The sand stones had fragments of charcoal on some surfaces but found no recognisable fossils.

Dawson Creek British Columbia is also named in his honour. Dawson became a staff member of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1875 progressed to assistant director in 1883 and finally to director in 1895.

Dawson graduated after three years with the highest marks in his class. His report was republiGeorge Mercer Dawsond ten years later to satisfy the public's interest in the region as a result of the Klondike Gold Rush. He was interred in the family plot in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal.