32 Campbell, Rambles Round the Grampians. [^^'%n?^^' 



consists of a firm but rather coarse sandstone, and is classed 

 stratigraphically as of Devonian age. Fossils are exceedingly 

 scarce, in all probability on account of the coarse nature of the 

 stone, but it has been my good fortune to discover four or five 

 specimens, now in the National Museum, which are thought to 

 be fossil worm-castings. 



At two localities, to my knowledge, does the sandstone show 

 alteration — viz., in the Mt. William and Stony Creeks. In both 

 places the granitic rock appears in the floor of the valleys, and 

 contains gold. The most interesting feature, however, in these 

 gold-bearing dirts is that numbers of obsidian buttons have been 

 found in them. This may be new information to many geologists, 

 but many specimens of typical size and shape have been washed 

 out by the miners at elevations of from 2,000 to 3,000 feet above 

 sea level. One exceptionally fine button, over two inches in 

 diameter, is in the local museum at Ararat. Porphyritic dykes 

 are also to be seen outcropping in the Stony Creek valley. 



The predominant and characteristic feature of the Grampian 

 sandstones is their low angle of dip. Over large areas the dip of 

 the beds is fairly regular and constant, being about 30° in a 

 westerly direction. I have not taken accurate observations, and 

 these figures are mentioned only to emphasize the fact that the 

 resultant scenery and the configuration of the country is greatly 

 due to the uniform dip. Thus the characteristic form of many of 

 the peaks, as shown in the photographs exhibited and the lantern 

 slides, is due to the low angle of dip. The country weathers into 

 a series of sharp-pointed peaks, having a long slope on one side 

 along the line of dip, and a steep escarpment on the other, where 

 the sandstone beds break off abruptly. 



The Grampian scenery is unique, for not only are the moun- 

 tains a striking mass in relation to surrounding flatness of the 

 Tertiary plains, but within themselves they have a character all 

 their own. The rock scenery is of the finest description, in 

 which the varied colours of the stone play an important part. 

 Nature's universal pigment, iron, has tinted the rock faces in all 

 shades of red and brown. 



At one point only, Hall's Gap, are there facilities for tourists, 

 and this is sixteen rniles from a railway station, Stawell. It is 

 central, and with some grand scenery within a day's outing. It 

 was here the excursion party from this Club made its first 

 acquaintance with the mountains, in November, 1891 {Vict. Nat., 

 viii., p. 181), but the members were unfortunate in having a very 

 dry season for their excursion. Many of the wilder and more 

 rugged portions of the Grampians are at present almost out of 

 reach. The only other settlement is Pomonal, on the eastern 

 slope of the range, to the south of Hall's Gap. This place is 

 making great strides, and is fast becoming one of the first apple- 

 growing districts in the State. It is but little heard of, however. 



