Jacobsville sandstone

Jacobsville sandstone rock in the Rock Garden.

A map showing where Sault Ste. Marie is in Ontario.
Jacobsville sandsone, sedimentary rock, found in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. Late Precambrian or early Paleozoic age over 550 million years old. The sandstone is the resistant rock which forms the rapids in the river at Sault Ste. Marie. The sandstone red colour is caused by ferrous iron. This rock and the rocks in Bachawana Bay could be of late Precambrian or Cambrian age. No fossils are found in the rocks which would help to tie down their age. The sandstones, basaltic lavas and conglomerates have not been metamorphosed since their formation. Sir William Logan, the first Director of the Geological Survey of Canada classified these rocks as being Old Red Sandstone age, similar to the ones he had seen in Britain. The sandstone shows layering formed as the sand was deposited in a river delta. The jacobsville sandstone is used as a building stone.