Paleontology and geologyAs part of the Laurentian continent, most of Ontario was above sea level and exposed to erosion during the Cambrian. In the southeastern part of the province, sandstones and conglomerates record ancient rivers and deltas that flowed out to the sea in the east. Some sandstones from the Late Cambrian contain ripple marks and evidence of wind transport, indicating they were deposited in dune fields. These dunes were likely near the sea because some layers preserve tracks and traces of arthropods. The traces record the oldest evidence of life moving around on land. Toward the very end of the period, the sea began to move inland, covering parts of the southeast with shallow waters. |
