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The Quaternary in Nova Scotia, Canada

Quaternary in Nova Scotia map
 

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Quaternary Fossils
Fossil photos from Quaternary in Nova Scotia

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Paleontology and geology

Pleistocene glacial sediments cover the bedrock over much of Nova Scotia. Some of this glacial debris has been shaped into low, oval hills called drumlins. Citadel Hill in Halifax and the islands in Mahone Bay are good examples of drumlins. Polished, gouged, and grooved surfaces in pre-Quaternary bedrock were carved by debris caught at the base of the moving ice. Some of these features can be seen along the south shore of Fundy Bay near Halifax. The glaciers also formed roches moutonees (sheepback), named for their resemblance to sheep on a hillside. These rocks are rounded on one side and jagged on the other, and they can be seen along the eastern shore at Taylor Head Provincial Park. Some shelly marine sands can be seen in cliffs in northern and southwestern regions of Nova Scotia, indicating intervals of higher sea level. Mastodon bones and teeth have been recovered in the province since the early 1800s. Some of these have come from the sea floor, evidence of intervals of lower sea levels in the Pleistocene. Plant material (mosses, wood, seeds, cones), and the remains of turtles, fish, and frogs have also been found.


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