The resistant beige-coloured Irondequoit Formation often is the easiest to identify because it forms a natural protective ledge about 1 metre thick. It is a vuggy dolostone made out of fragments of hard-bodied or shelled organisms like crinoids.

The interbedded sandstone and shale of the Thorold Formation is full of well-preserved sedimentary structures. There is likely an unconformity, or break in time, between the Thorold Formation and the underlying Grimsby Formation.

Examine this outcrop from further back.

Geologists like to create a stratigraphic heirarchy. Here, there are two "Groups", and seven "Formations". However, establishing this heirarchy is an evolving problem and formations are regularly re-assigned as more information comes to light.

The Reynales Formation is a dolostone made of compacted remains of organisms living in a shallow sea. It can be distinguished from the underlying Thorold Formation by it's limestone content, which gives it a slighly warmer beige colour.

Stratigraphy is the study of rock layers. From this vantage point we can see clearly how the rock layers change in colour, thickness, and resistance to weathering, which allows us to pick out several named formations. After we have examined the stratigraphy from here, we will move closer to look at what materials make up each formation.

The Reynales Formation is a dolostone made of compacted remains of organisms living in a shallow sea. It can be distinguished from the underlying Thorold Formation by it's limestone content, which gives it a slighly warmer beige colour.

This block is full of internal molds of Pentamerid brachiopods. It likely belongs to the Merritton Member of the Reynales Formation.

What happened here in regards of erosion and deposition?

Examine this outcrop from further back.

Examine this outcrop from further back.

Many rivers and creeks spill over the Niagara Escarpment on their way north to Lake Ontario. East of Hamilton, Red Creek tumbles over the Escarpment as a 'cascade waterfall' at Albion Falls

Just at the very top of this section, we can see the Rochester Formation. These grey shaley units are recessive and often poorly exposed.

Examine this bedding plane. What are these sedimentary structures?

The resistant beige-coloured Irondequoit Formation often is the easiest to identify because it forms a natural protective ledge about 1 metre thick. It is a vuggy dolostone made out of fragments of hard-bodied or shelled organisms like crinoids.

Examine these sedimentary structures, seen here in cross-section.

Compare the strata separated by yellow bolded lines in this image with your knowledge of the local stratigraphy. What formations are these? Can you trace this contact across the outcrop?

The Lockport Formation is the primary caprock of the Niagara Escarpment. It is made out of a tough, resistant dolomite, formed in a warm shallow sea out of the degraded remains of shelled animals. It is the youngest rock layer seen at this site.

The Lower Silurian Grimbsby Formation is recognized here by the redder colouration compared to the Thorold Formation.

The Rochester Formation is composed of thinner beds of grey-beige calcareous shales and dolostones.

This beige dolostone with white chert nodules is the Ancaster Member. It is the top, and therefore youngest, unit visible at Albion Falls.

The Albion grist mill, first built in 1795 was the centre of one of the earliest settlements in the Hamilton Region. It sat just about here on the flat ledge halfway down the falls and took advantage of a small diversion in the stream.

The interbedded sandstone and shale of the Thorold Formation is full of well-preserved sedimentary structures. There is likely an unconformity, or break in time, between the Thorold Formation and the underlying Grimsby Formation.

The Gasport Member is a crinoidal dolostone and part of the Gasport Member.