
It was supposed that the Long island strata belonged to the tertiary epoch, and it was 
intended to discuss these deposits under that head, although there was not evidence sufficient to 
make it at all certain that they belonged to that period. The strata that belong to the ter¬ 
tiary epoch, if they exist on Long island, as they probably do, will, in this report, be em- 
