8. Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth St.
Ottawa Group Fossiliferous limestone
Geological Survey of Canada
601 Booth St., Ottawa, Ont.
Fossiliferous limestone (Ottawa Group, Cobourg-Lindsay formations) at the headquarters of the Geological Survey of Canada, 601 Booth St., Ottawa.
Photo by Q. Gall.
The rock outcrop exposed in front of the head office of the Geological Survey of Canada building is from the Lindsay Formation of the Ottawa Group. This grey limestone is exposed on the edge of the Gloucester Fault splay and contains brachiopods, corals and crinoid stems interspersed on different layers of the limestone. Each layer shows the ancient ocean floor with extensive bioturbation with trace fossils evident on most layers. Trace fossils are evidence of biotic activity without the actual body of the plant or animal (for example, burrows, tracks, etc.)
This outcrop of rock was preserved by the effort of Alice Wilson, the GSC's first female geologist and the person who first mapped the geology of the Ottawa region.
During the work day, you can visit the museum in Logan Hall, 601 Booth St., to see a fine collection of minerals, rocks, fossils and meteorites.