3.  Black Rock

Black Rock (Rocks)

I started reading about and researching the geology and history of the Black Rock region by West Ferry and Niagara Street (more specifically, on Robert Rich Way right before the Black Rock Canal Drawbridge) and under the I-190 Bridge).

I attached some pictures. I read about the famous "black rock" which was a dark colored limestone that apparently came out into the Niagara River and used as a loading dock until it was blasted away for the construction of the Erie Canal.

Does this black limestone rock occur anywhere else? Are there any samples anywhere?

Paul Krohn

The Black Rock refers to a section of the Onondaga Limestone that forms a prominent outcrop along the Niagara River in Buffalo going all the way south to the Peace Bridge which is built on both ends on the Onondaga Escarpment. The Limestone here has a high concentration of chert which is black in color. That is what the Black Rock area is named after. The pieces you show don't seem to have chert content- they probably weren't taken from the right horizon.

Stephen Condon Yes it absolutely should be. Essentially the whole city of Buffalo is built on the Onondaga. The big road cut in Williamsville east of Buffalo which used to be the old Fogelsanger Quarry goes right through the highly fossiliferous Edgecliff Member of the Onondaga Formation. I used to collect at a site off to the side of the expressway and I found some phenomenal specimens.