Sydenham CutSydenham Cut--Virtual Field TripVirtual Field Trip--
School of School of
GEOGRAPHY & GEOLOGYGEOGRAPHY & GEOLOGY
Prepared by Prepared by Zachary Windus Zachary Windus
and Liz Kenny and Liz Kenny Carolyn Eyles & Susan VajoczkiCarolyn Eyles & Susan Vajoczki
From McMaster University take Cootes DriveCootes Drive towards Dundas. Follow Cootes Drive as it becomes King StreetKing Street and turn right at Sydenham RoadSydenham Road. Follow
Sydenham Road up the escarpment. A small parking area and the Sydenham Cut Outlook are located near the top of the escarpment on the right hand side
of the road.
Sydenham CutSydenham Cut
Schematic Section of the
Sydenham Cut
Highlighted formations are visible at this site.
Lockport Fm StratigraphyStratigraphy
Rochester Fm
Irondequoit Fm
Reynales Fm(covered by talus)
Thorold Fm
Lockport FormationLockport Formationcontact between
Ancaster and Gasport Members
Camera case for scaleCamera case for scale
Ancaster Member
chert nodules from chert nodules from
Ancaster MemberAncaster Member
Gasport Member
The Lockport Fm is very well exposed at the Sydenham Cut.
Rochester Rochester FormationFormation
The Rochester shale is not well exposed at this
site, and appears as a thin
recessive unit. The underlying
Irondequoit Formation is
approximately 1.5-2m thick.
Contact between Rochester Contact between Rochester (above) and Irondequoit (below)(above) and Irondequoit (below)
Irondequoit Irondequoit FormationFormation
The Irondequoit Formation is difficult to see near the
top of the cut, as it is covered by the road or vegetation. It is visible
further down the cut as a prominent massive
dolostone unit.
Reynales FormationReynales Formation
The Reynales Formation is almost completely covered by talus at this site,
and is very difficult to see.
Thorold FormationThorold Formation
Although partially covered by talus, the Thorold Formation is visible in the lower part of the
Sydenham Cut.
View of the Sydenham Cut exposure from View of the Sydenham Cut exposure from the top of Osler Drive, Dundasthe top of Osler Drive, Dundas
Looking down from the Sydenham Cut, towards the Dundas Valley.Looking down from the Sydenham Cut, towards the Dundas Valley.
Cootes ParadiseCootes ParadiseHamilton HarbourHamilton Harbour
Burlington BarBurlington Bar
Lake OntarioLake Ontario West PondWest Pond
View from the top of the View from the top of the Sydenham CutSydenham Cut
(looking south east from the top of the (looking south east from the top of the Niagara Escarpment)Niagara Escarpment)
West PondWest Pond
Views from the top of the Sydenham Cut:Views from the top of the Sydenham Cut:
McMaster UniversityMcMaster University
Downtown HamiltonDowntown Hamilton
Views from the top of the Sydenham Cut:Views from the top of the Sydenham Cut:
Cootes ParadiseCootes ParadiseDofasco and StelcoDofasco and Stelco
Views from the top of the Sydenham Cut:Views from the top of the Sydenham Cut:
Skyway Bridge, Skyway Bridge, Burlington BarBurlington Bar
Lake OntarioLake Ontario
Cootes ParadiseCootes Paradise
Hamilton HarbourHamilton Harbour
Bridge at York BoulevardBridge at York Boulevard
The Bridge at York Boulevard effectively forms the boundary The Bridge at York Boulevard effectively forms the boundary between Cootes Paradise and the Hamilton Harbour.between Cootes Paradise and the Hamilton Harbour.
Map Source Data: DMTI Spatial Inc.Map Source Data: DMTI Spatial Inc.
Photographs by Ben Cowie, Photographs by Ben Cowie, Luisa DaSilva, Liz Kenny, Luisa DaSilva, Liz Kenny,
and Zachary Windusand Zachary Windus
Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements: