The
new sandstone (Trias) first succeeds the serpentine terrain and, though
shales and sandstones compose the Triassic strata, these are only
sparingly shown in the Borough of Richmond in a few meagre exposures,
as at Shooter's Island and the opposite shores. As far back as 1843 W.
M. Mather, in his Geology of the First Geological District (New York
Geological Survey), alludes to this outcrop in these words: "In
Richmond County (Staten Island) the red sandstone occupies but a small
area where it can be observed, but from the observations made by
Professor H. D. Rogers and myself it is believed to range from between
Bergen Point and Shooter's Island, south-southwestwardly, to the
Freshkill marshes. It is generally covered by soil drift deposits, and
the sand and clay beds. It may be seen at very low tide, on the shore,
about southwest of Bergen Point. It is the slaty, micaceous, fissile
red sandstone and shale." This locality is on the north shore
(Mariners' Harbor) of the island, on Newark Bay, and the occurrence is
now obliterated by building and occupation. Dr. Arthur Hollick
determined the same formation (Triassic) in the railroad cutting
beyond Arlington station in this vicinity, and later (1908) "in the
vicinity of Kreischerville (west side of island on the Arthur Kill)
accidentally discovered an outcrop of Triassic rock on the east side of
Sand Lane, near Bogardus' Corners. The rock is red, shaly sandstone,
thinly bedded, and presenting evidence of having been squeezed or
crushed, probably by ice action. Its presence at this location, at an
elevation of about 140 feet above tide, is somewhat remarkable, as it
indicates that the topography of the region is not wholly due, as was
formerly supposed, to eroded cretaceous strata and drift deposits, but
that it is due, at least in part, to ' bosses' or ridges of older
rock." The protruding dike of " trap " still remains the most evident
witness to the Triassic. The trap on Staten Island represents the
disappearing prolongation of the Palisades, and is either actually less
voluminous than the flows, continuous with it northward, or is an
imperfectly
