28 



I have previously pointed out the existence of several madi> 

 anticlinal axes, traversing the western country in the direction 

 of its length from north to south, and forming a series of folds, 

 which bring down the upper beds, and cause their disposition 

 in narrow strips of country alternating with the more exten- 

 sive areas occupied by the lower one. 



Thus in passing from west to east we have these lime-stones 

 appearing again and again at intervals of many miles in 

 distance, at Point Hibbs, the Franklin river, the great bend of 

 the Gordon, and the Florentine Valley the axes of the anti- 

 clinal embracing the larger intervals, and developing the ir- 

 ferior metamorphosed beds, consisting of quartzites, micaceous 

 and chloritic schists, &c., &c., which form the prominent 

 mountain features of the country. 



The importance of the determination of the age of these beds 

 can therefore hardly be over-rated, since it establishes a clue 

 to the classification of nearly all the beds in Western Tas- 

 mania, and materially assists in the interpretation of those 

 immediately associated with them occurring in more acces- 

 sible parts of the colony, for in addition to the localities 

 above mentioned this lime-stone may be traced in the West 

 Tamar district, at the Mersey, at arms of the creek near 

 Deloraine, and forms a prominent feature in the neighborhood, 

 of Chudleigh. Imperfect remains of fossils, apparently corals, 

 are sparingly contained in the quartzore sand-stones immedi- 

 ately underlying the lime-stones, and although in many situa- 

 tions where their position protects them from exposure to 

 denudation, it is difficult to discover fossil remains in the' 

 lime-stones themselves, yet even in these localities a careful: 

 search will, in nearly all cases, disclose their existence. 



I have now no hesitation in considering the Eldon beds as 

 superior to the lime-stones, both on account of their con- 

 taining fossils, and their relation as exhibited near tlie mouth 

 of the Grordon river, where sections also assist us in the deter- 

 mination of the age of the Fingal formation, beds of a similar 

 lithological character to the most typical of the auriferous 

 beds of that locality cropping out on Settlement Island, and 

 to a limited extent upon the neighboring coast. 



These appear to be above the dark colored Sand-stones in 

 the lower part of the river, which appear to correspond with 

 the Eldon river beds. No fossils have, however, as yet been 

 discovered in the Fingal beds, and this question may still be 

 considered as not perfectly determined. 



I think it will be found convenient to retain permanently 

 the terms which I have employed in referring to the leading 

 subdivisions of the older rocks as well as consistent with the 

 c'-istoui observed in other countries of employing as teiins qf 



