Geological Influences

	Block diagram illustrating bedrock patterns and degree of displacement along fault lines.
	Carleton Energy Services

The site is underlain by a sequence of 470 million year old sedimentary rocks consisting of limestones, shales and sandstones lying unconformably on a 1000 million year old (Precambrian) igneous and metamorphic basement. These are sliced and displaced by a series of faults that are related to the formation of the Ottawa Valley Rift System.

A major element of the rift system is the Gloucester Fault which extends from the southeast, forms the rapids near the railway bridge on the Rideau River, continues across the campus, and reappears as rapids in the Ottawa River on its way into the Gatineaus. At the Carleton University site the vertical displacement on this fault drops on the east side by as much as 200 metres. Overburden which masks the fault displacement is formed by various glacial, as well as very recent organic swamp deposits.