Geological Notes, Mount Kosciusko, KS.W. 27 



schists and slates principally olive-green in colour are the prevail- 

 ing rocks. They have a clip varying from 57° to 73° N. 50° E. 

 to E.N.E. 



Some of the slates are so exceedingly fissile that a good hand 

 specimen cannot be obtained. They are also much jointed and 

 slightly contorted. The joints run in many directions at high 

 angles. Near the top of the cutting is a band of deep reddish- 

 brown talc-schist intercalated between the slates. It presents a 

 rough pitted surface and stands out in a well-marked ridge, 

 affording a striking contrast to the soft, brittle and fissile slates 

 on each side. 



Veins of quartz from mere threads to reefs several inches wide 

 intersect the strata on both sides of the creek, and at one place 

 on the eastern ridge a reef nine inches to two feet wide crosses 

 the track. The quartz is of a milky, vitreous nature, cellular, 

 and highly charged with a green mineral which lines the walls of 

 the cavities in minute hair-like crystals. These veins run more 

 or less in the same direction as the strike of the rocks. The 

 pebbles in the stream consist of schists, slates, and the foliated 

 granite of the Kosciusko region, with many large sub-angular 

 pieces of the local rocks. The gravel and sand is one glistening 

 mass of brownish-yellow mica relieved by fragments of parti- 

 coloured slates. The Leatherbarrel rocks resemble those at the 

 " Gehi Wall " in many respects and probably belong to the same 

 beds. 



The top of the eastern ridge just above the creek is about 

 4000 feet high. From here no outcrop was noticed, still the 

 character of the rocks indicates a transition similar to that on 

 the western ridge. About two-and-a-half miles from the creek a 

 highly siliceous granite makes its appearance. The junction is 

 masked, but probably is at the point where the ridge meets the 

 main divide. The quartz predominates greatly over the felspar 

 and the crystals of mica are few and small. Rose quartz is 

 plentiful and litters the bed of a small watercourse. 



Nearer the Monaro Gap a distinctly foliated structure is 

 apparent, and the rock partakes of the character of a siliceous 

 gneiss. The foliations are finely marked and close together, the 

 intervening felspar being removed for some little distance from 

 the edge, giving the rock an interesting fretted appearance. The 



