Geology of the Lower Moorahool. 55 



SUMMARY. 



The long series of sections displayed in the valley of the 

 Moorabool shows very clearly the sequence of our Eocene rocks. 

 The general dip is in the direction of the stream, and at a more 

 rapid rate than the fall of the valley, so that the beds disappear 

 in regular order as we go southwards. The Upper Marine 

 Series near Maude, classed as Upper Miocene by the Survey, is 

 seen to pass beneath clays which are the near representatives of, 

 if not absolutely identical with, those of Orphanage Hill, Fyans- 

 ford, which have been referred by the Survey to the Oligocene. 

 and by us to the Eocene. These beds extend in the valley from 

 near the Maude bridge, with perhaps a short break near the 

 junction of Sutherland's Creek, to the Barwon. Near the 

 viaduct they are overlain by marine and freshwater Miocene 

 beds, which are in turn capped by the lava flow of the plains. 



Beneath the Upper Maude beds is seen the Older Volcanic, 

 extending from near the confluence of the Coole Barghurk 

 Creek for about ten miles down stream, when it disappears 

 beneath river level. Under the Older Volcanic sheet, and 

 between it and the Ordovician, is a series of beds which to the 

 northward is of freshwater origin and contains plant remains — 

 the " Miocene gravels " of Selwyn. At about two miles above 

 Maude they contain a marine fauna in their upper portion, and 

 they dip below river level some three miles below this point. 

 This fauna we have previously correlated with that of Spring 

 Creek. 



A tongue of the Anakie granite, as shown by numerous out- 

 crops, extends down Sutherland's Creek, through the Dog Rocks, 

 and reaches as far to the southward as the north-western border 

 of the Barrabool Hills. At the Dog Rocks and at the Barrabool 

 Hills gabbro is associated with it. The relations of the two 

 rocks are being, we understand, worked out by Mr. E. G. Hogg. 

 Here, as elsewhere in Victoria, the granite is probably Post- 

 Silurian, and intrudes the graptolite-bearing Ordovician, which 

 is extensively exposed in the northern parts of the area 

 treated of. 



