"78 LIMESTONE AREAS IN QUEENSLAND 



plateaux and mountain ranges along the north and north- 

 western margin of the Adriatic Sea in the southern countries 

 of Austria- Hungary and the Balkan Peninsula. It 

 became a generally acknowledged scientific term for the 

 forms of terrain of soluble rocks. 



The caves, although they are one of the most important 

 *' Karst phaenomena," are known also from other forma- 

 tions, especially from basaltic rocks, from sandstones, 

 and conglomerates with soluble concrete, but the true 

 development of " Karst " is characteristic only of the 

 limestone among the very important country rocks. 

 Rocksalt, gypsum and glacier ice develop also the 

 characteristic features of the " Karst," but their 

 significance is minimal, as they occur rarely in great 

 continuous masses. 



With the hope that the somewhat extensive explana- 

 tion of the characteristic features of limestone 

 physiography will give you an idea sufficient to under- 

 stand, my further remarks, I shall proceed to a description 

 of the chief features of the limestone areas I saw in 

 Queensland. 



A long and narrow belt of limestone ridges extends 

 in the surroundings of Chillagoe from Almaden in a north- 

 westerly direction, about 20 miles beyond Mungana. 

 The geological character of the country has been described 

 several times by prominent geologists as Dr. Jack, Prof. 

 Skertchly, Mr. Dunstan, and also some descriptions of 

 the caves have been given. The limestones were 

 deposited in the Silurian period, and their position has 

 been violently disturbed through tectonic processes. 



The Chillagoe Ctaves are famous as one of the 

 picturesque attractions of North Queensland, and they 

 deserve their fame, although the general extent and size 

 of the principal caves cannot compete with many others 

 of world's fame. The limestone ridges are low, only 100 

 to 150ft. high above the valley level. The floors of the 

 principal caves are generally on a level corresponding with 

 the surrounding country, and so the elevation of the roof 

 seldom exceeds 60ft. from the floor. The stalactites and 

 stalagmites are not so numerous as in other caves with a 

 more humid climate, but the secondary deposits cover 

 the walls and the floor so thickly that traces of erosion are 



