The Quaternary Formations of Southern New Jersey BY ROLLIN D. SALISBURY AND GEORGE N. KNAPP

The Quaternary Formations
of Southern New Jersey

BY ROLLIN D. SALISBURY AND GEORGE N. KNAPP

Vol. VIII of the Final Report Series of the
State Geologist
TRENTON, N. J.

MacCrellish & Quiqey Co., State Printers.
1917.

Ever wonder what geologists call the various layers of sand and gravel beneath our feet in South Jersey?

This book will explain them and even offers some photos and diagrams.

Use the link below to view or download the book -- for now -- get up to speed on the word Quaternary.

Quaternary ( /kwəˈtɜːrnəri, ˈkwɒt.ərˌnɛr.i/ kwə-TUR-nə-ree, KWOT-ər-nerr-ee)[1] is the current and most recent of the three periods of the Cenozoic Era in the geologic time scale of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS).[2] It follows the Neogene Period and spans from 2.588 ± 0.005 million years ago to the present.[2] The Quaternary Period is divided into two epochs: the Pleistocene (2.588 million years ago to 11.7 thousand years ago) and the Holocene (11.7 thousand years ago to today).[2] The informal term "Late Quaternary" refers to the past 0.5–1.0 million years.[3]

The Quaternary Period is typically defined by the cyclic growth and decay of continental ice sheets associated with Milankovitch cycles and the associated climate and environmental changes that occurred.[4][5]