CO Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoi ia. 



As we approach the granite traces of metamorphism become 

 more pronounced. Flaggy sandstones and quartzites are well- 

 developed, while the more argillaceous beds exhibit the appear- 

 ance of knotted or nodular slates (fruchtschiefer). The bye-wash 

 of the Expedition Pass reservoir displays a tine section. The 

 rocks here are more than usually contorted, and vertical as well 

 as horizontal sections can be seen showing clearly the effects of 

 "pitch," or dip of an anticlinal axis. The nodules of these slates 

 are rarely more than an eighth of an inch in length, and 

 frequently smaller. They are sometimes harder, sometimes 

 softer, than the surrounding rock, usually they ditTer in colour 

 from the matrix and have the appearance of carraway seeds 

 embedded in the stone. One specimen from here showed white 

 crystals, probably of andalusite. I have not seen any true mica 

 schist. 



Judging from the notes on the quarter-sheet (9 N.W.) a some- 

 what metamorphic band runs far to the south between Taradale 

 and Fryers. Tlie ranges on this band are very laigged, and form 

 a part of the spur of the Divide, which Brough Smyth alludes 

 to as running nortli from the Blue Mountain thi'ougli Mount 

 Alexander. 



The dense, blue (luartzitic sandstone of Maldon is called 

 '• Hornfels," by Ulrieh. Locally, it, like a softer rock from 

 Castlemaine, is known as "bluestone," and is used for road metal. 

 Owing to its brittleness it is far inferior to the softer but 

 tougher basaltic "bluestone" which is used elsewhere. 



The building stone of the district, a soft brown argillaceous 

 sandstone, is of a very variable character and blocks of good 

 quality are a rarity. The older buildings are in a ruinous 

 condition from the exfoliation of the stone, brought about by the 

 decomposition of disseminated pyrites. It is quite unsuited for 

 ths purpose to which it is applied, though unfortunately the new 

 bridges over the creeks are built of it. 



Cone-in-cone structure is rare iii the rocks, and the only good 

 siDecimen I have seen was in sandstone, and not in the usually 

 quoted carbonate of lime or of iron. The specimen was found by 

 Mr. James Shugg near the Devonshire Mine, and subsequent 

 search has failed to bring any more examples to light. I found a 

 peculiar example of an allied structure near the Chinese Jo.ss 



